ECO FRIENDLY CAR WASH - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Stretch · #16 03-08-2012, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timmyr

...
Army
“They are horrible machines that don't do the job properly.”

Initially I thought you were referring to fully automatic car-washes or were you talking about the wash-it-yourself high-pressure-wash-booth’s ? I personally don’t take the car to the fully automatic car washes, but during winter I usually wash it at the high pressure car wash booths. As soon as the weather warms up, I wash it at home, with auto shampoo and a couple of sponges(1 for the upper half, the other is for the dirtier bottom half). For the rinse I use the garden-hose, but have to admit that I use a ton of H20(rinse for 5-6min ) then I dry it of with a synthetic chamois. How the hell do you get by with 2/3’s of a bucket of water(2.5 gallons?) and a brush for your rinse? What are you washing a Smart?

...

I was referring to the fully automatic things - but as we've progressed to the next evil...

I think high pressure is a big no no - I've seen fake chrome washed off plastic fantastic cars with pressure washers. You might as well use a sand blaster... did you know that professional decorators use pressure washers to remove peeling masonary paint? I'm not doing that to any car - other than a bloody smart of course!

The secret of using so little water is in that brush again. Dip the brush in the bucket - you'll run out of water if you tip your bucket over the car... Also you stand the chance of tipping muck / grit that'll collect in the bottom of the bucket back over the paint work you've just cleaned... tip the dregs in the bottom of your bucket down the drain.

I bought this brush I keep going on about years and years ago ~ like 20 years ago. The company I got it from in the UK no longer stocks it. It is similar to this one

Montana Original Boar’s Hair Car Wash Brush is a soft, gentle car wash brush for cars, trucks, SUVs, and boats. Auto wash brush boar hair brush

I don't remember it being that expensive though... but if you can get 20+ years of use out of it...

timmyr · #17 03-10-2012, 07:01 AM

hey army

thanks for the info, i will definitely do some research on those brushes.
to be honest, i have to admit that $80 seems a bit ridiculous for a brush, but i'll have a look around for something similar. when i eventually pick one up , i will give your method a try, sounds like a good idea.

Army
"I think high pressure is a big no no - I've seen fake chrome washed off plastic fantastic cars with pressure washers. You might as well use a sand blaster... "

your comment is pretty much on the money. my opinion is that at too CLOSE a distance, those things can have that sandblaster effect.

when washing with a high pressure washer i always try and maintain a "safe" distance from the paint surface , just close enough to wash away the dirt,no closer. i usually get rid of the visible stubborn stains(bird poop etc) prior with a sponge , that way i avoid having to get too close to the paint with the high pressure nozzle.

i know that u/mikeD already mentioned that the high pressure water tends to drive dirt into openings/crevices where it can accumulate, and i assume after an extended period of time, potentially cause rust (wheel wells and lower plastic body-cladding) is this correct? any suggestions for wheel well cleaning, do u use the brush there also?

take it easy, and once again thanks for the info

Mike D · #18 03-10-2012, 07:42 AM

On the wheel wells sometimes you have to choose the lesser of two evils. When I lived in snow country where they used a salt or chemical de-icer then I used the spray wands to clear out the chemical goop which would collect under the car during winter time driving. Summer time it was just clear water and maybe a quick scrub with a long handled brush.

Stretch · #19 03-10-2012, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike D

On the wheel wells sometimes you have to choose the lesser of two evils. When I lived in snow country where they used a salt or chemical de-icer then I used the spray wands to clear out the chemical goop which would collect under the car during winter time driving. Summer time it was just clear water and maybe a quick scrub with a long handled brush.

In summer time if it stays dry long enough(!) I use a domestic dust pan and brush type brush to remove as much mud / dust / dried gunk / dead animal as possible before getting the car wet.

gabzor · #20 03-12-2012, 04:50 AM

would you use optimum NO-rinse, or other similar waterless carwashes? i mean after a spray if its a really dirty car of course.

timmyr · #21 03-13-2012, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike D

On the wheel wells sometimes you have to choose the lesser of two evils. When I lived in snow country where they used a salt or chemical de-icer then I used the spray wands to clear out the chemical goop which would collect under the car during winter time driving. Summer time it was just clear water and maybe a quick scrub with a long handled brush.

and

Quote:

Originally Posted by Army

In summer time if it stays dry long enough(!) I use a domestic dust pan and brush type brush to remove as much mud / dust / dried gunk / dead animal as possible before getting the car wet.

thanks for the tips guys, will definitely give it try.

optimum no rinse for touch up cleaning is probably ok, but for everything else your safest bet is probably the 2bucket technique.

oldsinner111 · #22 03-14-2012, 09:56 AM

sounds good for a dusty car but not dirt dust.I use micro fiber rags,its amazing how much dirt they can hold without harming paint.

timmyr · #23 03-22-2012, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldsinner111

sounds good for a dusty car but not dirt dust.I use micro fiber rags,its amazing how much dirt they can hold without harming paint.

i dont mean to come off as a smart ass, but isnt that basically the same as/similar to what they are doing in the videos(post#1) ? spray and then carefully wipe away dirt with a microfiber rag. i think i read that they use like 20-25 microfiber rags per cleaning. is it possible that products are just a scam, and that the microfiber rags are responsible for the cleaning?
could you elaborate a bit? when you wash your car, you are using a microfiber rag+car wash soap? is that it?

i will definitely be replacing the old sponges, with either a wild boar-hair-brush

or maybe a microfiber-mitt of some sort... not sure yet.

take it easy

ps. Nos in the w140

brian15018 · #24 04-04-2012, 01:54 AM

Eco friendly car wash does not use harsh chemicals which can harm the paint work and cause damage to sealing on the doors and windows which prevent water from sweeping inside. This sealing is very important because it can lead to increase in moisture levels inside the car which could damage the interiors and can also lead to mold growth under the carpet.

Mike D · #25 04-30-2012, 10:01 AM

Okay so I just washed the W114 and the W126 and these are the results I came up with.

Apx. 15 gallons of water for the W114 ('72 250C) and 13 gallons for the W126 ('85 500SEL). I dunno why the smaller car used more other than the fact it is a lot more "curvy" than the W126 with it's flat surfaces. The W126 is also new paint so that might factor in.

(apx. 1.5 gallons of soapy mix, 2 gallons of "fresh" and 2.5 gallons per sprayer refills)

Now keep in mind, this is the desert and ya gotta move FAST to rinse before the soapy water dries. You might be able to do it with less in a damp climate.

Stretch · #26 04-30-2012, 01:31 PM

Whaaaaaat?

Is google telling me lies?

15 gallons (US) is almost 57 litres?

Mike why don't I come and wash your cars for you?

Mike D · #27 04-30-2012, 03:51 PM

Yup, 57 liters is about right. Don't forget, evaporation rates are just a little higher here in the desert than it is in the Low Countries, even on your driest days. As we speak, relative humidity is standing at 8% and highest reading for the day will be in about the 12-15% range.

I can only wash one fender/wing at a time without rinsing immediately and I mean IMMEDIATELY! Don't even think about sudsing the windows and turning around. Nope, it's suds, scrub, spray and about that quick.

You know it's not you I want, it's the brush!

Stretch · #28 04-30-2012, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike D

Yup, 57 liters is about right. Don't forget, evaporation rates are just a little higher here in the desert than it is in the Low Countries, even on your driest days. As we speak, relative humidity is standing at 8% and highest reading for the day will be in about the 12-15% range.

I can only wash one fender/wing at a time without rinsing immediately and I mean IMMEDIATELY! Don't even think about sudsing the windows and turning around. Nope, it's suds, scrub, spray and about that quick.

You know it's not you I want, it's the brush!

That's amazing I'd like to see that.

I definitely need to get that start trek sonic shower car wash idea up and running just think how much Evian I could save you by selling you one of those...

Mike D · #29 04-30-2012, 04:53 PM

I'll send you a picture of a spot on the 250C. It had a paint problem and I sanded it to bare metal to feather in the paint. It was over a year ago when I did it. All I have done since is sploop a bit of wax on it every couple of months or when I remember.

The Evian is not the big cost. It's the Tecate which is a killer!

I don't think ANYTHING goes together as well as; a nice warm day, a freshly washed car, some wax/polish, a buffer (yeah, yeah, so what? I'm lazy and I'm getting old!), some good tunes on the radio and some cold brews.

Okay, okay, maybe a couple of scantily clad babettes actually doing the waxing is close.

Stretch · #30 05-01-2012, 03:02 AM

Mike I'm just so jealous of your climate. Sand to bare metal here and it'll rust through in six months.

I was thinking - how warm is the metal / paint work when you wash it? You give the impression that you might be a man with a laser temperature reading gun...

Humidity most certainly plays a part according to this (talks about atmospheric pressure)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evaporation

Perhaps misting around the car would lower the evaporation on the surface? (Idea comes from link above where it talks about concentration of the evaporating substance already in the air) I've tried washing a hot car body before and it is a pain in the arse you end up with streaks...