What to use when washing the truck?

[Spooled-up]

What is the best thing to use when washing the truck in terms of a cloth or towel? I used the cotton towel today on the new truck and it didn't seem that soft to me. I don't want to damage my paint by washing it.



I read on a car wash site that more scratches are introduced into the paint when handwashing than when having a car washed at a carwash. I took this with a grain of salt considering the source, but it kind of made sense. I think most of us keep dipping the towel into the dirty water over and over, so that would cause small scratches right? Maybe I worry too much...



This is my first Brand New truck though.

 

[Hummin Cummins]

I always use the wash mitts that go over your hand. Find the best one you can. Be careful when dipping into the suds bucket, dont go too deep. I use a 5 gal bucket that way I can dip the mitt near the top and shake it off. The little pieces of grit are the scratchers. If you dip to the bottom of the bucket thats where all the grit settles to. The towels wont scratch the paint, its the dirt in them that does it. I always take a quick look at the mitt after I dip it in the suds, just to spot a piece of dirt. It only takes one to scratch.

 

[lawdog]

On my black 2000, I used a wash mit ONLY and a Natural chamois or one of those synthetic style "Absorber" fake chamois'. I found that towels on black tend to cause alot of fine scratches, where the chamois does not as bad... ... DO NOT use dish soap to wash your ride. Use a high quality CAr wash soap. I like the Meguires products myself, but have used others with good results. . Do not be afraid to spend some coin on a quality soap. . I also was told to stay away from the "Wax as you wash" type soaps from a professional detailer friend of mine...

 

[Casey Balvert]

I pressure wash my truck first to remove all traces of grit. Then I use warm water and Ivory dish soap on a soft sponge. Rinse with a hose. With the black paint, pressure washing the dirt off first reduces greatly the chance of scratching. Virtually all dirt on the surface is solids and can scratch no matter how fine it may be. Worked for my last truck too.



Casey

 

[Task125]

I use zanio bros car wash, suds up real nice and does not remove wax. smells nice too

 

[Fireman]

I use a wool (fuzzy) wash mitt and Zaino Bros Car WAsh. Rinse with an open butt (no nozzle) and let the watter sheet, this reduces water spots. Dry with an Absorber synthetic chamois.



Works on Black and Red.



Fireman

 

[BrittonTurner]

everyone here is correct... washing your rig is where you collect most of your small scratches (swirl-marks). i have had show cars in the past and i am VERY anal about how my ride looks. here's what i use: like casey said... pressure wash your truck first. then use a high quality car wash with the thickest softest wash mit you can find (NEVER EVER use dish washing soap). i use a wash mit that is designed to put your hand in but i don't. you want as much padding between your hand and the paint as you can get. like hummins cummins said... use a 5 gal bucket and only dip i the top portion of the bucket where the suds are. then use the softest terry cloth towel you can find. chamois are fine also but i usually use about 5 large towels for mine. i wax my truck EVERY month. i have had the best luck with mothers pure carnauba paste wax. it is expensive but when you have a $45,000 truck what's another $20 to make it look better then showroom new.



and one last tip... to keep the under side of your truck looking brand-new use spray furniture polish. furniture polish is a natural dust repeller and works great for any mud or dirt that gets under your truck. washes right off at the car wash!



just my . 02 worth (which is . 01 to much )

 

[mconstable]

Just saw this advertised in Hemmings Motor News... looks like a neat gadget ..... gritguard.com

 

[Dean Upson]

i have had the best luck with mothers pure carnauba paste wax.

Me, too. I have had great luck with all the Mother's products.



Dean

 

[E7mack96]

re...dish soap

enlighten me... I do not know about the no-no on dish soap. I have, for 20 years, used Dawn. Just a tablespoon to 2-3 gals of water in a 5 gal pail.



What is the danger of Dawn (or others)

 

[lawdog]

Dish soap is normally a very strong detergant that takes off the wax faster..... Designed for dirty dishes, not paint jobs... Do not feel bad, I used to do the same thing until I was enlightened as well by a detailer years back

 

[raychem]

Just to add to the conversation. I wash the bottom (below the body moldings) of the truck with one bucket of soap and water. After that, I use a second bucket to wash the top portion of the truck. This has worked pretty well for me over the years and it keeps the water clear since most of the dirt accumulates on the bottom of the truck. I also use two different wash mitts(top and bottom), a natural leather chamois and fan of Maguires products





Richard

 

[GWHaley]

two bucket method

I agree with raychem 100%, the two bucket (and mitt) is the only way to go for the least amount of paint damage. I also use susdsy ammonia to get the bugs off-works great, but don't let it dry onto the paint.

 

[24V-DSL]

Like Fireman says, for the final rinse take the nozzle off it you use one. Rinse from the top down... . if you have any wax on the surface, you'll end up with at least two-thirds less water to dry off because it'll just "sheet" off leaving few standing beads. I use a California Water Blade, and in spite of what some say, mine does not scratch paint. Speeds up the drying process a bunch.



Like other's have said, spend the $$ on a high quality wash. I use a "cheaper" brand to do the wheel wells, undercarriage, etc. Use "retired" wash mitts for this.

 

[Fireman]

Raychem,



I wash mine from the top down and dry as I go. I was all of the really dirty, gritty stuff last.



Fireman

 

[CROW]

Have read and heard for many years that dishwashing soap is too strong for car finishes, takes the wax or polish off and isn't good for the paint as it tends to leave spots. I seldom use even a car wash type soap and use it only on the front for bugs and on the tires and wheels. Use lots and lots and lots of fresh water from a hose. Go to Wally World and get a package of 100% cotton towels, about $4. 00 for 12, rinse them often and use several while washing with plenty of fresh water. Also have read that it is best to use a liquid car wash made by the same manufacturer as the wax or polish you are using; they are more likely to be compatible.

 

[Rosco]

Crow, I have to disagree with your no soap theory. I think a good car wash soap is key when washing because the soap not only helps to loosen and remove the dirt but more importantly it acts like a lubricant for the dirt so it will scratch less until it gets rinsed off.

 

[Dean Upson]

I have always believed in Rosco's theory.



Dean

 

[Prairie Dog]

It's great to find so many other people as anal as me when it comes to this sort of thing.

I would only add that I buy a new "wool" wash mitt every 10 or so washes. It seems like every time you use it , it loses just a little bit of it's softness and over time it gets little stones embedded into it that are hard to get out. I'm always afraid I'll miss one and scratch the crap out of my paint.

 

[Spooled-up]

What about this "magic cloth"?

When I searched on this subject, I found some info on this magic cloth. Is there something that keeps this thing from scratching the paint?