Going-West said:
I hate being at college I dont have anywhere to wash my car unless I come home...sad.
If you NEED somewhere to wash your car (either because it's winter and your pipes freeze of because you're in an apartment or dorm), I'd suggest checking out local touch-free washes. Maybe go through with a friend or watch how it works the other cars. The big problem you're going to see with these kinds of carwashes are the detergents they use are usually too strong because they're trying to quickly clean a car without scrubbing it at all.
Really, a carwash with wash bays is preferred though of course. (I'd bring my own cloths though! The brushes they provide use NYLON bristles and they WILL scratch your paint!)
Basically set up like you would to wash it normally. Get everything ready in advance so you can use the time to your best advantage. I'd probably bring in my own soap and bucket... but that's because I'm picky about my detergents and don't want to have to wax my car in the middle of the summer
(too hot - makes polishes and wax greasy and hard to remove) /winter
(freezes wax on, also makes it very humid usually and therefore difficult to remove wax/polis) /night
(similar conditions to 'winter').
Then just follow with an otherwise normal wash. Make wash water if you need, spray dry wheels with wheel cleaner (works better dry), soak down car. Wash from the top and rear to the bottom and front. Wash the cleanest parts first. Generally it will be dirtier behind the wheels and on the front bumper/windshield, and then on the rear bumper. Clean dirty parts last. Don't forget to wash the wheels and then exhaust and wheelwells too! If it's visible you'll want to wash it. I even wash the bottoms of my sideskirts. (Looks beautiful on a lift when you see those bright red shiny skirts on the sides imo.)
Don't let the soapy water dry on it or you'll have to wash it again so you won't have residue. If you have a gentle, steady stream of water you can start at the bottom and work your way down to lessen you much you have to dry off. Make sure you cover the nozzle with your hand though so it doesn't scratch the paint!
I also try to polish bare metal every once in awhile. Anywhere I can reach pretty much. That's mostly exhaust on cars I come in contact with though. This will also leave a light greasy protectant layer on the metal too and will cause water to bead off of it at least until it wears off.
Damn hippies.
For real though, I was proud of that.
(True story from about a week or two ago.)
No, I doubt it. I will tell you one thing though... At least in my experience, dents are easier for ME to see if the car is clean.
Can't you see them?!?!?!