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Mosca · 01-20-04, 08:31

I think you know that if the stuff wasn't working I wouldn't have gotten this far around the car....

I finished up the passenger side, and then I used QEW on the wheels, too, just to see how strong it was; the wheels cleaned up no problem. Here are the "finish up" shots.

Beauty shot across the hood (No, I don't use the propane heater inside.)

Partial profile showing a wheel

Setting the scene

And, for you who say, "But Tom, I wouldn't even call your car dirty!", here is a before and after of the side of the wifemobile:

My judgement, if your car is as dirty as the Malibu, is to use a slightly stronger solution of QEW, and keep your wash mitts VERY wet. You may want to spray the panels with a QEW solution and let them soak before using the method I have outlined above. The mitts picked up an awful lot of grit from the sedan. Change the rinse water more frequently. But, it STILL WORKS.

In summary: QEW is as effective, IMO, as a regular wash. No matter what you do, washing your car introduces swirls and microscratches, and the best you can hope for is to minimize them. QEW does that. Even now after having done it, it is hard to get my mind around the fact that I just washed my car with one gallon of water, 2oz of QEW, two wash mitts and two small 16"x16" towels. And it took about an hour, including setup, frequent stopping to take pictures, doing the glass, wheels, dressing the tires, doing two panels on the Malibu for good measure, and cleaning up.

QEW is available on line at Camping World , $7.49 for 16oz, less per unit for larger sizes up to a gallon. It may also be available locally at RV supply stores; they didn't have it at RV World in my area, but they could've ordered it (I asked them to).

I have to say it again, it's hard to describe the experience. How long has this been around? How come I never heard of it? Why doesn't everyone who lives in water restricted areas know about it and use it? Do they, and I don't know about it? Whatever, here it is. HIGHLY recommended.

Tom

01-20-04, 08:31	#3 (permalink)
Mosca perpetual noob Mosca is offline Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 2,006	I think you know that if the stuff wasn't working I wouldn't have gotten this far around the car.... I finished up the passenger side, and then I used QEW on the wheels, too, just to see how strong it was; the wheels cleaned up no problem. Here are the "finish up" shots. Beauty shot across the hood (No, I don't use the propane heater inside.) Partial profile showing a wheel Setting the scene And, for you who say, "But Tom, I wouldn't even call your car dirty!", here is a before and after of the side of the wifemobile: My judgement, if your car is as dirty as the Malibu, is to use a slightly stronger solution of QEW, and keep your wash mitts VERY wet. You may want to spray the panels with a QEW solution and let them soak before using the method I have outlined above. The mitts picked up an awful lot of grit from the sedan. Change the rinse water more frequently. But, it STILL WORKS. In summary: QEW is as effective, IMO, as a regular wash. No matter what you do, washing your car introduces swirls and microscratches, and the best you can hope for is to minimize them. QEW does that. Even now after having done it, it is hard to get my mind around the fact that I just washed my car with one gallon of water, 2oz of QEW, two wash mitts and two small 16"x16" towels. And it took about an hour, including setup, frequent stopping to take pictures, doing the glass, wheels, dressing the tires, doing two panels on the Malibu for good measure, and cleaning up. QEW is available on line at Camping World , $7.49 for 16oz, less per unit for larger sizes up to a gallon. It may also be available locally at RV supply stores; they didn't have it at RV World in my area, but they could've ordered it (I asked them to). I have to say it again, it's hard to describe the experience. How long has this been around? How come I never heard of it? Why doesn't everyone who lives in water restricted areas know about it and use it? Do they, and I don't know about it? Whatever, here it is. HIGHLY recommended. Tom __________________ The best way to maintain that "just waxed" look is to have just waxed your car. Last edited by Mosca : 01-22-04 at 01:20.