Man, washing the car is a dream now!

I

imported_Aurora40

New member
All this time I thought I was doing well with my chenille sponges and my 7-way sprayer. Well, for my birthday I got an "ultimate nozzle", a new Craftsman hoze, and I bought myself a lambs wool wash mitt.



The ultimate nozzle is soooo awesome! And for those of you who said you wanted a shut-off, but it restricted flow, I got one from Sears that is excellent (Craftsman brand and is silver). No flow constriction and it is as wide as the hose is (look in the hose, not the end of it). I tried the ultimate nozzle right on the hose and then with the shut-off. The ultimate nozzle flows soooo much water it is amazing! You can fill a bucket up in no time. And the pressure is much higher than it appears to be. The no-kink hose really helps too.



But the wash mitt was the best. Why didn't you all tell me about the smoothness of lambs wool a while ago? It is great! It just glides along the paint, and dirt rinses out sooo easily. I didn't put my hand in it, though, as it proved difficult to use that way. I just love it. The directions say it can be machine washed on delicate, so I washed it before use. I think I'll wash it every other car wash, unless the car is real dirty (in which case I might use a chenille). I haven't noticed any hair falling off at all. Not even in the wash (thought plenty of chenille fell off in the wash).



My Pakshaks have been kicking butt on drying the car. One large towel does the whole job with ease (provided I rinse the car down first, a task easily accomplished with the ultimate nozzle still attached and the shut-off turned down).



Plus, I'm really loving the suds and slickness of #00 car wash. And I love that it is sooo gentle on the Blackfire. I'm having a hard time envisioning using the Blackfire car wash again.



It may turn out that this is just the next of many more steps up the detailing ladder, but until I move to that next step, boy what a place to wait...
 
Sounds like a good birthday to me. Lambs wool mitts are very nice, but be carefull putting them in the washing machine, I have found that mine generally dont last more than a few months anyway, and that without throwing them in the wash. But, I really dont know... you may have a better constructed one.



Now I really gotta try the ultimate nozzle. I just dont know if its worth the $$ to me.
 
Have you guys compared #00 to the Gold Class shampoo? #00 was my first and still is the only shampoo that I use, but im not sure if GC is any better for me to switch.
 
Aurora,



I tried out my new Sheepskin mitt today and my reaction was just the same - it glides over the paintwork so smoothly and effortlessly.



With something that soft and gentle, I cant imagine a new scratch ever appearing :cool:



I've found that the best way of using my hose is to detach the spray nozzle and just let water stream out naturally :xyxthumbs
 
Sounds like a nice birthday gift set indeed! :xyxthumbs



Thanks for the tip on the Craftsman shut-off. I've taken notice of other shut-off valves as well and know what you mean. Some are really restrictive and you have to buy carefully. On another note, you have no idea how hard it is to find a plastic (no brass please) quick connect female connector without that darn automatic shutoff valve that restricts flow.
Aurora40 said:
But the wash mitt was the best. Why didn't you all tell me about the smoothness of lambs wool a while ago? It is great!
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I've tried! :D Glad you like the sheepskin mitt. I have a chenille mitt too, and honestly don't know what all the fuss is about with chenille. I just like the way the sheepskin works and "handles" better myself. Good shampoo + sheepskin mitt = washing wet ice.
 
jgv, maybe one day. I really like #00, though.



thevolvoguy, the instructions with the mitt said it can be washed on delicate. I don't like the idea of never washing it. So far, it hasn't really shed at all. Maybe it is a bit better constructed than most (it ought to be given the $13 price...) I don't think the ultimate nozzle is super expensive, maybe twice that of a nice multi-pattern. But it is guaranteed forever. So that may make it worth it. You don't have the pattern selection like with a multi-pattern nozzle, but the pressure and volume of water is really impressive.



Nick, yes detaching the nozzle is great, but my hose comes down from the balcony. It's a pain to walk upstairs to turn it down. If I turn the shutoff valve off, remove the nozzle, then turn it back on slightly, it just sprays out. If I open it all the way, it is a super powerful stream that splashes too much. Streaming out the nozzle works pretty well, plus it is rubber coated so any accidental bumps shouldn't hurt as much.



4DSC, yes it was actually your praises of the sheepskin that finally convinced me to try it. It's just that chenille was so much better than a regular sponge it was hard to picture anything topping it. Sheepskin sure does... I'm not sure what you mean aobut the shut-off on quick-connects. I think I've seen quick-connects that don't have a shut-off (though never on the double kind). But the quick-connect itself always looks pretty restricting. Out of curiosity, why no brass? Wouldn't that be at the house end of the hose, not the car end?



FNG, I used to use Gold Class prior to #00. In my opinion #00 is much gentler and I much prefer it. However, if I were washing someone else's rather dirty car, I would use my Gold Class. It is more effective at cleaning, but with that it also is likely harder on the protection. #00 is plenty sudsy and slick and is plenty strong for my well-cared-for car. Even with the low price of GC by the 1/2 gallon or gallon, I'll still buy the 16 oz. bottles of #00 (which are actually about the same price as 16 oz. bottles of GC, in fact GC from CMA is like $2 more than I buy #00 for).
 
I saw the Bonn Aire Ultimate Nozzle at Home Depot last weekend for $19.99. Anyone that buys one will not be disappointed.
 
The #00 seems pretty expensive at $6 per 16oz. when the Gold Class can be had for $10 per gallon (8 times as much). Right now I'm using a bottle of their Deep Crystal car wash that was $4 for 64 oz, and I really like the suds and slickness of it. I just can't justify spending so much more for a product that I can't imagine is that much better.
 
Aurora40- Glad to hear you're getting the wash process just the way you want it :xyxthumbs



I use the Sears shut-offs too. I think I actually prefer the plastic ones (easier on/off with one finger), but they sure don't last long (not just leakage, they BREAK). I have the metal one (same as yours) on one hose and the plastic one on the other so I can decide which I REALLY prefer. I noticed the metal one started leaking too so I tightened up the philips head screw on the lever, but that didn't work for long. I took it back to Sears (I saved the cardboard backing and my receipt) and they gave me a new one. They replace the plastic one, too! The replacements are leaking again, but I still think they're great. Save those receipts!
 
Accumulator said:
Aurora40- Glad to hear you're getting the wash process just the way you want it :xyxthumbs



I use the Sears shut-offs too. I think I actually prefer the plastic ones (easier on/off with one finger), but they sure don't last long (not just leakage, they BREAK). I have the metal one (same as yours) on one hose and the plastic one on the other so I can decide which I REALLY prefer. I noticed the metal one started leaking too so I tightened up the philips head screw on the lever, but that didn't work for long. I took it back to Sears (I saved the cardboard backing and my receipt) and they gave me a new one. They replace the plastic one, too! The replacements are leaking again, but I still think they're great. Save those receipts!
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Crap, I already pitched that stuff... I'll keep it if I have to buy a new one, though. I figured the metal would last longer than the plastic, but I guess if it leaks, who cares that it didn't break. Thanks for the tip.



Kyle, keep on buying GC and Deep Crystal. I just like #00 better.
 
Do you get the "Newer" 2 way shut-off Ultimate Hose Nozzle?



I got a red newer one. The new 2 way shut-off is even better than my original one believe it or not!:D (yes I now have 2!) Neat improvement because you turn it either way and it shuts off water flow and then gives you your choice of starting with a stream or fan when you turn it back on depending on which you you turn it off! ......:o
 
Aurora40 said:
I'm not sure what you mean aobut the shut-off on quick-connects. I think I've seen quick-connects that don't have a shut-off (though never on the double kind). But the quick-connect itself always looks pretty restricting. Out of curiosity, why no brass? Wouldn't that be at the house end of the hose, not the car end?
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On almost all the quick connectors I've seen, there's a built-in valve that closes the passage off when you don't have the "male" end plugged into it. Yeah, they're not the best for pressure, but that's the tradeoff for convenience. I would get brass fittings, but I'm lazy and put it on the car end and leave the hose out in the yard. :p Besides, someone might see the nice brass fitting and decide it's a good addition to the Welcome! mat they stole from us! :mad:
 
Lambswool, eh? Why was I under impression that the chenille was better for the paint? Maybe I'll give one of these a try...



I'm running low on soap, so I may actually go pick up some of this #00. Does the paint supply store over here in Herndon have it?



I'm also going to run to Sears and get a no kink hose, because my hose has had it! I'll look into one of these "ultimate" nozzels you speak of! :)



- Anthony
 
I'm glad you like your lambswool mitt. I wash mine in the machine about every other time I do the car, and it does fine.



OutlawTitan said:
I saw the Bonn Aire Ultimate Nozzle at Home Depot last weekend for $19.99. Anyone that buys one will not be disappointed.
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Cool!!! Thanks for the tip, I was going to order one on the internet today but would rather get it locally and save the shipping $$$. Great price too! Will check my Home Depot today! :)
 
adg44 said:
Lambswool, eh? Why was I under impression that the chenille was better for the paint? Maybe I'll give one of these a try...



I'm running low on soap, so I may actually go pick up some of this #00. Does the paint supply store over here in Herndon have it?



I'm also going to run to Sears and get a no kink hose, because my hose has had it! I'll look into one of these "ultimate" nozzels you speak of! :)



- Anthony
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I'm pretty sure they have #00 in Herndon. I just ordered mine from Meg's though as I wanted to get their lambswool mitt and some foam apps, and also because it doesn't arrive covered in dust. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that place is there in Herndon, but I mainly just buy Detailer line stuff that I can't order, or stuff that I need right away. I just am a little concerned about how long some of that stuff has sat on the shelf. Have you ever noticed those two half-gallon bottles that are like on the floor of Meg's stuff that looks like it is from the '70s? One is some Mirror Glaze All Purpose Cleaner or something, and I think the other was some kind of dressing or something. I always want to take a camera with me and take a picture of them. They don't give me a ton of confidence about the turnover rate of their products.



The Sears hose is a black one that is sort of hexagonal in shape. It has a lifetime guarantee, and can withstand hot water (up to like 160 degrees). It's pretty nice. I got the Ultimate Nozzle as a gift, so unsure where it came from. Sounds like that HD one is a good buy, though, as BonAire is the company that makes it.



4DSC, gotcha about the connector shut-off. ;)
 
Aurora40 said:
Sounds like that HD one is a good buy, though, as BonAire is the company that makes it.
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The HD one IS a BonAire nozzle. Not sure if it has the new two way twist shut off or not though.:up
 
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