More noob questions (washing)

[bennylava]

About how many washes do you get out of one pad? I mean how many times do you wash it before its trash?

Also, I bought the Griot's garage buffer:

Griot's Garage 6" Random Orbital - Griot's Garage

Is there a kit that would come with plenty of buffing pads to last me a while? Also with a good enough variety of pads, that way I get the soft, medium, and hard pads.

 

[FIDOAG14]

and others throw them in the washing machine.

That doesn't tear those suckers up? Heck that's what I'm gonna do if not. What would you put in the washing machine with it? MF detergent?

Bennylava,

You can order the pads in a six pack where you pick which six you want, I would tend to think you don't need 6 totally different ones, maybe three different (two of each).

 

[JustJesus]

FIDO not that I know of. I've only tried it once (that I can say with certainty). I threw some Megs foam pads in the wash. They didn't tear up, but didn't come out as clean as I would have liked. Granted, I used some of that laundry detergent for sensitive skin, or whatever, and not a dedicated cleaner.

oops. A bit more recently, I did wash some 3" foam pads from Griot's. The black and red pad, one of each. I threw them in the machine and used 3D Towel Clean. Those did come out clean enough, but I haven't used them since, and didn't do a thorough, up close and personal inspection (I did that with my towels!)

 

[4u2nvinmtl]

1. Which car wash do you use?

Meguiars D110 Hyper-Wash (1oz is all you need in the bucket)

2. What do you actually use to wash the car with?

Merino wool wash mitt(s) for the paint and a Dreadlock microfiber wash mitt(s) for other areas (wheels, under the hood, etc.)

3. Not washing related, but I was looking at all the videos about Optimum Power Clean. It seems that its mainly used as tire cleaner. Is that anything I should be concerned about, when it comes to using it on seats and carpets/floor mats? Do you guys dilute it when using it on the interior? Or do you just use it straight?

I recommend following the directions & dilution ratios listed on the product

4. DA polisher pads: Is the color coding universal across all brands? Would an orange pad, be for the same job regardless of brand? Thus far I've seen orange, white, black, and red. Not real sure what the difference is in these pads, although I've heard some are rougher, for polishing or compounding, and some are finer, for finer polishes or (waxes?)

Unfortunately not. This will require some research to find what's best for you and the paint your working on. I did find:

5. What do you guys think of the Tornador? If I did end up buying one, I'd be buying the Tornador Black. Is this particular piece of equipment, worth the expense?

I've never used one but most people get extractors (I believe)

 

[Accumulator]

...[I use]..a Dreadlock microfiber wash mitt(s) for other areas (wheels, under the hood, etc.) ..

How can you clean those areas with that? I have to use long-bristle brushes to get into all the nooks and crannies. Heh heh, I'm a real broken-record (AKA PIA ) on this subject, huh?!?

I've never used [a Tornador Black] but most people get extractors (I believe)

Yeah, or steamers. I've found the Tornador to be great for rinsing (and sorta-drying) jambs/wells/under the hood/etc., but overall it probably doesn't do as much for me as I'd hoped for.

Before buying a Tornador, I'd *probably* recommend somebody get an extractor or a steamer (or both, or a combo unit) first. But that's *unless* that particular somebody has a reason why the Tornador would be more useful...just one of those subjective things that's hard to nail down for somebody else.

 

[bennylava]

Yeah it does. I'm trying to not spend. It's so damn hard to do.


And yes on regular water (if you're talking about washing pads). I wash mine by hand in the bathroom sink. Others have used water hose pressure, and others throw them in the washing machine.

I got that sample. Thanks for sending it. I'll be trying it out on a white saturn, and a black honda. Then probably on a green expedition. Which pad would you recommend using?

 

[JustJesus]

... Thanks for sending it. I'll be trying it out on a white saturn, and a black honda. Which pad would you recommend using?

You're welcome. Save the expedition for last, as there may or may not be enough to do all three, especially a larger vehicle.

I would apply the wax by hand, with a wax applicator. I've used one of those microfiber applicators, but a regular yellow foam applicator should work too. Be sure to spread it *thin* so you have more product to use. Keep it off the trim. For removal, a nice soft microfiber towel. It won't take much pressure to remove, so no need to rub it hard. Just as hard as is needed.

 

[bennylava]

Another question about washing:

What would you guys' opinion be, on a long handled brush, for washing? They have them in microfiber varieties it seems. This goes back to the whole - "I've got a lot of work to do on these cars besides detailing, and I need to work smarter not harder" thing.

It would really help me out to not have to do as much bending down. Of course I realize that I'll still need to bend down sometimes, to really get at those stubborn areas. But this is not always the case, and I was wondering if the long handled microfiber brushes would be ok for that. And by long handled, I mean a handled that is 3 or 4 feet long.

 

[4u2nvinmtl]

How can you clean those areas with that? I have to use long-bristle brushes to get into all the nooks and crannies. Heh heh, I'm a real broken-record (AKA PIA ) on this subject, huh?!?

Well I use the dredlock mitt, for the faces of my wheels, back side of rocker panels, door jambs, bottem/behind both bumpers... The trick is to push hard, LOL. I scrub with that mitt, thank goodness my paint is hard to marr (or I'm to blind to see it). I've also moved on to the long haired wool mitts for the paint and it does a way better job with alot less pressure (basiclly no pressure).

Note: I still use 3 other burshes to get my wheels cleaned (A BHB for the lug nuts and wheel engravings, a wheel wooly for the barrel, and a speedy detail bursh for behind the spokes).

Technique: I put my hand inside the dredlock mitt and quickly flick/twitch my rist as I rub (DA washing) and it normally picks up everything (if you just glide without your hand inside the mitt pushing down, it hardly does anything, so I understand your dissapointment).

 

[4u2nvinmtl]

Another question about washing:

What would you guys' opinion be, on a long handled brush, for washing? They have them in microfiber varieties it seems. This goes back to the whole - "I've got a lot of work to do on these cars besides detailing, and I need to work smarter not harder" thing.

It would really help me out to not have to do as much bending down. Of course I realize that I'll still need to bend down sometimes, to really get at those stubborn areas. But this is not always the case, and I was wondering if the long handled microfiber brushes would be ok for that. And by long handled, I mean a handled that is 3 or 4 feet long.

Typically most people stay away from these. I my self have used one simular to what you discribed for my roof and it slowly got swirled up (after about 1 year I started to notice, after two years it need correction). I wouldnt ever use this type of bursh it on the visible areas because of the marring (a BHB would be a differnt story, shouldnt scratch/marr the paint if used correctly). I will be getting a few BHB for the roof and others areas with my next order (I want to try the "Accumulator way" of washing). I plan to correct and coat the paint on my roof this spring.

I used to use a wheel brush with a 2 foot handle, but I found it easyer to use a hand held bursh when cleaning wheels, and wheel wells.