Requested QEW writeup, using MFs instead of mitts

[White95Max]

Thanks, a great write up and tips. Why again is the use of mf towels better than a mit? I use a mit all the time with QEW and it works real well. I'll try the mf techniques you described but there must be some reason why you prefer them over a wash mit.

I prefer MFs because if one gets dirty or I'm encountering a lot of sand, I can just put that MF aside and grab a new MF. I don't want to buy 5-6 mitts for QEW washing. I also think the MFs seem to realease dirt better.

 

[White95Max]

Paul. Great write up, and many great tips. But why do you have to dry it so soon after you wash an area? I noticed that I can wash an entire side or at least a door or panel of the car with QEW and then dry it. I have tried your method and it works really well, I used a 1/2 L spray bottle with about 50 ml of QEW = mixed 1:10 and pre soaked the panels. Then I used a MF like the one you have to wash, and a WW MF to dry. Worked great. But I also like to clean the wheelwells and under carriage in the winter becouse otherwise rust will be a problem in the future. How do you take care of that? Do you just spray it down at one of those DIY places a few times in the winter?

I like to dry it after each panel or two, just to be sure it isn't allowed to dry/streak.



I spray my car down with the hose a few times during the winter, yes. I do it with the hose at my parents' house, not a DIY place. I thought about going to a DIY place, but I'm afraid the pressure from the wand will force salty water into places where it shouldn't be...and couldn't get to without assistance.

I also take 1gal buckets of water and throw the water forcefully above the tire, so it contacts the back of the wheelwell and splashes the whole area clean. It also rinses off the suspension components behind the wheels. I consider this to be good enough until the next time I visit my parents.



When I get my next car, I hope to live in southern/central Oregon where the cold/salt isn't such a problem.

 

[White95Max]

A couple more tips:



Wash slightly past each panel, so that you can dry that panel completely without worrying about picking up dirt from the next panel.



If there is sand on the lower panels, try to spray it off with the sprayer if possible. If you don't have to wipe it off, don't.

 

[wytstang]

Now that I live in an apartment these tips will be very usefull thanks a million. Bump for a good thread...

 

[imported_themightytimmah]

Nice writeup Paul, articles like this make me glad I moved to Florida for the winter.

 

[imported_Malachi]

Knowing that I could be asking a really stupid question....



Why can't/shouldn't you use the spray bottle and MF procedure to do the entire car?



In other words, use the same strength QEW in a spray bottle and clean the car like you were QDing.

 

[White95Max]

You *could* do that, but I wouldn't try it on a car as dirty as mine gets during the winter. In the warmer months, I tend to use a regular QD on my car only when it's a bit dusty. If it's got heavy dust, I use the OXO Duster first, then QD. If it was driven through the rain or has gravel dust or something, I'll wash it. I've also experimented with dumping 5gal of straight water on the car to rinse off the heavy dust, and then use a QD...it works well!



When the car is salty like mine was for the pics in this thread (and like it is currently ), I would not trust a spray solution to handle the job alone. It might be able to, but I find it to be quicker to just spray it on the panel, wipe it with the wash MF, and then dry it. If I were just doing a S&W method, I think I would tend to go very slowly and cautiously, so it would actually end up being a less efficient process.

 

[imported_Malachi]

When the car is salty like mine was for the pics in this thread (and like it is currently ), I would not trust a spray solution to handle the job alone. It might be able to, but I find it to be quicker to just spray it on the panel, wipe it with the wash MF, and then dry it. If I were just doing a S&W method, I think I would tend to go very slowly and cautiously, so it would actually end up being a less efficient process.

White95Max, thank you for the original post and follow up.



Not sure if you are against the idea because there may be no time savings or another reason...



It seems that you are saying that you think it is faster to:

1) prespray

2) dunk

3) wipe

4) dry

5) complete rinse, then repeat steps 2)-4) and do 1) as necessary



And I am wondering what would be the fundamental mistake of:

1) spraying (more if necessary for bad spots)

2) wiping

3) drying then repeat steps 1)-3)?



Using the spray bottle method (especially for winter cleanings) would need more wiping towels since there is no rinsing involved. In addition, one would need to make some extra QEW mix to refill the bottle, but there would not be a need for two buckets or for any water.

 

[White95Max]

I don't think the suggested method would save much time, if any, but I also think it's safer to use the two-bucket method in addition to the pre-soak spray. Rock salt and sand are not friendly to paint, so I err on the side of caution here. To be honest, I've only washed my car by hand a couple times since October. I've been going to the DIY wash bay instead. But tomorrow I may wash the car in the garage.