Washing/Detailing: DIY or Pros?

[24STX5.0]

I'm not sure if it's the sun, the salt air, the acid rain, the swarms of bugs, or what here in the Mid-Atlantic, but even the best hand-applied wax lasts about four weeks maximum. The comments about water beading six months later (let alone a year) are a distant pipe dream here.

I actually paid a pro shop for a paint correction and GTechniq Crystal 5-year ceramic coating on a brand new vehicle about five years ago, and maintained the coating meticulously. It beaded water for about a year. That's the best I've seen around here.

I've resigned myself to a weekly hand wash (less during the freezing winter times) and wax twice a year, typically ~March and November.

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[Flash69]

I'm not sure if it's the sun, the salt air, the acid rain, the swarms of bugs, or what here in the Mid-Atlantic, but even the best hand-applied wax lasts about four weeks maximum. The comments about water beading six months later (let alone a year) are a distant pipe dream here.

I actually paid a pro shop for a paint correction and GTechniq Crystal 5-year ceramic coating on a brand new vehicle about five years ago, and maintained the coating meticulously. It beaded water for about a year. That's the best I've seen around here.

I've resigned myself to a weekly hand wash (less during the freezing winter times) and wax twice a year, typically ~March and November.

For a ceramic coating to maintain its hydrophobic properties, it must be maintained. This does not only mean washing the vehicle. Ceramic coatings can have “clogging” just like a car’s clear coat. To keep the hydrophobic properties, folks have to use the correct shampoo, sometimes iron remover and tar remover.

I ceramic coated my wheels 2 years ago with Gyeon Wheel coating. I clean them with P&S tire/wheel cleaner and P&S iron remover. I then use CarPro Hydr02 Lite and rinse off immediately and blow dry them. My wheels still bead water and are super easy to clean 2 years later.

 

[Old Hat]

I only hand wash and here's what I found. Regular gentle washing with quality soap and mitts is pretty much all I need to keep them looking like new. I am a clean vehicle fanatic so grime is never left on for long. Even in our Chicago winters. Wash mitt gets blasted clean after every panel, so no scratches building up. Reg cab truck takes 1.25 hours to wash/dry. Two door Mercedes coupe takes 45 minutes. I might clay bar and apply Meguiar's Quik Wax once a year, or two. I keep my vehicles for 10+ years and regularly get complements on how they still look like new. Modern paint's are quite tough and long lasting if you don't sand them with improper wash techniques or auto machines.

 

[Adjutant]

It usually takes me a couple of hours to fully detail my truck. This is using Meguiar's waterless wash/wax and quick sweep and detail of interior.

It takes me a very solid 2 hours-2.5 to detail my truck. I start with the interior. Vacuum, glass, 303 and/or Ammo Lather.
Pressure washer pre-rinse, foam cannon, 2 bucket wash, rinse, and dry

Every 2ish months I add Griots 3-1 Ceramic wax at the end. That usually takes an additional 30-45 minutes

Its definitely a process, but I love when its done. Ill dork out and just look at my truck in the driveway

 

[wanaride67]

I'm glad I come across this thread. Since it takes me 2 hours to clean my 2023 Lariat Supercrew with foam cannon and 2 bucket method, I opted for a monthly subscription to a local car wash. It is super convenient but now I have "spider webs" all over the paint, and they never do as good a job as when I do it myself. Yes I know it's a truck, but like others on this thread, I really like for my truck to look nice. It's good to know I'm not alone here!

 

[tonyramz]

I clean my truck weekly. 3 weeks I will do an ONR rinse less wash and the 4th weekend will do a full contact 2 bucket wash with Griots Surface Wash then follow it up with Griots Snow Foam. Then finish it with Griots Speed Shine or Ceramic Speed Shine. I am convinced that the ONR makes it easy to keep it clean. However, my 55 year old body can only do one car per day on the weekends. So Saturday I do my truck and then Sunday do my wife’s SUV. But I will never do the full contact for both vehicles on the same weekend. Did that one weekend and that was more than enough for me. Being in this town, there are many sunny days and few showers to worry about.

 

[LeadfootRGR]

I do all of my own detailing. I find it therapeutic. lol

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