How many times is a car washed in one detail?

YankeeFan

YankeeFan

New member
Joined
Dec 2, 2006
Messages
607
Reaction score
0
If completely detailing the outside of car, for example ... wash.....clay....polish........sealant......wax. Between those steps how many times do you wash the car? For example, after claying do you wash to get off any residue clay or loosened particales? Same for the other steps.

Thanks,
Howard
 
thats a personal descion. I normaly wash just one, at the begining. I then clay, and just wipe off the lube. From there i continue to do the rest of the steps without washing, all the wax and polish can be wiped off.

I know of a few people who wash after claying, just to make sure everything is off, again this is a personal thing.
 
I wash just once right before I start. Never seen a need to rewash after claying.
 
supercharged said:
I wash just once right before I start. Never seen a need to rewash after claying.
Click to expand...
I always rewash after claying, just to be safe... but i am just a newbie.
 
I always wash my car before and after I clay it. I never wash it between polish/sealant/wax unless the car was sitting outside overnight between steps and had a chance to get dirty. I lot of times I may do the polish/sealant/wax steps over a number of days because of curing times and time constraints. A lot of time I will cover the car up between steps (even in the garage) so it does not have a chance to get dirty. If the car had a chance to get dirty between steps and you proceed without washing it you will grind the dirt into you paint and end up with a lot of swirl marks.
 
Last edited:
I only was once. I usually clay while washing. I can think of two times that I've had to rewash due to dusting of a polish.
 
Several times can be the correct answer ... there is no absolute answer.

Wash --- Clay --- Rewash --- Polish -- Rewash --- Seal --- Cure --- Wax

People ask why I have washed up to three times in a detailing session. Simple, I felt I needed too. First wash is instrumental in cleaning car. Second, after claying is quicker but removing any contaminents on paint without further swirls/scratching. After polishing is unique, but I do it on occasion or a full alcohol/water wipe down. You see the oils and fillers in most polishes can reduce the ability for a "sealant" to specifically cure and attach to paint. These fillers and oils are gone quickly with a soft wash.
 
killrwheels@autogeek said:
Several times can be the correct answer ... there is no absolute answer.

Wash --- Clay --- Rewash --- Polish -- Rewash --- Seal --- Cure --- Wax

People ask why I have washed up to three times in a detailing session. Simple, I felt I needed too. First wash is instrumental in cleaning car. Second, after claying is quicker but removing any contaminents on paint without further swirls/scratching. After polishing is unique, but I do it on occasion or a full alcohol/water wipe down. You see the oils and fillers in most polishes can reduce the ability for a "sealant" to specifically cure and attach to paint. These fillers and oils are gone quickly with a soft wash.
Click to expand...

This would be my process also if doing just one car over a several day period.
 
killrwheels@autogeek said:
Several times can be the correct answer ... there is no absolute answer.

Wash --- Clay --- Rewash --- Polish -- Rewash --- Seal --- Cure --- Wax

People ask why I have washed up to three times in a detailing session. Simple, I felt I needed too. First wash is instrumental in cleaning car. Second, after claying is quicker but removing any contaminents on paint without further swirls/scratching. After polishing is unique, but I do it on occasion or a full alcohol/water wipe down. You see the oils and fillers in most polishes can reduce the ability for a "sealant" to specifically cure and attach to paint. These fillers and oils are gone quickly with a soft wash.
Click to expand...
That's what I prefer over rewashing.
 
killrwheels@autogeek said:
Several times can be the correct answer ... there is no absolute answer.

Wash --- Clay --- Rewash --- Polish -- Rewash --- Seal --- Cure --- Wax

People ask why I have washed up to three times in a detailing session. Simple, I felt I needed too. First wash is instrumental in cleaning car. Second, after claying is quicker but removing any contaminents on paint without further swirls/scratching. After polishing is unique, but I do it on occasion or a full alcohol/water wipe down. You see the oils and fillers in most polishes can reduce the ability for a "sealant" to specifically cure and attach to paint. These fillers and oils are gone quickly with a soft wash.
Click to expand...

What is the advantahe of an alcohol/water mixture. I think I saw an old post indicating a 25/75 mixture of alcohol/water. What does the alcohol do that soap doesn't?

Howard
 
soap and alcohol both help to strip/remove the oils and fillers. Alcohol is already watered down when purchased at store, so it can be used as-is. Soap has a little more umph but takes longer. Neither are wrong choices, but a pristine finish with no oils and fillers is the best finish for sealants to attach to and cure properly without sacrificing durability and in some cases hazing. Carnauba waxes will attach to just about anything, and can be used directly over polish as wanted.

One other reason I like to rewash or wipe down. These fillers hide small scratches and imperfections. So much easier to repolish as needed versus sealing a finish with flaws. Then again I drive black ....
 
I just wash once, then go straight to claying/polishing etc. We a couple large vehicles including 3 suv's, you can bet I'm not rewashing any after each step LOL.
 
killrwheels@autogeek said:
soap and alcohol both help to strip/remove the oils and fillers. Alcohol is already watered down when purchased at store, so it can be used as-is. Soap has a little more umph but takes longer. Neither are wrong choices, but a pristine finish with no oils and fillers is the best finish for sealants to attach to and cure properly without sacrificing durability and in some cases hazing. Carnauba waxes will attach to just about anything, and can be used directly over polish as wanted.

One other reason I like to rewash or wipe down. These fillers hide small scratches and imperfections. So much easier to repolish as needed versus sealing a finish with flaws. Then again I drive black ....
Click to expand...

I agree, I've been working on my Volvo for the past week and it's a small four dor vehicle and I have

Washed - Clayed - Washed - Polished - Washed

It is my first detail and using the products but I find that this will help me get the results I'm looking for.
 
Nica said:
I agree, I've been working on my Volvo for the past week and it's a small four dor vehicle and I have

Washed - Clayed - Washed - Polished - Washed

It is my first detail and using the products but I find that this will help me get the results I'm looking for.
Click to expand...
Your neighbors must of thought that you are really crazy:D :cheers: .
 
i only wash one time... i wipe the car with a MF as i clay it. and use alcohol/water before sealing
 
Surfer said:
I just wash once, then go straight to claying/polishing etc. We a couple large vehicles including 3 suv's, you can bet I'm not rewashing any after each step LOL.
Click to expand...
:iagree: I can rewash fairly fast,drying again is pita.door jambs and all:( .Especially on humongo extended cab.
icon2.gif
sleeps really well after full detail.ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ:D
 
supercharged said:
Your neighbors must of thought that you are really crazy:D :cheers: .
Click to expand...

Yea, I may have over done it but as I clayed I didn't wipe. Next time I clay I think I'll wipe and then proceed to polishing...but this is working good so far for me...but I would hate to do this on my SUV...man that would take for ever to do.
 
I only wash once. I think Im going to try claying during the wash too, then double check again when Im done washing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top