The oldest trick in my book.... what is yours?

Dr_Pain

Dr_Pain

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I've been in the detailing field for over 20 years and although I love playing with new products, new technologies, or new techniques, sometimes it is just fun to go "Old School".

This weekend started like any other weekend in South Louisiana (at this time of the year)..... a major scramble to do all the maintenance washes and seasonal "wash and wax" before the "doodoo" hits the fan. I'm a "Weekend Pro" so Friday, Saturday and Sunday is all I have to offer and I am blessed to be booked solid (with 2 employees). Here is what my weather app was showing Saturday, YUP rain and lots of it :(
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We were able to pack them tight Friday, and was able to do a couple of cars on Saturday morning.... but then came the deluge. The weather forecast predicted rain from around 10am to 4pm.... OUR PRIME TIME!!! We offer a valet service, but there were no delivering car in that kind of weather. So what does a guy do in this kind of weather?? Yup, wash the car in the rain!!! WHAT??? Absolutely, there is no better Old School shortcut than washing a car in the rain, especially when a car does not need to be delivered (or can wait till the ground dries up). So no tears were shed because of the potential downtime.

So what are the advantages of working in the rain??
  1. No sun = no rush to avoid water spotting
  2. No sun = no soap drying on a panel
  3. No sun = cool panels
  4. No sun = no sun burns
  5. Constant rain = flooding of the car exterior with DEMINERALIZED water
  6. Demineralized water = no worries about water spotting
  7. No worries about water spotting = no worries about drying the car <---Major time saver!

So what is my process??

STEP #1: A THOROUGH RINSE DOWN, to get rid of all the caked on dirt (and other solids)
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STEP #2 A nice "foaming" action to begin cutting down the road grime (only if it is not raining too hard, which would prevent dwell time)

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STEP #3 A little dwell time, followed by a 2 BM washing method
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As you can see above, the rain starts the rinsing off process (nice foamy beads), but needs to be followed by #4 for good measure.

STEP #4 A through rinse down with the pressure washer followed by a quick inspection

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STEP #5 Just forget them in the rain for a good rinse with demineralized water


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It goes without saying that this technique only works if it if actually raining, not just a light drizzle which would not "flood" the car enough to flush the hard water minerals you get from the faucet.

Once the sun comes back out the rain will evaporate and you are left with dressing the tires and fender wells and you are good to go ;) (NOTE: Interior is done first in the shop and the vehicle is brought back outside for the wash)

Why don't you share your favorite "old school" technique. Looking forward to your comments
 
I used to wash in the rain in Lake Havasu and found every benefit you mentioned. Our water was "chewy" with all the minerals! The rest of the time I used a 2 bucket method with water from our home RO system.
 
This FUN trick sometimes takes some "coaxing":

[ame="http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_M0GNLvPmAg"]Redneck Tire Mounting - YouTube[/video]​


Bob
 
Almost felt like creating a new account for this but, saliva.

There have been times where I have tried everything and a spot wont come off. I lick my finger, wipe, spot is off. These are the moments I question my purpose. Lol *face to palm*
 
North26 said:
Almost felt like creating a new account for this but, saliva.

There have been times where I have tried everything and a spot wont come off. I lick my finger, wipe, spot is off. These are the moments I question my purpose. Lol *face to palm*
Click to expand...

Yeah, funny how different solvents work, I remember years ago a co-worker trying to clean a coffee ring off a workbench. He was using a potent degreasing solvent (one not used too much anymore today) and was scrubbing furiously with a paper towel, and the coffee did not budge.

However, water easily removed the ring. Chemistry F T W.
 
Up here, rain water may be softer than municipal, but it certainly isn't pure H2O... But I definitely love using the rainwater wash!

My neighbor once asked why I was driving up onto four pieces of 5/4x6 deck board. I pointed to the four half-moon-shaped "ArmorAll" stains on his driveway and the corresponding bare spots on his tires. He slapped his forehead and said, "Ohhhhhh."
 
LOL! I guess there are not many old school techniques still in existence that would not make another OCD detailer cringe. I have done the saliva thing and the finger nail flick and the 0000 steel wool, but today we have much better methodology and products, but still nothing beats the cut corner "washing in the rain" for a quick worry free clean up

BUT the deck board trick Francesco shared has to be another one of those :doh: from the past
 
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