Tip #33, Long Term Storage and care for unrestored originals

Self Drying Car Wash Treatments, and "Touchless" Washes....are they for you?

This year (as I write this it is late summer 2004) the big buzz on a lot of car internet lists and at cruise-ins is about those self-drying rinses from Mr. Clean, Meguiars and others.

I have tried some of them and for the most part they work, but I am hearing rumblings from some of my customers and friends in my various car clubs.

Here is what I know for now:

1.  The trend to try to sell something that makes the wash/wax experience totally pain-free or trouble-free is driven by marketing and dollars and not necessarily by good intentions towards YOU, the consumer.

2.  NO product that claims to clean perfectly without using a wash mitt or cloth can possibly be telling the truth.  Without super harsh chemicals and water pressure so high it can literally strip paint from your vehicle, NO touchless wash can truly clean your vehicle.  There is almost always a thin layer of dirt scum that won't come off.  If you then hand dry a vehicle with a chamois or towel, you grind that dirt into your paint, leaving scratches.

3.  Self-drying rinses can work, but they also leave something on the surface that is troubling many of my friends and customers.  After using these products for a few times, they are seeing a dulling of the paint and are having to hand wash, glaze and wax to bring back the proper shine.  Here is a statement from one of my internet lists, he also makes reference to my continuing support of Liquid Ivory as the best soap to use when washing a car:

As of today Mr Clean has retired!  I am done with it , not taking any chances any more . The finish of 'My car ' is not as nice as it was before I started using this product.  The old fashioned way IS best . I am going back to my old methods - Clay bar (2-3 times a season ) , continued regular washes ( thanks for the soap tip ! ) , since the SHO is outdoors 100% of the time- monthly polish and carnauba waxing . Detailing is a labor of love ( does not have to be tough love either ) and I enjoy both the effort and the people that notice the results .
Rick B

4.  Proper hand washing with a good detergent and soft mitt along with drying by hand are still the best solutions to a great looking car and paint that has fewer problems.

Here are two pictures sent to me by a customer.  His explanation:

I took a couple of shots with my new camera today to show how well my wax is working. One shot is my car, the other is my roomate's 2001 Civic. I waxed mine last fall, he waxed his a couple of weeks after me. It's been at least 6 weeks and countless car washes. My wax is obviously superior. Any guesses on what wax I used? :)  (Hint, Collinite 915 Marque d'Elegance Carnauba Wax from DC CarCare! -- Ed).
Ian Macoomb,
Ottawa, Ontario

Click on the images below to get a shocking view of how good wax works for you!

What happened is that the wax on the left (NOT from DC CarCare) washed away in a couple weeks, leaving the surface unprotected.  Bad water deposits were the result.  The Collinite (picture on the right) keeps protecting weeks longer.

Recently I had an accident with a large glass of soda in my garage (don't ask!) :)

The soda splashed all over my 1996 SHO with a wax job (Collinite 915) that was about a year old.  I took the hose from outside my garage and rinsed the car off, and because I was in a hurry, and the car was inside the garage and in the shade, I left it to self-dry.  BAD move!  The car had bad water spots the next day. I forgot that my outside faucet is connected directly to well water, and does not go through any softener.  The iron/calcium deposits were bad.  But a gentle hand wash got rid of them.  That is what a good wax will do for you.  Not all water deposits will wash off this easy, even with a good wax protection, but I was sure relieved!