Advice (detailers?) on chalky residue left after washing car

[vantager]

I’ve always washed cars the same way:
1. thoroughly rinse the car with a hose (top down)
2. spray around the wheel arches
3. wash the wheels with a bucket/sponge/wheel brush
4. wash the car (top down) with a different bucket/sponge,
5. thoroughly rinse the car with a hose (top down)
6. put it back in the garage (out of sunlight)
7. chammy it dry
8. I dont polish!

The water is quite chalky where I live. If I don’t chammy the car off immediately (sometimes, even if I do) I am left with a chalky residue that is most prominent on the wings/bonnet/roof. It looks like I’ve left the car out in the rain for a year or so! Its really hard to shift if this happens. The last time this happened, I had to get it off using rinse aid (the stuff you put in a dishwasher to leave your glasses sparkling!) – because re-washing the car did not remove the chalky marks. I got the rinse aid idea from another car website – took time but it worked.

Has anyone got any ideas to stop this (short of moving!)?

[Platinum]

You could use one of those 'quick detailers' that are usually supplied with claying sets. That gets any water marks off the paint once I have dried it.

[drcarrera]

You could try tackling the problem at source and fit an in-line descaler to the water feed you're using. You can get electric or passive ones (I've got a Liffe which seems to reduce the limescale content of the water enough to notice a difference).

[Neil1300R]

First off see the FAQ's for a link on how to wash the car.
In hardwater areas try one of these:-
http://www.monzacarcare.com/aquagleam-aqua-gleam-w...
Get some drying cloths - chamois can scratch your car. Once rinsed, give the car a quick dry off with a drying cloth. Not strictly necessary with the filter, but i find it gives a better result.

[bogie]

use filtered water
dont use sponges - use only wool mitts, 2 buckets, wash the mitts after every use
dont use chammy - use drying towels, use them for the car, wash them after use

im sure an inline filter will sort it out

[vantager]

Thanks for all the advice.

1. Neil – are you using this one - http://www.monzacarcare.com/aquagleam-aqua-gleam-w...
2. Are these clays sets easy to use and/or worth it?
3. Whats the general feeling on waxing/polishing - worth the effort?

[l8lue]

We live in a hardwater area too - same problem, until a rainwater harvesting system was integrated, using a 10,000L tank. This was really for watering garden etc, but an unexpected bonus was the final wash down of cars gives a superb, non streaky finish.

[bogie]

"Whats the general feeling on waxing/polishing - worth the effort"

personally I cant be arsed doing it every few months, so just had mine re-coated with Gtechnic polymer stuff www.gtechnic.com

they are about £300 if you are near them or choose a detailer that will apply for you, after a machine polish

I last had it done about a month from getting the car, back in 2007 ...it was still beading water and looking shiny nearly 4 years later, its just the dreaded swirls were starting to come back (black car) after 4 years of careful washing

[Neil1300R]

vantager said:

Thanks for all the advice.

1. Neil – are you using this one - http://www.monzacarcare.com/aquagleam-aqua-gleam-w...
2. Are these clays sets easy to use and/or worth it?
3. Whats the general feeling on waxing/polishing - worth the effort?

1. Linky not working.
2. Never used them
3. Yep well worth waxing. Use a wax you put on the car when wet (will check which one). Do it every couple of months - doesn't take much longer than drying it.
With the wax on yesterday (admittedly not that dirty, but bugs on front and streaks on rest of car), I foam lanced it (check the cleaning thread in the Frequently Asked Questions), left for a few minutes. Then just power washed it down, removed all the dirt, bugs etc. All without touching the car. Then final rinse with the filtered water and a quick dry with drying cloths. Waxed car makes its simple. And don't forget to wax your rims - they cleaned up with just a quick brushing and the power washer. Didn't need to use any wheel cleaner.

[SHIFTY]

Rainwater butt connected to downpipe, £30 Hozelock pump from B&Q connect to hosepipe and you will never have any marks left on the car after it has dried itself.

[Cipo]

Not sure where you are but take a look at this previous thread, you will not go wrong, Paddy328 has been looking after my cars for a year, he makes a wonderful transformation.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... buying guide with pics

[pschlute]

I have used the aquagleam from monzacare. Does the trick. Trick is to keep the car wet throught the washing /rinsing procedure and the use the aquagleam for the final rinse only, that way you get a longer life from the thing. If you live in a hard water area you will notice the difference.

I have used the clay bar on my other car...MINI , cleaned it a treat, but it is a long process. Would only suggest you do it before a complete polish and wax.

Peter

[paddy328]

as above really. Keep the car wet and get some aquagleam filters. However, having a smooth clean waxed car will make alot of difference.

If your water is anything like the stuff they have in around south london, i wouldnt ever let water dry on the car and try not to wash it in the sun.

[vantager]

What kind of wax are you guys using (or is it Swissvax or nothing?)

[bogie]

vantager said:

What kind of wax are you guys using (or is it Swissvax or nothing?)

just had mine redone with www.gtechniq.com

try some C2 next time ...the wheel armour works great too

[vantager]

Neil1300R said:

...(check the cleaning thread in the Frequently Asked Questions),

Where is this thread? Never found an FAQ section, but it would be useful for the recurring questions (reliability, insurance, indie vs main dealer etc)

[Kent123]

I sought a solution to exactly the same problem a few months back. I eventually decided to purchase an 11l DI resin vessel:

http://www.cleaningspot.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000002.pl?...

I wish I'd purchased this years ago. No chalky residue any more, and no racing around the car with a towel to dry it after washing, in fact no need to dry it!

There's a very useful thread here that explans all http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.p...

[Neil1300R]

vantager said:

Where is this thread? Never found an FAQ section, but it would be useful for the recurring questions (reliability, insurance, indie vs main dealer etc)

The fourth topic down in this Aston forum! Its a sticky so should always be up near the top.

[vantager]

Thats a serious looking bit of kit!