Keeping car clean on road trip

[andrewdj]

So we're off on a 2-week road trip to the South of France and I was wondering what to pack in order to keep the outside of the car clean. I have plenty of clean microfibres and various chemicals for cleaning but is there, say, a solution that can be mixed up that can be sprayed on to lift dirt. I don't want to be visiting car washes and would prefer to at least attempt to keep it clean.

[alscar]

Quite a few different waterless spray cleaners on the market although I’ve never been brave enough to actually try one.
If away in one of our cars I usually have a spay can of bird poo remover handy as that if left on paint can be a real pita to remove.

[LTP]

I always worried about these waterless cleaners and have never used one. The idea of using a trigger bottle to add a liquid to the accumulated road grime, mixing it into a nice, abrasive slurry with a microfibre then using that to scrub the notoriously fragile Aston Martin paint clean fills me with swirls of horror.

Just keep the glass clean - that stuff's tough enough to take a squirt of Quick Fast Glass and a microfibre. Then clean the rest properly when you get home

Visiting a commercial car wash? In an Aston?

Edited to correct product name before Autoglym sends the boys round

Edited by LTP on Thursday 18th September 14:07

[bogie]

I have some Vulcanet wipes, they are great for a quick wipe of bird poo etc. Some Fast Glass for the screen, otherwise leave it alone. You may find a jet wash style car wash you could use, pack some cloths and bottle of wash. Ive done that on a 2 week tour, otherwise I just leave it until I get home. Just Keep the screen/lights clean.

The waterless Vulcanet wipes are great if your bike/car is just a bit dusty, but not really viable to use when really dirty.

[Simpo Two]

LTP said:

I always worried about these waterless cleaners and have never used one. The idea of using a trigger bottle to add a liquid to the accumulated road grime, mixing it into a nice, abrasive slurry with a microfibre then using that to scrub the notoriously fragile Aston Martin paint clean fills me with swirls of horror.

Me too, and I'm not a detailing nerd. What is the liquid, if not water?

[bennno]

andrewdj said:

So we're off on a 2-week road trip to the South of France and I was wondering what to pack in order to keep the outside of the car clean. I have plenty of clean microfibres and various chemicals for cleaning but is there, say, a solution that can be mixed up that can be sprayed on to lift dirt. I don't want to be visiting car washes and would prefer to at least attempt to keep it clean.

We just clean the windscreen each time when filling up on the french autoroutes with the equipment provided.

Perhaps a quick hot jet wash on arrival, again when filling up, but avoiding the brushes as full of scratchy stuff.

We just take a microfibre for drying the car off.

[AlexT]

It's really simple.

Buy a bottle of Gyeon Cancoat, their Prep spray and a waterless wash spray (I use Ultima Waterless Wash but hard to find now - can try to get Optimum No Rinse instead).

Wash car, dry and use prep spray to remove any oils etc on paint.

Then do a single coat of Gyeon Cancoat. Can do another after the first cures in a few hours. Make sure car does not see rain for at least 24 hours. This is the easiest ceramic coat you can buy and very effective. Gloss levels are enhanced as a bonus.

The ceramic coating will make it extremely easy to clean using the Ultima Waterless Wash - which you can use as a quick detailer by diluting 30ml to 500ml and use when necessary. You will be very pleased with how much easier the car will be to clean.

This is all you need to do. Results will be excellent.

[NDA]

I just take a large microfibre drying towel and a wash mitt. I drive to the SoF every year and always in something nice - but always a sports car, so there's not much room for a full cleaning kit.

If I'm lucky, I'll pass a jet wash, otherwise it's just the above.

[macdeb]

There are plenty of self serve jet wash garages available if you look for them. Take your best mitts, cleaner, microfibre towels good to go. I myself would never use a waterless product, fills me with fear.

[john ryan]

A collapsible bucket, a microfiber wash cloth, and a little hotel liquid soap has been my answer for years. Presently on our way back from Italy, and 30deg on the Adriatic coast.

[Doofus]

Bear in mind that in a lot of France you're not allowed to wash your own car anywhere other than a car wash.

[Simpo Two]

AlexT said:

Buy a bottle of Gyeon Cancoat, their Prep spray and a waterless wash spray (I use Ultima Waterless Wash but hard to find now - can try to get Optimum No Rinse instead).

Wash car, dry and use prep spray to remove any oils etc on paint.

Then do a single coat of Gyeon Cancoat. Can do another after the first cures in a few hours. Make sure car does not see rain for at least 24 hours. This is the easiest ceramic coat you can buy and very effective. Gloss levels are enhanced as a bonus.

The ceramic coating will make it extremely easy to clean using the Ultima Waterless Wash - which you can use as a quick detailer by diluting 30ml to 500ml and use when necessary. You will be very pleased with how much easier the car will be to clean.

He's not going to have much holiday left...

[NDA]

Doofus said:

Bear in mind that in a lot of France you're not allowed to wash your own car anywhere other than a car wash.

It is restricted, but you can wash your car in a garden or driveway, provided the wastewater does not reach a public area... the laws are quite strict.

[andrewdj]

Thanks everyone. Looks like a few cloths, Fast Glass, and bird poo remover will be all I need.

[CSK1]

I m actually in the South of France and there are many places where you can jet wash your car yourself.
« Elephant Bleu » is pretty good.
There are several stages where you start off with foam, then clean and rinse with demineralised water.
Just take a few microfibre cloths to dry.
You can even air dry in the nooks and crannies where water is trapped in and vacuum the interior.
No scratches on the paint and I have been doing this for many years.

[LesXRN]

The best thing I've ever found for Fly squash on the screen is baby wipes, they really do work wonders.
The other thing I keep in the boot is Maguires quick detailer, it's a spray on waterless cleaner, plus a couple of microfibre cloths.

Enjoy the trip, the roads here are generally very good.

[Metric Max]

I keep our cars immaculate but I have better things to do on holiday than cleaning a car, other than windows/lights/mirrors easily done with Fast Glass and a microcloth

[itcaptainslow]

OP, you need one of these;

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kärcher-OC-Foldable-...

Then from the same source, a foldable bucket.

The pair of them don’t take up much space (I took them on my last trip in my Elise) and are excellent for a clean where using a detailing spray is inappropriate on a heavily soiled car.

[macdeb]

CSK1 said:

I m actually in the South of France and there are many places where you can jet wash your car yourself.
« Elephant Bleu » is pretty good.
There are several stages where you start off with foam, then clean and rinse with demineralised water.
Just take a few microfibre cloths to dry.
You can even air dry in the nooks and crannies where water is trapped in and vacuum the interior.
No scratches on the paint and I have been doing this for many years.

^^^^ "What he said.

[Far Cough]

Anything other than a slight dusting is not worth touching if you dont have access to running water or PPF installed. You`ll do more damage than good.

As others have said , just do the glass. There are very good garage based "Auto Lavage" ( car wash !) if your desperate but just use the jet wash and then your own stuff. Leave them brushes well alone !!!

Have a great trip