Car Washing Disaster

[NewNeptune]

I tried to wash my car today. The results were, how shall I put it, less than pleasing?http://i10.tinypic.com/4tprj1c.jpghttp: ... wo5.jpgThe whole car is like this. Thing is, I don't know what I've done wrong. I did everything I thought I was supposed to do:- Wash one part at a time- Keep it wet- Use a mit that has been soaked with soap- Scrub thoroughly- Rinse thoroughlyI pre-wet the whole car, and then did all of those things. I am using a Mr. Clean AutoDry thing to mix the soap and water. I am using a water softener. I thoroughly rinsed each section of the car after I scrubbed it and I rinsed the whole car completely after I rinsed the last section. Then I grabbed a different attachment for the hose, one that shoots a more powerful stream of water than the Mr. Clean thing and rinsed the whole car again. And still this happened. Even the rear hatch, which was the last section I washed, is like this. It is the smallest area I washed at once and there was zero time for the soap to dry. I really don't understand what I've done wrong... can anyone offer any suggestions?

[joatmon]

wow, that looks terrible.since the stuff is on the glass as well, and assuming that you thoroughly washed and rinsed the car, then I'd say it must have been something in the water. The only time I ever had anything happen that looks like that was on a car with a really crappy paint job, the paint on the roof flaked off leaving bare gray primer, and it would dissolve and streak all over the rest of the car. i assume that is not the problem here thoughDid you only notice the stuff when it was dry? Does it wipe off? Does your water have a high mineral content? The Mr Clean thing is supposed to filter out stuff, maybe it all came from the final rinse when you put the other attachment on the hose. What kind of soap did you use?

[redlava]

Mine does that too on occasion. My Dakota used to do that as well if I didn't dry it or take the brush to it. I always thought it was the type of clear coat they used. My guess is probably the water. But if you leave it parked outside it could also be tree sap, or oil and soot from the highway, or just plain old atmospheric contaminates. I don't have any experience with the Mr. Clean stuff, I just use the local power washer and the provided scrub brush, then I dry it off with a towel. When I lived in Iowa City they had a great automatic car washer there, it cost $8, but it did a wonderful job.

[NewNeptune]

I probably should have used the filter setting on the Mr. Clean. Our water is known here for being full of minerals and all kinds of other junk. The problem though is that I would rinse a section and then within a minute or so the thing was dry. The rainbow-y appearance makes me think it is soap. I could literally stand there and watch the windshield try, top to bottom and as it did, this "stuff" appeared.Soap was the Mr. Clean flavor of soap.Luckily it came out at the car wash this morning, just a bunch of water spots all over the place, so I'm going to take it in again and wash again. Perhaps I should ditch the Mr. Clean thing and try it the old fashioned way...

[kostby]

Did you wash it in the sun? That hastens drying and can cause spotting. My local coin-op car wash has a 'spot-free-rinse' which helps the hard water problem quite a bit.

[kevera]

I have the Mr.clean machine.I would recommend staying away from their soap.Wash the whole car in the shade,then use the filtered setting as a final rinse.Doing it in sections with the Mr.Clean will give you spotted results.I've had mine for 2 years now,with no problems,I just don't like their soap.

[DavidPIL]

Hiya... Quote, originally posted by kevera »I have the Mr.clean machine.I would recommend staying away from their soap.Wash the whole car in the shade,then use the filtered setting as a final rinse.Doing it in sections with the Mr.Clean will give you spotted results.I've had mine for 2 years now,with no problems,I just don't like their soap.Yeah, not too keen on their soap either. I pour the reservoir about half full Meguire's Deep Crystal Car wash then fill the rest with water. Does a great job and doesn't clog.Quote, originally posted by NewNeptune »I probably should have used the filter setting on the Mr. Clean. Our water is known here for being full of minerals and all kinds of other junk. The problem though is that I would rinse a section and then within a minute or so the thing was dry. You should always end with the Filtered water. If you don't, then why use the Mr. Clean thing at all? I hate the spray nozzle on mine but use it because how conveniently it distributes soap and the final rinse. I much prefer bucket washing because I feel it gets dirt off my wash mit where this system doesn't unless I constantly spray the mit down. In any case, always end with the Filter, and don't wash in the direct sun, if at all possible. Yeah, the regular spray may dry quick on you before you're able to use the filter but try just washing the top portion first (from the windows up) then regular rinse then filter rinse, then do one side, then rinse... etc... You can always go back to the top and re-rinse with the filter if needed.That works for me at least...Dave

[kevera]

That's one thing I forgot to add.Using a bucket of soapy water is what I use.I do start from the top,but one side at a time,because my driveway slopes.New Neptune,follow what DavidPil and I said and you should have no problems.I'm so lazy now,I forgot what a chamois looks like,haha.

[NewNeptune]

I'll give a different soap a shot. I wonder how hard it's going to be getting the old soap out of it...I used the thing so I could quickly and evenly get soap on the car. Didn't think of the filter being useful at all, since I have a water softener, but then I stupidly forgot our water is so bad.Shade is non-existent here in AZ. I washed it about 9:30AM, when it was only 85-90 degrees outside. Maybe I'll try for earlier next time. It really bugs me though that the next door neighbor is having no trouble washing an Avalanche, no water filter at 5 PM in 100+ degree heat and I can't do it in cooler weather.Thanks for the tips!

[Sublimewind]

You got DIY car washes there ??? If so, do your suff at one later at night, when it's not busy.. Spot free rinse is your friend.... It really looks like you didn't rinse before the soap dried... Much of that will come off if you dampen the surface and dry with a good cotton towel, using some quick detailer during the dry will help a lot to...

[blake31]

are you sure your softener treats the water that comes out of your outside spigots?my water supply tees off to my spigot before it goes into the water softener. the thought being, why soften water you're using outside?

[scherry2]

Quote, originally posted by blake31 »my water supply tees off to my spigot before it goes into the water softener. the thought being, why soften water you're using outside?yea that would be dumb. I fill a big bucket inside the house with real hot soft water. my Vibe loves it.

[Whelan]

You def. need a filter on your hose, wow!Also try using two buckets instead of one to keep the dirty water separate. So when you wash apart of the car, dip the spong in a bucket of plain water and get the crud off, then go into the clean soapy bucket. Helps a lot!But get a water softener or the Mr. Clean with filter. That is bad!

[tnpartsguy]

Quote, originally posted by scherry2 »yea that would be dumb. I fill a big bucket inside the house with real hot soft water. my Vibe loves it. doesn't hot water break down the wax faster? (just curious)

[NewNeptune]

I've got to post updated pictures, but I'm well on the road to recovery. I tried a leftover hose attachment I found in the garage, hooked to the soft water and no more rainbow. Unfortunately I made the mistake of leaving it to air dry. Bad idea, water spots all over the car. So today I washed it with a bucket, regular water filtered through a calcium filter and Meguiar's Deep Crystal in the shade (courtesy of the sun setting and being blocked by neighbor's houses) and then dried it in the garage. Most of the water spots are gone, no rainbow and it's looking nice. I've got to wax it, but I'll post what I've got later. Thanks for the suggestions!

[Whelan]

Oh one last thing. Don't use a hose nozzle when washing. Letting water flow over the car rather than hitting the car is a BIG difference as well, the car will dry easier and faster too.

[NewNeptune]

I've always had trouble getting all the soap off when using just the hose. So I use this attachment's "power" setting to get all the soap off and then the "soaker" type setting to sheet the water off the car.

[WaveAction]

wow thats horrid, i never use that mr. clean auto crap..i do everything by hand and have yet to have a problem with anything..sorry for the residue or whatever that is

[Whelan]

Mr. Clean is only good for the filter, not the soap. But I am lucky enough to not have hard water here so I have never seen anything that bad.Hot water will not break down wax and faster, as long as you use a good known wax product. Again, switching to NXT over the Gold Class wax worked well for me, it lasts a bit longer because it's synthetic and not carnuba based.Also try picking up one of two things. Eagle One Wax-As-U-Dry. This product is a spray you apply after the car is rinsed and still wet. You spray it on an area, then wipe it off. It cleans off and smooths the finish brining back the wax coat. Or you can also dry the car thoroughly and use the Meguiar's Quick Detailer and two microfibers to apply and remove, its a spray as well but goes on somewhat like a wax product would. Does wonders!