How long do you spend to wash/dry your car on average?
(NOT WAXING OR POLISHING)

 

1.5 here cause I use the shop vac to blow out all the water hidden in the grill & roof rack areas

 

same here 1.5 have to blow the water stuck on the corners, and grills etc.

 

I have the BASS up all the way to shake the water off . I also use a chammy cloth and I spend lots of time wringing it out. Then ya gotta do the wheels, get all that brake dust off.

 

I can spend almost any amount of time washing -- 30 minutes for a basic wash without drying up to several hours if you include vacuuming, waxing, and other detailing.

But my average is wash+dry+quick vacuum, so I answered 1 hour.

Seems like an unbelievable amount of crud builds up in the engine bay. And it's harder to wash under there, because you have to be careful with the water, and there's lots more little detailed parts to wipe down.

Favorite products:
Stoner Clear Glass for the windows
Maguire's Gold soap
Turtle Wax color matching wax
Simple Green automotive
The Absorber (fake chamois)
Mother's Back to Black
Eagle One Wet Look tire gel
Armor All cleaner
Armor All Low Gloss Protectant

 

about 2hrs for me. Drying it well is just as important as washing it well.

Count on 6+hrs for a full detail.

 

i wasn't thinking and clicked 1 hour. but then i realized, i probably spend a good 2-3 hours washing my ride. you have to get the wheels, especially since i have white... the fronts get the sponge bath for all that brake dust and road grime. then atleast 30 minutes alone on the windows. getting all spots and streaks off.

 

How do you clean your engine bay? Do you clean underneath, or just the top? Also, what do you use?

 

I spray tire and rim cleaner on in prior to washing, then pressure spray it with soap, then brush it like mad, then pressure spray rinse. I pressure rinse the everything, including the underbody, wheels, brakes, and even the underside of the engine. And if I don't wax I usually just blast the 5 through some roads to get it dry.

I usually only vacumn, clean the glass, and wipe down the interior when I wax and put repellent on the glass. And when I wax, I wax everything also. That's why the rims are clean and shiny even today!

 

only about 1 1/2 hours...that is to do the inside and out....it doesn't take me that long because of WHEN I drive my P-5. if its going to be ugly outside (raining and such) I drive my Pick-up....only hit the road in my P-5 on NICE days. certainly helps keep the dirt down. :{D

 

>How do you clean your engine bay? Do you clean
>underneath, or just the top? Also, what do you use?

Just the top.

Usually, I take a wet rag and wipe off the easy crud. If I
feel ambitious, I'll spray either Simple Green or Armor All
Cleaner on, let it soak in, then rinse with a dribble of
water.

Gotta dry it off, though, to avoid water spots.

 

3 hours here. Most of the time is spent on the after wash process such as drying(HUGE step, no watermarks allowed). I use a water blade with the aid of a chammy. Then i windex the windows(dunno how good that is but t seems to work ok). Then i dust the dash n what not(really quick). MAYBE ill vacuum depending on how bad it is but ill tidy up a bit. Then ill spray Black Magic on the tires, wipe off even though its not needed, then im done. I let it sit out afterward too so the "hidden" water in the cracks doesnt come pouring out. And getting water out of the damn grill is a pain in the A$$!!!!

 

You should try the Black Magic Tire Gel. It works great! Unlike other tire gels, Black Magic doesnt sling or drip all over the place. All you have to do is let it dry for 10 min, then you have a shine for weeks.

As for the grill, I dont even dry it. Take it for a spin, that should do it.

 

I usually spend between 10 to 15 minuted doing the car, mainly cause they have that water shortage crap in nyc, so you are not supposed to be washing your ride and shiii.... I usually soap the car up twice, and then do the rims , and spray off the shocks, so they stay nice and green , then I do the door jams , and the engine bay edges .. ahhh , you get the idea
Bruce

 

2 hours just washing and drying. Waxing = another 1 hour.
I wash each panel , then hose it off, then use a leaf blower to blow the water off, then use a terry towel to get the left over water, then use eagle 1 tire spray (lasts for weeks!). then i clean the dash, dust if off and armor all the interior. Open the doors and clean the parts where u don't wash when doors are closed ( u know what i mean).