kirksdetail

WHY DOESN’T RAIN CLEAN MY CAR?

Wed, 01 Jul 2020 06:51:05 GMT

If you are anything like me you might hope that an upcoming rain storm will clean your car only to be dissapointed that your car looks much worse after.

What’s going on? shouldn’t a shower of water wash away the dirt? Well, not exactly. There are several reasons why rain will leave your car looking worse than before. The rain will pick up the dirt but it will eventually leave the same dirt on your car. It will only move it around.

Most of the time rain doesn’t have the force to remove the dirt from the vehicle. And lastly, if you don’t dry the water off your are subject to water and dirt spots.

Let’s look at each of these reasons a little closer.

Not Enough Pressure

The main reason that rain doesn’t clean your car is because most rain doesn’t have the pressure or force to remove the dirt from your vehicle and take it away. Rain, with the exception of very heavy storms, will only lift up the dirt on your vehicle only to have it moved to another part of the vehicle or worse, have it baked into the paint from the sun.

Not to mention, rain doesn’t have shampoo in it. Car wash soap is specifically designed to lubricate the car as you wash it so you are not scratching it with dirt, or even the towels you are using.

When rain water picks up dirt and moves it around you risk scratching the paint. No, you won’t get any serious scratches, but overtime, it will affect your paint.

You Don’t Dry The Vehicle

Normally when you wash your car you dry it immediately after. If not, you risk leaving waterspots on your paint. These not only look bad, but they can damage your car’s clear coat. Drying your car is the second half of washing it. Washing and drying go hand in hand. You shouldn’t have one without the other.

When the rain hits your car it lifts up the dirt as noted earlier. If that dirt and/or water is left there, the water will eventually dry leaving the dirt on your vehicle. So if anything, the rain will just move dirt around.

Your Environment

Your environment is another factor at play. Do you live in the city with lots of pollution? What happens to the rainwater on its way down? I’m no scientist and I don’t have any data but I would think that rain falling through the sky with gases and other unclean air and dust would not be the cleanest water.

Or do you live out in the country with dirt roads? Dirt roads will easily kick up dirt onto your vehicle and that’s no surprise. No matter where you live your environment will affect the rain that touches your vehicle.

Now that you can see that rain does not do any favors for cleaning your car, this leaves us with an obvious question. Should you bother washing your car if it’s going to rain soon?

Should I Wash My Car If It’s Going To Rain Soon?

I struggle with this all the time, My car gets dirty and I want to go wash it. But then I check the weather and I see it’s going to rain the next day or even in a few hours. Should I wash my car now only to have to do it again?

This is a tricky situation.

If you wait to wash your car the dirt and waterspots you have on your car will be baking into your paint. However, if you do wash your car you will likely have to do it again after.

Note: if you do wash your car just before a rainstorm your car will have less dirt than if you had not washed it. The rain can’t pick up dirt that isn’t there, However, it can pick up dirt from your surroundings and can leave waterspots.

On paper the solution is simple, the less time your car sits dirty the better. So you should always be washing your car. Obviously we can’t always be washing cars. This is simply impractical.

The best thing you can do is find easy, convenient ways to wash your car. You can use waterless or rinseless washes. They are quick, more convenient and they get the job done.

Prevention

Aside from having easy, convenient ways to wash your car, the best thing to do is avoid letting your car take a shower in the rain. Park your car indoors if you can.

Another way you can prevent the rain from hurting your car is to have proper protection. A wax, sealant, or coating are all great ways of protecting your paint.

These all act as protection, Not only do they give your ride a great shine, but they can (depending on product and brand) can make your vehicle hydrophobic. Meaning water either beads, or sheets off. Think of your car as water resistant.

These forms of protection vary by product, brand,application, and much more.

A Traditional wax is made from trees in Brazil. A sealant is more or less the same thing but it is artificially made. A ceramic coating is Sio2. IT bonds at the molecular level. It is basically a sheet of glass covering your vehicles. These are a little more complex and a bit more expensive because they are supposed to be permanent, All of these forms of protection will help to one degree or another by limiting the dirt and dust that will end up on your paint. These will also limit the water that stays on your vehicle.

It’s simple, less water on your vehicle, less water spots. Less dirt and your car will be less dirty.

I waxed one half of my hood. Can you tell which side?

This means that you can go a little longer without a wash, thus saving you time and product.

Conclusion

In conclusion, rain won’t clean your car. In fact it will only hurt it. Avoid exposing your car to the rain and find a good form of paint protection that you like.

CAN YOU WASH YOUR CAR WITH HARD WATER?

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 06:54:36 GMT

When I was younger I wanted to wash my family’s car but never knew if we had the right kind of water. Since I’ve grown up and entered the world of detailing I’ve learned much more about what types of water are best.

You can wash your car using hard water but you’ll have to take some precautions to ensure you get a water spot free wash. Hard water contains more minerals which make the water less favorable.

What Is Hard Water?

Hard water refers to the calcium and magnesium in water. These are minerals that are in the water. When you wash your car and the water dries the water leaves the minerals on your car’s paint, leaving behind water spots.

How To Wash Your Car With Hard Water

As noted above, there are some precautions that you need to take when washing your car with hard water. Remember, it’s not bad to get hard water on your car, it’s bad to let it dry.

So go ahead and fill up your buckets and get ready to wash your car. Just don’t forget your drying towel.

Dry As You Go

When you wash your car you will have to work one panel at a time. Wash one panel and then dry it, and then move onto the next one. This is easier if you are using the two bucket method or doing a rinseless wash. Avoid using the hose if you can.

If you find that the water is drying before you can dry it off then you need to work on a smaller section at a time.

Tip: use a microfiber towel specifically for drying. I prefer one with a waffle weave patter.

Avoid The Sun

You will soon learn that the sun is going to be your enemy. Try to wash your car in the morning or the evening when it’s not too hot. Look for shade.

Water Deionizer

Another option albeit a bit more expensive is that of a water deionizer. A water deionizer is a machine that filters out the minerals so that you can have a spot free wash.

These are popular among detailers. These typically range from a a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. It is a bit pricey but it can get the job done.

Preventing Water Spots

After you wash your car you should apply a form of protectant. You can apply a wax or a sealant. These will make your car hydrophobic (almost like water resistant) which means the water will slide off the car better. This means that there will be less water sticking to your vehicle which will hopefully leave less water spots.

6 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD HAVE A CLEAN CAR

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 06:59:12 GMT

We all prefer having a clean car to a dirty one but that doesn’t stop life from happening. It’s too easy to let trash and other things pile up. However, there are some real benefits to keeping your car clean.

You Spend A Lot Of Time In Your Car

You partially live in your car. Think about about much time you spend in your car every week. Now multiply that to see how much time you spend every month and every year.

Your car serves as your transportation, your own dining table, your own storage unit and sometimes even your own bed. Point is, you spend a lot of time in your car.

So why not clean it up and enjoy it more?

You’ll Feel Better

It’s no secret that our environments affect how we feel. You feel much better in a clean and organized car than you do in a dirty car. Being in a clean environment allows you to feel calm and secure. Being in a dirty car leaves you feeling stressed and disorganized.

This isn’t a hippie feel good thing. If you were given the choice of two cars, one dirty and one clean which would you go to? The answer is obvious.

Safety

Not only does having a clean car help you feel better mentally, but it actually helps with your physical health. Think about how much bacteria you have in your car. Think about those french fries stuck under your seat. How long have they been there? Have they begun to mold yet? What about all the dirt embedded in the carpet or the seats?

Or think of how much bacteria is on your steering wheel and center console. You touch your face, eat, lick your fingers, pick your nose, and all sorts of other things while touching your steering wheel. I could go on but things might start to look a little scary.

Not too mention trash or personal belonging can accrue and obstruct your view through your windows causing a huge safety hazard.

Improve the value

Most people try to get their car detailed before they try selling it. They are hopeful that they can boost the value and get a little bit more for it. Detailing your car right as you sell it will help it look better, but it doesn’t compare to someone who consistently keeps their car clean.

A carefully maintained vehicle will retain some of it’s value better, a quick detail as the car changes hands will not. You can’t clean years of neglect.

When I was younger I was helping a neighbor with a house he was building. The neighbor next door to the house had 4 or 5 hoarder car full to the ceiling with trash. My neighbor offered the guy cash to get rid of his broken cars because he understood that it affected his property value. Unfortunately the neighbor declined.

Now if your car just has a few crumbs then I wouldn’t worry about your property value but the principle is the same and it’s something to keep in mind.

Comfort Of Others

We’ve all been somewhere when we’ve suddenly had to drive someone (or multiple people) somewhere. It’s much comfortable for your guests and much less embarrassing for you.

you never know when you’ll have to drive someone else so it’s better to just be prepared. You don’t want to have to tell your friends or even your coworkers or boss that they can’t ride with you because there isn’t space or because you’re too embarrassed.

The State Of Your Car Is A Reflection Of You

It may sound harsh but you can tell a lot by a person by what their car looks like. Are they in control are or they hanging on by a thread? It’s okay if having a clean car isn’t your top priority but there are some real benefits as listed above.

It’s Easy

It’s really not that difficult to maintain the cleanliness of your car. A little bit every day goes a long way. That’s the important thing is to be constant. Do a little bit every day with a vacuum and wipe down maybe once a month.

Keep A Garbage Bag

You can keep your car clean by keeping a plastic bag in your car for trash. Designate this plastic bag for trash and put your trash in immediately. Develop a habit of it. Yeah, a plastic bag might look like trash but it looks better than that McDonalds bag. It is better to have one plastic bag than several things of trash.

Keep Cleaning Wipes

You can keep either simple disinfectant wipes or special car cleaning wipes in your car too. This way you can wipe down your steering wheel and other areas that are touched often. This will eliminate bacteria and improve peace of mind.

Take stuff inside

Make a habit of taking your personal belongings inside every time you go home. If you can’t take it all inside in one trip that’s fine, get it on the next time you go inside.

Keep Quarters In Your Car

Keep your spare quarters in your car so that you can stop at a vacuum at a gas station when you fill up. This isn’t an extra step. This is something you do while you’re already there. Just keep your quarters somewhere in your car and you’ll be prepared. You don’t have to do it all the time, but even just once a month will leave your car looking much better.

Make A Habit

The important thing is that you make a habit of all these steps. These preventative steps will help keep your car much cleaner.

CAN YOU WASH YOUR CAR WITH SOFT WATER?

Sat, 30 May 2020 07:03:26 GMT

When I was younger I often wanted to wash the family car but I was always a little hesitant. I didn’t know if the water we had would be good or bad for the car. Looking back I can’t help but smile.

Not only is soft water perfectly fine but soft water is actually better to wash your car with. Using soft water will help minimize any water spots drying onto your vehicle.

What Is Soft Water?

In order to understand why, it is important to understand how water works.

The soft-hard scale refers to the calcium and magnesium ions in the water. It is the mineral content that gets dried onto your vehicle after you wash it. So it is actually the hard water that you need to worry about.

Will Having Soft Water Eliminate Water Spots?

Having soft water is definitely better than having hard water but I would still take other measures to avoid water spots. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to avoid having water spots.

How To Avoid Water Spots

Water Deionizer

Many detailers will use a water deionizer. This is a machine that removes minerals from your water. It is similar to a water softener. These machines range from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. Just like everything else in life you get what you pay for. If you buy an expensive one you will have better results.

Using a water deionizer is the best way to prevent water spots. The minerals in your water can’t dry if they aren’t in your water.

Dry The Vehicle

The cheapest thing you can do to avoid water spots is to dry your vehicle as you wash it. You don’t want the water to dry onto the car. You may need to work one panel at a time. I prefer to wash using a waffle weave towel. This is a microfiber towel that has a waffle pattern which helps absorb water.

Drying your vehicle picks up the minerals before they dry onto the paint when the water dries. This option is free, but it can be a hassle, constantly running around drying the car.

Avoid The Sun

Because you want to avoid your wash water drying on your vehicle it is best to avoid the the sun when drying your car. This means washing your car in a garage or somewhere in the shade. If you keep your car outdoors I reccomend washing your car in the morning before it gets to hot or in the evening.

The best way to avoid water spots is going to be using multiple of the methods above. Obviously the more precautions you take the safer you’ll be from water spots.

However, don’t be afraid to experiment with it. If you buy a water deionizer and it does the trick great. Now you know you don’t have to be so worried about the water drying. If it doesn’t do the trick now you know you need to try something else.

HOW TO WASH YOUR CAR WITHOUT A HOSE (WITH PICTURES)

Thu, 28 May 2020 07:13:52 GMT

A hose is very helpful to have when it comes to washing your car. It makes things flow much easier (pun intended). However, not everyone has access to a hose. Fortunately, there are ways that you can wash your car without a hose.

The best methods of washing your car without a hose are to use a waterless wash or a rinse-less wash. You can find these kinds of products online. All you need are some microfiber towels, waterless wash or rinseless wash, and a bucket of water.

It doesn’t really matter which ones you pick. Choose one, use it, and then try another one if you didn’t like it.

When You Don’t Have A Hose

When I first started Detailing I didn’t have access to a hose. I was living in a basement apartment at the time, not to mention it was in the dead of winter. You might find yourself without a hose if:

You live in an apartment or condo complex.
You find yourself away from home and your car needs a wash.
Your water is shut off due to cold weather winter.

Waterless wash And Rinseless Wash

At first glance a waterless wash and a rinseless wash might sound the same but they are different.

A rinseless wash you mix in a bucket with water and you wash the car with that solution. With a waterless wash however, you don’t need any water. You just spray it directly onto your car and you wipe it off.

This is a waterless wash from chemical guys. It is very easy to use.

Pros: You only need two things, the waterless wash and microfiber towles.

Cons: You will go through many MF towels if you do the whole car. So this is best for cleaning up small areas like bird poop on your hood.

Using a waterless wash is very easy. All you have to do is take your spray bottle, and spray your car. I recommend spraying about half a panel. Then you have to take your microfiber towel foled in fourths and wipe in one direction across.

You can see all the dirt that one pass picked up. You definitely don’t want to reintroduce this back into your paint.

It’s important to roll the towel as you wipe off the waterless wash. That way you avoid spreading any dirt back into your vehicle’s paint. After the first wipe, you need to turn to a clean side of your towel and repeat the process, turning to a clean side of the towel with each wipe.

You may find it neccesary to go over each pass again to make sure it is fully dried. otherwise you risk leaving waterspots on the vehicle.

Now it may seem obvious, but the downside of this method is that you’re going to go through a lot of microfiber towels. This method is best for cleaning up small areas, for example bird poop on your hood.

How To Do A Rinseless Wash

For a rinselss wash you need:

A rinseless wash solution.
A 5 gallon bucket.
A Grit Guard.
Water.
A wash mitt
A drying towel.

Preparation

Put the appropriate amount of solution in your bucket and fill it with water. You should be able to fill your bucket up in a sink or a bathtub. Many detailers use this type of rinseless wash on most of their details. If you do have a hose you can use that and make it even easier. But you’ll be just fine without one. Don’t forget to use your grit guard. Take your bucket out to your car and put your wash mitt in the bucket.

Washing

Begin washing the car with your wash mitt. You are going to want to work about one panel at a time. After you finish each panel put the wash mitt back into the bucket and rub it against the grit guard to get all of the dirt out. You will need to do this each time to avoid cross-contaminating any dirt that is lifted from the vehicle.

You can see here how much dirt a simple pass will pick up.

Normally this process involves washing and drying interchangeably.

Drying The Vehicle

After each panel you will have to grab your drying towel and dry the section that you just completed. It is important to not wash too big an area at a time. . Otherwise, it will begin to dry and you will be left with waterspots.

If it is hot and sunny outside then you will need to do even smaller passes to avoid water spots. It is very difficult to wash your car out in the afternoon. Try to shoot for the morning or evening.

It goes without saying but make sure you’re using a dry side of your drying towel. It’s difficult to dry your car with a wet towel.

Double check your work when you are done. Make sure you didn’t miss any spots. If you do find some spots you can either get them with your rinseless wash or you can just grab your waterless wash bottle and take care of them.

Applying Protection

Once you have your car looking nice and clean you should apply some sort of protection. Protection leaves your car with a nice shine. It prevents dirt and other debry from sticking to your vehicle. It by no means means you never have to wash your car off but it will help it stay cleaner and depending on the product and condtions will last for a few months.

This is my car when I only waxed one side of it. You can clearly see that the side with wax has much less dirt and dust on it.

There are a few different kinds of protection. There are waxes, sealants, and coatings.

A wax is going to be your easiest option. You can pick up a wax at your local auto store. You don’t need a polisher and it is very easier to do by hand.

A traditional carnauba wax comes from trees in brazil.

To apply the carnauba wax yo uare going to want a microfiber applicator block. Put a few drops of your carnauba wax on your applicator block and apply it to your vehicle in a up down, side to side motion. This ensures that you get proper coverage.

Apply the wax to the whole vehicle. Let it sit for about 10-15 minutes or as directed on the product. Then wipe off the haze with a microfiber towel to reveal your new shine.

Tips For Success

Make sure to keep your towels and wash mitts clean. If you drop them on the ground you will have to wash them before using them again. Avoid cross-contamination.
Wash out of direct sunlight. Water spots can be very frustrating.
If you want to be extra clean you can use a second bucket. One for your car wash solution and a second bucket with just water for rinsing.

Questions

Do I need a wash mitt?

While a wash mitt is preferred, you don’t need one. You can also use a microfiber towel. Avoid using kitchen towels or sponges as they will leave streaks and can damage the paint.

How long does it take to wash your car by hand?

You can take as long as you want but the washing and drying portion normally takes about 15 minutes with another 10-15 minutes for wax application.

Video Version

https://youtu.be/1wLcvqVokP0

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR BACK WINDOW WITHOUT HURTING YOUR DEFROSTER WIRES

Wed, 27 May 2020 07:27:46 GMT

If you have a car that has defroster wires in the back you’ve probably wondered how to clean that window without damaging the wires. Fortunately, with a little bit of cautiousness and common sense you can get that window nice and clean. Here are a few tips and tricks that I’ve learned first hand to get that window clean without causing any unnecessary damage.

When cleaning your back window, make sure to do the following:

Use your glass cleaner in horizontal motions.
Take out the headrests for ease of access.
Be very gentle.
Clip your fingernails beforehand.
Use a microfiber block.

Why You Should Clean Your Back Window

Everybody knows how important it is to have a clean windshield in your car. A clean and clear windshield makes driving much easier and of course much safer. Not only do you need to remove any dirt or whatever else you might have on your windshield.

You also need to make sure that you clean your windshield and all your windows properly. Have you ever cleaned your windshield only to drive towards the sun and suddenly you can see all the streaks you left behind? These streaks drastically reduce your visibility and are quite dangerous.

While your back window is not quite as important as the front windshield, it still is important to have it looking clean and clear even when driving away from the sun so you can have full awareness of your surroundings around you.

A Word On Defroster Wires

These defroster wires are incredibly useful in the winter, they clear up whatever frost, or fog you have on your back window so you can see. These wires are very delicate. if you do happen to break one of them, that section won’t work when winter rolls around and you’ll always have that one spot where ice doesn’t melt. How annoying would that be?

Step One, Clean The Outside Glass

You are going to have difficulty knowing if the streaks on on the inside or outside if you don’t first clean the outside. So make sure you clean the outside glass first.

For this I recommend:

This is a microfiber waffle weave towel.

A microfiber towel for cleaning.
A microfiber towel for drying (I prefer waffle weave towels for drying).
A glass cleaner.

We could get into which glass cleaner is best but there are hundreds of them and any glass cleaner will be just fine. Your technique will be much more important that which brand of glass cleaner.

Fold your towel into fourths. Spray your glass cleaner onto your microfiber towel. Apply your towel to your back window and begin wiping off whatever dirt you have on the glass.

Warning: Do not do this in the heat or direct sunlight. If you do this when the glass is hot the glass cleaning solution will dry faster than you can dry it and will leave watermarks everywhere. Make sure you have a cool surface before you begin.

I would recommend you work in sections. Once you finish one section you will take your drying towels and you wipe up any leftover solution. Make sure to do this thoroughly to have a streak-free clean. If you notice that your drying towel isn’t working very well make sure to flip over to a new dry side. Rubbing a wet side of your towels will only make more smears appear.

Repeat this process over until you’ve successfully cleaned the whole back window.

Clean The Inside Glass

Now we are ready for the part we’ve all been waiting for. Time to clean the inside glass. This depends on what kind of car you have have. If you have a 5 door car, one that opens up this will be much easier. If you have a sedan it will be a little more tricky but we can still get it done.

Fortunately the inside glass normally isn’t too dirty. You might have some fingerprints or some smears. People (or kids) tend to not touch those windows as much as the front windshield and side windows.

This is a microfiber block.

For this side, you need the same microfiber towels and glass cleaner that you used on the outside glass. Although I prefer having a microfiber block. This makes things a bit easier, especially if you’re working with a sedan. It is a bit tricky to handle the towel when working in tight spaces. Using the block will give you more control and you will risk less accidental fingerprints.

If you are in a sedan you might find it helpful to remove the headrests in the back seat. This will make it easier to move and maneuver around in that tight space.

Apply the glass cleaner to your towel or microfiber block and apply it to the inside of the back window. This time you need to be cautious and careful around the wires. Normally the majority of those wires run from one side of the vehicle to the other. So make your cleaning passes in that direction. however, there are also wires that go up and down so make sure to be careful. Make your cleaning passes in the direction that most of the wires are going.

After you finish cleaning one section take your drying towel and wipe down the clean section. Make sure you are using a a dry clean side of your towel.

Repeat the process until you’ve cleaned the whole window. Congratulations! you’ve just cleaned your back window.

Tips:

Cut your fingernails: You want to minimize any risk you can of scratching or damaging one of the defroster wires. These wires are incredibly useful in the winter. I’d hate to see you without them.

Use gloves: if you have any latex or nitrile gloves on hand you can put some of those on to protect you from your chemicals, and also to avoid putting any unnecessary fingerprint marks back onto the glass.

Remove the headrests: Like I said above, it will make things a bit easier if you take out the headrests before you start cleaning the back window.

Use a microfiber block: Again, I use this because it’s much easier than using a towel. You can get them online or you can just use the towel you have.

Video

Here is a video in which I show you how to clean your back window without hurting your defroster wires.

https://youtu.be/gRslItKjd2o

kirksdetail

WHY DOESN’T RAIN CLEAN MY CAR?

Not Enough Pressure

You Don’t Dry The Vehicle

Your Environment

Should I Wash My Car If It’s Going To Rain Soon?

Prevention

Conclusion

CAN YOU WASH YOUR CAR WITH HARD WATER?

What Is Hard Water?

How To Wash Your Car With Hard Water

Dry As You Go

Avoid The Sun

Water Deionizer

Preventing Water Spots

6 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD HAVE A CLEAN CAR

You Spend A Lot Of Time In Your Car

Safety

Improve the value

Comfort Of Others

The State Of Your Car Is A Reflection Of You

It’s Easy

Keep A Garbage Bag

Keep Cleaning Wipes

Take stuff inside

Keep Quarters In Your Car

Make A Habit

CAN YOU WASH YOUR CAR WITH SOFT WATER?

What Is Soft Water?

Will Having Soft Water Eliminate Water Spots?

How To Avoid Water Spots

Water Deionizer

Dry The Vehicle

Avoid The Sun

HOW TO WASH YOUR CAR WITHOUT A HOSE (WITH PICTURES)

When You Don’t Have A Hose

Waterless wash And Rinseless Wash

How To Do A Rinseless Wash

Preparation

Washing

Drying The Vehicle

Applying Protection

Tips For Success

Questions

Video Version

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR BACK WINDOW WITHOUT HURTING YOUR DEFROSTER WIRES

When cleaning your back window, make sure to do the following:

Why You Should Clean Your Back Window

A Word On Defroster Wires

Step One, Clean The Outside Glass

Clean The Inside Glass

Tips:

Related Questions

Video