derBayerische May/June 2024 - 8

E X T E R I O R
D E T A I L I N G
ability to trap the dirt within its fibers. Be mindful of
the pressure being used when washing the paint.
When a microfiber towel is used with light to
moderate pressure, it can remove tough soiling
such as bug residue or tar. Microfiber, like most
materials, will scratch automotive paint if you apply
excessive pressure. Typically, around four microfiber
towels are required to wash a vehicle; substituting out
the towels as they become soiled.
The specific product used during the wash
■ Spray tire dressing on a foam applicator and
apply it to the tire.
process is a matter of personal preference. There are
basically three options: standard car wash soap,
rinseless wash solution, and non water based drywash.
I prefer products that use water as a solvent,
and specifically use a rinseless wash product when I
detail a car. I feel rinseless wash products have the
right combination of cleaning action, lubricity, and
gloss/protection. Because only one section is
washed and dried at a time with rinseless wash
products, the process is more thorough. Rinseless
wash products significantly cut your water usage and
create less mess. Whichever method you choose,
the process is the same except for how much of the
car you are washing and/or rinsing before drying.
I typically start washing half of the car's roof.
■ After spraying a panel/section with rinseless
wash, clean with a microfiber towel, then dry with
another microfiber towel.
■ The front bumper cover will sometimes need
additional product, dwell time, and repeat cleaning
for best results.
■ When cleaning the door jamb pillar, open both
doors for access.
8
If using a rinseless wash process, only wash the
painted surfaces of the car, not the glass. The glass
is cleaned after the paint, so it is not contaminated
with over spray. Spray the solution on one
section/panel at a time. Adjust the amount of
product sprayed on the panel, based on how much
dirt is present and if the car is in the sun. If the towel
is dry, spray some solution on the towel too. Wash
using linear-overlapping motions using light to
moderate pressure, flipping the towel as necessary.
Once the entire section/panel has been cleaned,
immediately dry with a separate dry microfiber towel
using light pressure. The rinseless-wash process
takes time to get used to, but produces excellent
results. If any areas are still soiled or there are
streaks, repeat the process. If the paint is hot, wash
and dry smaller sections. Once half of the roof is
washed, work down; washing the 'A' and 'C' pillars
and the side mirror. Then, wash one side of the car
from front to back, using the same process.
Typically, the rocker panels will be more soiled and
require more product and sometimes multiple cleaning
passes. Keep an eye out for road grime or tar in
these areas. If the wash towel becomes contaminated
with road tar, change it out for a new one. Painted
surfaces on a vehicle can extend out of your line of
sight, specifically on the areas closer to the ground.
Make sure to wash and clean those areas to get
professional results. After one side of the car is
washed, the hood and front bumper panel can be
cleaned. Modern grill and bumper designs require
much more time to clean properly. This is especially
true with gloss black or plastic chrome trim.
The front of the car will typically be more soiled with
road grime and bug residue, as well. This area can
be pre-sprayed to allow the product to emulsify dirt
and grime. You can use your fingers behind the
microfiber towel to get into the recesses and moderate
pressure to remove bug residue. Bug residue is
acidic and will etch paint very quickly. After the hood
and front bumper cover are washed, proceed to the
roof on the other side of the vehicle, and repeat the
process on the other side of the car. Last, you can
wash the trunk or hatch, and the rear of the vehicle.
Typically, the rear of the vehicle will have additional
soiling, so may require additional product, dwell
time, and cleaning time. Once you have washed and
dried all of the painted surfaces and exterior plastic,
you can now proceed to cleaning the glass, mirrors,
and door jambs.
One of the benefits of the rinseless wash solution
I use, is that it cleans glass really well and leaves
it streak free. It also leaves behind protection, which
causes water to sheet off the glass better. I do not
like to promote specific products, but feel free to
contact me directly, for specific product recommendations.
Wash and dry one window at a time or
half of the front windshield. Since the paint should
already be clean, spray the rinseless wash solution
directly on the towel; adjusting the amount based on
how dirty or hot the glass is. Fold a microfiber twice
and use one square per window. Use a separate dry
microfiber to dry immediately after cleaning.
Use as much pressure as is necessary on glass, as it
will not scratch. Front windshields typically have
bug residue, which will require quite a bit of pressure
to remove. If the glass is really dirty, you may have
to clean it more than once to get it completely streak
free. The same technique can be used on the side
mirrors. Use light pressure when cleaning side
mirror glass, so damage to the gearing does not
occur. Once the glass is clean, proceed to clean the
door jambs
Door jambs are often overlooked, however, they
are an important part of a thorough auto detailing
process. If the door jambs are cleaned with every
exterior wash, the process is quick and easy. If the
door jambs have been neglected, cleaning them up
to standard can take 45 minutes or more. Start with
a clean microfiber towel, or use one of the towels you
used to clean the exterior glass if it is not too
soiled. Either way, you want the towel to be damp,
but not saturated. On well maintained door jambs,
you can typically clean streak free without drying.
When cleaning the door jambs, open both doors to
clean the pillar that comes down from the roof.
Then, open only one door to allow access to the
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