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Lefty
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2022
- Messages
- 1,692
- Reaction score
- 1,847
- Points
- 113
- Location
- Saint Paul, MN
- Vehicle Year
- 2003
- Make / Model
- Ranger Edge
- Transmission
- Automatic
Maybe it might be a good idea to start a series of posts about detailing our Rangers. Our needs are somewhat different. Most of us are not looking for exotic products such as hand held driers or foam cannons. We are just regular guys who work our trucks hard and drive them every day, and do so, rain or shine, through the winters up north, dust down in the south and the west.
There’s a lot of YouTubes on the subject. All of them are very good. They provide plenty of detail, maybe more than we need. If you are interested. You can watch Pan the Organizer, or anyone else.
Or save the half hour, and go with these basics: cheap, fast, simple. This will be a quick, down, and dirty post, not so much for your Porsche, but for trucks who routinely slog through the elemental soup and grime.
There are very few rights and wrongs. We all have our own ways. Feel free to add if you like.
Whenever possible go touchless. Nine quarters for a wash isn’t bad. Pressure spray removes dirt without wiping. That’s important. Wiping creates swirl marks in the clear coat. Bring along some stuff:
The wash:
Vacuum the interior at the spray wash place. Wipe the surfaces down. Or save time and money by doing this first at home. Then pull into the car wash bay
Spray the whole truck with the soap premixed in the pump up weed sprayer. Use all two quarts.
Wash the wheels and tires first with brush or sponge. Avoid using that filthy car wash brush in the stall.
Drop those hard-earned quarters down the slot and pressure spray everything on the RINSE setting.
Drive the truck out and park in the shade. Blow off the excess water with the leaf blower.
Finish the rest with a microfiber towel and a detail spray. Avoid pressing down hard. Do not use detailer on Tonneau covers. They require a special wax.
Deep clean the windows with the 50/50 mix spray bottle. Or just use detailer. Wipe dry with the smaller microfiber towel.
Use a tire shine product maybe as an option. That stuff never lasts long. The detail spray is not a bad option.
It’s okay to wash at home. It’s all the same except for the pressure spray. Spray on the soap. Do the wheels first with the brush. Use a microfiber wash mitt on the paint frequently purging it in a bucket of water. Rinse all the soap away with a garden hose. Blow dry. Spray on detailer. Wipe with a towel.
It's easier and better to dust more and wash less. I use a feather duster and/or a microfiber tool, cleaning and shaking it out often. Even dust will scratch the clear coat and leave swirl marks. Store the duster in a plastic trash bag to keep dust from collecting on it too.
Wash the mitt and the towels in between, or buy several microfiber towels and keep the dirty ones in a laundry bag. Do not wash with your regular laundry. Do not use fabric softeners. Dry on low cycle.
There’s a lot of YouTubes on the subject. All of them are very good. They provide plenty of detail, maybe more than we need. If you are interested. You can watch Pan the Organizer, or anyone else.
Or save the half hour, and go with these basics: cheap, fast, simple. This will be a quick, down, and dirty post, not so much for your Porsche, but for trucks who routinely slog through the elemental soup and grime.
There are very few rights and wrongs. We all have our own ways. Feel free to add if you like.
TOUCHLESS CAR WASH
Whenever possible go touchless. Nine quarters for a wash isn’t bad. Pressure spray removes dirt without wiping. That’s important. Wiping creates swirl marks in the clear coat. Bring along some stuff:
- a microfiber towel or two. A 24x36 towel will do the whole truck. A smaller size works well with windows. Microfibers are less likely to scratch the clearcoat and leave swirl marks.
- a brush or sponge for wheels and tires (Avoid the car wash brush. It’s full of dirt).
- premixed soap in a 2 quart weed sprayer pump. Car wash soap is cheap, easy on the wax job, and doesn’t leave residues. Some of you may like dish detergents. Dawn is better than others, but all break down the wax job. Some of you may like hair shampoos, but they are expensive and leave behind residues like oils, perfume, and conditioners.
- A battery driven leaf blower, totally optional.
- A spray detailer. They are all good car products which provide lubricants and waxes for final dry. Detailers also have hydrostatic/electrostatic properties which help repel dust and dirt, keeping the truck cleaner longer.
- A spray bottle with a 50/50 mix of rubbing alcohol and water for windows, inexpensive and works well.
Vacuum the interior at the spray wash place. Wipe the surfaces down. Or save time and money by doing this first at home. Then pull into the car wash bay
Spray the whole truck with the soap premixed in the pump up weed sprayer. Use all two quarts.
Wash the wheels and tires first with brush or sponge. Avoid using that filthy car wash brush in the stall.
Drop those hard-earned quarters down the slot and pressure spray everything on the RINSE setting.
Drive the truck out and park in the shade. Blow off the excess water with the leaf blower.
Finish the rest with a microfiber towel and a detail spray. Avoid pressing down hard. Do not use detailer on Tonneau covers. They require a special wax.
Deep clean the windows with the 50/50 mix spray bottle. Or just use detailer. Wipe dry with the smaller microfiber towel.
Use a tire shine product maybe as an option. That stuff never lasts long. The detail spray is not a bad option.
HAND WASH AT HOME
It’s okay to wash at home. It’s all the same except for the pressure spray. Spray on the soap. Do the wheels first with the brush. Use a microfiber wash mitt on the paint frequently purging it in a bucket of water. Rinse all the soap away with a garden hose. Blow dry. Spray on detailer. Wipe with a towel.
IN BETWEEN WASHES
It's easier and better to dust more and wash less. I use a feather duster and/or a microfiber tool, cleaning and shaking it out often. Even dust will scratch the clear coat and leave swirl marks. Store the duster in a plastic trash bag to keep dust from collecting on it too.
Wash the mitt and the towels in between, or buy several microfiber towels and keep the dirty ones in a laundry bag. Do not wash with your regular laundry. Do not use fabric softeners. Dry on low cycle.
Okay now. Show us your clean truck!
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