How Do I Keep my Mach-e Clean?

[kindofblue]

I second this… I love Adams Polishes.
Get a bottle of this and a microfiber towel to keep handy and just wipe it down to get those streaks off the body and glass.

https://adamspolishes.com/products/adam-s-detail-spray

I've used Maquire's car detailer and am pleased with it. I also have had ppf put on the front and Ceramic Pro applied.

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[kindofblue]

Folks, I'm not a car person. Where would I get a ceramic coating done? Thanks!

Just google "ceramic pro" on yelp, etc.. And scrutinize the reviews. Caveat emptor...

 

[Murse-In-Airy]

A home DIY ceramic coating works well for me. I used The Last Coat 2. About $30 for the bottle and it’s doing very well for me. It’s a wipe on, then wipe back off hydrophobic coating. I have a black car so it shows everything.
I was never a car guy either but this car has made me into a bit of one. But I still believe that you can wash your car any way you want to.

 

[Astraea]

Folks, I'm not a car person. Where would I get a ceramic coating done? Thanks!

I mean it depends in where you live and if you are willing to spend some $ for a certified detailer. I spent some decent money to get Owner's Pride applied to mine and absolutely love the outcome. If you are up north in NY I can give you the name of my detailer.

 

[blkadr08]

Hi All. I'm having more trouble post car wash than with other cars. Seems like there's a lot of runoff and streaking that my car wash can't handle. Any tips?

This must be one of those drive through washes part of a coin operated do it yourself place, right? I can’t imagine that a conventional car wash would deliver a car to a customer that looks like this.

 

[gnaark]

How do y’all keep the back window clean though? After a car wash it’s always dirty because the water cannot go under the spoiler and it can’t get a good rinse. It drives me nuts.

 

[ChuckA]

How do y’all keep the back window clean though? After a car wash it’s always dirty because the water cannot go under the spoiler and it can’t get a good rinse. It drives me nuts.

Wash the areas that your car wash misses before going to the car wash.

 

[Murse-In-Airy]

How do y’all keep the back window clean though? After a car wash it’s always dirty because the water cannot go under the spoiler and it can’t get a good rinse. It drives me nuts.

Window cleaner in the frunk along with my drying towel. Well… it’s frozen solid right now, but when it thaws out in a few months…. ?

 

[Matt Bagne]

As stated by others, avoid car washes if possible. If not, only use touch less and prepare to detail it yourself afterwards. Or, buy a good foam cannon and associated power washer and quality products and do this:

Totally agree with this, it's the only real way to get a super-clean, streak-free wash in a touchless way! I purchased a foam cannon from Griot's Garage, came in a kit with prep and main wash foams. Kind of pricey ($150), there are cheaper options on Amazon I am sure, but I wanted Griot's known quality. Anyone interested must remember that a foam cannon needs a power washer to work (electric power washers work fine and are cheaper than gas). Here is a link to Griot's foam kit, w/o a power washer which is sold separately: https://www.griotsgarage.com/boss-foaming-system-starter-kit/

 

[Pushrods&Capacitors]

Totally agree with this, it's the only real way to get a super-clean, streak-free wash in a touchless way! I purchased a foam cannon from Griot's Garage, came in a kit with prep and main wash foams. Kind of pricey ($150), there are cheaper options on Amazon I am sure, but I wanted Griot's known quality. Anyone interested must remember that a foam cannon needs a power washer to work (electric power washers work fine and are cheaper than gas). Here is a link to Griot's foam kit, w/o a power washer which is sold separately: https://www.griotsgarage.com/boss-foaming-system-starter-kit/

Yep. Btw, the foam cannon I use is also a Griot’s Garage unit that cost me $39 on Amazon, for just the cannon itself. I also have a cheapie $129 power washer with plenty of psi. Super thick foam splatter using any of the Chemical Guys wash soaps I have.

 

[Matt Bagne]

Yep. Btw, the foam cannon I use is also a Griot’s Garage unit that cost me $39 on Amazon, for just the cannon itself. I also have a cheapie $129 power washer with plenty of psi. Super thick foam splatter using any of the Chemical Guys wash soaps I have.

Yes, Chemical Guys is another great source for such products, I agree. Jeez . . same Griot's foam cannon on Amazon for cheaper . . . I should have known! ?‍

 

[TTT]

Agreed that if you want to keep your car as perfect as possible then you can't go to a car wash, or at least one that touches the car - but it's just not practical to hand wash your car yourself all the time either. Everyone has different demands, I would never blame you for putting your family before your car for example.

Ceramic coatings will generally last from 6 months to a few years if your car is babied. Watch some videos online about the benefits. Might as well watch a few on Paint protection film too which prevents chips. The cost of either or both may surprise you.

The ceramic may not last very long if you are going to automatic car washes, but it would help with what you are seeing as the water beads up a LOT more and rolls off easily.

A big part of the problem though is the car wash you are going to, it kinda sucks, The first few photos show issues that would be helped a lot if you go to a wash that has an attendant do a hand wipe down at the end. Some automatic washes also have spinning chamois brush-type things at the end after the air blower - those would help.

Your last photo looks like what happens if you lower a window that is wet and then put it up again - don't do that.

As others suggested your easiest option may be to keep a clean microfiber towel in the car and when you get home, or to the office, or whenever you next park after going to the carwash, walk around the car with a spray bottle of quick detailer and your towel and do a quick spritz and wipe. you can likely do the problem areas shown in 2 mnutes, so just leave home, or the office 2 minutes earlier.

Dark cars are a pain this way - they look great in the showroom but they are super hard to keep looking great. Even if you are careful you'll likely end up with small scratches and swirls in the clearcoat over time.

 

[jhalkias]

I hand wash (I have a heated garage with a drain) and put 303 graphene on my car, blow it as dry as I can with an electric leaf blower to TRY and get all the hidden water, then towel dry, and I still get some of those streaks from water that comes out when I drive the car at speed.

I just wipe them off after driving. The only way to avoid them is to try and let the car get completely bone dry before driving after a wash. And . . . don't put the windows down for a day or so.

 

[Illinibird]

Folks, I'm not a car person. Where would I get a ceramic coating done? Thanks!

I'm from Illinois and it's 1 degree F today with a lower windchill. I'd love to have the luxury of hand washing all year round but that is impossible. With the salt caking on the car it has to be washed and that means an automated car wash. My car NEVER looks like the pictures you show after it is done. My wash does an excellent job of cleaning the car in the winter. I used the Turtle Wax Hybrid Solution Ceramic coating wax when I got the car and the water still beads up and sheets off when I look at it going through. I'll start hand washing it again in the spring when the weather warms up. It's our daily drive so it is going to get dirty and need cleaning and washing on a routine basis in warm weather as well as winter weather.

 

[bs1055]

Griots 3 in 1 does the trick for me.

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