How to properly clean your truck

Sub'd cuz...girl

 

I clean the tires with a brush, and Purple Power degreaser, then rinse off with a pressure washer.

I use 2 caps of Optimum No-Rinse diluted into 2 quarts of distilled water to clean the paint.

I use Chemical Guys interior spray on the interior trim, and glass.

I wax the paint with Meguiars wax, and coat the tires with Chemical Guys VRP.

I also polish the chrome with a clean rag, and some Mothers Chrome Polish butter.

 

If not heavily soiled, plain water and a microfiber mit, followed with a leather chamois to dry. If heavily soiled, add soap and water source for rinse like a hose or pressure washer. Chamois is key to no streaking or water spots. Wax before and after winter. Clay bar before wax for extra points. Vacuum and pick a plastic product. Enjoy the fruit of your labor with a cold beer!

 

I’m in the same boat as you, this is the vehicle I’m going to be anal retentive about keeping clean. Here’s my was method:

1) Basic rinse at home to get the big stuff off and brush clean the rims with wheel cleaner.

2) At a wand style self car wash with $10 of quarters in hand... Use 3-ish minutes on the pre-soak setting.

3) Use my pre-filled water bucket with Chem Guys Mr. Pink for a wash using a micro fiber mit.

4) Use the high pressure rinse setting from a distance and get all the soap off.

5) Use the spot free rinse setting and give your truck good detailed rinse.

6) Drive home to get the bulk of of water off and when arriving home, towel dry what water is left.

7) Quickspray/wipe wax and detail whatever else is dirty in doorwells.

Keys:
Wash the truck in the shade to slow down drying which buys you more time, i.e. stay in the car wash bay. Vacuume at home or car wash. Use a sealant 2x a year and use spray on banana wax after each wash. Clean WeatherTech’s or whatever you use at home. I personally use all chemical guys products since they have a local store near my house.

Good luck.

 

The best way to wash a car is to not touch it.

I use a IK9 Foam sprayer with chemical guys citrus. Then I rinse it down and dry it with a leaf blower.

Use the Two-bucket method if the car is extra dirty. I think most people are familiar with the two-bucket method.


However, I just use one bucket now.

Except I use 6 wash mittens. You can buy cheap micro-fiber mittens (1-2 dollars) from this discount store called Daiso. There are multiple store locations in my local area. Wash 1 to 2 panels with a wash mitten. then discard it and use a new mitten. I feel this method is much safer on the clear coat than the two bucket method. After I am done, I wash all the mittens in the washing machine to ensure there are no harmful debris left for my next washing.


Also, every 6 months, I clay-bar the paint, and then I apply a sealant. In between the six months, I apply a carnuba wax every two weeks.



But.... even with all my precautions, I still have faint swirl marks. I think the swirl marks came from using costco micro fiber towels for wax and rinsing. I have since switched to a plush micro fiber drying towel and I use specialized wax applicators now.

 

Two bucket method.
Use a car soap, not dish soap.
Hand dry. Especially if you have mineral heavy water

 

First off try to wash your truck in the shade or when it’s cool out so the water doesn’t dry on it as your washing.

I use two buckets one for soap the other to rinse in. Start with wheels and tires first while the truck is still dry. When that’s done get the whole truck wet and start from the top and work your way down. Don’t push hard on the surface. Do a panel at a time so soap doesn’t start drying everywhere. Remember to keep the truck wet so nothing starts drying on it. Dry with microfibers. Then you can wax or put a sealant on it if you want (also in cool or shade).

After finishing drying I do door jambs with a moist mf. I’ve never used any product on my interiors so I don’t know about that. Depending on how crazy you want to get you can use tire dressing and spray wheel wells and your frame to look nice and new.

Then to maintain my clean truck I use a California duster(some people don’t trust them) every evening. And a waterless wash and wax if it gets a little too dusty or gets some water spots. Can keep my truck that sits outside clean for about a month or more like that. I’m no pro but always washed my own cars and recently started nerding out on detailing.

 

Single recommendation of not using dawn or other dish soaps. These have a habit of removing wax you’ve applied. Of course, some do this intentionally.

 

Only thing I will add in is....don’t fall for the foam cannons BS. You cant wash your Car by throwing a bunch of soap on it and letting in sit on paint and power wash it off. Hand wash is a must to agitate the dirt off.

It’s fun to use, but you waste an extreme amount of soap even if the soap is cheap. Use a hand pump Ik foamer from Adams or the Rag company whatever is cheapest. Just spray as your hand washing to ensure your paint is lubricated nicely during the wash.

https://youtu.be/276B9EmeKIk

My 2cents.

Good luck.

 

I traded in my 07 and they said the paint looked brand new. Most people didn't even realize the truck was that old. For my 3rd gen, I wash just about every week. I park under a tree so there is little sun. Heat is your enemy when washing.

Wash top to bottom, then sides. I use a soap sprayer (wolfgang) to coat the area then a nice brush stick made for car washing (get a good one, don't cheap out). I use chemical guys soap right now, but it's just ok. I may look at something else going forward. After washing, rinse thoroughly. As you wash each section, re-spray areas you've done. You don't want any soap drying (which is what is causing those spots). When everything is washed, I use a big squeegee and micro fiber towels to dry.

I've been trying hybrid wax from chemical guys but I'm not really seeing the benefit. It works, but it's just ok and definitely doesn't last. Even their bottle says it's really just a base coat. I'll be switching to a better wax.

Be sure to get some good UV protectant (303 recommended) and use that on your headlights to prevent yellowing. I use VRP from chemical guys on all rubber/vinyl parts outside for protection. Don't wanna end up looking like an Avalanche.

 

I remember I usta wash my truck every week. F that lol. Back to once a month or unless it stupid dirty.

 

I park under a tree and it's got an infestation of aphids so each morning I have a coat of honeydew on there. The tree also drops these nasty little things all over it that stick to hit hard. I'm treating the tree for aphids but I have no way to stop those little seeds from sticking unless I wash and wax. :/

 

If you've got a Tractor Supply Company store in your area, get one of these. Even if it's marketed for horses, the reservoir and nozzle works better than what they sell at Wal Mart for spraying a good layer of foam. Using a good car wash soap with this, I've learned that foaming the truck down first makes it much easier to wash. I second the two bucket method as well.

 

YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!!!!

Thanks everyone!!

 

I jsut go to my firs station and use what brushes and soap we have. Great in the winter cause I can pull my truck into one of the bays. Only problem, no beers while doing it

 

Like someone said above. It’s not a rolls Royce. It’s a truck. Being anal on how you wash is totally up to you.

I use chemical guys. Their wash, wax, quick detailer, interior dressing. Selection is great there.

 

Pictures of the spots you're talking about?

 

Cover it up with more dirt

 

Pretty cool guys treat their trucks like princesses. Hope you all treat your ladies as well as you do your trucks. Damn.

I got quicksand color truck. Wash it once a year. Keeping life easy.

 

First rule: only ask detailing questions in the detailing forum. You’ll get very poor answers otherwise and get advice that will lead you to cause harm to the finishes on your truck.

The proper way to wash a vehicle is with the two bucket method. It would be most ideal to have a foam cannon but not everyone does.

Adams Polishes and Chemical Guys have great Videos that show you how to properly wash your vehicle and do just about anything else youll want a tutorial on how to do.

To help you with the spotting on your fenders we need to see pictures.

Here is the Official detail thread:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/official-ask-a-detailer-thread.8957/