I created a time lapse movie of me washing my sexy 030 SLK55. It took me 90 minutes to wash but the video is compressed down to only 4 minutes!
Yes I have different colored cloths for different jobs Notice the blue ones for drying the wheels.
That’s actually not a sponge but a really soft sheepskin mit. I’m SUPER paranoid about grit scratching the paint.
Here is my approximate process:
- Start with the wheels. I have four different brushes I use. First, spray them off. Then use a bucket of clean soapy water I start with a wheel and tire brush. I scrub the tires and the large surfaces of the wheels. Then with a spoke brush clean in between each spoke. The third brush is used to get behind the spokes and the brake calipers. Then the lug nut brush. Rinse and check for spots I missed. Next wheel.
- After the wheels, I rinse the whole thing down really well to knock off as much loose dirt as I can. Dump, rinse and refill bucket with clean water. LOTS of soap. Start with the top surfaces and work down.
- Rinse the mit periodically or after cleaning dirty surfaces to remove any traces of dirt. Keep plenty of soapy water on it. Very important especially for black paint.
- Rinse periodically from the top down. Never leave the soap on too long to dry. I wash the back and bottom of the car last. It’s the dirtiest.
- Rinse Rinse Rinse
- I’ve tried everything I can find for drying. The best thing I’ve found is those “Super Absorber” rubbery feeling artificial chamois things. It’s super soft, easy to see if you got it dirty, machine washable and absorbs water like crazy.
- Dry the door jams, trunk jams and wheels using their own towels.
- Throw everything in the washing machine so it is nice and clean for the next car wash.
