How do you wash your Stinger?

[OhMyGT]

Unfortunately I live in an apartment complex so I can't wash my Stinger myself. I normally go to a touchless car wash or self serve wash. What do you guys do?

 

[Kia Stinger]

I don't have a Stinger yet so I'm not sure if I should vote. However, I use a local touchless car wash for my Accord and Genesis Sedan...

 

[westcoastGT]

Youre lucky living in Socal where car culture is huge and rain /mud is very infrequent , find a good hand wash place and get them to keep yourcar washed , personally I like washing my cars and keeping them waxed/polished and have all the stuff to keep them looking good .................enjoy

 

[Johnnyfive]

I'll probably do it myself by hand. Should be easier with the ceramic coat.

 

[westcoastGT]

I'll probably do it myself by hand. Should be easier with the ceramic coat.

add your location to your signature
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[OhMyGT]

Youre lucky living in Socal where car culture is huge and rain /mud is very infrequent , find a good hand wash place and get them to keep yourcar washed , personally I like wasking my cars and keeping them waxed/polished and have all the stuff to keep them looking good .................enjoy

Good advice there are hand wash places around me. I just have a hard time being trusting of places but I think I will give it a try . Right now take it to a touchless once a week but some of the harder stuff doesn’t come off so have to touch up myself.

 

[Johnnyfive]

add your location to your signature
https://stingerforum.org/account/personal-details

Done.

 

[Kazz]

Touchless washes is the way to go. My detailer, after applying paint protection, specifies touchless washes only and if anything needs more attention than that, use the appropriate microfiber towel with quick detailer to very gently brush the substance off. Contact with the paint is to be minimized, if not avoided.

 

[westcoastGT]

Touchless washes is the way to go. My detailer, after applying paint protection, specifies touchless washes only and if anything needs more attention than that, use the appropriate microfiber towel with quick detailer to very gently brush the substance off. Contact with the paint is to be minimized, if not avoided.

Love you dude , BUT Touchless has isnt the best way to wash a car . This process uses very strong chemicals that can undermine the sealants and finishes applied to cars and there is always a residual dirt film left on that requires some degree of additional "washing" to remove . Additionally the air drying will invariably leave water marks on your paint ...................just saying check put autogeeks .com for the best washing methods ................in winter I think Touchless makes sense when traditional washing isnt practical but I dont think it should be the primary washing method .

 

[Kia Stinger]

Love you dude , BUT Touchless has isnt the best way to wash a car . This process uses very strong chemicals that can undermine the sealants and finishes applied to cars and there is always a residual dirt film left on that requires some degree of additional "washing" to remove . Additionally the air drying will invariably leave water marks on your paint ...................just saying check put autogeeks .com for the best washing methods ................in winter I think Touchless makes sense when traditional washing isnt practical but I dont think it should be the primary washing method .

Touchless probably isn't the "best" way to go - but "the way to go" for some of us.

 

[Kazz]

Love you dude , BUT Touchless has isnt the best way to wash a car . This process uses very strong chemicals that can undermine the sealants and finishes applied to cars and there is always a residual dirt film left on that requires some degree of additional "washing" to remove . Additionally the air drying will invariably leave water marks on your paint ...................just saying check put autogeeks .com for the best washing methods ................in winter I think Touchless makes sense when traditional washing isnt practical but I dont think it should be the primary washing method .

With a car with quality paint protection, this IS the way to go. Microfiber and appropriate detailer spray takes care of the rest. Automated car washes with brushes are to be avoided at all costs.

 

[westcoastGT]

With a car with quality paint protection, this IS the way to go. Microfiber and appropriate detailer spray takes care of the rest. Automated car washes with brushes are to be avoided at all costs.

NEVER take a car through automated car washes , and we will politely agree to disagree on Touchless , OK

 

[Kia Stinger]

I can certainly attest to not taking your car through an automated car wash. I once had a 2006 750Li (bought used) that I sent through one of these right before I traded it in. It damaged the paint. Hardly noticeable - but the paint was damaged. Not good...

 

[westcoastGT]

Touchless probably isn't the "best" way to go - but "the way to go" for some of us.

I think in areas that dont get much rain and dont get the build up of mud or even salt the Touchless works , yes I occasionally will run my cars through them , but ask any detailer they'll tell you that Touchless uses harsh chemicals that will strip finishing materials . I know ceramic finished are less inclined to "hold" dirt and clean more easily with sprayed water and cleaners but even ceramic wears off and Touchless can speed that up .

 

[Kia Stinger]

Touchless uses harsh chemicals that will strip finishing materials

That's definitely something to consider...

 

[Kazz]

FWIW, I put my previous vehicle through a winter and a half before trading it in on this Stinger. It had the same paint protection that now sits on my Stinger. Touchless did a great job almost every time. I drove it to Salt Lake City from Illinois (and eventually back home, of course). It was dirty enough I took it to a bay and used a towels, etc. But that was mostly bugs. I was amazed how well that protection kept the shine, water beading, and kept me from having to scrub!

 

[Kia Stinger]

FWIW, I put my previous vehicle through a winter and a half before trading it in on this Stinger. It had the same paint protection that now sits on my Stinger. Touchless did a great job almost every time. I drove it to Salt Lake City from Illinois (and eventually back home, of course). It was dirty enough I took it to a bay and used a towels, etc. But that was mostly bugs. I was amazed how well that protection kept the shine, water beading, and kept me from having to scrub!

That's good to hear. Especially considering I use a touch-less carwash most of the time. I think that even with the harsh chemicals, you'll be safe as long as you're not constantly washing the car. Someone who's that obsessive probably wants hand-washing anyway.

 

[Euljiro1ga]

I can get pretty geeky about car washing and products. I think "touch-less" car wash can be good or bad depending on the chemicals they use. I almost always prewash the car, touch-less. Then, hand-wash. There are a few types of car shampoo out on the market today, those that strip wax and sealants, mild shampoo for maintenance washes, then there are those that leave behind some kind of wax or sealants. Each one has its place in your wash cycle.

Average people may not really see the benefit/harm with the right/wrong wash techniques and chemicals immediately, leading them to think all washes are the same. In the long-run though, those small scratches and discoloration will accumulate and become much more visible and need more dramatic and expensive procedures to correct them. I get stupid 'suggestions' all the time, like 'oh, don't get a white car because over time the paint will become yellow'.

 

[Johnnyfive]

FWIW my paint protection film installer specifically told me to avoid high pressure washes, and that brush washes were fine. Interesting to see how the opinions differ.

 

[Kazz]

Perhaps that's specific to film-covered cars, not ceramic or similar paint protection?