How to Wash your Smart Inside and Out? - Page 2 - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

stuberman · 04-03-2008, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevenvillatoro

I'd never put my smart through one of those torture chambers, aka touchless car washes. The water never gets off all the dirt, and then the drying monkeys get their gritty towels all over it. Why not just use steel wool to clean it?

In Michigan the winter get very cold and nasty - lots of gray slush and salt. People wash weekly even if it the weather is bad since the salt gets on and under everything.

I go to one of those 'soft touch' cloth washes where the car is pulled through with the front left tire in a track. The 'brushes' are look like big neopreme rags that wipe all of the body panels and roof. The wash runs around $4 and does a nice job (more for underbody flush, tire cleaner, etc). It also has a hot air dryer - no cloths.

I haven't noticed any scratches or marks. There is really no way to use a bucket and hose when it is anywhere from -10 to 32 degrees. Alternatives are different car washes that are standard brush (ouch!) and pressure spray (laser spray).

My concern was that I have been told that a freshly painted car should not be waxed for a few months. I assume that a freshly built car (with clear coated panels and Tridion) warrants the same patience.

LittoDeviL · 04-04-2008, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuberman

In Michigan the winter get very cold and nasty - lots of gray slush and salt. People wash weekly even if it the weather is bad since the salt gets on and under everything.

I go to one of those 'soft touch' cloth washes where the car is pulled through with the front left tire in a track. The 'brushes' are look like big neopreme rags that wipe all of the body panels and roof. The wash runs around $4 and does a nice job (more for underbody flush, tire cleaner, etc). It also has a hot air dryer - no cloths.

I haven't noticed any scratches or marks. There is really no way to use a bucket and hose when it is anywhere from -10 to 32 degrees. Alternatives are different car washes that are standard brush (ouch!) and pressure spray (laser spray).

My concern was that I have been told that a freshly painted car should not be waxed for a few months. I assume that a freshly built car (with clear coated panels and Tridion) warrants the same patience.

I almost did this when I picked up the car on the east coast but was more concern that the "brushes" wouldn't even touch the car since it's so skinny or... if the width of the wheels would even get into the car wash since some of the car wash that "pulls the front driver side wheel" has rails that goes underneith the car and between the left and right tires. BTW.. Today I finally drove the car from new york back to san francisco.. less then 2 days.. non stop except for a 4 hour nap and.. when I got back I just hand washed my Litto Smart and washed off probably a million bugs from the front end.. lol...

Larry

Amethyste · 04-04-2008, 04:08 AM

... you what!? Drove across country in less than 2 days!? last time I moved from Seattle to Vermont, it took me 5 days... how fast were you driving? And how were your impressions on the trip in your smart!? I would like to know...

jaxbchSmart · 04-04-2008, 06:06 AM

i only use products from griots garage (www.griotsgarage.com). they have a great products for cleaning leather, plastic, carpet called interior cleaner. it has no colors or scents and will not alter the appearance of the area being cleaned. they make great clay bar products, waxes and polishes along with "the worlds greatest hose nozzle". at least sign up to get the catalog to check the stuff out.

stevenvillatoro · 04-04-2008, 07:51 AM

For car scents, nothing beats a half-pound of roasted coffee left in the bag in a warm spot inside the car.

esrazor · 04-04-2008, 08:08 PM

On some other threads people talked about using Plexus on the car. At the risk of sounding stupid, is that something you can use all over the car (since it is plastic) or only on the roof?