Keeping Clean

Because of that other thread discussion, I did a little research. I'm leaning toward a garden hose foam spray gun rinse, then cyclone korean microfiber wash mitts with soap bucket and separate rinse bucket (with grit guard grid in the bottom).

 

I got the crystal paint coat. I simply spray with my garden hose and wipe down with a chamois. I don't spray/wash the underneath of the car.

 

I'm surprised how quickly the rear of my SE gets dirty after I wash it. I've taken to washing just the hatch and rear bumper when the rest of the car still looks clean. Some cars have wind deflectors that help keep the rear-end clean, but I love the look of my SE (since I erased the fake hood scoop), so I wouldn't want an ugly deflector.

 

I spent an alarming number of hours going down various YouTube detailer rabbit holes while researching this topic to develop my own strategy.

Disclaimer
There are innumerable "wrong" and "right" ways to do it, depending on your own personal conditions, objectives, and preferences. The "right" way for me may be "wrong" for you. And the choices I made are "right enough" for me--there are certainly superior options, but I made some compromises to balance my desired results against my desired level of effort and budget.

Factors influencing my strategy

• I have a 2-car garage with an HVAC vent so it's "heated and cooled".
• My car has a ceramic coating, which has its own special requirements for maintenance:
  • soft-touch/no-touch cleaning methods
  • pH-neutral shampoos/chemicals
  • in other words, avoid automatic washes of all sorts.
• I want to reasonably "protect my investment" and "keep it looking nice".
• ...But I also want to avoid being neurotic about keeping my car clean.

Warm Weather Maintenance Washing
When the weather is warm enough to wash my car in the driveway (shaded), I basically use the two-bucket method with minor embellishments. (Note: Since I took delivery of my SE in late fall, I haven't actually done this yet--it's my plan.)

• Spray whole car with garden hose to loosen the lightest debris and begin soaking.
• Spray on foaming shampoo to pre-wash. Wait a few minutes for it to soak and loosen/lubricate.
• Rinse car off with garden hose.
• Hand wash with the two-bucket method and microfiber wash mitt, working from top to bottom.
  • Bucket 1 has the car washing shampoo (and a grit guard in the bottom).
  • Bucket 2 has clean water for rinsing/cleaning the wash mitt (and a grit guard in the bottom).
• Rinse car off with garden hose.
• Blow dry with a car dryer.
• Clean windows with a waffle weave microfiber towel and ammonia-free cleaner (safe for the tint on the inside of the windows).
• Finish with a ceramic booster (spray on; wipe off with microfiber towel; buff with clean microfiber towel)

Cold Weather Maintenance Washing
During the winter, it's too cold to keep the garden hose out...and too cold to safely wash my car in the driveway. But my garage is large enough and warm enough that I have some reasonable options for washing.

• If the car is somewhat dirty, I go to the local "pay-n-spray" and use the "rinse" option in the bay to remove any grime/salt build-up.
• If it is really dirty, I will go at a very low traffic time with my own pH-neutral shampoo in a foamer:
  • rinse
  • spray on foam
  • wait a few minutes for the foam to work
  • rinse again
  • go home.

If I'm feeling lazy or know the car will immediately get dirty again, I just let it air dry in the garage. (I tried using the car dryer once, and wound up with streaks because this frictionless method with cold water left the car cleaner but not truly clean.)

If the roads are clear enough that the additional effort is worth it, I proceed with a hand wash in the warmth of my garage:

• Since it isn't practical (or safe) to use a hose inside my garage, I use a rinseless wash following the Garry Dean method (with warm water in the bucket).
• Clean windows with a waffle weave microfiber towel and ammonia-free cleaner (safe for the tint on the inside of the windows).
• Finish with a ceramic booster (spray on; wipe off with microfiber towel; buff with clean microfiber towel).

 

That is a brilliant idea!

While you should be reasonably careful, this shouldn't pose more risk than driving at highway speeds in the rain, through puddles, etc.

That's a great tip! I will definitely look into that, because I am also surprised/irritated by how quickly the backside gets dirty while the rest still looks clean. Impact on range is an interesting question, though...

 

Thank you for answering this question I've had since I first learned about car dryers. So in the winter I'll just keep using my microfiber towels after washing at the pay-n-spray. After washing, I park the driver's side towards the sun and dry the passenger's side as quickly as I can before the ice forms. If I can't keep ahead of the ice, I give up and hope for sublimation. Then I run to the driver's side (not a long dash with a MINI Cooper), hoping the sun has prevented the formation of ice.

I spend a lot of time spraying the heck out of the underside and wheel-wells, knowing what damage road-salt has done to so many of my cars (except for my aluminum-bodied Insights). @MichaelC, I agree that the car-wash spray cannot be worse than the puddles through which the car must drive.

As I'm leaning over to get the spray nozzle way under the battery (why do I never remember to wear my knee pads?), I always wonder how deep a stream a MINI Electric can ford. I've thought of making a Jeep-like snorkel and telling people at the next car meet that the snorkel is for me--my ICE-less car works even when completely underwater.

I've also thought about mounting a pair of fake exhaust pipes and telling people I could only afford to remove the fake hood scoop. Speaking of which, I'm feeling better about my obsessive-compulsive modification since discovering it cost me less to buy, paint and install a scoopless hood than what some people are paying for PPF! Oops, I'm drifting off-thread again...I love washing my scoopless hood!

 

You went down the same rabbit hole I went down yesterday! Your warm weather strategy is what I came up with, as well. And with the mild winters where I live, I should be able to do it most of the year. My virtual shopping cart already has wash items in it.

 

This threat makes me grateful for living in a mild climate.

 

Optimum no rinse! Paired with high quality waffle towels it’s so easy to clean cars, and it works on virtually any surface.

Great for quick touch ups (especially bugs while on a road trip), and a full wash only takes 10 minutes + very little water.

 

I live by this for cleaning

 

I googled Optimum No-Rinse. How does it work on a road trip? Can you use it when you have no access to water?

 

Sorry I couldn't resist with that one. We're up for my first wash this weekend finally. I'm a bit less meticulous than most here. If it gets really bad in the winter I spot clean. Otherwise I just wait until its warm. My car was prepped with a ceramic coating at the dealer without my saying anything. Of course to get the warranty I'd have to pay... we'll hand wash and air dry as always sat or Sunday. Both cars can use it. I'm just happy with how better the green is with showing dirt than my thunder gray was.

 

I just keep it mixed in a spray bottle and pack a waffle drying towel. Hit the bumper with a few sprays, wipe off, done. It can stay mixed pretty much indefinitely too.

 

Does anybody know if the MINI mud flaps are "no drill" installation? I would install them myself if it didn't mean drilling new holes in the body and all the implications with corrosion, etc. that may carry.

 

Would love to see a pic with the Mini brand rear flaps. If they look good I might add them if they help keep the back end cleaner.