My ultra-fast wash, dry and protect routine!


bensla

Recommended Posts

I've been very intersted in the Optimum products for a while but it's taken me a while to figure out how to really use them as a super-fast routine without necessarily buying each product in the range etc.

I made a video on the process if anyone is interested. Would be interested in any improvements to the routine (as long as they don't increase the time taken!) . My goals are to have a clean car all the time with minimal effort and minimal damage!

https://youtu.be/-XYxswbqhEw

Basically the idea is to keep things super simple. So the routine looks like this:

1. Foam wash and pressure rinse

2. ONR wash (with Ultra Black Sponge)

3. Dry with Opti-Seal (Rag Company Dry Me A River towels)

There are so many steps missing compared so the usual two-bucket method and the constant slickness from using ONR really adds confidence that you're not causing damage. Especially as the drying stage is lubricated from the ONR dampness, this point in particular is one of the most underrated aspects of ONR I think.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ben, I can find zero flaws in your presentation and methodology - this is a very thorough and safe way to clean your car.  I do have several observations - your suggestion that this is a more efficient method raises questions.  For 1, I've never taken 1.5 to 2 hours to wash a car.  Secondly, the use of foam and a pressure washer adds time and lots of water to your effort.  While foam is great on really dirty cars or for high volume shops, not sure it's necessary for the average user.  I use the 2 bucket method after pre-spraying, wash with the BRS, apply either Opti-Seal or Hyper Seal, and dry with an OPT Drying towel.  It takes 30 minutes or less, including tires/wheels and interior, and I promise my vehicles are mar free.

There are many paths to a clean, mar free car and yours is a great one...just not the only one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Like Ron said...Everyone uses ONR differently and there really are no rules to this. You have to addapt to your enviroment and the ammount of dirt that your car accumulates over time. If the car is only dusty then it really doesnt NEED a snow foam wash (even though it doesnt hurt) and a ONR pre spray is enough, while on the flip side if a car is soiled with road film and mud then a snow foam wash or at least a pressure wash is always a good idea to get rid off the most ammount of dirt posible.

I too sometimes use the PW on my local self-service car wash to wash off the crud that builds up over time (even though I have a PW at home but its a pain to assemble it every time and thus I get to use it like 3 times a year) and do a 2 bucket ONR wash after I get home or even sometimes after a day or two depending on if I feel like it and if I have the time to do it.

I always do my wheels and tires seperately and almost never at the same time when I wash my car.

What I am trying to say is...if you are comfortable with your routine then continue doing it but if you are looking on ways to cut some time off then assess if the car really needs a PW wash or a snow foam wash or not! Sometimes a ONR pre spray is all you are gonna need! Pro tip...for some extra ooomph you can also add some Opti clean into your ONR pre spray! It will encapsulate dirt better and it will add more lubrication for your wash media!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks, A&J, for including Opti-Clean as an alternative to foam AND regular washes.  We're in Pollen Season in Southern US and it gets everywhere, making it nearly impossible to keep your car clean.  Opti-Clean is perfect for quick wipe downs or to use after a squall leaves the paint wet and you don't want to chance water spots OR marring.  And for the reasons A$J mentioned, Opti-Clean is my go to pre-spray.

 

FYI, I don't own a foam gun/cannon, nor do I see any reason for me to buy one.  I have a power washer but it's inconvenient to pull my hose into my garage and makes a huge mess (I'm blessed with an oversized 3 car garage and try to keep it clean and organized).  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks both, this is really fascinating feedback. So I think where I feel the single bucket is a bit risky to use without a foam/spray you guys are using two buckets to lessen the risk and remove the hassle of the foam lance. This is very interesting indeed. Opti-clean mixed with ONR in a pre spray is very intersting too. I'm very tempted to try two buckets instead of the foam, might be able to get the routine down to 20 mins!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, A&J said:

ro tip...for some extra ooomph you can also add some Opti clean into your ONR pre spray! It will encapsulate dirt better and it will add more lubrication for your wash media!

Does this differ from just using a stronger solution of ONR?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bensla

Really enjoyed your video, nice production.  As for efficiency, any process can be made more efficient.  Currently down to one working eye so the world is a bit blurred and without seeing the unedited version these are only general comments

There is lots of walking around the car, although it does not sound like a lot of time, it all adds up.  With pen & paper or any other method, draw an outline of the car and watch the full process and draw lines which match how often you move around the car or go somewhere else.

I would put the bottle of Optiseal in your pocket, carrying different things in your hands is not efficient as it increases the chances of something going wrong.  Even better, get a toolkit belt.

I would adopt a standardised approach to washing each panel, humans seem to be poor at doing this, we will over wash some parts and just give a quick wipe to others.

Most good efficiency improvements come from making lots of small improvements, it is the cumulative result which give the best results.

I would suggest washing, drying etc each panel before moving onto the next one if you wish to save even more time.  This approach seems counter intuitive but it does work. 

One day I really should make some YouTube videos on detailing efficiency, perhaps there is a market for reaction detailing videos?

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

54 minutes ago, bensla said:

Does this differ from just using a stronger solution of ONR?

 

Yes, stronger ONR is just likely to lead to streaks not stronger cleaning, Opticlean is better at cleaning and has more lubrication but is obviously more expensive.  I have used Opticlean to pre-treat the paint and then washed with ONR.  I only use one wash bucket, if I wanted to be more efficient I would have two buckets, one on each side of the car!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah as Lowejackson mentioned adding more ONR doesnt make it clean more it just makes it streak more. Thats why you should keep the mixture in recomended doses.

Opti clean is a way more conentrated encapsulating cleaner and adding one cap (15ml) to your pre spray ONR mix is gonna help encapsulate dirt better and add lubrication on the paint which you will defenetely notice while gliding the wash media over!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A&J and Lowejackson - thanks both for me really good info!

Lowejackson I love your thinking with this. I think there is definitely appetite for this kind of thing on YouTube it’s just hard tapping into it when you cover lots of topics like I do on my channel! If you specialised though and built up the audience I think it would do well.

I totally agree re. trying to avoid walking around the car and also love the idea of the utility belt. I feel some timing tests coming on to compare panel-by-panel with stage-by-stage. When doing panel-by-panel how do you deal with the rear quarter that turns into the cills that runs below the doors? Do you still treat that as one or do you do the cill portion below the door as you do the doors?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

b6d7c5fd8d2f0679b6706a5344af679e.jpg.eb55a7abae3777bb4b038117bd4b1cac.jpg

This is how I wash my car or how I seperate my car...the panels that share color I do in one take wash-dry-seal and then I move to the next part.

In essence I first start with the roof (half of the roof) then I move down on the windows, both doors and front quarter panel. Then I do the same thing on the other side of the car, and then I do the entire front part and lastly the entire back of the car including both back quarter panels.

I overlap the panels just slightly once I wash so I dont miss anything.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I use an identical system as A&J and once the panels are complete I move onto the wheels. I've tried washing the whole car then going round to dry and seal but as mentioned it does seem to take me longer than washing, drying and sealing an individual or small group of panels together.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, bensla said:

...... When doing panel-by-panel how do you deal with the rear quarter that turns into the cills that runs below the doors? Do you still treat that as one or do you do the cill portion below the door as you do the doors?

I would treat the cills as sections but would understand if someone else viewed them as one separate panel.  Experimentation is key here.  Key questions are, does it require less effort and movement as well as increased speed.

The technical name for this is 'one piece flow', there is a lot of good information out there on this topic but my favourite video is about using one piece flow for washing dishes by Dr Bradley Miller https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoyT01qpwRc  Certainly not a Hollywood production but does a great job at demonstrating the technique and makes some very important points about mental engagement near the end of the video. 

If I am training I will often use stuffing paper into envelopes, nearly everyone thinks that doing them in batches is quicker and the look of confusion when they cut the batch size to one, is gratifying.

The mapping of movement is called a spaghetti diagram and can be a very powerful tool, many people don't like this diagram as they think it is too simple and search for complex/expensive solutions which will do the same thing.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm enjoying this whole discussion!  Lowe, you're supposed to credit the origin - it was Yvan who stated the 2 bucket method was one on each side of the car.  I've mentioned before that Dr G doesn't use the 2 bucket method, but with 2 sons, I don't think David washes his own vehicles.  The only reason I use that method is that I found a divided bucket at a janitorial supply store.  This proves all paths can lead to clean cars - foam, single/two bucket, fancy wash patterns, ergonomics, etc.

Honestly I've never approached car washing with efficiency in mind, I put music on and have my Big Red Dog for support.  Reviewing my process it's obvious I could cut some time and effort.  I start at the top (like my daddy taught me), then do all the glass.  That's wasted time and an extra trip.  Then I pick a side (I like diversity more than routine), and do sections thoroughly.  Every area I do, I do completely, meaning wash/seal/dry before moving on.  I save wheels/tires for last because i HATE them...and sometime just wipe/seal the wheels, skipping rubber. That's why I'm experimenting with TPC.  I take the drying towel infused with ONR and wipe down the interior, followed by Protectant Plus.  With each wash bucket, I usually do 2 cars, a regular driver and the Garage Queen (small and easy), though sometimes I do the riding mower instead.  I've also experimented using Wax or Instant Detailer instead of sealant - I don't see a huge difference in look and do my cars too often to really judge durability.  I find car washing cathartic - it's good exercise, outside, and when I'm done I can see what I've accomplished.  A compliment from my wife is just the cherry on top!  I've found few things in my professional life that provide as much satisfaction or instant gratification.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, Ron@Optimum said:

.... Lowe, you're supposed to credit the origin - it was Yvan who stated the 2 bucket method was one on each side of the car.... 

 

 

Absolutely right Ron,  I should have credited Yvan with putting two buckets on either side of the car plus I enjoy his approach to detailing.  On the other hand, all this efficiency stuff is built on nearly a century of engineers and thinkers such as Deming, Juran, Ohno, Shingo, Taguchi, Toyoda et al

Whilst I do love efficiency work and it helps pays my mortgage, it is obviously not for everyone, if someone wants to spend a day cleaning a wheel and they enjoy it then this is time well spent although there is an argument for those for example who love waxing and dislike washing, be efficient with the washing to maximise the time waxing

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...