How do you wash yours?

[hlobban]

Given that Easter is approaching and we are going to be asked this about our creme eggs, I wondered if anyone out there was doing anything drastically different to me?

I just spent 2hrs hand washing our Cali and was wondering if how I was doing it was either efficiently or correct

So without boring everyone here goes my standard routine wash:

This obviously starts from the top / roof of the van and works down in sections / panels with the exception of the alloys which get a special pre-treatment to get brake dust off.

1. Pressurewash -> Get majority of dirt and grime off (esp brake dust on alloys).
2. Spray alloy cleaner on alloys and allow to set to work.
3. Spray Halfords "Snow Foam" all over the van, including roof with solar panels.
4. Hand Scrub the alloys with allox brush.
5. Pressure Wash Alloys
6. Use Karcher Car brush attatchement to gently remove dirt from all of the van (including roof and solar panels).
7. Pressure wash entire van again.
8. Squeegy Windows
9. Use lint free cloths to dry the van, paying attention to any "missed" spots.
10. Final rinse of lower half of the van (below the windowline).

Having only owned the van for for 10 months I have done this 5 times now but have yet to get into the waxing world (yes still talking about the van)!

Any tips, anything vastly different.... "how do you wash yours" (no judgement here)

 

[CC44853]

Took awning off many moons ago and chuck it through a local Tesco automated car wash. YOLO.

 

[Johnbee]

I’m glad it’s not just me that spends 2 hours cleaning my Cali, though I do wash it every couple of weeks, so it’s never filthy.

I use 3 buckets of warm water with a good blob of Screwfix no nonsense car shampoo in two buckets. One bucket is just for washing the wheels using my ‘wheel sponge’

Two buckets for washing the van. One of the buckets is just water to rinse the noodle wash mitt , so any dirt or grit doesn’t get trapped in the mitt and rubbed on to the paintwork. Starting at the top, working down.

Rinse off with water from one of my water butts from the garden (reduces marks if it drys too quickly compared to tap water - and it’s free!)

Dry off with a large Microfibre cloth.

Remove greyhound nose marks from inside windows, sliding door side.

I wax the van every 6 months using Mer polish, usually autumn and spring which takes me a good hour or two, depending on how many neighbours stop for a chat.

I actually washed the van yesterday so went out and waxed it today, so all set for first trip away this weekend.

 

[deuteronomy78]

I’ve just spent the past 2 days cleaning mine for what feels like the first time in ages, using the 90 mins or so of available light after finishing work.

The vast majority of this was spent going round with a clay bar getting off the road tar and sap, which did come off quite easily, but oh my there was such an abundance of tar this time.

It’s now back to Ascot grey and not beige

 

[Perfectos]

Use Karcher Car brush attatchement to gently remove dirt from all of the van (including roof and solar panels).

IMO
Never use a brush on paintwork unless you want to scratch it.
Steps 1-3 spot on

Alloys - valet pro bilberry wheel cleaner (or dragons breath etc) & pressure wash them, assess , reapply if necessary and sponge (microfibre cover) wheel brush (no scrubbing necessary)

Cant beat two bucket method with a noodle wash mit.

Rather than drying the van fully , , after squeegee the windows , try Autoglym Aqua wax on a microfibre cloth, dries the van (the product does the work) and applies a maintenance coat of wax (every wash)

Wax - twice a year = Meguires Ultimate paste wax (in a tin)

From a previous post / thread
I use :
Jet wash : wet the whole vehicle, take off all loose material
Snow foam : Bilt & hamber car wash auto snow foam (best I’ve found, use a little to get a great pre clean, loosen dirt )
jet wash: wash off snow foam
hand wash : noodle mitt , either Autogylm or Halfords ! (two bucket method)
maintenance wax: autoglym aqua wax (unbelievable maintenance on a wet vehicle)
twice yearly : Mcguires ultimate wax + elbow grease
Once a year: remove tar spots (lighter fluid ) re wax

two bucket method to wash is a must & keep the dealer away from your van !

wheels : valet pro; billberry juice (excellent)

the trick is to remove as much grit / dirt as possible before touching the van, the built and Hamber is defo worth the cost, uses 90% less product than other more expensive snow foam , a little in a snow gun goes a long, long way & actually works ( unlike other high foam products)
The bilt and hamber does not foam to a high foam, instead it just works

 

[Perfectos]

sponge

 

[Perfectos]

Some reading

Routine maintenance

morning all, Has anyone got a maintenance schedule they use to prevent issues like blocked drainage in the slide windows and roof? Can you give advice on other common things to check regularly and what techniques you use? Thanks in advance.

vwcaliforniaclub.com

How often do you wash your Cali?

A Toyota Yaris GR - with the competition pack extra? Very nice. is it as good as the press says it is? Yes, and dunno I haven't driven it anywhere interesting yet! (And the roads are too dry at the moment, it's a winter car really :) )

vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[AcapulcoLoco]

Wait, what? You have to wash them? I washed mine once... didn't like it.

 

[AcapulcoLoco]

Seriously though, I tend to wet it all over with a jet washer then, snow foam the whole van, then get a bucket of soapy water- either autoglym or Maguiars and wash it then rinse with the jet washer and aqua wax to dry it, I use Autoglym Magma on the wheels, it goes bright red where it's lifting off the iron oxide and brake dust really good stuff. ps I use a lambswool wash mit

 

[Johnbee]

It’s not a sponge I use on the bodywork!
I was today years old when I learnt it’s called a noodle wash mitt .
Post edited.

 

[Pollewop]

I use this, and it works perfectly

 

[Dave bee]

Aqua wax is great, does two jobs in one, waxes the van and dries it too as you buff it. Also don’t wash with warm water if there’s salt on the roads/ your van, ot helps salt do its worse, corrosion

 

[Up10]

I’m glad it’s not just me that spends 2 hours cleaning my Cali, though I do wash it every couple of weeks, so it’s never filthy.

I use 3 buckets of warm water with a good blob of Screwfix no nonsense car shampoo in two buckets. One bucket is just for washing the wheels using my ‘wheel sponge’

Two buckets for washing the van. One of the buckets is just water to rinse the noodle wash mitt , so any dirt or grit doesn’t get trapped in the mitt and rubbed on to the paintwork. Starting at the top, working down.

I have it on good authority from 'he who likes chatting to the neighbours' that he uses a similar method. He uses a wax and wash and always washes the van and car on a rainy day so although the vehicles have a final hose rinse, they also have a soft water rain wash. No drying off required and no streaks. Bit difficult in the summer we've just had!

 

[Vagophile]

Wait, what? You have to wash them? I washed mine once... didn't like it.

I have similar thoughts.
I can honestly say that my Cali has not had a wash since I bought it almost exactly 6 years ago. Various bits (like dead fly remains and the odd bird poop) have been removed locally with a damp cloth and that's it apart from wiping over the wheels prior to removal for brake checks.
I appreciate that I will take a lot of flack over this, but I have more important things to do and a good thunderstorm does wonders (the van lives outside).
A photograph that I have just taken.

 

[hlobban]

All very useful and helpful, I did read previous threads on this but thought it might be fun to start an updated one.. to see if there was anything new in the world of washing Calis

By the sounds of it, I need to up my game by

1. Purchasing a noodle mitt ?
2. Investigate the two buckets method…
3. Starting to use one of those wax products that helps dry the van…

Thanks for all the useful input!

Oh and 4. Wash it when it’s forecast to rain later that day….

I always try to do it on a dull day anyway to stop it drying too quickly!

 

[AcapulcoLoco]

The reasoning behind the noodle wash mit is that a sponge can hold a bit of grit and when you rub it over your paintwork it scratches, whereas a noodle wash mit the grit can move away and is less likely to be picked up it also should drop into the bucket more easily, personally I prefer a lambswool wash mit, I have one I think Meguiars made it, it's also a lot harder to drop a wash mit than a sponge.

 

[Perfectos]

I have similar thoughts.
I can honestly say that my Cali has not had a wash since I bought it almost exactly 6 years ago. Various bits (like dead fly remains and the odd bird poop) have been removed locally with a damp cloth and that's it apart from wiping over the wheels prior to removal for brake checks.
I appreciate that I will take a lot of flack over this, but I have more important things to do and a good thunderstorm does wonders (the van lives outside).
A photograph that I have just taken.

View attachment 144563

The layers are a preservative!

 

[stoobthealien]

Soo many different shampoos, wheel cleaners and spray waxes to choose from, all with different reviews etc. Anyone have reasonably priced suggestions - I don't have a pressure washer

 

[colintfcolintf]

I’ve always used Autoglym and been happy with the results

 

[AcapulcoLoco]

Soo many different shampoos, wheel cleaners and spray waxes to choose from, all with different reviews etc. Anyone have reasonably priced suggestions - I don't have a pressure washer

Any of the Autoglym stuff or Meguiars they are all really good. I do recommend Aqua wax, you spray it on when the van is still wet and buff it off and it leaves the van really nice and shiny. To be honest I think most of the washes and waxes nowadays are pretty good, I use Meguiars and Autoglym because I know they are really good, I've used them for years on my Harley too.

 

[Beryl]

Given that Easter is approaching and we are going to be asked this about our creme eggs, I wondered if anyone out there was doing anything drastically different to me?

I just spent 2hrs hand washing our Cali and was wondering if how I was doing it was either efficiently or correct

So without boring everyone here goes my standard routine wash:

This obviously starts from the top / roof of the van and works down in sections / panels with the exception of the alloys which get a special pre-treatment to get brake dust off.

1. Pressurewash -> Get majority of dirt and grime off (esp brake dust on alloys).
2. Spray alloy cleaner on alloys and allow to set to work.
3. Spray Halfords "Snow Foam" all over the van, including roof with solar panels.
4. Hand Scrub the alloys with allox brush.
5. Pressure Wash Alloys
6. Use Karcher Car brush attatchement to gently remove dirt from all of the van (including roof and solar panels).
7. Pressure wash entire van again.
8. Squeegy Windows
9. Use lint free cloths to dry the van, paying attention to any "missed" spots.
10. Final rinse of lower half of the van (below the windowline).

Having only owned the van for for 10 months I have done this 5 times now but have yet to get into the waxing world (yes still talking about the van)!

Any tips, anything vastly different.... "how do you wash yours" (no judgement here)

Great to see how many people lovingly take care of their Calis - any tips for getting green off the rubber around the window and roof. This winter has been so wet that despite washing regularly, Beryl's gone a bit green

 

[colintfcolintf]

Great to see how many people lovingly take care of their Calis - any tips for getting green off the rubber around the window and roof. This winter has been so wet that despite washing regularly, Beryl's gone a bit green

Toothbrush and water

 

[Beryl]

Toothbrush and water

My husband wanted to use bleach and I said 'over my dead body'!

 

[trev0rk]

Any of the Autoglym stuff or Meguiars they are all really good. I do recommend Aqua wax, you spray it on when the van is still wet and buff it off and it leaves the van really nice and shiny. To be honest I think most of the washes and waxes nowadays are pretty good, I use Meguiars and Autoglym because I know they are really good, I've used them for years on my Harley too.

I have used Wax and Dry for years. Spray and leather after each wash, couldn’t be easier.

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-cleaning/ceramic-coating/turtle-wax-hybrid-solutions-ceramic-spray-coating-500ml-351526.html?gclsrc=aw.ds&&_$ja=tsid:%7Ccid:17326102957%7Cagid:%7Ctid:%7Ccrid:%7Cnw:x%7Crnd:9781516092475254625%7Cdvc:m%7Cadp:%7Cmt:%7Cloc:9194070&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17322863997&gclid=CjwKCAiA-__MBhAKEiwASBmsBFOU82WfqBr-RrjL7pj4eM9bx-tqIyHwvZv0IUQK9Psu6d_kuEaSORoC8tIQAvD_BwE

I ordered this, arrived today and will try out shortly

 

[AcapulcoLoco]

I have used Wax and Dry for years. Spray and leather after each wash, couldn’t be easier.

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-cleaning/ceramic-coating/turtle-wax-hybrid-solutions-ceramic-spray-coating-500ml-351526.html?gclsrc=aw.ds&&_$ja=tsid:%7Ccid:17326102957%7Cagid:%7Ctid:%7Ccrid:%7Cnw:x%7Crnd:9781516092475254625%7Cdvc:m%7Cadp:%7Cmt:%7Cloc:9194070&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17322863997&gclid=CjwKCAiA-__MBhAKEiwASBmsBFOU82WfqBr-RrjL7pj4eM9bx-tqIyHwvZv0IUQK9Psu6d_kuEaSORoC8tIQAvD_BwE

I ordered this, arrived today and will try out shortly

Let us know if it's any good will you please trev0rk, I'd be interested to know what you think of it.