I live in a crappy apartment building (doesn't really match my income at all, I just don't like to pay a lot for rent) and there isn't a place to hook up a hose which pisses me off because I can't hand wash and wax my car here.... and since my car is black... it requires a bit of upkeep to keep it looking clean.

I have to go to the self service car wash in town, and I usually just end up spending a couple of hours parked outside the car wash waxing the car.

Over the last winter the car has gotten a bit dirty from just spraying it off and driving away at the car wash and I've gotten that milky effect on the paint... also the only wax that is on it is the crap that comes out of the spray gun at the car wash.

I'm wondering if there is something I can take with me (like some sort of sponge or scrubbing tool) to the "self service" car wash that I can scrub the car clean with while I'm spraying down the car and if there is a cleaning compound that I should use other than regular soap.

Not sure about the car wash you go to but at the ones around here there's really only anyone supervising it during the day. If you can go during low traffic periods like at night or early morning, I've taken my wash bucket and a large sponge or wash mit and run the soap wand but just left it pour soap and then hand washed and rinsed it. If you have build up, I would suggest clay bar to remove most of the residue and impurities you have on the paint, followed by a good wax. You may want to use a detailing spray during wipe down and or some of that gel wax that you apply before drying the car to keep the shine up and avoid spotting after washes.

Thanks... the one I go to is actually never attended and is open 24 hours.

I suppose If I went there at midnight... I could wash dry and way the car in the stall.

I've never used clay bar before... but I'm assuming that it has directions on the back of the bottle.

I actually just had to clean a @!#$ load of tree sap that got on my car while I was at work. I took pics and what not I could do a small write up on the whole thing from sap removal to clay and what else I normally do to keep the outside looking good.

I also just remembered that you stated your car was black....When you do claybar your car you will notice many tiny scratches and more of a dull/oxidized appearance. Take your time with the clay bar as it will take some areas longer ( I spend anywhere from 1hr to 3 on the cav depending how bad it is.) to become smooth, and if you never did this before you might need two bars to do the car top to bottom. I would highly recomend you polish the car as well be fore you should be very pleased with the outcome.

Oh and if you do decide to polish the car out see if any local automotive detail shops have an electronic thickness gauge so you can mill your paint ( tell them your looking to get it buffed out and want an estimate, and ask if they can check how thick the paint is, they normally will be more than happy to do this ). This way you will know where any repainting and or body work has been done and what spots have been buffed out in the past so you don't go through the paint. When I ran a detail shop we used this http://www.promotorcarproducts.com/etgi.htm To mill our customers cars before we did any buffing and or polishing.

if you have any more questions let me know. I'd be more than happy to help you out.

Mother's Claybar kit.... yes there's instructions. Look at the shine!!!



After using the clay bar, yes you WILL notice a lot more imperfections right after. Right after I clay barred (sp?) my car I noticed a crap load of chips, etc. Make sure you follow the directions, and put on a good coat of wax after. The car needs to be washed and then dried before you clay bar it, but the outcome is awesome. That picture above is right after I washed and clay barred my car and waxed for the first time after the winter, took about 5 hours total for the whole process I think (I'm VERY picky about my car)