Cleaning tips for your Cali

[Jay gas]

I thought that now a lot of us will have a bit more time due to the current climate and measures being taken it would be good to hear any tips that anybody had for cleaning their pride and joy????????

 

[Jodalo]

I thought that now a lot of us will have a bit more time due to the current climate and measures being taken it would be good to hear any tips that anybody had for cleaning their pride and joy????????

Unfortunately mine’s not getting dirty at the moment. I’m looking at it through the window with the sun glinting off it.

 

[Beeechke1]

Cant believe you can still buy this stuff, don't thing the packaging has changed since beetles had chrome bumpers. Still does a great job on my chrome side bars.

 

[Jodalo]

I think I’ve still got a tube in my shed from the 70’s My Ford Escort bumpers looked a real treat in those days.

 

[Borris]

We live out in the country where the metalled roads are buried under a sea of mud during the winter months. I thoroughly washed our van two weeks ago and it still looks pretty clean but only because it's not moved a wheel since. I might get round to giving it a clay and polish but that would only be after my current decorating activities are done. That won't be anytime soon.

 

[Volkywagen]

Van is currently buried in the garage UFN! If I can escape then I’ll dig it out, but the missus and I are sharing child responsibility for the foreseeable

 

[Moakesy]

If we can include what parts would appreciate some PTFE spray that would be useful

 

[soulstyledevon]

Mine is desperate for a wash and something I might tackle today.

Basic wash:

Rinse with power washer
Snow foam
Clean wheels
Clean arches
Two bucket hand wash
Rinse again
Dry
Inside

 

[Joker 1299]

Mine is desperate for a wash and something I might tackle today.

Basic wash:

Rinse with power washer
Snow foam
Clean wheels
Clean arches
Two bucket hand wash
Rinse again
Dry
Inside

Remember to sing happy birthday twice while doing it.

 

[Borris]

As the Cali is such a big lump to wash properly, one of the benefits of having a duo colour example (Candy White over Starlight Blue in our case), is that the van lends itself to being washed in two sections.

I always use the same method as Soulstyledevon states above except I usually do the interior first. There's no practical reason for doing it that way round but it's just how I prefer to do it. I always wash a vehicle from the top down as there will usually be much less grit and muck on the top half. So I treat the white top section as one wash then change both the wash and rinse waters before starting on the more fragile darker lower half.

Since I've had the latest van it's been raining pretty much non stop so I haven't had the opportunity to dry it off. This is not such a bad thing as every time you wash and dry a vehicle you will damage it very slightly. Accordingly, I don't wash our vehicles every week instead it's more like every four to six weeks and usually only whilst it's raining. That way you are usually assisting the rinse with clean rain water without the calcium deposits which leave those unsightly marks on the dark paint work. Why people wait to wash their cars on hot sunny days I shall never know. That's the worst time to do it especially if you have a darker colour.

In between these infrequent thorough wash downs I usually take our van to a very good local self car wash where I merely jet wash it off. That jet wash has a series of programs:
1.Wheel cleaner spray
2. Hot foam jet wash
3. RInse in super clean filtered water jet wash
4. Hot wax jet wash
5. Spotless finish jet wash

I don't bother with step 3 as that's covered by step 5.

It doesn't leave the van as clean as it would be after a proper wash but it gets the bulk of the muck off and leaves it looking very smart. Again there's been no rubbing to cause any damage.

 

[Jay gas]

As the Cali is such a big lump to wash properly, one of the benefits of having a duo colour example (Candy White over Starlight Blue in our case), is that the van lends itself to being washed in two sections.

I always use the same method as Soulstyledevon states above except I usually do the interior first. There's no practical reason for doing it that way round but it's just how I prefer to do it. I always wash a vehicle from the top down as there will usually be much less grit and muck on the top half. So I treat the white top section as one wash then change both the wash and rinse waters before starting on the more fragile darker lower half.

Since I've had the latest van it's been raining pretty much non stop so I haven't had the opportunity to dry it off. This is not such a bad thing as every time you wash and dry a vehicle you will damage it very slightly. Accordingly, I don't wash our vehicles every week instead it's more like every four to six weeks and usually only whilst it's raining. That way you are usually assisting the rinse with clean rain water without the calcium deposits which leave those unsightly marks on the dark paint work. Why people wait to wash their cars on hot sunny days I shall never know. That's the worst time to do it especially if you have a darker colour.

In between these infrequent thorough wash downs I usually take our van to a very good local self car wash where I merely jet wash it off. That jet wash has a series of programs:
1.Wheel cleaner spray
2. Hot foam jet wash
3. RInse in super clean filtered water jet wash
4. Hot wax jet wash
5. Spotless finish jet wash

I don't bother with step 3 as that's covered by step 5.

It doesn't leave the van as clean as it would be after a proper wash but it gets the bulk of the muck off and leaves it looking very smart. Again there's been no rubbing to cause any damage.

I’ve been quite nervous to take it to a jet wash

 

[Lorri]

Son no:3 has enough cleaning products and equipment to set up a business, so I think we’ll be getting him to work his way around all the family vehicles inc the van whilst he’s on his 12 week isolation period due to his health issues. Fresh air and exercise and home made food.

 

[soulstyledevon]

@Borris is right.
The Cali is a big lump to clean.
2hrs in and only have a basic wash complete. So much to do...

 

[Borris]

I’ve been quite nervous to take it to a jet wash

I know what you mean. The dangers are:
1. How strong is the jet washer
2. What chemicals are being used. If in doubt ask.

The other thing to bear in mind is to avoid squirting sensitive areas like the sliding windows shuts, stick on foil protection, parking sensors etc etc.

Apart from that I doubt if you will have any adverse effects. Our previous two Calis, one Pearlescent Black and one Acapulco Blue, were both subjected to the same regime and the paintwork was in mint condition when sold. One further think. I do also clay and polish at least once a year.

 

[willwander]

One further think. I do also clay and polish at least once a year.

Wax ?
Bit old school, but I still like Collinite 845

 

[CaliBear]

I’ve been quite nervous to take it to a jet wash

Be careful of the jet wash detergent/wash brushes, they are normally full of grit and brake dust and will scratch the hell out of your paint.

 

[willwander]

Be careful of the jet wash detergent/wash brushes, they are normally full of grit and brake dust and will scratch the hell out of your paint.

Yes, don't use the 'hot foam brush' at a petrol station jet wash...ever

 

[CaliBear]

As the Cali is such a big lump to wash properly, one of the benefits of having a duo colour example (Candy White over Starlight Blue in our case), is that the van lends itself to being washed in two sections.

I always use the same method as Soulstyledevon states above except I usually do the interior first. There's no practical reason for doing it that way round but it's just how I prefer to do it. I always wash a vehicle from the top down as there will usually be much less grit and muck on the top half. So I treat the white top section as one wash then change both the wash and rinse waters before starting on the more fragile darker lower half.

Since I've had the latest van it's been raining pretty much non stop so I haven't had the opportunity to dry it off. This is not such a bad thing as every time you wash and dry a vehicle you will damage it very slightly. Accordingly, I don't wash our vehicles every week instead it's more like every four to six weeks and usually only whilst it's raining. That way you are usually assisting the rinse with clean rain water without the calcium deposits which leave those unsightly marks on the dark paint work. Why people wait to wash their cars on hot sunny days I shall never know. That's the worst time to do it especially if you have a darker colour.

In between these infrequent thorough wash downs I usually take our van to a very good local self car wash where I merely jet wash it off. That jet wash has a series of programs:
1.Wheel cleaner spray
2. Hot foam jet wash
3. RInse in super clean filtered water jet wash
4. Hot wax jet wash
5. Spotless finish jet wash

I don't bother with step 3 as that's covered by step 5.

It doesn't leave the van as clean as it would be after a proper wash but it gets the bulk of the muck off and leaves it looking very smart. Again there's been no rubbing to cause any damage.

Totally agree with you there! Especially on not washing in the direct sun or when the paint is warm. The amount of people that do it without realising the top coat will be made soft when it's hot weather leading to greater chance of scratches/swirls and it also means you have a greater chance of the foam/wash drying on the paint before it can be rinsed properly.

 

[Borris]

Be careful of the jet wash detergent/wash brushes, they are normally full of grit and brake dust and will scratch the hell out of your paint.

To be clear, I would never go near my vehicles with the brushes at those places. I only ever knock the dirt off using jet wash lance. The brushes are definitely to be avoided

 

[CaliBear]

To be clear, I would never go near my vehicles with the brushes at those places. I only ever knock the dirt off using jet wash lance. The brushes are definitely to be avoided

Didn't think you would use them by your post Borris, you have the right idea for cleaning.

 

[Broch Hunter]

Be careful of the jet wash detergent/wash brushes, they are normally full of grit and brake dust and will scratch the hell out of your paint.

A colleague of mine once used a jet wash at a supermarket to clean his new Mercedes and found he had grit blasted the paintwork to the extent it needed a respray. The cause was eventually determined to be an ill fitted/missing inlet filter on the jet wash, but only after a legal battle between the supermarket, the jet wash operating company and my friend. At one stage Mercedes became involved as the jet wash company said it must have been because of poor quality paintwork on the car.

 

[CaliBear]

A colleague of mine once used a jet wash at a supermarket to clean his new Mercedes and found he had grit blasted the paintwork to the extent it needed a respray. The cause was eventually determined to be an ill fitted/missing inlet filter on the jet wash, but only after a legal battle between the supermarket, the jet wash operating company and my friend. At one stage Mercedes became involved as the jet wash company said it must have been because of poor quality paintwork on the car.

Wow, I bet that was a massive headache to get sorted with each party blaming the other.
Most car washes recycle the water in a big tank underneath the wash area (which is why they hate having really muddy off roading 4x4s), not sure if it's the same on that pressure washer, but sounds like it could have been and why the grit was coming through as clean water without the filter.
Hope it all worked out ok in the end despite the no doubt expense of having to go down the legal route.

 

[Karlos]

I never use jet washes, I use a bucket with a decent wash & wax mixed with recycled rain water from one of our water butts, Start with all openings doors boot bonnet fuel filler rinse with rain water from a watering can.

The main vehicle start at the top as Borris said and work my way down rinsing as I go then allow to dry (difficult the last few months) 2 different sponges, one for bodywork and the other for wheels. Wax every couple of months.

Always worked well for me, Audi always comment on the bodywork condition of my wife's car which is 5 years old now and has had this treatment about once a week.

 

[soulstyledevon]

@Karlos get a two bucket washing method going. It really works...

Im onto the glass today.
Hot rinse with a spray bottle, clean down, then claybar rinse again and finally wax...

Check out the glass reflection...

 

[soulstyledevon]

Now the OCD kicked in......

Wheels spray rinsed, clayed and polished.
Check the before pic, with brake dust on the wheel. The Clay Bar has lifted this off and brought them back to life.
Now do I get the jack out and remove the wheels to do the inside...