How often do you wash your Cali?

[Vagophile]

It's not a job that I particularly enjoy either but one that has to be done from time to time.

I'd say about once every two years. I acquired mine in March last year and haven't washed it yet. 17 year old daily driver has seen about seven washes in it's life. I do wash off any bird muck when I see it.

 

[LRGS253]

As soon as it is dirty, weekly.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

As soon as the queue at the £10 Albanian car wash up the road eases.

 

[Auberg-ine]

Usually my cars get a free wash in the garage, after each accident. The Auberg-ine has been quite lucky till now. A new tailgate for a full shampoo ;-)

 

[Phil P]

I gave our Cali a thorough wash and brush up today for the first time in what must be many months and it got me wondering. How often do most owners wash their vans?

I really can't remember when I last washed it properly. For obvious reasons it hasn't been used much recently so hasn't been getting that mucky. Never the less, I always remove bird lime asap and occasionally blast off the all too common Saharan sand with a jet washer when necessary. However, I avoid doing this too frequently because we have hard water and it leaves calcium deposits when dry. I only ever towel the paintwork etc if the vehicle has been washed thoroughly. I would usually jet wash the whole van once a week or so using a very good local filtered car wash. It does a superb job but hasn't been open since covid struck.Tbh I avoid washing it too often as doing it properly takes up most of a day, besides I take the view that too much cleaning increases the chances of damaging the vehicle.

I am interested in what your regime is and what your thoughts on this subject are.

As a matter is interest, we have a duo colour Beach. Today I experimented with new cleaning method:

1. Jet wash the whole van including the wheel arches and under body.
2. Snow foam everything.
3. Jet wash off.
Next
4. Wash the roof with a extendable hose brush.
5. Hand wash roof with woollen mit
6. Wash off.
7. Pop the roof and clean the gutters, check drain holes are clear, clean rubber seals and hidden paintwork.
8. Wash off.
Next
9. Wash all the upper Candy White paintwork and glass.
10. Towel dry.
11. Wash and towel dry N/S side lower Star Light Blue section.
12. Repeat the process on the O/S then the rear and finally the front.
If I were to wash the whole van and then towel it off, half the van would have dried on calcium marks which look unsightly and are a bugger to shift.
13. Wash wheels and tyres.

I use a soft wheel cleaning brush to clean out all seams and crevices and wash all door shuts etc as I go.





.

Not boring, We are discussing the ancient art of car washing by owners.
People have gotten lazy and now go to the local car wash usually manned by gentlemen that can barely speak English. My experience with these is that it’s a cats lick and a promise with a crap air freshener thrown in. End up doing it properly myself. In the winter these are alright to pressure wash it.
I wash my van every couple of weeks, occasionally pressure wash 1st, otherwise hose it down 1st. Use a hop up tressell to do the roof with very soft large brush, work down as far as front and rear screen and tops of windows. Rinse the roof off, wash the bonnet and tailgate, then roof edge down the windows, then rinse those, then each sides. Use the Hop up with clean water and chamois dry and buff it with a microfibre towel, then follow same pattern round the van. Do the wheels with a woolly, rinse and dry. Do the door shuts and tailgate with wash and wax and use a soaked microfibre cloth. Chamois and towel dry.
i did wax polish when I first got it but it’s a big job. The wash and wax is Simoniz shampoo with Carnauba wax. I buy it from Costco. Works well and bird crap is easier to get off. Gets a really nice shine. I look at washing the car as part of keeping fit, it’s hard graft but personally I find it satisfying, sad really lol.

 

[Camperfamily]

ps. wash mitts are great. I typically use one per side of Cali.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001MPW5IC/?tag=vwcalifornia-21

And microfibre or wool wheel brush for wheels:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07N9C7MGG/?tag=vwcalifornia-21

I do like Meguiars products if you haven't noticed...

 

[MattBW]

You've reminded me its that time of year ago

 

[ArunAlec]

Gave mine a proper wash yesterday.
Today, New Forest and Camping in the Forest seem to have used a fine brown talcum powder on their tracks! Van is covered.

 

[B J G]

No I haven't. I do some research and give it a try.

I also had a Pearlescent Black cali which was a total nightmare to keep clean in our area. Every drop of tap water made it look dreadful unless toweled off straight away. Consequently, I only washed it when it was raining.

I've been using rain water for the rinse off process which doesn't leave the dreaded mess of tap water.

Dry summer and gardener demands make summer availability a problem.

 

[Phil P]

I washed mine for the first time this year just before it went into the body shop a couple of weeks ago.

On of those sheepskin things, power washer with a shampoo accessory and a bucket of clean water for the windows. Not too concerned about the body but I do like to be able to see out of the thing.

Some funny but harsh comments, I will continue with the spirit of the thread

Once a month, but due to Covid forced retirement may become weekly, daily or hourly!

Jet wash
Snow foam
Rinse
Wheels
Rinse
Two bucket wash with a mitt
Rinse
Dry with one huge microfibre.

No polishing yet, it only a few months old so it it getting a ceramic coating this weekend, after that is done it will be same process as above then every quarter apply a protection top up to the ceramic coating.

Lol yes a lot more people retiring, I’m one of them!

 

[Phil P]

Twice a year, max, in a self service car wash area, usually only after a long, very muddy (winter) or dusty (summer) holiday. We hate it.

Lol, yes it’s like marmite, I’m in the love it camp!

 

[Lambeth Cali]

This is all amazing. That grit guard thing on Amazon! Wow
But my snow gun arrived this morning and 2 mitts and soap coming soon!

Rain water?? You’re pulling my leg!

 

[sapto]

Interested to know how you do your bucket/jetspray mix as we're not allowed to wash cars on the driveway in Switzerland. Do you take it to the car wash area and take your bucket with you?

We live close to a newish carwash place http://www.caravan-center-zentralschweiz.ch and I ask the owner if it's possible to use my own 2 buckets and his jetwash. He agreed on terms to wash the van when it isn't crowded. So both are happy and in generall I always go there with our two other cars to kinda support him.

He's building up his new business around camper so I ordered the outwell tarp thing for the driverside.

 

[Algor]

I love it and find it a source of relaxation. The 2 bucket method is a must for me as are wool mitts.
This stuff is great as are meguiars.

 

[Borris]

Rain water?? You’re pulling my leg!

No. You often see people washing their cars on sunny days which is the worse time to do it. Either wash it on a dull day or better still when it's raining. Rain water is less likely to leave water marks. You can also get away with not toweling it off.

 

[Phil P]

We live close to a newish carwash place http://www.caravan-center-zentralschweiz.ch and I ask the owner if it's possible to use my own 2 buckets and his jetwash. He agreed on terms to wash the van when it isn't crowded. So both are happy and in generall I always go there with our two other cars to kinda support him.

He's building up his new business around camper so I ordered the outwell tarp thing for the driverside.

It used to be a Sunday ritual in England to wash the car outside your house, no restrictions

No. You often see people washing their cars on sunny days which is the worse time to do it. Either wash it on a dull day or better still when it's raining. Rain water is less likely to leave water marks. You can also get away with not toweling it off.

might be good but what the neighbours think? see someone washing their car in the rain, probably think you’ve gone mad. Not that it matters, they just think ‘there goes the neighbourhood’ and film you for Tiktok

 

[Ladymuck]

Often only clean it underneath as we also have salty roads - not from the sea more because of snow and we like to drive it in winter. In summer bucket/jetspray mix, I try not to do it with too much pressur.

How do you clean it underneath? Just hose it down ?
I cleaned my van for the first time last weekend and thought about underneath but worried about water damaging something.
One thing I did clean with an old cloth was under the wheel arches, I hate it when I see what looks like a clean car but the wheel arches are filthy

 

[sapto]

How do you clean it underneath? Just hose it down ?
I cleaned my van for the first time last weekend and thought about underneath but worried about water damaging something.
One thing I did clean with an old cloth was under the wheel arches, I hate it when I see what looks like a clean car but the wheel arches are filthy

Jetwash/hose it, we do have a washbox with an elevator to lift your car or honestly I sometimes choose the "underneath" program at the local carwash (the one I mentioned before). However do it only around once in winter.

 

[Borris]

might be good but what the neighbours think? see someone washing their car in the rain, probably think you’ve gone mad. Not that it matters, they just think ‘there goes the neighbourhood’ and film you for Tiktok

Our neighbours all moved heŕe after us so if the neighbourhood has gone down hill.it's not our fault. Also they already know that we are a tad eccentric.

 

[Velma's Dad]

It used to be a Sunday ritual in England to wash the car outside your house, no restrictions

Whereas when I lived in Germany it used to be against the law to wash your car on a Sunday.

 

[GrannyJen]

Whereas when I lived in Germany it used to be against the law to wash your car on a Sunday.

Where I used to live it was against the law to do anything but go to the pub on Sunday

 

[Phil P]

Where I used to live it was against the law to do anything but go to the pub on Sunday

Last time I was in Germany the shops were closed on a Sunday, some years ago. I think we’ve been conned in this country, 24/7 business, all it means is longer working hours, more people spinning in the hamster wheel. Less time to wash your van lol.

 

[Wogga]

Whereas when I lived in Germany it used to be against the law to wash your car on a Sunday.

Or hang your washing on the line I think I recall even the IMO Wash Stations were closed .... as were the supermarkets of course.

 

[Borris]

How do you clean it underneath? Just hose it down ?
I cleaned my van for the first time last weekend and thought about underneath but worried about water damaging something.
One thing I did clean with an old cloth was under the wheel arches, I hate it when I see what looks like a clean car but the wheel arches are filthy

I use a jet washer with a lance attachment, the tip of which can be swivelled to point upwards. It's ideal for wheel arches and underbody areas.

All you are trying to achieve is to blast off all the mud, dirt and salt.

 

[SimonB]

No. You often see people washing their cars on sunny days which is the worse time to do it. Either wash it on a dull day or better still when it's raining. Rain water is less likely to leave water marks. You can also get away with not toweling it off.

It also amuses the neighbours to see me washing the Cali in the rain. Saves having to rinse it off too.