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Washing a satin/flat car

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by LongT, Mar 29, 2007.

  1. LongT
    Joined: May 11, 2005
    Posts: 981

    LongT
    Member

    Ok I know this is dumb. What do you use to wash a satin/flat painted car. My T has DuPont Centari black with a flattener for a satin finish. I think if I was to use a standard car wash that has wax the finish would get streaky. I think that I was told that dish detergent is bad for the paint. Maybe that doesn't pertain to this case. "Windex" was suggested but doesn't seem to do a good job when the car is real dirty.

    Thanks,

    Bill
     
  2. TINGLER
    Joined: Nov 6, 2002
    Posts: 3,410

    TINGLER

    My car is painted with rustoleum flat black. I like to wipe my car down with used motor oil. It makes it look awesome, only draw back is that it oils up the windows in a hard rainstorm and it smells like a busted transmission in the hot sun during the summer.

    One positive thing about it is that when you are out and about and a kid or their parent decides to wipe their hands and ***es of their jeans all over the side of your car........well.....you can guess what happens. :D


    My vote: Used motor oil. I like to cut it with some gasoline so it goes on smoove.

    P.S. Don't smoke around it.


    EDIT: I realize you asked about WASHING. I just want to note here that the above description IS how I wash my car. Water is for pussies.
     
  3. lindross
    Joined: Jun 15, 2006
    Posts: 1,634

    lindross
    Member

    We've used dish washer soap for years on old cars, new cars, shiny cars, dull cars and never once had a problem. Trick is to rinse extremely well and stay out of that hot afternoon sun. Wash first thing in the morning, or early evening as the sun goes down, or just pull it into your garage to dry.
     
  4. Dish detergent will strip off wax. It's rather harsh but it works very well. If you're not waxing the car, it's cheap and it's in the kitchen.

    I'd think that any car wash soap would work just fine. It worked on my truck that was Rust-O-Leum'ed satin black.
     
  5. Terry
    Joined: Jul 3, 2002
    Posts: 1,824

    Terry
    Member

    I use Blitz black paint, but I see what your asking. I use shampoo, dry with a fairly lent free towel, and use with Magurieers (sp?) spray on wax. I tried the rub on wax and it left a cloudy look I didn't like. I might add, when I do wax I do it in small areas at a time 1 or 2 feet square.

    But I think oldcarmike is right, carwash soap should work, armor-all sells some good stuff
     
  6. 53sled
    Joined: Jul 5, 2005
    Posts: 5,817

    53sled
    Member
    from KCMO

    I haven't washed mine yet.
     
  7. chuckspeed
    Joined: Sep 13, 2005
    Posts: 1,643

    chuckspeed
    Member

    Same here. Hard on wax - but it works

    To add to Tingler's comments:

    on flat, I'll use a tire shine compound to give it 'depth'. Same look as motor oil, but without the smell. Attracts dirt the same way, tho...
     
  8. tooslow54
    Joined: May 6, 2005
    Posts: 929

    tooslow54
    Member

    Never tried it, but an old boss of mine said they used to use Pledge furniture polish to add a satin finish to primered cars. I would guess this would work even better on a satin finish...

    PS- I know this isn't about washing, but I think it applies.
     

  9. Hhmmm... busted transmission or lemony fresh... tough call.:confused:
     
  10. chuckspeed
    Joined: Sep 13, 2005
    Posts: 1,643

    chuckspeed
    Member

    B4 Armor All, Mom usedta use floor wax (!?) to make interior plastic shine. It takes a steady hand; otherwise it's streaky as hell - like Pledge.
     
  11. gtnrkix
    Joined: Jan 29, 2005
    Posts: 708

    gtnrkix
    Member

    What is "wash"? Seroiusly, I use car wash soap on my DP90'd truck. Then a chamois to dry it cause a towel leaves too much lint on the rougher surface. To get the satin look back, I occasionally give her a rub down with WD40. It's fun to do that at a regular car show just to watch peoples reaction.
     
  12. Clark
    Joined: Jan 14, 2001
    Posts: 5,132

    Clark
    Member

    I would not use Armor all on any paint especially if you plan on repainting it.

    I use a little Comet mixed in the bucket for normal washings. If I get the car really greasy from working on it or following a leaking car, I'll spray some Simple Green on first then wash like normal. Don't try to scrub a greasy area it will polish that area!

    My truck has been flat for years and this is the best method I have come up with.
    Clark
     
  13. indyjps
    Joined: Feb 21, 2007
    Posts: 5,396

    indyjps
    Member

    anyone try murphy oil soap?? just a thought.
     
  14. chop509
    Joined: Oct 13, 2006
    Posts: 140

    chop509
    Member

    Dish soap with some ****-n-span in the bucket, works good on sandable primer, almost like wetsanding.
     
  15. 29bowtie
    Joined: Nov 14, 2006
    Posts: 5,234

    29bowtie
    Member

    What do you do if you ever need to repaint,tire shine is mostly silicone?:eek: Good luck not getting fisheyes!!!Indyjps i use Murphy's oil soap on latemodel plastic interiors,works well,probably would work on satin finish too.LongT most car washes that claim to have wax,actually just have a rinse agent to prevent water spotting.
     
  16. raffman
    Joined: Sep 28, 2005
    Posts: 658

    raffman
    Member

    Bon Ami scouring powder, I keep preaching this stuff but falls on deaf ears. I have removed minor overspray and contaminates from chrome and polished metals as well as flat and semi gloss paint with out damage. Works great on gl*** also. If you try it you'll be hooked and find a million uses. It's a fine calcium powder that "hasn't scratched yet"
     
  17. SO-AZ
    Joined: Oct 20, 2006
    Posts: 201

    SO-AZ
    Member
    from Tucson

    Bon Ami is the choice of my local chrome plater. Everything gets polished with it before leaving the shop.
     
  18. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 60,021

    squirrel
    Member

    I use Boyd's car wash soap (I got a half dozen bottles as a giveaway at a cruise night), then when the bugs get real bad on the front I get out the scotchbrite. also I use laquer thinner to take off the oil stains on the top of the front fenders when I do engine work.
     
  19. Gator
    Joined: Dec 29, 2005
    Posts: 4,016

    Gator
    Member
    from Statham Ga

    Went to a show this winter and there was a kid with a 'ratrodded' VW Bug. He had treated the entire car, tires (tread and all) with baby oil.

    I also remember a friend of mine who's a Mustang guy telling me pledge furniture polish worked nice on the satin finished louvers, hood and spoiler like on the Mach 1 Mustangs.
     
  20. Muttley
    Joined: Nov 30, 2003
    Posts: 18,501

    Muttley
    Member

    Mothers California Gold....................best stuff ever.

    [​IMG]
     
  21. 29 sedanman
    Joined: Mar 22, 2005
    Posts: 2,282

    29 sedanman
    Member
    from Indy

    Is the Bon Ami stuff available every where? Never heard of it.

    Clark turned me on to the Comet, it works really well.

    On nice paint, you cant beat Meguiars soft wash. It is the best!
     
  22. Any grocery store should have it in the aisle with dish soap.

    Bon Ami is like Comet but a finer grit. I like Bar Keepers Friend for getting gl*** spotless before using Rain-X, it also works great on chrome and will work as a rubbing compound.
     
  23. ricknroll
    Joined: Mar 8, 2007
    Posts: 78

    ricknroll
    Member

    I've heard that Bon Ami is also a great rust remover for chrome. Anyone have luck with this? It seems like it works for about everything else!
     
  24. Roadsir
    Joined: Jun 3, 2006
    Posts: 4,054

    Roadsir
    Member

    Simple green works well too.
     
  25. Shifty Shifterton
    Joined: Oct 1, 2006
    Posts: 4,964

    Shifty Shifterton
    Member

    They're few and far between, but the best thing I found to even out shine and remove greasy handprints, etc on flat or satin.......an automated car wash. The worst kind with the blue plastic bristles that totally screw up good paint.
     
  26. Old Roadster
    Joined: Jul 2, 2006
    Posts: 610

    Old Roadster
    Member


    Truckers use Pledge on big rigs works for them......Just my 2 cents
     
  27. krylon32
    Joined: Jan 29, 2006
    Posts: 10,863

    krylon32
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Nebraska

    I've had 4 cars painted with Krylon semi flat black. I have always used Lysol Basin-Tub & Tile Foaming Bubbles cleaner on the cars and have had great results. Just spray it on and wipe it off, just not in the hot sun. Has a mild abrasive which does a nice job of cleaning.
     
  28. flamedolds
    Joined: Feb 19, 2005
    Posts: 293

    flamedolds
    Member

    This is along the used motor oil line but when I had my 64 Buick with flat black Tremclad on it I was given the idea from a local old timer to use ****** fluid on it -- not used but new -- and it worked awesome -- the car looked amazing for about a week after every application -- I drove it everday and it lasted even longer as long as it didn't rain.
    But I was always apprehensive about doing it with my Olds as I want to repaint in the next year or 2 and I dont want it to be an issue -- any paint guys out there -- would this cause a problem?
    It sure makes the paint have depth and sheen...
     
  29. Durod
    Joined: Aug 20, 2005
    Posts: 809

    Durod
    Member
    from DFW, Tx

    youre gonna laugh, but mr.clean's auto dry car wash is a satin/suede/whatever's dream....
     
  30. B.A.KING
    Joined: Apr 6, 2005
    Posts: 4,039

    B.A.KING
    Member

    my el camino is flat white, used to love to pull up at a show and whoop out the Comet and a stiff brissel scrub brush and watch all the chainers panic /drop thier chins. and this was 20 years ago:cool:
     

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