Coming from a vintage hot rod background, I’ve always clung to the belief that the cleaner you keep a car without messing with the paint, the better. Waxing? Rarely. Full detailing? Maybe once a year if it’s really crying for it. But by and large, I do my best to keep from rubbing on the finish too often.
This approach doesn’t waver much with my late-model daily driver either. If it’s covered in filth or has taken a beating, it might see a full detail once in a blue moon. Otherwise, I just keep it clean with a quick wash every week.
But here’s the rub—I’m on well water both at the lab and the house. I’ve got a purifier for detailing days, but dragging that whole setup out weekly? Absolute hell. So instead, I hit the local drive-through armed with my own gear. And here’s the routine I’ve carved out:
1. Wheels and Calipers: First step, I spray down the wheels with P&S Brake Buster. This stuff’s practically alchemy. Spray it on, let it marinate a few minutes, rinse, and voilà. It devours brake dust and road grime, doesn’t damage aluminum, and generally works like sorcery.
2. Bug & Tar: Next up, Turtle Wax Bug & Tar remover. I tend to collect every insect corpse on the road, and Turtle Wax is the best solution for their death that I’ve found. Tried others: Chemical Guys—useless, Adams—halfway there, Griots—decent. But Turtle Wax? It softens the mess, lubes the paint, and then it all just slides off with a rinse. Plus, it’s available just about everywhere.
3. Water Blast: I fire up the wand and hit the whole car with water. Before shutting it off, I drop a dollop of Griot’s Car Wash soap in a 5-gallon bucket, fill it up with water, and get ready for the covert op.
4. The Wash Mitt Heist: I pull out the Griots wash mitt and go to work, careful not to let the car wash manager spot me. They lose their minds over a bucket wash, so I usually handle this covert mission on Sunday nights when the place is deserted.
5. Final Rinse: Once the car’s lathered and scrubbed, I rinse it all down with high pressure, finishing with the car wash’s filtered spot-free rinse. By the time I “dry drive” home, it’s usually gleaming.
And that’s the drill—keeps things simple and keeps the car presentable without the need for constant detailing. If you’re looking to try it yourself, I do recommend two additional products:
- Get a grit guard for your bucket. This is super important with a single bucket wash. Essentially, it works as a wash board and keeps both your soapy water and your wash mitt clean of grit. I have this one, but I’m sure others work as well.
- Get a lid for your bucket. I keep the products in the bucket when not in use and the lid just makes this whole setup cleaner when it’s sitting in your shop or the back of your car/truck. I use this one, but I’m sure there are others that work just as well.
And one note: Long before Griots slapped their name on this site, I was already a card-carrying devotee. Hell, I practically begged them to sign on as a sponsor. They’re my launchpad, my go-to, because I can trust the damn stuff without drowning in research every time I need a product. But don’t think for a second that buys them immunity. If they churn out something that’s garbage, you’ll hear it straight from me—no sugar, no soft landing.
