How to prep my 2025 Ranger Raptor for using a commercial car wash

[pablo94sc]

I use one of the monthly places that have brushes. I fold my mirrors in as the spinning side brushes have pushed the mirrors forward, like an inverse retraction, or moved the mirrors themselves a bit requiring adjustment after.

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[Jason B]

Commercial car washes use very strong chemicals in order to get your car semi clean. You won't have any wax or sealant protecting the paint left. Use specific car soap that removes the dirt not any car paint protectant. 2 bucket method works well ( YouTube it if you haven't heard of that process.
JRRANGER

Depends on the car wash and level of wash selected.
The one I go to, White Water, uses Carnauba wax or a ceramic protectant and spot free rinse.
Plus, they have excellent vacuums that will suck up a tennis ball, and compressed air guns to blow out the dust from nooks and crannies or to blow off water left at the door sills.

 

[josephp732]

I haven't done a contact wash in decades. I find taking care of my vehicles very therapeutic. Electric pressure washer, foam cannon, Chemical Guys products, two bucket system. I'll do some paint correction and then use Lithium Seal and Squeal which is a polymer paint sealant as a base and my top coat is Lithium Gloss Sauce a T-1 carnauba wax infused with polymers. Twice a year is good for me on the paint protection.

 

[Flak]

Touchless when I'm lazy, Rinseless when I'm kinda lazy, foam cannon and two buckets when I can't find anything else more productive to do with my time.

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