How do I clean car at show? Dry wash??

[FeetFxr]

In 3 weeks I'm attending my first real car show, the Festival of Exotic Cars in Mt. Dora, FL. I have to drive about 45 minutes to get there and I'm sure I will have bugs , dust and road grime visable on my white car when I get there. Any recommendations on how I should clean my car when I get to the show so it will look clean?

I've heard of waterless/dry wash products but would be afraid this might scratch the paint.

Thanks!

 

[CokerRat]

If you will have have access to some water, try Quick & Easy Wash (QEW). It has its limitations. If you have tons of bugs, the only solution is a real wash.

 

[Acura NsX Pilot]

Since ive started doing shows I have come up with this method but never used it. So i will post this hear if anyone wants to try it. I think the best thing to do is prep the car first then seal it in cling wrap.....when you get to the show just peal off and your ready to go with just a few minor touch ups. If you can find the stuff the car makers use when they ship the cars it would be better because its heavier plastic ..... it looks like the same plastic wrap they use at boat yards to winterize and seal boats and i would check into that first to see if it can be applied the same way. it comes in large sheets and can probably cover the car with a few applications.......alot faster then cling wrap........good luck with it and if anyone trys this please let me know how it turns out.

 

[nsxtasy]

Meguiars Quik Detailer.

 

[Bobby C 01TA]

any detail spray should do the trick.. carry a california duster and get the dust off the paint first.. then use cotton towels or microfiber towels to "detail" the paint

 

[docjohn]

I've had good luck with the liquid spray detailers like meguires product,but this works best if your car is routinley waxed.I have also had good luck with dry wash/guard which is a waterless synthetic product.The shine on black cars or dark cars is not as deap with this product vs carnuba.As someone else said there is less depth to the shine kind of like a mirror vs a crystal.

 

[dnicho05]

I used to be a big fan of Meguire's Quick Detailer until a couple of weeks ago when I tried Black Magic's Quick Detailer. I had heard a few people on here raving about it, but I blew it off because I was such a Meguires fan. Store was out of Meguires, so I broke down and tried it.

This Black Magic Quick Detailer is amazing. It blows Meguires quick detailer away. It looks like an oil when you first wipe it on, but its not the least bit greasy. It lifts dust without any worry of scratching. It removes bug and water spots like nothing I have used before. Wipe on with a microfiber towel to remove any spots/dust, then lightly buff with a dry microfiber to a perfect shine.

As you can tell I'm a huge microfiber towel fan too.

If you get a nasty bug mark on the trip, just don't try to rub it out using any pressure. That will scratch your paint. Just keep re-spraying the spot and lightly keep going over it. If there is still a mark left, use your polish lightly, and then re-wax the spot. If you can pick up a cordless buffer, that would be a great bonus tool to bring with you. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=47999

It just depends on how detailed you want the car to be.

For me I'd go with the following:
1) Show prep at home (clean, polish, and multiple coats of favorite show wax, etc).
2) Pack your show supplies (a duster (California, Swiffer, etc), Black Magic Quick Detailer, your polish, your wax, a bunch of microfiber towels, cordless buffer, and a car cover in case of rain).
3) When you get there, dust off the car, touch up with the detailer spray, and then put one more coat of wax on if you have enough time before the showing.
4) Go check out the other cars at the show, and have a good time.

 

[Acura NsX Pilot]

I used to use the quick detailer as well....but found that over time using it on a unwashed finish did leave swirl marks. Of coarse if you have no other choice like I did at the time, I used the quick detailer and in the dim lights of the arena it looked great.