Now that the topic of car washing has been introduced, we owners (sorry wmpowell) can discuss the really important matters...with what do you wash your car? I've been using an old t-shirt, and ArmorAll CarWash concentrate. Seems to do a great job keeping the finish shiny. Seems pretty non-abrasive. Anyone else have a favorite product or technique? Jim (awaiting a new door, like wmpowell is awaiting a new car).

I'm using the following:<br><br>1. Meguiar's Rich Suds Car Wash. This stuff is wonderful. It is silky smooth and a joy to use. Removes desert dust very well, yet is so silky it doesn't scratch. I apply it with a cloth wash mitt and dry it off with a chamois, and these all work well together.<br><br>2. Armor Al Extreme Tire Shine. Spray it off, wash off after a while. Nothing special about this stuff.<br><br>3. Eagle One Aluminum Wash & Cleanser. Eh. There must be better stuff.<br><br>This weekend may be the first waxing (I wanted to let the factory paint coat set for a while). For the waxing, I plan to use Meguiar's Gold Class Clear Coat Liquid Car Wax, along with an electric buffer that I bought for the car.<br><br>GCKorn

&gt; with what do you wash your car?<br><br>I've had to wash my Prius 4 times now (since I end taking lots of photos of it on a regular basis). I'm using the same technique I used for my Taurus which still has a finish almost as good as my Prius!! And that's after having endured 6 saltly Minnesota winters and 105,000 miles of driving!<br><br>Here's how:<br><br>- always hand-washed the car, even in the dead of winter<br><br>- used a cotton hand-towel to both wash and dry the car <br><br>- used NU FINISH car wash everytime<br><br>- used NU FINISH car polish every October & April<br><br>- parked the car in the garage at home and in the ramp at work<br><br>JOHN<br><a href=http://home.att.net/~john1701a/ target=new>http://home.att.net/~john1701a/</a>

I read about and adopted this technique in an automotive magazine years ago.<br><br>Use three terry cloth towels, 1 for washing, 2 for intitial drying, and the third for the final drying. I have three different colors so I don't get them mixed up from wash to wash.<br><br>Rinse with no nozzle on the hose, just let the water flow gently onto the car.<br><br>Wipe around all the door and trunk sills.<br><br>Use a high quality car wash like Meguiars.<br><br>I even attach the hose to a faucet that supplies softened water since our desert water is very hard.<br><br>Mike Stirrat

I didn't wash or wax for the first month just to assure the paint was dry. But recently I used just a couple of drops of dishwashing soap in a bucket of water with a sponge for the washing. Then Polishied it with "Mothers" paste wax wiping with a soft cotton towel. It turned out great.<br>I cleaned glass and the touch screen with "Armor all" glass cleaner and didn't streak. Had good luck too with a Carpet spot remover that you let dry then vacuum for the floor mat's. I can't remember the brand but it was pretty generic.