Washing my Bronco

I got a relatively inexpensive pressure washer - first step - spray the whole thing down, blast off any loose dirt/debris... then, I use a foam cannon attachment (I bought mine on amazon) and the appropriate ratio of soap/water in the foam cannon bottle, and spray the whole thing down with foam... then, using a clean bucket with warm sudsy water and a microfiber towel, start washing ... then, when done - pressure washer to remove all the suds... then microfiber towel to dry it.

jbstets
HI BN - This may sound like a stupid question, but I'm looking for any suggestions on washing my Bronco. I haven't had a new car since 1988 so I've just always run my cars through a car wash. My salesman said that he runs his Bronco through the car wash as well (he's got a soft top). I've got an Outer Banks with a soft top and just wondering what the group thinks is best. I know that car washes can scratch up the plastic windows which I'd like to avoid. However, I live in MI and I'm going to want to keep the road salt off. I'm just looking for any suggestions. Thanks.

From somone who spent time in a winter snow state, I would suggest a couple of unsolicited thoughts...get an "cheap" winter car for the salt. Park the Bronco for the winter if that is an option to keep the salt off. :)

Otherwise, I would look for a car wash monthly pass if that is an option in your area and run that Bronco though the car wash often. The salt is a killer to the vehicle underside.

There are also coatings one can apply to keep the salt at bay, yet I would still wash the Bronco once or twice a week to keep the salt off. Getting inside the wheel wheels and and under bumpers.

Ford recommends you hand wash your Bronco, especially a soft top. I suppose that a "touchless" carwash might be OK. The concern here are micro scratches on the soft top windows.

Highly recommend Strataglas cleaner and polish for the soft top plastic. Keeps my boat enclosure looking brand new.

jbstets

HI BN - This may sound like a stupid question, but I'm looking for any suggestions on washing my Bronco. I haven't had a new car since 1988 so I've just always run my cars through a car wash. My salesman said that he runs his Bronco through the car wash as well (he's got a soft top). I've got an Outer Banks with a soft top and just wondering what the group thinks is best. I know that car washes can scratch up the plastic windows which I'd like to avoid. However, I live in MI and I'm going to want to keep the road salt off. I'm just looking for any suggestions. Thanks.

I wash my soft top at the do-it-yourself car wash or if in a hurry, will run it through the touchless wash. I brush the top about every other month - I have a covered parking situation so I am lucky in that regard. Do not run through a car wash unless they have the touchless option. I am sure that could easily go wrong pretty quickly.

HANDWASH- with using a pressure washer as your friend.
Or TOUCHLESS CARWASHES

It's either rust on the frame or scratches on the paint...

Calgecko

I got a relatively inexpensive pressure washer - first step - spray the whole thing down, blast off any loose dirt/debris... then, I use a foam cannon attachment (I bought mine on amazon) and the appropriate ratio of soap/water in the foam cannon bottle, and spray the whole thing down with foam... then, using a clean bucket with warm sudsy water and a microfiber towel, start washing ... then, when done - pressure washer to remove all the suds... then microfiber towel to dry it.

Thanks Cal. That sounds like it would work for me 3 seasons, but I can't be doing that outside during the winter months.

Timothy

From somone who spent time in a winter snow state, I would suggest a couple of unsolicited thoughts...get an "cheap" winter car for the salt. Park the Bronco for the winter if that is an option to keep the salt off. :)

Otherwise, I would look for a car wash monthly pass if that is an option in your area and run that Bronco though the car wash often. The salt is a killer to the vehicle underside.

There are also coatings one can apply to keep the salt at bay, yet I would still wash the Bronco once or twice a week to keep the salt off. Getting inside the wheel wheels and and under bumpers.

Thanks Timothy. I've got a couple of those options nearby. However, I feel like I've got a trade off to make between the plastic windows and running it through the carwash often. I guess if the windows do get scratched, they become "winter" windows if I need to purchase another set.

JoergH

Ford recommends you hand wash your Bronco, especially a soft top. I suppose that a "touchless" carwash might be OK. the concern here are micro scratches on the software windows.

Thanks Jorge - that's what I'm worried about as well. But handwashing isn't going to work for me during the winter months.

87BroncoVB

Highly recommend Strataglas cleaner and polish for the soft top plastic. Keeps my boat enclosure looking brand new.

Thanks for the suggestion. A gearhead friend of mine with a Jeep has told me to use Bestop Vinyl Cleaner for the same reason.

Mikes2021Bronco

HANDWASH- with using a pressure washer as your friend.
Or TOUCHLESS CARWASHES

It's either rust on the frame or scratches on the paint...

Yeah, it seems those of us in winter weather states have a trade off to consider. As I mentioned above, if the plastic windows really get trashed, I'll have a winter set and buy new ones for the other three seasons. Thanks.

I'm in Nebraska where salt/sand, calcium chloride/sand and brine are all used. I prefer the touchless wash for mine, especially since most have an under car wash option. Haven't had any issues with the touchless wash and the soft top or vinyl windows yet. I also had a soundshield/undercoat applied when I bought it in order to fend off some of the potential rust.

I have a soft top Outer Banks (Sasquatch) and I take it through the touchless (spray only) car wash fairly frequently. I am very meticulous and shammy it afterward and have not seen any scratches at all on the surface or soft top windows. I actually like that it gives my soft top a good clean from road dust, etc.

jbstets
HI BN - This may sound like a stupid question, but I'm looking for any suggestions on washing my Bronco. I haven't had a new car since 1988 so I've just always run my cars through a car wash. My salesman said that he runs his Bronco through the car wash as well (he's got a soft top). I've got an Outer Banks with a soft top and just wondering what the group thinks is best. I know that car washes can scratch up the plastic windows which I'd like to avoid. However, I live in MI and I'm going to want to keep the road salt off. I'm just looking for any suggestions. Thanks.

If you are rich… take your car to a reputable detailer and have your car ceramic coated… wheels glass everything coated…
Brake dust, tree pitch, Acid rain, road film,etc… Nothing will stick to it.. your washing days are over you literally blow off your car with a filtered blower…. Sounds like snake oil but I had an expensive show car done and can vouch.

Regrettably…. This is beyond my means for all of my cars/boat.

So now reality:

Bronco:
After a trip OFFROAD…
I too use a pressure washer especially on the wheels and tires… I usually let them dry and hit them again because they never get clean the first time. Also, in between pressure washes I hit them with a soapy brush that I only use on wheels and tires …
When they dry, I spray on Armorall (generally I hate Armor-all products… but for tires I use it….😁 please don’t judge)

If your paint surface is damaged and has imbedded debris hit with liquid detailer and a clay bar… when the surface is butter smooth you can proceed…

Chances are your new Bronco paint is just fine.

This might sound like snake oil… but I swear by a rinseless car wash product that I use on all my cars….this product is amazing… you pour 2 cap fulls into approximately a quart of distilled water (that you can get at the grocery store) then take a new micro fiber towel and immerse into the mixture…
Wring out the towel… fold into quarters then wipe down your car (in one direction) ( **** important ….don’t rub backwards…. always pull the towel in one direction and keep flipping the towel using new clean sections)

It picks up dirt and debris on your paint surface attaching itself to the towel and coating with a protective film… this works on glass… and your soft top windows…

Then I take some spray wax and go over the Bronco’s surface again with another new clean microfiber towel.
(I get microfiber towels at Costco)

Here is the Rinse-less car wash and spray wax and detail spray.

For underneath your bronco I use a spray on marine grade corrosion inhibitor…(below)
Hit loose rust with a wire brush and spray and wipe anything and everything that will be exposed to corrosion… wear latex gloves this stuff is messy.

For your soft top I would use this stuff to seal and protect your top…(below)
Use a cleaner first, then hit with a lint roller and prep the soft top before coating with the protectant….(my wife goes nuclear when I use her lint roller so be careful!!)
This stuff will bead up water… and protect it from UV sun damage…it is amazing . I totally recommend!

Note: Soft top windows ONLY USE clean or new MICROFIBER TOWELs (soaked in distilled H20 or rinseless solution… wringed… also, wipe in one direction) **** the distilled water leaves zero water spots***
Also, don’t wipe them in direct sunlight or when they are excessively hot… don’t ask me how I figured this out😡

On the interior I like this protectant… (below)
I also use this on my current hard top… it doesn’t have that greasy oily Armorall look…
Mainly protects against UV damage. It’s kind of like Sunblock for you seats, dash, door panels, hardtop. And, all the vinyl and rubber parts in your Bronco.


Here are the products I use and recommend:

Also, on a side note, I love this little window cleaner tool … total Amazon gimmick… but it works for getting those impossible to reach areas on the inside of your windshield.

TIP… TREE SAP REMOVAL!!!!
For getting off tree sap use a gel hand sanitizer (aka Purell). It gets it right off … but don’t let the gell sit on the paint surface too long… (the alcohol could potentially haze your paint if left there for a long time). Also hit with a detailer spray or spray wax afterwards….

This is crazy amazing at removing tree sap….
It’s like magic!!!!



HOPE THIS HELPS!!!!!

I am an outlier on this.. but... I showed my challenger and babied it to the point it was silly. My wife calls my challenger the other woman. This is an offriad vehicle. Just like my jeep it will go through car washes. You will collect dings and scratches off road. Don't stress it and enjoy it.

Southern62

I am an outlier on this.. but... I showed my challenger and babied it to the point it was silly. My wife calls my challenger the other woman. This is an offriad vehicle. Just like my jeep it will go through car washes. You will collect dings and scratches off road. Don't stress it and enjoy it.

yeah.. I dunno .. this is by far, the most expensive vehicle I've ever purchased .. I love the functionality and utility of it, but I also love how it looks when it's clean.. and when it's clean, I want it to look good. I'm gonna do what I can within reason to keep it looking good as long as I can without obsessing over it. I used to paint cars for a living, and I've seen what drive through car washes do to paint (the brushless ones are ok).. no thanks.

@Tahotrvlr: You have a great system and I think you've got an awesome arsenal of tools at your disposal. I also swear by a few of them. The Aerospace 303 in particular; it's even useful under the hood.

I disagree on one small point, though. I'm not rich but I did have my 2019 Challenger ceramic pro coated. :geek: As with anything, if something is of value to you, you find a way to work it into your budget. With that said, it's no secret that I invest heavily in my cars and their upkeep, probably more than any normal, rational person would. Enough said, huh? LOL

Also, I'm a HUGE fan of that windshield-cleaning apparatus that looks like an iron. It came in very handy when cleaning the rakish windshield on the aforementioned Challenger. Saved my back and my knuckles a lot of pain! Good call, dude.