Living in a condominium comes with tradeoffs. For me, one of the biggest has been car care. I have an enclosed parking deck with no access to a hose or electricity, which makes traditional hand-washing difficult at best and impossible at worst. There’s no driveway, no spigot, no outlet—and definitely no appetite from the HOA for turning the garage into a wash bay.

While there is a mobile detailer, Cady, who comes by every couple of months, they work outside of the parking deck, not inside it. That setup works well for periodic full details, but having them come weekly just isn’t practical—especially when you’re maintaining three Porsches. Professional detailing absolutely has its place, but I needed something sustainable, repeatable, and respectful of my environment for regular upkeep.

Out of necessity—and with help from my Maverick PCA friends such as Jeff Wheeler, the internet, and more than a few Facebook groups—I’ve developed a weekly cleaning routine that works within these constraints. It keeps the cars clean, presentable, and protected between professional visits, all without hoses, pressure washers, or extension cords.

Most of my supplies come from Adam’s Polishes. Their customer service has been excellent, and the products have worked well for me—but this post is about process, not product evangelism. If something else works better for you, stick with it. And if you see a way I can improve what I’m doing, I’m always open to constructive suggestions.

The Setup: Being a Good Neighbor Matters

I’m conscious of not bothering fellow residents, and I like having enough elbow room to work without feeling rushed. Most of the time, I do everything on the basement level of the parking deck. It’s quieter, out of the way, and gives me more flexibility.

When I’m short on time or just doing a quick maintenance wash, I’ll work right in one of my reserved parking spaces. Some water does end up on the ground, but it’s minimal and manageable. I’m careful to keep runoff contained so it doesn’t spread through the garage.

I load all my supplies into a small rolling cart, take it down to the basement, then bring my car down. This keeps the process organized and avoids unnecessary trips back and forth.

Why Weekly Maintenance Matters (Especially With Porsches)

Porsches—especially performance-oriented models—produce a lot of brake dust. If it isn’t removed regularly, it can build up quickly and permanently damage wheels. I learned this the hard way after an HPDE event at G2 Motorsports, when I didn’t clean my Macan S’ wheels thoroughly enough and soon after I had to have them refinished.

That experience alone justified a consistent maintenance routine.

Caring for PPF and Ceramic Coatings in a Condo Environment

One of the main reasons I’m careful about how I wash my cars is that they’re protected with paint protection film (PPF) and ceramic coating. Those layers do an excellent job of preserving paint, but they also require some common sense when it comes to maintenance. Automatic car washes are the opposite of that.

High mechanical contact from brushes or cloth strips can introduce swirls and marring, even on coated surfaces. Over time, repeated abrasion can also lift PPF edges, especially around complex curves, badges, and panel seams.

Chemical exposure is the other concern. Many car washes rely on very high-pH cleaners to compensate for speed and minimal dwell time. While effective at removing grime, those chemicals can shorten the life of ceramic coatings and degrade PPF adhesives.

My weekly routine is intentionally gentle. Everything I use is designed to encapsulate dirt, provide lubrication, and minimize friction. It takes more time than a drive-through wash, but it aligns far better with how modern paint protection systems are meant to be maintained.

Step 1: Wheels First

I always start with the wheels. I spray them with Adam’s Iron Remover and let it dwell. This helps break down embedded brake dust before any agitation.

While the iron remover is working, I move on to the rest of the car.

Step 2: Foam the Entire Vehicle

Using a battery-powered IK Foam Sprayer, I coat the entire vehicle—including the wheels—with Adam’s Mega Foam. This provides an even layer of foam without needing a hose or pressure washer.

The goal here isn’t to wash the car yet—it’s to loosen contamination and encapsulate dirt so it can be removed safely.

Step 3: Wheel Agitation

Once the foam is dwelling, I use a couple of different wheel brushes to scrub the wheel faces, tires, and barrels. Nothing aggressive—just enough agitation to lift grime that the chemicals have already loosened.

Step 4: Hoseless Wash on the Paint

I use a 5-gallon bucket filled with an Adam’s hoseless wash solution and keep six microfiber wash towels soaking inside. One towel per major section keeps risk low.

I wring the towel out so it’s damp but not dripping, fold it into quarters, and wipe using straight, single-direction passes. I switch sides frequently so I’m always using a clean surface and I never dip the towel back in the bucket.

By the time I’ve worked around the car, most of the foam and dirt is gone.

Step 5: Hoseless “Rinse”

I refill the IK Foam Sprayer with the same hoseless wash solution and spray the entire vehicle again, including the wheels and tires. This acts as a rinse step.

It isn’t strictly necessary, but I usually do it twice for peace of mind.

Step 6: Drying and Finishing

I dry the car using large microfiber drying towels and smaller, dedicated towels for the wheels.

If I have extra time—or I’m heading to a Cars & Coffee—I’ll finish with either Adam’s CS3 or Slick & Slide and apply Graphene Tire Dressing.

What About the Interior?

I leave interior work to Cady Mobile Detailing, who services the cars outside of the parking deck during scheduled visits.

Interior detailing is time-consuming, and without access to electricity for a vacuum cleaner, it’s not something I try to replicate.

FAQ: Condo Car Washing

Is this process safe for paint?

Yes, when done carefully with proper lubrication and clean microfiber towels.

Does water end up on the ground?

Some does, but it’s minimal and controlled.

Do you ever use a hose or pressure washer?

No.

Why don’t you use an automatic car wash?

I avoid car washes because:

I don’t want swirls or paint marring My cars have PPF and ceramic coating, and I don’t want to risk lifting film edges Many car washes use very high-pH chemicals that can degrade coatings

Why not have the mobile detailer come weekly?

Cost and practicality. Consistent maintenance reduces the need.

Final Thoughts

This isn’t a revolutionary process. It’s not flashy or fast. What it does do is work—within real-world limitations—week after week.

My weekly routine is strictly for maintenance washes inside the garage. Full exterior and interior details are handled professionally outside the deck as needed.

The process is also flexible. When time or space is limited—such as on a driving tour, during a multi-day event, or at something like Porsche Parade—it can be streamlined and adjusted to fit into about 30 minutes. In those situations, the goal isn’t perfection; it’s safely knocking off road grime, brake dust, and bugs so the car still looks presentable and protected.

If you live in a condo or apartment without access to traditional washing tools, this approach proves that good car care is still possible. Adapt the process to your environment, be respectful of shared spaces, and stay consistent.

The 30-Minute Tour Version (Driving Tours, Porsche Parade, and Road Trips)

Here’s how I simplify the process to about 30 minutes:

1. Wheels (3–5 minutes)

I keep this very simple. I use a California Wheel Duster on the wheel faces only—no iron remover and no barrel cleaning. If I have a little extra time, I’ll lightly wipe the wheel faces with a towel dampened in hoseless wash solution. That’s it.

2. Foam the Car (3–5 minutes)

Using the IK battery-powered foam sprayer, I coat the entire vehicle. This loosens contamination and provides lubrication for safe contact.

3. Single-Pass Hoseless Wash (10–12 minutes)

I use fewer towels—usually three instead of six—and focus on the areas that matter most: windshield, front bumper, mirrors, rocker panels, and rear surfaces. Straight-line passes only, switching towel sides frequently.

4. Quick Hoseless Rinse (3–5 minutes)

I spray the car once with the hoseless wash solution. No second pass—just enough to flush remaining residue.

5. Dry and Go (5–7 minutes)

A single large microfiber drying towel for the paint and one small towel for wheels is usually sufficient. If time allows, a quick wipe with CS3 or Slick & Slide adds gloss and slickness, but it’s optional.

This condensed version works particularly well in hotel parking lots, event staging areas, or anywhere you want to be respectful of shared space while still taking care of your car.

It’s the same philosophy as the full routine—just compressed. Done correctly, it keeps the car looking good, protects the paint, and avoids the need for automatic car washes while on the road.