Washing Your Car!

Thanks for all the suggestions. Hmm, maybe I'm asking for the wrong thing?

I have some Aqua Wax and it's great - but I use it for waxing :)

I want something that when there are water spots on my car (because rain) I can spray on and wipe them off. Is that a quick detailer?

BTW that Madcow stuff looks good. But if I used it I'd have to do all the panels :)

Unfortunately those water spots are dirt so anything you spray on the car and run around will scratch the paintwork and introduce swirl marks.

Unfortunately only thing to do is rinse the car and dry off again. And yes madcow ultra violet is great. I always put a quick coat on after drying the car.
 
I tend to wait till it gets washed again as even with a QD there is still a chance of adding swirls, when I do use a QD it's usually after applying a wax/sealant to make sure I've removed it all.

You could try one of those waterless wash and was sprays which would be much easier on any contaminates on the surface.

2017-07-26_08-36-41 by Scott, on Flickr

Wowsers - it actually took me a moment to figure out what I was looking at......

Unfortunately those water spots are dirt so anything you spray on the car and run around will scratch the paintwork and introduce swirl marks.

Yeah, but some products claim to lift the dirt off the vehicle - I wondered if they actually worked. It should be possible since the dirt and the car are made of 2 very different substances but I'm not sure anybody has cracked it yet.
 
Thanks for the wheel sealant suggestions guys - I don't think I'm going to be able to get around to doing anything for a few weeks now though due to time/holiday/work/etc

I'm currently using Chemical Guys Speed Wipe & it is nice/easy/etc to use & leaves a great finish but unfortunately I've only used it on the weekend car & that doesn't get wet so I can't tell you it's water/beading capabilities yet :)
 
Other than their clay bars, I've not used Bilt Hamber products until this year. I gave the auto-wash a go. Doesn't require much in a bucket to clean the whole car with. Pretty good with cleaning action IMO. I used to use Duragloss 901 prior to this because it was effective at cleaning. I used other "detailing" level shampoos and felt they didn't help clean the car effectively enough, leaving lots of dirt when wiping down with a drying towel.

Off the back of this thread, I've bought a few other BH products - their auto-wheels, korrosol and surfex HD. I tried out the auto-wheels at the weekend. Now bearing in mind my alloys haven't had a proper decontamination in two years. It smelt like Carpro Iron-X - that whiff of rotten eggs, but much less pronounced in this product. I sprayed the wheels (which turned purple almost immediately), and used a raceglaze brush to agitate. I then pressure-washed the wheels after leaving on the product. The back wheels were like new. The front really needed another round as well as some tar remover.

I don't feel auto-wheels is something I'd use on a weekly basis - it looks like it'd damage the LSP. But it is something I'd use frequently enough to make it worthwhile buying.
 
For info, I've a brand new Auto Finesse Large Woolly alloy wheel brush for sale - just put it up in the classifieds (y)
 
Today (well 2 days ago) I learned......panel wipe is absolutely perfect for cleaning your TV. It even removes all the gunk left over from using windscreen cleaner...
 
Today (well 2 days ago) I learned......panel wipe is absolutely perfect for cleaning your TV. It even removes all the gunk left over from using windscreen cleaner...

It'll do a good job of your lenses too (y)
 
Today (well 2 days ago) I learned......panel wipe is absolutely perfect for cleaning your TV. It even removes all the gunk left over from using windscreen cleaner...

Do you buy proper panel wipe or just make your own from IPA and distilled water?
 
Do you buy proper panel wipe or just make your own from IPA and distilled water?

Proper stuff. I was using it to prep for some C5 so I thought it was worth the money just in case. I was trying to clean my TV and couldn't find my bottle of IPA when a thought hit me.... :)
 
Well, after trawling through this I decided to give my brand-new Skoda Kodiaq a good seeing to. I could have paid the dealers a fortune, but I'm too tight. And we only have one valeter round here who only opens once a week.

So here's what I did over a couple of (dry sunny) days:

1) pressure wash to get rid of the muck of a weeks holiday

2) two-bucket hand wash with Autoglym shampoo

3) dry off with micro-fibre towels

4) coat of Autoglym High-Deinition wax

5) coat of Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection

Took a bit of effort, but the result on a Pearl Black car is worth it! And it FEELS smooth. Now to keep it that way.
 
Well, after trawling through this I decided to give my brand-new Skoda Kodiaq a good seeing to. I could have paid the dealers a fortune, but I'm too tight. And we only have one valeter round here who only opens once a week.

So here's what I did over a couple of (dry sunny) days:

1) pressure wash to get rid of the muck of a weeks holiday

2) two-bucket hand wash with Autoglym shampoo

3) dry off with micro-fibre towels

4) coat of Autoglym High-Deinition wax

5) coat of Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection

Took a bit of effort, but the result on a Pearl Black car is worth it! And it FEELS smooth. Now to keep it that way.

Excellent. Welcome to the club. :)

Yes it takes some effort but well worth it and you'll find it easier next time as it's now got a good base to it.

Just for a bit of reference, no need to apply both HD wax and the EGP - do 1 or the other. Personally, previously I've used both and I'm a gluten for wax, so now just use the HD wax :)

Worth while getting g some of the Aqua wax from AG as this is a good frying aid and also tops up the HD wax on a weekly basis.
 
Excellent. Welcome to the club. :)

Yes it takes some effort but well worth it and you'll find it easier next time as it's now got a good base to it.

Just for a bit of reference, no need to apply both HD wax and the EGP - do 1 or the other. Personally, previously I've used both and I'm a gluten for wax, so now just use the HD wax :)

Worth while getting g some of the Aqua wax from AG as this is a good frying aid and also tops up the HD wax on a weekly basis.
Thanks. The wax plus EGP was recommended by the local undertakers as enhancing black cars! And I certainly noticed the difference once I'd put the EGP on top of the wax. I do have a bottle of the Aqua from a previous car, but haven't used it yet. I doubt I'll be washing the car weekly, though. I'm very low mileage these days. ;)
 
Thanks. The wax plus EGP was recommended by the local undertakers as enhancing black cars! And I certainly noticed the difference once I'd put the EGP on top of the wax. I do have a bottle of the Aqua from a previous car, but haven't used it yet. I doubt I'll be washing the car weekly, though. I'm very low mileage these days. ;)

I've done it the other way - if that makes sense as seal the paint then wax on top.

From AG - they say both not required - use either 1 or other- I used both and was very pleased with the results.

The Aqua wax is great - only spray lightly and roughly 1 squirt per panel, 2-3 roof and bonnet otherwise can be a bit smeary if over applied. :)
 
IIRC EGP should go on first, then wax can go on top. EGP is a sealant and bonds better if applied directly to paintwork. Wax normally then goes on sealant.
Autoglym themselves recommended using either the HD wax or the EGP but not both together.
 
IIRC EGP should go on first, then wax can go on top. EGP is a sealant and bonds better if applied directly to paintwork. Wax normally then goes on sealant.
Autoglym themselves recommended using either the HD wax or the EGP but not both together.
Ah, I suppose that makes sense if you think about it. Won't be doing the two again anyway! That wax lasts for ever - only a minute amount needed.
 
So here's what I did over a couple of (dry sunny) days:

Crikey you were lucky. Haven't seen a sunny day for nearly 2 weeks. :rolleyes: It's been too wet to even wash mine. (well that's my excuse :D )
 
It's been nice all week. Rain forecast for lunchtime. Looking forward to seeing all the raindrops beading on the shiny car. :p

[emoji16] it's the only time you want a bit of rain to see the beading, all other times you don't as you don't want it dirty...
 
Well decided to treat next door neighbours daughters car to a proper detail this afternoon, not been done since I last washed it and it was desperate for a polish.
Deep cleanse, washed and dried, cleanser polish and then applied new sealant glaze I bought last week. Very pleased with the results. Looks like a brand new car again and hopefully she's over the moon (not seen her yet as on shifts)

IMG_1902.JPG

IMG_1903.JPG

Looks very good now. [emoji41]
 
I enjoy cleaning our cars. My usual routine and products.

Prewash with snow foam, rinse
Wheels, merlins blood.
Wash (two bucket method with grit guards & Microfibre Madness mitt) Megs Gold Class at the minute. Much better than autoglym shampoo for me. Rinse
Dry with drying towel (not sure on brand but it does the whole car in one go easily, great purchase!!).
Polish, autoglym super resin polish.
Wax, Dodo Juice Purple Haze/Sealant, Autoglym, extra gloss protection.
Glass with Car spa centre cleaner, then sealant (over 30mph rain just beads off windscreen, could get away without wipers).

Bilt hamber medium clay after washing when required.

I bought a quick detailer the other day for when I'm in more of a rush but haven't got round to trying it yet.


Have been looking in to getting a machine polisher DA one, has anyone on here used them? From reading, it seems that they're quite beginner friendly but there's so many different pads and products it's a minefield. It would be nice to save from the arm and back ache from all the polishing!
 
Have been looking in to getting a machine polisher DA one, has anyone on here used them? From reading, it seems that they're quite beginner friendly but there's so many different pads and products it's a minefield. It would be nice to save from the arm and back ache from all the polishing!

I bought a DAS6 Pro DA.

Pad and polish depends on how tough/hard your paint/clearcoats. My Honda Civic is pretty soft so all I use is a white hexlogic pad which has very little cut its more of a finishing pad and Megs #205 polish.
 
I bought a DAS6 Pro DA.

Pad and polish depends on how tough/hard your paint/clearcoats. My Honda Civic is pretty soft so all I use is a white hexlogic pad which has very little cut its more of a finishing pad and Megs #205 polish.[/QUOTE



Sounds good, that's the polisher I was looking at actually. Between us we have a Mazda 3 and a Yaris, from what I've read, most Japanese paint is soft. Very tempted to get one and start off with a white pad and keep reading if I thought I needed to go any further. Thanks
 
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Not sure if it's already been covered, but what shampoo do you guys recommend for snow foam?

I have always previously been a bucket of shampoo and a wash mitt guy, but I bought a karcher last year for other things but it came with an attachment for spraying and a sample bottle of their own car wash shampoo. Although it did foam up and cover the car, it was only a couple of minutes before it ran off. So what do you guys suggest?

It's taken long enough, but I finally got a chance to head down to Halfords and pick up some of the carplan snow foam that was recommended.

Have the car a rinse off, applied the foam and left it a few minutes and then gave it another rinse.

Did absolutely sweet F A.
Used the same stuff in a bucket with a sponge as I didn't have any regular shampoo and gave it a was the old fashioned way. Come up ok but shows up all the tar spots, dents and scuffs now so kinda come to the conclusion it actually looks better dirty.

Never buying a white car again!

Oh, and also tried the Halfords own tar and bug remover as it was being sold off cheap at the till. Absolutely useless, didn't budge a single spot.
 
pick up some of the carplan snow foam that was recommended...Did absolutely sweet F A.

Oh, and also tried the Halfords own tar and bug remover as it was being sold off cheap at the till. Absolutely useless, didn't budge a single spot.
The best snowfoam I've used is Bilt Hamber's autofoam. It's shown as being more effective than three other foams. But ATEOTD snowfoam is a prewash stage and doesn't replace manually washing the car. I encourage people to think of it as akin to soaking last night's dishes for a few minutes to make it easier to clean (and hence less likely to inflict damage).

As for tar remover, I love my Tardis.
 
Did next door neighbours Juke on Saturday

Washed
De-tared
Dried
Polished
Sealed and glazed
and then waxed
Quick spray seal to his wheels as well.

About 4 1/2 hours in total, very pleased with results and needless to say he was extremely happy :cool:
 
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Did my mates transit van yesterday for him,
cleaned, polished, sealed and waxed it. All done by hand and very pleased with the results.

Long wheel base, high top - knackered last night.

Got an image sent this morning - very pleased with the beading [emoji41]

IMG_1973.JPG
 
Did my mates transit van yesterday for him,
cleaned, polished, sealed and waxed it. All done by hand and very pleased with the results.

Long wheel base, high top - knackered last night.

Got an image sent this morning - very pleased with the beading [emoji41]

View attachment 111209
I hope you did the roof too.
I gave my new car a good coat of Autobrite Hellshine Abyss on Saturday, all over including unpainted exterior trim and the windows. Car was covered in beading this morning. Drove the mile or so to the gym and the car was bone dry apart from one horizontal area on the rear bumper that the airflow can't get at. The car is still clean and very shiny. Who says you can't keep a black car clean?
 
Well, has anyone else been braving it this new year ?

So far this year, done both of ours for the weekly wash, have done father in laws - deep clean and re-sealed and done my mates Jag.

Was 3/4 of day in 2deg temp - crisp to say the least:

Full wash
Decontamination
De Tar
Clayed
Polished and glazed
Sealed
Waxed
Alloys sealed and tyres dressed

Was sparkling and very nice and glossy - needless to say he was very happy :)
 
Well, has anyone else been braving it this new year ?
Two to three times a week with a jet wash to get rid of the salt they keep puttng on our roads for no good reason. Not this week as it has been raining. Then dry off with microfiber towels. It's had so many coats of wax and sealant since I bought it back in September, apart from the salt it stays fairly clean and very shiny. Not bad going considering it's black.
 
Not touched mine since about October. Not much point as Ive only got to drive 100 yards at the moment and its filthy again. A blast with the PW probably not a bad idea at a minimum though. May try this weekend.
 
Don't suppose any of you car cleaning fanatics live near Liverpool and fancy giving mine a good going over, it's filthy at the moment but I do a fair bit of motorway driving so when cleaned it don't stay clean for long.
Seriously though, I'd like to know more about taking really good carr of it, the local detailers charger around £100 for the basic.
 
the local detailers charger around £100 for the basic.
That's quite cheap. I used to bay nearer £400 but that included a full correction detail (ie machine polish the paintwork). I joined detailingworld and learned all about it. It's a bit like photography in that you can easily spend lots of money on lots of products that you use a few times and then never use again because you want to try something new.
 
Don't suppose any of you car cleaning fanatics live near Liverpool and fancy giving mine a good going over, it's filthy at the moment but I do a fair bit of motorway driving so when cleaned it don't stay clean for long.
Seriously though, I'd like to know more about taking really good carr of it, the local detailers charger around £100 for the basic.

The £100 - what are they classing as the basic ? What you getting for your £100 ?

Feel free to ask questions/ drop me a PM re information / help / advice re cleaning car...
 
That's quite cheap. I used to bay nearer £400 but that included a full correction detail (ie machine polish the paintwork). I joined detailingworld and learned all about it. It's a bit like photography in that you can easily spend lots of money on lots of products that you use a few times and then never use again because you want to try something new.
I'll have to take a look at detailing world, I don't get too much time to spend on cleaning cars but as I'll be doing the wife's too she won't complain!
The £100 - what are they classing as the basic ? What you getting for your £100 ?

Feel free to ask questions/ drop me a PM re information / help / advice re cleaning car...
The basic was a wash, wax and glaze.
There were other packages up to the £450 mark.
I'm looking to give the cars more protection ideally, once they're spotless in the first place.

Seen some interesting products that claim to be absolutely brilliant but don't know enough about the subject to spot if they're talking rubbish or not.
Most I usually do is a wash and wax using autoglym products.

What I really need is a beginner's guide to which are the more reliable and easy to use products
 
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I'll have to take a look at detailing world, I don't get too much time to spend on cleaning cars but as I'll be doing the wife's too she won't complain!The basic was a wash, wax and glaze.
There were other packages up to the £450 mark.
I'm looking to give the cars more protection ideally, once they're spotless in the first place.

Seen some interesting products that claim to be absolutely brilliant but don't know enough about the subject to spot if they're talking rubbish or not.
Most I usually do is a wash and wax using autoglym products.

What I really need is a beginner's guide to which are the more reliable and easy to use products

There is nothing wrong with AG products and they work well...

Probably easies, tell me what you've got product wise and what you do and what you'd like to do, I'll see if I can help / suggest options...
 
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