Cleaning the car in the right order.

NitrogenY3K · 2 Jun 2009 at 16:43

Just got my new car

so have ordered a few products to clean it.

I have ordered:

Quik Clay Detailing System
Hyper Wash
Supreme Shine Microfibre (single)
Endurance High Gloss Tyre Protection Gel
Luxurious Lambs Wool Wash Mitt
Scratch X (for scratches and swirl marks).
Terry towel

Would this be the correct order to clean the car in?

1. Wet the car down with water
2. Use the lambs wool mit + the hyper wash to wash the car.
3. Dry car down with Terry Towel
4. Use the quick clay detailing system
5. Scratch X to remove swirl marks ect.
6. Auto glym Super Resin Polish
7. Should I get something like a wax or sealant to protect my hard work?

Also with the clay system, I know its sounds stupid but how do you actually use it, do you just use the whole block and go all around the car with it, or can you break it off and use different bits for different sections (I have never used it before)

Phil W · 2 Jun 2009 at 16:43

Car Cleaning thread?

Phil W · 2 Jun 2009 at 16:44

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17888389

Tee Hee Johnson · 2 Jun 2009 at 17:20

Phil W said:
Car Cleaning thread?

No... this aint it

Lee456 · 2 Jun 2009 at 19:20

Phil W said:
Car Cleaning thread?

I don't blame him, a lot of the questions posed in there seem to go under the radar - they probably have been answered before but it's a sizeable thread to work through.

Fr0dders · 2 Jun 2009 at 20:45

NitrogenY3K said:
Just got my new car so have ordered a few products to clean it.

I have ordered:

Quik Clay Detailing System
Hyper Wash
Supreme Shine Microfibre (single)
Endurance High Gloss Tyre Protection Gel
Luxurious Lambs Wool Wash Mitt
Scratch X (for scratches and swirl marks).
Terry towel

Would this be the correct order to clean the car in?

1. Wet the car down with water
2. Use the lambs wool mit + the hyper wash to wash the car.
3. Dry car down with Terry Towel
4. Use the quick clay detailing system
5. Scratch X to remove swirl marks ect.
6. Auto glym Super Resin Polish
7. Should I get something like a wax or sealant to protect my hard work?

Also with the clay system, I know its sounds stupid but how do you actually use it, do you just use the whole block and go all around the car with it, or can you break it off and use different bits for different sections (I have never used it before)

id personally clay before drying as its recommended to wash the car again after claying.

Housey · 2 Jun 2009 at 20:48

I choose

Pull in
Fiddle with radio or phone
Open window
Hand over money
Blast off up the road with Sport button pressed

WILD9 · 2 Jun 2009 at 21:50

Yes get some wax or sealant the SRP doesnt last long on its own, Autoglym Extra gloss protection is a decent sealant that works well over SRP.

NitrogenY3K · 3 Jun 2009 at 11:38

Cheers for the help guys. Are meguires waxes any good?

Pulsar_GTI · 3 Jun 2009 at 13:13

yeh they are good check out http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wax/cat_4.html for the best stuff tho

I would choose ........... Collinite 476 its damn good !

Pigeon · 3 Jun 2009 at 13:28

MrLOL said:
id personally clay before drying as its recommended to wash the car again after claying.

My friend said to split it up. Use one bit then throw it away then have the rest for another time.

Personally, today I washed my car for the first time since the garage did it at MOT time in March! I just did a spray down, wash, rinse spray down and dry. Now last year or the year before when I did it cleaned it more frequently it would be a more smooth shiney finish. I think it may be time to add some touch up pen, polish and clay to the process the next time. I've got all the gubbins but I do get bored after about an hour of doing it so it is good to know the order of things for when I get a nice day to spend doing the whole car!

Thanks for the cleaning thread link.

peterattheboro · 3 Jun 2009 at 13:48

Housey said:
I choose

Pull in
Fiddle with radio or phone
Open window
Hand over money
Blast off up the road with Sport button pressed

You trust them with their grotty 50p sponges? :eek:

SideWinder · 3 Jun 2009 at 14:28

A terry towel? :confused:

Andr3w · 3 Jun 2009 at 14:38

Its a very very microfibre towel i belive?

I use a chamois leather to wipe down water

lordrobs · 3 Jun 2009 at 15:16

Pigeon said:
I've got all the gubbins but I do get bored after about an hour of doing it so it is good to know the order of things for when I get a nice day to spend doing the whole car!

I either get bored or simply don't have more than an hour or two so I just polish and wax a panel or two at a time.

I also prefer doing it this way so I can tailor what is needed. e.g. on my bonnet where 2 cats looked like they had a fight on it :mad:

I went for three stages of polish followed by wax where as the following time when I just did the roof I just gave it a quick go over with SRP followed by wax.

Housey · 3 Jun 2009 at 15:54

peterattheboro said:
You trust them with their grotty 50p sponges?

The chaps I go to use wool mits and to be honest having a silver car its pretty good for keeping clean and shiny. Detail once a year and its bang on.

Adam · 3 Jun 2009 at 16:56

Housey said:
I choose

Pull in
Fiddle with radio or phone
Open window
Hand over money
Blast off up the road with Sport button pressed

Same, minus the sport button

I grew out of washing my car every week. A lot of effort for a couple of days satisfaction. I like taking pride in my things but i'd rather pay someone £6 to clean my car personally. They do a decent enough job.