*** The Car Cleaning Thread ***

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ShiWarrior said:
on the subject of protection, when my bottle of Autoglym Wax sealant runs out, should I buy another one or is there something better that will last longer on the car ?

thanks
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I've got to say, everything else in my arsenal has pretty much fallen to the wayside since I first tried Sonax BSD a few years ago. It's pretty much all I use. I tried the Turtle Wax spray on stuff but that was prone to streaking and didn't last as long.

BSD lasts ages even in winter condition, and the best bit is that it takes 5-10 minutes to apply. No scrubbing, no buffing off - just spray on a small amount on each panel and wipe off. It's so easy that I apply a layer every time I wash, so I must have about 30 layers built up by now. It means that washing the car can frequently involve just blasting it with a pressure washer and it's completely clean again. Great stuff.
 
BSD doesn't last that long, but as you say it's pretty good for a faff free finishing step. Gyeon Can Coat + BSD (or BSD mixed with a QD 50:50) is a good choice as the Cancoat base layer will last a while.
 
Gaygle said:
If you have some decent protection underneath (I apply a coat of Sonax BSD every wash) it means that you can pressure wash the car and it be almost completely clean before you even touch it. It is a bit of a faff getting the pressure washer out and connecting everything up (sometimes I can't be bothered) but definitely worth it
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I'm still not sure I understand what that brings to the table. I've been using the hose pipe and wash mitt method for years and years and wouldn't describe my cars paint as anything other than very good.. what would I have avoided by making this time investment?

I'm willing to be convinced because it does look super cool. But my concern is that looking super cool is about the only material difference :D
 
Paintwork defects (mainly swirls) are 100x more apparent on black cars, specifically in the sun. If you aren't worried about the lacquer condition then you don't stand to gain an awful lot by using a better wash method.

Having some decent protection does make the car much easier to clean and dry though, especially with a pressure washer.

--

I haven't had time to polish and wax my new black car yet so I'm trying out that new Turtle Wax Ceramic Spray Coating. You need to use some water (damp microfibre is fine) to apply/remove it as it's a bit awkward otherwise, but initial results look great and I know it can last quite a long time.
 
Robzere31 said:
Anybody use Meguiar's Ultimate Liquid Car Wax?
Looking for a decent wax to use & this seems to get good reviews online.

If not worth it, what are the recommended ones these days?
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I've just bought the Meguiars Ultimate Quik Wax as my old spray wax was empty. Did my dad's car about 2 weeks ago and it's working well. Gave OK beading in the rain and seems to have kept the car cleaner during the random showers and drives out to the shops.

Q3-Front-2.jpg


Paste wax wise - I usually use FinishKare Pink Paste Wax but recently I tried Alchemy Supa Nova Paste Wax which is a soft wax, unlike the hard FinishKare wax, and was very pleased with the results.
 
[TW]Fox said:
I'm still not sure I understand what that brings to the table. I've been using the hose pipe and wash mitt method for years and years and wouldn't describe my cars paint as anything other than very good.. what would I have avoided by making this time investment?

I'm willing to be convinced because it does look super cool. But my concern is that looking super cool is about the only material difference :D
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Snowfoam? Well it's meant to soften/loosen things before you start wiping the dirt off in the hope that it lessens any microscratches. TBH I've only used snow foam a handful of times and whilst it was alright, it gives me nothing more than just pressure washing alone because of the protection already on the car. On cars without protection, it does make a good bit of difference to how much you can get off just by giving it a blast.
 
Now's I've ceramic coaked the JEEP, I want to ensure I use as much contactless as possible. It;s recently had:

  • Single stage paint enhancement and protection with SiRamik APT system.
  • Base layer of HR and top coated with Ultima ceramic coatings.
  • Wheels off decontamination and polish followed by protection with 2 coats of SiRamik HR.
  • Interior cleaned and protected with SiRamik ICL and Gtechniq Smartfabric.

So what I'll be doing is:

  1. Jet wash the car once over
  2. Apply Snow Foam and leave for a few minutes
  3. Jet wash the car 2nd time
  4. Use two bucket method with PH neutral shampoo and mitts and wash it down
  5. Jet wash for a 3rd and final time
  6. Lightly remove the water with a large non abbrasive cloth.

Hopefully this will keep the car swirl free, scratch free and leave that ceramic on for as many years as possible as I don't now need to wax all the time. Job done.
 
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Gaygle said:
I've got to say, everything else in my arsenal has pretty much fallen to the wayside since I first tried Sonax BSD a few years ago. It's pretty much all I use. I tried the Turtle Wax spray on stuff but that was prone to streaking and didn't last as long.

BSD lasts ages even in winter condition, and the best bit is that it takes 5-10 minutes to apply. No scrubbing, no buffing off - just spray on a small amount on each panel and wipe off. It's so easy that I apply a layer every time I wash, so I must have about 30 layers built up by now. It means that washing the car can frequently involve just blasting it with a pressure washer and it's completely clean again. Great stuff.
Click to expand...

Thanks
I need to googke what BSD stands for..

All I can think of is BiltHamber Spray Detailer lol


I'm getting organised at home,

What cloths / things to do on the car, so far I've got :

Mitt
Drying towel
Polish On
Polish Off
Wax On
Wax Off
Wheel brush
Glass outside On
Glass outside Off
Glass inside On
Glass inside Off
Waterless Wash on
Waterless Wash off
Inferior On
Interior Off
Carpet Brush
APC On
APC Off
*Engine

General cloths

Anything else I need to add?

Thanks
 
pugheaven said:
Now's I've ceramic coaked the JEEP, I want to ensure I use as much contactless as possible. It;s recently had:

  • Single stage paint enhancement and protection with SiRamik APT system.
  • Base layer of HR and top coated with Ultima ceramic coatings.
  • Wheels off decontamination and polish followed by protection with 2 coats of SiRamik HR.
  • Interior cleaned and protected with SiRamik ICL and Gtechniq Smartfabric.

So what I'll be doing is:

  1. Jet wash the car once over
  2. Apply Snow Foam and leave for a few minutes
  3. Jet wash the car 2nd time
  4. Use two bucket method with PH neutral shampoo and mitts and wash it down
  5. Jet wash for a 3rd and final time
  6. Lightly remove the water with a large non abbrasive cloth.

Hopefully this will keep the car swirl free, scratch free and leave that ceramic on for as many years as possible as I don't now need to wax all the time. Job done.
Click to expand...


You need to put snowfoam on when it's dry
 
Going to treat my car to some Auto Glym SRP this weekend but was wondering what Wax/or Sealant to use for best results? I know some Polishes/Waxes are aimed at dark colours, some lights etc so thought it would be worth mentioning my car is Grey.
 
Gilbert89 said:
Going to treat my car to some Auto Glym SRP this weekend but was wondering what Wax/or Sealant to use for best results? I know some Polishes/Waxes are aimed at dark colours, some lights etc so thought it would be worth mentioning my car is Grey.
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Auto Glym EGP (Extra Gloss Protection) is pretty decent, but has a horrible petrol'y smell. Easy to apply and buff off though, and is a half decent and inexpensive sealant you can pick up at Halfords.
 
i also use Autoglym EGP
thats the one i wanted to replace when my bottle runs out for something that will be more protective and for longer

going back to my early question

Google seems to like the BiltHamber Speed Wax paste (although not speedy to apply) should i get this or the one was recommended to me earlier ? (instead of the Autoglym EGP)
 
ShiWarrior said:
You need to put snowfoam on when it's dry
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I personally don't subscribe to that, I think this stems from the idea that a dry panel will cling onto the foam better. I've not had any issues with floam clinging onto the panel for 5mins+ after a rinse off with the pressure washer - also this has the advantage that after a pre rinse from the pressure washer will have removed some of the dirt already so the foam has less dirt to try and soften etc.

ShiWarrior said:
i also use Autoglym EGP
thats the one i wanted to replace when my bottle runs out for something that will be more protective and for longer

going back to my early question

Google seems to like the BiltHamber Speed Wax paste (although not speedy to apply) should i get this or the one was recommended to me earlier ? (instead of the Autoglym EGP)
Click to expand...

If you're willing to cleanse the car (decontaminate and polish etc) then you could try Gyeon Can Coat. Alternatively I've seen good reviews of KKD Purity X but I've never used it.
 
thanks
yeah when I get that good, i probably get some, but for now though, after a good pre wash, wash, maybe a polish then a sealant/wax "Protection!"
 
There's quite a few Ceramic/Graphene sprays at the moment, some of them are supposed to be pretty decent. If you're washing fairly regularly then you don't need something that long lasting - just something to last 3/4 weeks then top up. I personally think we're at a point now where synthetic spray on products have overtaken the paste wax products.


Even the spray on products like Gyeon Wet Coat and Carpro Hyro2 are worth looking at as they'll certainly last in between washes.
 
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