*** Car Wash / Valet / Detailing Thread ***

I think I need some sort of screen to hide the fact I'm cleaning my car. The second my 3 year old sees me doing it... "I'll help daddy"

Cloths going instantly from floor to bodywork, washing the (already washed) panels with the dirty water bucket... nightmare. Luckily I've managed to isolate his 'assistance' to the company car :p

I thought I'd tricked him by getting him to help by packing some things away (while I quickly finished the car). I should have realised he was too quiet and really shouldn't have been surprised when he proudly announced that he's washed the cloths before putting them away. Half a dozen ringing wet dirty microfibre towels carefully draped over the freezer, my bike, the fan I use on my turbo trainer, an extension lead (plugged in :eek: ), my tool box and one dumped on the floor. :cry:

When I used to see those cars that have about 70% of the dirt left on with some random sponge sized clean swipes I wondered how it was possible someone would do such a poor job. Now I get it... kids :p
 
Well, I've got £75 worth of buckets, wipes, cloths in the halfrauds basket. Still need to get the actual cordless pressure washer though and a bunch of foam/soaps etc. I should do a trial run with the old car before it goes to Carwow.

edit: so bought the Worx Cordless Pressure Washer kit.
  • 20V Cordless Mobile Pressure Washer Hydroshot WG620E.9
  • 20V 2 Ah PowerShare battery WA3551
  • 2A Quick charger WA3880
  • 6 m hose
  • Pressure cleaning lance
  • Brush WA4048
  • Multi-spray nozzle
  • High-Pressure Washer Foldable Water Bucket WA4015
  • High-Pressure Washer Soap Bottle WA4036
  • Soda bottle adapter WA4038
 
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haha not your fault, I should have held off for a bit.

I'd cancel the order but it is impossible to find a UK contact number for Worx and can't cancel it on their site either. I can return it but at my cost to return :(

i'd rather get what I need than buy something else too
 
lordrobs said:
I think I need some sort of screen to hide the fact I'm cleaning my car. The second my 3 year old sees me doing it... "I'll help daddy"

Cloths going instantly from floor to bodywork, washing the (already washed) panels with the dirty water bucket... nightmare. Luckily I've managed to isolate his 'assistance' to the company car :p

I thought I'd tricked him by getting him to help by packing some things away (while I quickly finished the car). I should have realised he was too quiet and really shouldn't have been surprised when he proudly announced that he's washed the cloths before putting them away. Half a dozen ringing wet dirty microfibre towels carefully draped over the freezer, my bike, the fan I use on my turbo trainer, an extension lead (plugged in :eek: ), my tool box and one dumped on the floor. :cry:

When I used to see those cars that have about 70% of the dirt left on with some random sponge sized clean swipes I wondered how it was possible someone would do such a poor job. Now I get it... kids :p
Click to expand...

I feel your pain.

I got around this by tasking my kids into cleaning only the wheels. Gave them their own bucket and wheel brushes. Showed them how to use the wheel cleaner properly and stuff. And pay them a fiver for each set of 4 wheels. They are now pretty good at cleaning my wheels, so that's great. I don;t mind cleaning wheels, but equally, my least favourite job.

When they cleaned my mates wheels I told him he'd have to pay them double though, given he hadn't ever cleaned his wheels, so they were filthy. At least compared to my nicely coated wheels.
 
Liquid_Entity said:
from that thread that states a bucket would dissapear in a minute. A water butt full is required to cover the usage amount. Cordless I feel is still the right way.
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yes a bucket has gone in a minute, but by that time the foam cannons ~1L bottle, is emptied, anyway.
the additional mains motor power would create better foam, and the device is half the price of a cordless (how long does battery last too)
 
I've got piano black interior,
i want to re polish it and make it look better

anyone done this before ?

I don't own any machines, but tempted to try and get a mini polisher for the job, but I don't know where to start

I've got a couple off days off next week so i was thinking of trying it Monday, then I can put some UPC protector on that i bought to help it maintain condition

thanks
 
jpaul said:
yes a bucket has gone in a minute, but by that time the foam cannons ~1L bottle, is emptied, anyway.
the additional mains motor power would create better foam, and the device is half the price of a cordless (how long does battery last too)
Click to expand...
OK I think i need to understand the whole process of pre cleaning, foaming, washing and with pressure washing.

As said originally never had a decent car to wash so only used local cleaners or buckets and sponge jobs.

I do have a karcher K2 mains pressure washer so are you telling me I can use a bucket and use with karcher.
 
Liquid_Entity said:
OK I think i need to understand the whole process of pre cleaning, foaming, washing and with pressure washing.

As said originally never had a decent car to wash so only used local cleaners or buckets and sponge jobs.

I do have a karcher K2 mains pressure washer so are you telling me I can use a bucket and use with karcher.
Click to expand...

Not sure about the Karcher but I do know some pressure washers can be fed from a bucket
 
Can get huge water tanks, the issue is filling that in the first place. I don't fancy 15 trips with a bucket up and down my stairs to the bathroom and back to fill it. I am stuck basically.

Maybe I should move house, just so I can wash my car haha
 
ShiWarrior said:
I've got piano black interior,
i want to re polish it and make it look better

anyone done this before ?

I don't own any machines, but tempted to try and get a mini polisher for the job, but I don't know where to start

I've got a couple off days off next week so i was thinking of trying it Monday, then I can put some UPC protector on that i bought to help it maintain condition

thanks
Click to expand...

I have not done it myself but watched a couple of you tube videos of guys polishing swirls out of piano black trim.
This guy in the link below knows what he is doing, he is pretty high end.

 
ShiWarrior said:
I've got piano black interior,
i want to re polish it and make it look better

anyone done this before ?

I don't own any machines, but tempted to try and get a mini polisher for the job, but I don't know where to start

I've got a couple off days off next week so i was thinking of trying it Monday, then I can put some UPC protector on that i bought to help it maintain condition

thanks
Click to expand...

You’d follow the same process as normal polishing, but consider that the plastic will be much softer than paint, so you won’t need to be as aggressive. A finishing compound with a small orbit is likely all you’d need.


You won’t really be able to help it stay scratch free since it’s so soft - that’s why microfibres can mar it so quickly.
 
MrRockliffe said:
You’d follow the same process as normal polishing, but consider that the plastic will be much softer than paint, so you won’t need to be as aggressive. A finishing compound with a small orbit is likely all you’d need.


You won’t really be able to help it stay scratch free since it’s so soft - that’s why microfibres can mar it so quickly.
Click to expand...

cheers for the advice

any idea on what machine to get ?
thanks
 
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