Associate
I tend not to blue-nitrile cover my hands when car washing - and save that for the mechanical work - but I can tell you that it is easier to feel the contamination on paint when you have this style of hand covering on... weird but true.
*** The Car Cleaning Thread ***
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I tend not to blue-nitrile cover my hands when car washing - and save that for the mechanical work - but I can tell you that it is easier to feel the contamination on paint when you have this style of hand covering on... weird but true.
Associate
I'll second TRIX - it's a brilliant product.
Soldato
Ive just got a new motor (seat leon excellence, diesel, full leather, 184bhp). Bit of an upgrade from my previous!
Can anyone recomment simple to use (/quick) cleaning materials and polishing gloves? I already have an autoglym washer.
Its impressive how shiny they all looked in the showroom!
Pics of motah (apologies its just the ones taken by sales)
[/spoiler
Can anyone recomment simple to use (/quick) cleaning materials and polishing gloves? I already have an autoglym washer.
Its impressive how shiny they all looked in the showroom!
Pics of motah (apologies its just the ones taken by sales)
[/spoiler
Ive just got a new motor (seat leon excellence, diesel, full leather, 184bhp). Bit of an upgrade from my previous!
Can anyone recomment simple to use (/quick) cleaning materials and polishing gloves? I already have an autoglym washer.
Its impressive how shiny they all looked in the showroom!
Pics of motah (apologies its just the ones taken by sales)
[/spoiler
Polishing gloves? Like just nitrite gloves to wear while using the polishing products? I just bought a pack of 100 off Amazon.
Well, you can use an applicator pad for the polishes. I bought a heap off ebay from China for pennies. So they are single use for me. Not great quality, but they work fine. I used to just apply with microfibre cloths though. You get a massive pack from Costco for about £14 or so. They are VERY useful. I use them for taking off product / buffing, so they are definitely worth having. Cheap enough to be disposable too.
What do you mean by autoglym washer? Like a snow foam thing? Or a pump action thing? To be honest, snow foam is just a pre-wash, so helps get most of the dirt off, probably similar to what you have if it's not an actual snow foam lance. But I still use one. It doesn't replace a proper contact wash, you will still need a microfibre "sponge". Again, you can get decent stuff from Costco, but I do also have a Meguires microfibre "glove" for the wash stage. What car shampoo you use is up to you. Whatever you can find locally should do the job really. Autoglym / Gyeon / Meguires etc... I've used them all, and they are all much of a muchness.
You could get a claybar mitt for after the wash, I have a G3 one, and it's ok. I don't find it a replacement for a proper clay bar in terms of its effectiveness, but it is significantly quicker. This does a decent job of getting all the smaller dirt off the car. If you want to use a proper clay bar, then the Bilt Hamber stuff is meant to be very good, and will be the next bar I buy. I have used Meguires up until now, but the B.H. stuff can apparently just use water to lubricate, so that'll save a bit of money, ha ha. Before this, a bug and tar remover, or iron out stage is useful though. But this really comes down to how thorough a job / how good a job you want to do is.
Then time for a polish. I just used Poorboys Black Hole on my Clio and it looks great. It's designed for darker cars, so should work great with yours. I then use either sealant or wax, depending on how I feel. No point spending a couple hours polishing the car, then not protecting that work. I use Menzerna Power Lock sealant, and it really is great. Easy to use, easy to apply / remove, great results, and lasts ages. But have also used Bilt Hamber Double Speed Wax. Which is also pretty good, although my experience is it's a bit more effort to apply, and doesn't last as long.
I use Gtechniq G6 to clean the glass, G4 to polish it, then G1 to seal it. It's not nothing to do all this, but the results are fantastic. 18-24 months of rain water just flying off the screen. It takes an hour or two to do the windows on the car properly, but then that's it done for a year or so. Just normal maintenance afterwards.
I also use Auto Finesse Imperial on the wheels. It's great stuff. Spray it on, leave a few mins, agitate with wheel brush, rinse off, done. Then, if I'm feeling particularly unlazy, polish then seal the wheels. I just use regular polish, like Autoglym Super Resin Polish (SRP), and have some Poorboys Wheel sealant. It's ok, but needs a few layers of application to be effective IMO.
Or, if you were meaning something simpler than all that, then just get a good car shampoo (like Meguiars Hyperwash), lambswool / microfibre mitt, a few microfibre cloths, wheel brush, and some polish.
Spec me: wheel sealant.
Winter wheels have been refurbed and will be going on shortly. Need to put some protection on them and have just about finished the Poorboys I bought around a decade ago.
It's a bit tedious to apply, is there anything as/good better available in a spray or with an easier application? More than happy to re-stock PoorBoys but figured products will have come on a bit since then! Ta.
Winter wheels have been refurbed and will be going on shortly. Need to put some protection on them and have just about finished the Poorboys I bought around a decade ago.
It's a bit tedious to apply, is there anything as/good better available in a spray or with an easier application? More than happy to re-stock PoorBoys but figured products will have come on a bit since then! Ta.
I used Gtechniq C5 Wheel Armour before. But I spent about 2 hours per wheel getting them as absolutely spotless as I could. Off the car, claybar, the works. Then this.
Only had the wheels for one wash afterwards, so no idea on longevity. But considering it again for the next set of wheels I buy, hopefully I keep them longer next time, ha ha.
I have poorboys also, but found it doesn't last too well, even with 3 layers, which is almost necessary IME.
Only had the wheels for one wash afterwards, so no idea on longevity. But considering it again for the next set of wheels I buy, hopefully I keep them longer next time, ha ha.
I have poorboys also, but found it doesn't last too well, even with 3 layers, which is almost necessary IME.
Sam’s Ceramic Boost. Spray on, rinse and it covers you for 3-4 months.
Caporegime
I just use CarPro HydrO2 very easy to apply.
Associate
You NEED GTechniq C5 Wheel Armour.
Absolutely nothing else will do (for a normal consumer)
It may be quite expensive, and I may be a faff to remove wheels and treat them properly, but it is definitely the most cost effective and clean effective product you can buy.
Once you've done ceramics, nothing else will do.
Yo can thank me next year, when you realise that you can still clean your wheels with ease and it's still protecting your investment of getting them refurbed.
Associate
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Is this stuff only effective with a pressure washer or will my hose easily get rid of most of the brake dust? I really struggle to find time to clean the car so don't really want to get a pressure washer. Anything that makes it easier would be great.
A pressure washer wont be effective without any sealant help anyway. You are by far better getting a good wheel cleaner and aggitate with a wheel brush to get rid of brake dust. That stuff is stubborn.
However, products such as the C5 will help massively.
However, products such as the C5 will help massively.
Associate
With C5 properly applied, the wheels are so much easier to clean,. It doesn't require a pressure washer, a hose will do part of the work, but to clean them properly you still need to use a washmitt and car shampoo. Definitely steer clear of strong cleaning chemicals after applying C5 because they really don't add any value, plus they will shorten the lifespan of the ceramic coat.
C5 is hard. Really hard. But it also leaves a smooth finish that never fails to amaze me when washing wheels how quick and easy it becomes.
I can't evangelise about this stuff enough. It is one of the standout breakthrough car cleaning products of the past 10 years.
Other products in this category are;
Proper ceramic coat (obviously. Amazing and worth the initial cost)
GTechniq C4 plastic restore. Incredible. Permeates microscopically into plastic to restore original colour and finish. Really is permanent because it doesn't just sit in top of the plastic.
CarPro Hydro2Foam. BUT - as a finishing coat, not as a primary wash. Leaves an incredible hydrophobic coating on all surfaces.
Yours Aye
Mark H
Soldato
Thanks for informative/"idiots guide" post... ive just got a bog standard autoglym wash at the moment..
In steps then
So i use autoglym wash to clean
Then clay bar (this OK?) does it include the applicator?
https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/meguiars-quick-clay-set-549770701
Then polish (poor boys black hole)
https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/poorboys-black-hole-473ml-552999020
Wax (i couldn't find what you linked, is the below a bad option?
https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/sonax-super-liquid-wax-549778371
Got these applicators (which do i use for wax/polish?)
https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/carplan-triplewax-microfibre-cloth-553771300
https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/trade-quality-2-in-1-wash-mitt-549771661
Got a load of other microfibre cloths in house
Are these useful for polish/wax?
https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/trade-quality-lint-free-cloth-5-pack-549771611
I got a £5 wheel brush in the basket but for now ill see if i actually use it/get into cleaning.
Soldato
If you struggle for time the best thing you could do is buy a pressure washer, they speed up every step of car washing significantly, and also make it so much easier.
Soldato
I know you can use snow foam for cleaning, but are they useful for other steps?
I could get an attachment for mine...
Thanks for informative/"idiots guide" post... ive just got a bog standard autoglym wash at the moment..
In steps then
So i use autoglym wash to clean
Then clay bar (this OK?) does it include the applicator?
https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/meguiars-quick-clay-set-549770701
Then polish (poor boys black hole)
https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/poorboys-black-hole-473ml-552999020
Wax (i couldn't find what you linked, is the below a bad option?
https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/sonax-super-liquid-wax-549778371
Got these applicators (which do i use for wax/polish?)
https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/carplan-triplewax-microfibre-cloth-553771300
https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/trade-quality-2-in-1-wash-mitt-549771661
Got a load of other microfibre cloths in house
Are these useful for polish/wax?
https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/trade-quality-lint-free-cloth-5-pack-549771611
I got a £5 wheel brush in the basket but for now ill see if i actually use it/get into cleaning.
Do you need to bur from Euro Car Parts?
These are the applicator pads I bought. Or very similar to these: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12PCS-Ca...073217?hash=item3413001a41:g:bfEAAOSwjHBddf9u
But as I said, microfibre towels will do also. But it is still worth getting a pack of these at this price.
I use a wash sponge similar to this: https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/dodo-juice-wash-sponge But I got a 2 pack from Costco, and was pretty cheap. I also have a microfibre wash mitt similar to the one you linked (although mine was meguiars). Should be fine.
I do have that clay bar kit. And it is what I have bought in the past, because you can get it from Halfords. But this is a cheaper option: https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/bilt-hamber-auto-clay-medium-200g Should work as well, but can just use water as lube. Clay lube isn't the cheapest, and you can go through it pretty quickly. I have, in the past, put a small drop of fairy liquid in with the water just for extra slickness.
Poorboys Black Hole: https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/poorboys-black-hole
This is the wax I have: https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/bilt-hamber-double-speed-car-wax
But I do prefer the Powerlock Sealant, it's much easier / faster to work with, and my experience it lasts longer: https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/menzerna-power-lock-sealant-250ml
I have a wheel brush similar to this: https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/valetpro-non-scratch-soft-brush But I am considering something a bit bigger, like this: https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/gyeon-q-m-wheelstick-large. The brush I have is fine, but a bit small, so takes a while. I have bought cheaper brushes in the past, but they never seem to last very long.
These are the microfibre cloths I have: https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/eurow-microfibre-work-towels They are about £10 cheaper from Costco though. I use them for all sorts of stuff. Application / removal of polishes / sealants / almost everything.
This is definately worth the investment for the glass: https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/gtechniq-glass-sealant-kit, add the glass cleaner: https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/gtechniq-g6-perfect-glass and you have everything you need.
Power washers aren't just for snow foaming. They are also useful for many other uses. The initial rinse, every rinse after, cleaning wheels etc... The extra pressure you get certainly helps get most of the contamination off first, before you actually get to touching the paint / wheels etc... It makes every job either faster or easier. You don't need a terribly expensive one. Nilfisk ones at around £70-80 are generally fine.
But yes, the steps I take when cleaning:
Rinse
Snowfoam
Wheels (while Snowfoam sitting on car)
Rinse
Bug & Tar Remover
Rinse
Dry
Ironout (or whatever product, Iron X, Tardis etc...)
Rinse
Clay bar (including glass)
Rinse
Polish
(At this stage, it can be worth wiping down with an IPA solution, Isopropyl Alcohol)
Sealant / Wax
Glass
Finish Wheels
With all that rinsing, a power washer makes short work of it, ha ha. To be honest, this takes a whole day, or more though, depending on size of car and speed of work. I only do this once or twice a year. Most maintenance washes probably skip all steps between bug and tar removal and polish. Its worth topping up sealant / wax occasionally.
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Associate
Yes.
Ideally, a snow foam application is the first step. I much prefer to use the pre-wash foam without doin a "rinse" first. Foaming and already wet car has a negative effect on cling and prevents the foam from performing its best, I've found.
My preferred foam is Valet Pro Advanced Neutral. Because it's neutral and it also gives a brilliant cling and good penetration of grime. (Stuff like Bilt amber Auto Foam aren't neutral, and I found they mar the plastic and rubber trim. Not the best.)
Make sure to foam the wheels as well - particularly useful when already ceramic coated - the grime starts to slide of with pre-wash foam.
Next step is then to rinse off the foam with pressure washer. The foam should've activated the grime for easy rinse off. That means less contaminants on the paint surface for you to drag across the paint with your wash mitt or fibre pad.
Then 2 bucket wash method.
Then pressure wash rinse.
Final pressure wash stage is to foam with Hydro2Foam. DON'T do this is direct sunlight. Quickly agitate the whole car with a clean mitt and rinse off QUICKLY with just the hose - not the pressure washer. This cuts down the drying stage by more than a half, because the Hydro2Foam is super-hydrophobic.
Finally dry gently with waffle towels.
As a precaution I definitely wouldn't use clay bar very often. Once per year, probably. It does mar the paint and puts in micro-swirls.
Soldato
Of course. Makes cleaning the wheels significantly easier, also helps in pre-rinse stages as it helps blast more dirt off making the contact wash safer.
Snowfoam is perhaps the least useful part of having a pressure washer as snowfoam can be equally effective through pump sprayers (especially Bilt Hamber AutoFoam).
Soldato
Thanks @RampantMark. @xs2man Thanks for the list, looks like its cheaper than eurocar too!
What do I use to apply the claybar? just a microfibre cloth?
Similar for the polish?
Similar for the sealant?
I presume this will be ok for my car?
https://www.cleanstore.co.uk/produc...SxRuVwZQQy-8_JGM_L2kUXr2AJfqYKuYaArqmEALw_wcB
I have this pressure washer
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nilfisk-Compact-Pressure-Washer-Cleaner/dp/B00AZKE2HC?
What do I use to apply the claybar? just a microfibre cloth?
Similar for the polish?
Similar for the sealant?
I presume this will be ok for my car?
https://www.cleanstore.co.uk/produc...SxRuVwZQQy-8_JGM_L2kUXr2AJfqYKuYaArqmEALw_wcB
I have this pressure washer
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nilfisk-Compact-Pressure-Washer-Cleaner/dp/B00AZKE2HC?
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Here is a proper snow foam lance. That one you linked may work, but I have no real experience of it. But the ones I have used have all been more like this one: https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/cyc-snow-foam-lance
You may notice all my links are from the same company, that is not because I have any loyalty to them, or that they are necessarily cheapest for every product. But buying from the same source may reduce p+p costs. And may work out more cost effective overall.
The claybar you just tear off a section of the bar, then lubricate the surface with either clay lube, detailing spray or water (depending on the bar), and you lightly rub it on the surface with your hand. You will feel the surface get smoother as the clay bar removes the contaminates. Once the bar runs really smoothly, then you dry off the section with a microfibre and move onto the next section. You keep an eye on the clay, and once it becomes too dirty, you fold it in half, trapping the dirt in the middle, and use the next clean surface. They are actually really easy to use. And require nothing else other than the lubricant. Here is a video on how to use the clay bar. Every video I have seen uses far more clay than I would use on a car, but its up to you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFQsqBHEwrE
You can apply polish and sealant with microfibre cloths. And remove with clean microfibre cloths. I prefer using an applicator pad for applying sealant though. I use a Dual Action Polisher for polishing personally though, but used microfibre cloths before.
I use something similar to this: https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/chemical-guys-hex-logic-polishing-hand-applicator-pad-white for applying sealant. But the Powerlock kit I posted earlier includes and applicator and buffing towel for you.
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