Soldato
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- West Yorkshire / Market Bosworth
*** The Car Cleaning Thread ***
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Today has been wash day for me and a few buddies. Started at around 10:15am with the wheels, then two bucket wash, then clay, next polish, then glaze and finally wax. Finished at 5pm. Longest I've ever spent washing a car, that's for sure. Wow, does it look great afterwards!
I can't believe how amazing claying is. If you've never done it before, like me, run your hand over your paintwork. You'll likely feel lots of tiny little bumps, almost like grains sand on the paint work. After claying, smooth as glass. Amazing. It was so clear which bits I'd clayed and which I hadn't.
I can't believe how amazing claying is. If you've never done it before, like me, run your hand over your paintwork. You'll likely feel lots of tiny little bumps, almost like grains sand on the paint work. After claying, smooth as glass. Amazing. It was so clear which bits I'd clayed and which I hadn't.
Lovely GT!
Where'd you get it from?
Yeah, great. Thanks. But you've not actually answered my question
Where'd you get it from?
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 21 Nov 2004
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Lovely GT!
Yeah, great. Thanks. But you've not actually answered my question
Where'd you get it from?
Oops. Sorry! Ebay. I think I searched for wookie wash mitt. Sold by I6Automotoive. £13 currently.
Edit: AndyCr15, the car looks great. I hope you used a good wax, if you have you shouldn't need to clay again for ages.
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Thanks.
Thanks, I've ordered one. Looks pretty good.
Thanks. I believe it's a good wax -
How long between clays generally?
And... how do we feel about clay mitts vs clay bar?
Soldato
- Joined
- 17 Sep 2007
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- 11,099
- Location
- West Yorkshire / Market Bosworth
Thanks.
Thanks, I've ordered one. Looks pretty good.
Thanks. I believe it's a good wax -
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd392/AndyCr15/Mustang/Wash%20Day/20160227_154647_zpszy3nyaag.jpg[IMG]
How long between clays generally?
And... how do we feel about clay mitts vs clay bar?[/QUOTE]
Thats the wax I've been using. Pretty good all round wax + decent durability.
I like to use a clay mitt (certainly quicker than a clay bar) but a clay bar is better if the car is has a lot of contamination. As for frequency you'll probably find you don't have to do it for over a year if you look after it. Depends entirely where you drive/leave it parked up...eg leaving it at a train station will do you no favours. You might find you don't have to clay the whole car again just key areas...
Soldato
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- 17 Sep 2007
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- West Yorkshire / Market Bosworth
Worth trying one. They don't last forever however, I've used mine three or four times (on different cars) and it is starting show signs of wear/be less effective then a new one.
Man of Honour
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Thanks.
Thanks, I've ordered one. Looks pretty good.
Thanks. I believe it's a good wax -
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd392/AndyCr15/Mustang/Wash%20Day/20160227_154647_zpszy3nyaag.jpg[/IMG
How long between clays generally?
And... how do we feel about clay mitts vs clay bar?[/QUOTE]
That is the wax I use. I top it up with Aqua wax after each wash. New waxing every 3-5 months or so. It really is a brilliant wax and the tub has lasted me ages. I have a clay mitt that I don't use. Comes nowhere close to a clay bar - it is too easy to scratch the paint with a mitt and removes the dirt poorly. How often to clay will depend on miles driven, road conditions and washing habit - I find that some panels never need claying again and others like the front and back need claying much more often.
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Soldato
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- 19 Jul 2013
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- derby
cleaned my car for the first time in nearly 3 years myself.
bought a new jet wash with foam lance
snow foam
shampoo
glue/tar remover
iron x
car was an absolute state
gave the car 2 snow foams
washed
snow foam (just because i was being a child and enjoying it far too much)
glue/tar remover
iron x
washed
towel dried
The amount of fallout on my car was insane. it looked almost zebra like the amount of tar running down the sides wheels became bright purple. was a satisfying clean
next month I will purchase some clay/polish/wax and get it cleaned up properly.
I used to be fairly into my cleaning but moved into houses/flats where it was just not possible. glad to be back in a place where I can regularly clean it. sadly its already got tree sap all over the front left wing as it gets parked next to a tree every day.
went to a shop called shop'n'shine just down the road from me. lovely guys had a good chat with them nice to know I have a little warehouse 5 minutes from my house
bought a new jet wash with foam lance
snow foam
shampoo
glue/tar remover
iron x
car was an absolute state
gave the car 2 snow foams
washed
snow foam (just because i was being a child and enjoying it far too much)
glue/tar remover
iron x
washed
towel dried
The amount of fallout on my car was insane. it looked almost zebra like the amount of tar running down the sides wheels became bright purple. was a satisfying clean
next month I will purchase some clay/polish/wax and get it cleaned up properly.
I used to be fairly into my cleaning but moved into houses/flats where it was just not possible. glad to be back in a place where I can regularly clean it. sadly its already got tree sap all over the front left wing as it gets parked next to a tree every day.
went to a shop called shop'n'shine just down the road from me. lovely guys had a good chat with them nice to know I have a little warehouse 5 minutes from my house
I decided to give the alloys some attention on the 182 at the weekend. Although the wheels were refurbed when I bought the car (45k miles ago) I was not into detailing at the time so a wheel sealant wasn't high priority!
As a result, whilst I kept the front faces tidy (never curbed) the rear was always neglected and it seems that some brake dust has etched into the clearcoat irreversibly.
Regardless of this, I tidied them up with ironx, tardis & clay bar. To be honest, it was good just to get rid of all the old tyre weight glue!
Jacked up -
/IMG_20160227_123907.jpg)
/IMG_20160227_123919.jpg)
Dirty unprotected wheels, including old glue -
/IMG_20160227_123926.jpg)
/IMG_20160227_123942.jpg)
/IMG_20160227_123949.jpg)
/IMG_20160227_123955.jpg)
Product of choice, plus tardis & claybar!
/IMG_20160227_111346.jpg)
Iron-x doing its thing -
/IMG_20160227_151455.jpg)
/IMG_20160227_162622.jpg)
Result -
/IMG_20160227_163426.jpg)
Then they were brought inside, prepped with eraser and a coating of Dlux applied (should give 1-2 years protection). They were left for 24 hours to cure before being put back on.
/IMG_20160227_185452.jpg)
I'll update with how I get on with the coating.
As a result, whilst I kept the front faces tidy (never curbed) the rear was always neglected and it seems that some brake dust has etched into the clearcoat irreversibly.
Regardless of this, I tidied them up with ironx, tardis & clay bar. To be honest, it was good just to get rid of all the old tyre weight glue!
Jacked up -
Dirty unprotected wheels, including old glue -
Product of choice, plus tardis & claybar!
Iron-x doing its thing -
Result -
Then they were brought inside, prepped with eraser and a coating of Dlux applied (should give 1-2 years protection). They were left for 24 hours to cure before being put back on.
I'll update with how I get on with the coating.
Washed, clayed, and quickly waxed (cheap spray wax ftw?) my Mothers car as a 'surprise' before she returned from holiday.
The car was grey beforehand, with algae running down the entire boot, and both front/rear quarters parked next to the bush - Mother tends to steal my sister's car most of the time so its been stationary for months and hadn't exactly been washed for months before that either.
I think it came out okay, especially without a 'proper' wax - paint depth could be deeper but meh, don't exactly have a rotary or expensive materials!
The car was grey beforehand, with algae running down the entire boot, and both front/rear quarters parked next to the bush - Mother tends to steal my sister's car most of the time so its been stationary for months and hadn't exactly been washed for months before that either.
I think it came out okay, especially without a 'proper' wax - paint depth could be deeper but meh, don't exactly have a rotary or expensive materials!
Cheers mate, Raunds here so not too far away. I'll make a note of that as I didn't know it existed! Only knew about Dooka who have a pretty decent range!
Spec me a quick detailer for me to keep in my car, ready for those emergency bird droppings/running headfirst into a gritter etc?
Megs Quik Detailer seems to be the one I see recommended the most, but is there anything else out there?
Megs Quik Detailer seems to be the one I see recommended the most, but is there anything else out there?
Megs is pretty decent tbh.
My favourite has to be Bouncers done & dusted. Good gloss and smells awesome.
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