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

[ShiWarrior]

Car has got quite a bit of green grime building up in nooks and crannies... Should have done at least a small mid-winter wash!

What's the best way to sort it out? Before a proper wash, during, or give it a general wash then spot check any problem areas? I've got BH Auto Wash, Surfex HD, and some very cheap spray n shine type stuff I've never tried. No pressure washer so it's buckets only sadly.

I had green stuff where the windows are where it meets the door at the bottom, for that just use surfex hd onto a brush to get in there

On paintwork though? I'm not sure
Do you do a pre wash at all?

I do rinseless wash, if I need to do heavy cleaning I use surfex hd as a pre wash

 

[ShiWarrior]

Pre wash with surfex hd, neat or 1:10 in a spray bottle
Wait 2 mins
Wash car
No hose? Then add drying aid or in my case turtle wax waterless wash and wax which adds protection and dries same time

 

[ShiWarrior]

You did that or was it not self operated?

 

[ShiWarrior]

Can anyone recommend a decent cordless handheld vacuum for general interior, carpets etc. I usually use the home cleaner but I’d rather have something more portable. Not looking to pay a fortune though, if there is something decent say £60 bracket, unless it’s worth paying more?

wait for it to drop in price again

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B9447P5P/?coliid=I1OR944I0DN1F3&colid=15FRFL8T36IHR&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

 

[ShiWarrior]

i dont keep an eye on the price, but yeah its amazon, they drop now and again

 

[ShiWarrior]

Drops to about 80 in the sales. I've had one for years

BLACK+DECKER PD1820L-GB PD1820L Handheld Vacuum, 1700 W, Dark Titanium https://amzn.eu/d/bcBr7Py

ive currently got that one, still going from 2016 !

in fact i now need to place the default tool (the one with the brush) somehow

 

[ShiWarrior]

tyre applicator pad on paintwork ? lol

 

[ShiWarrior]

i use this sponge on mine, but its for rinseless wash, if I'm using shampoo i will use a Mitt

Ultra Black Sponge

UK Distribution Partner For The Rag Company Microfiber Detailing Towels and Accessories, Buy Online Today. FREE UK Delivery Available at Rag Master UK.

www.ragmasteruk.co.uk

 

[ShiWarrior]

one clean engine bay

 

[ShiWarrior]

Can anyone recommend a good brush for washing the car after foaming? Been using a microfibre hand mit and my back is breaking at times, not as young as I used to be lol..
Thanks

Diy Detail Soft Flagged Tip Wash Brush (Green)

The Flagged Tip Wheel & Body Brush is safe to use on all painted surfaces. Premium, medium-soft, nylon bristles built for washing and scrubbing. The spaced out bristles of the Wheel & Body Brush provide a flagged tip for extended coverage for the exterior surfaces being treated. Gentle, yet...

www.in2detailing.co.uk

 

[ShiWarrior]

Diy Detail Soft Flagged Tip Wash Brush (Green)

The Flagged Tip Wheel & Body Brush is safe to use on all painted surfaces. Premium, medium-soft, nylon bristles built for washing and scrubbing. The spaced out bristles of the Wheel & Body Brush provide a flagged tip for extended coverage for the exterior surfaces being treated. Gentle, yet...

www.in2detailing.co.uk

no

 

[ShiWarrior]

i still have a bottle of "Mer" , how does this stack up to todays polishes ?
i used it many years ago on one of my cars that i sold 20 years ago

 

[ShiWarrior]

@MrRockliffe what would you recommend for the "protect" stage of your process i.e. after polishing?

Also, does anyone knows of any good YouTube videos for this type of one stage clean and polish? Brand new to this type of thing

DIY DETAIL
I swear by then now

This video is well worth watching
Taught me a lot of things

 

[ShiWarrior]

Your tyres don't look brown on my phone, looks good

 

[ShiWarrior]

Yep the Countryman does especially - not sure what was used on it by the dealer, but it's got a lot of horrible "banding" for want of a better word.

Thanks - I'll certainly check out the Gtechniq, as I looked into AG's but was put off as I think theirs is an aerosol which I heard was bad for plastic.

I use maguires

Lot cheaper

G4 is supposed to be good though

 

[ShiWarrior]

Hey all, I'm after some advice. I think the answer is that I need to give the car a good clay bar treatment (not done this myself before)

Recently bought an s2000. After a wash, I noticed the surface of the paint isn't very smooth. Just feels a bit.. dusty? Hard to explain. Just a slight roughness to it.

I did notice this seems to just apply to the top surface of the car, the sides feel smooth enough. So Im assuming it's just contamination/debris settling on the top over time.

Any tips on what I should do and what product to use?

If it is a clay bar, are they a one and done thing or can they be reused?

Thanks!

after a wash

DIY Detail Fine Grade Clay Towel

DIY Details' Fine Grade Clay Towel safely removes medium to heavy, above-surface, bonded contaminants. These include: tree sap, water spots, paint overspray, bugs, road debris, and industrial fallout. Measuring 12" x 12", this microfiber flexible edge allows the synthetic clay to effortlessly...

www.in2detailing.co.uk

use over and over and over , saves you buying clay that gets thrown away

or , what i use is a clay blok from chemical guys with their clay lube
you've probably got stuff you can use as clay lube, do not use water its not slick

you can also do iron remover at the same time

 

[ShiWarrior]

yep

ahh yes magma, never used it, but yeah, id use that during the prewash/wash stage before clay

 

[ShiWarrior]

If the paint feels rough, it needs claying
After you clay it, the paintwork feels lovely and smooth, you will want to protector it afterwards

 

[ShiWarrior]

halfords only know how to wash a car, not valet it or detail it

you put foam on a dry car, rinse off, then do it once more, then wash it

 

[ShiWarrior]

Not sure if you're responding to me but it definitely wasn't done at Halfords.

No
@iMacMart said halfords told him to rinse first