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

[MrRockliffe]

Thanks, do you have a particular pad you recommend for:

Compound
Polish
Wax

I've only really looked at the meguiars ones from when I was looking at their DA.

I've been through a few different pads, and I get on really well with the HDO pads from Lake Country.


They're a bit more resistant to heat build up, which is great in the warmer months, and they don't clog up with compound as quickly in my experience.


If you're going for a single stage cut and finish (which is what I'd recommend), you'll want the HDO Blue.


For finishing and waxing, go for the HDO Black. It's a lovely soft pad and the foam is nice and dense. It warms up lovely once primed.



I also love the Scholl Concept Spyder pads. Blue for 1 step and heavy cut compounds, and orange for finishing. I do find the LC pads a little more robust though.




For 1 step compounds, go for Scholl S20 Black or Sonax Perfect Finish 4/6


I've only used the S20 Black but the Sonax is supposed to be better still. What I like about the Scholl is that it's quite wet, so seems to deal well with heat and doesn't go chalky as quick, allowing you to work the polish a little longer for deeper scratches.





You'll get a really good finish with the 1 step compounds and a 900w+ random orbital polisher. Make sure to go 5/5.5 inch pads for best compatibility with cars. Any larger and you'll struggle with edges and creases on bodywork. Smaller pads are handy for bumpers and pillars.

 

[dannyjo22]

I've been through a few different pads, and I get on really well with the HDO pads from Lake Country.


snip

Thanks that's an excellent write up and one I probably should have asked for before I bought the compound, polish and wax!

I got the Meguiars set with the intention of buying their pads and machine. So I will use that up first, so compound, polish and wax.

 

[kona786]

Thought I'd give my leathers some love today as its been a year and the driver seat is a little shiny. Damp MFs and a good going over with AG Leather cleaner. Then topped of with Gyeon Leather Coat. Left over night to cure.

An old pic but same story.

 

[MrRockliffe]

Worked super hard on the BMW yesterday to get it looking as good as possible. A lot of the damage was the cones transferring onto the car, but there were some hefty scratches and the black plastics were obliterated.



Thankfully plastic is quite soft so a high cut polish, microfibre pad and rotary is enough to chew through the plastic quite quickly.


Bonnet is dented though and will need sorting.



Before





After

 

[xs2man]

Well, the Caravelle turned 4 today. Which means the ceramic coating is almost 4 years old too. But thought she deserved a little bath.

So Snowfoamed with touchless, washed with Autowash, then a little spray of Quick detailer (a combination of Carpro Ech2o and Reload 2.0). Comes up not bad even after all this time, and 41k miles.

 

[oggiet]

Not sure if right thread, can somebody please recommend me foam sprayer and shampoo. Will be using garden hose.

 

[Armageus]

Not sure if right thread, can somebody please recommend me foam sprayer and shampoo. Will be using garden hose.

Generally you will need a Pressure washer in order to use a Snow Foam gun.

 

[Kenai]

Not sure if right thread, can somebody please recommend me foam sprayer and shampoo. Will be using garden hose.

The IK brand foam sprayers are the ones I see most often suggested and used in videos etc. online.

Something like this https://www.iksprayers.com/en/ik-foam-pro-2-81676.html

 

[Zatoichi.uK]

Been watching videos of vacuum extractions. I used to be cool...

 

[MrRockliffe]

The IK brand foam sprayers are the ones I see most often suggested and used in videos etc. online.

Something like this https://www.iksprayers.com/en/ik-foam-pro-2-81676.html

This will get you about 1 or 2 doors before having to pump it back up


The e foamer is the one you’d need.

 

[CaptainRAVE]

Biggest clean I’ve given the car in an age. Did everything short of claying it. Had to clean and protect the soft top which took time, lots of tar spots that needed work plus fallout that needed removing - always fun seeing it turn purple. Ended up polishing and sealing with resin polish and UHD wax. It’s glistening.

 

[CaptainRAVE]

Enjoying the beading in the rain (including the top again)

 

[dannyjo22]

Any brush recommendations for outside plastics, grille etc and maybe a couple for the interior for dusting and applying leather cleaner.

 

[MrRockliffe]

Any brush recommendations for outside plastics, grille etc and maybe a couple for the interior for dusting and applying leather cleaner.

So you’re going to want different brushes.


Harder brushes for external plastics/grills
Softer (makeup style brushes) for interior plastics


For leather I’d be using a scrub pad.



Leather: https://www.cleanandshiny.co.uk/pro...135-x-90mm?_pos=1&_psq=Scrub+pad&_ss=e&_v=1.0

(They’re also on Amazon if you have prime)



Brush set: https://www.halfords.com/motoring/c...ts/halfords-detailing-brushes-4pk-294110.html


Did the job for me.

 

[dannyjo22]

So you’re going to want different brushes.

Thanks for your help, 3 step corrected my mrs car today. Compounding took me a long while but it made a huge difference to her car. Got almost all the small swirls and scratches out of the black roof and sides and even she commented on how her metallic grey now “sparkles again”.

I will keep doing that until I use all the product up and then look at a two step system.

Thanks again!

 

[Manbatius]

Guys, the black plastic on the back of the Yaris Cross we have is irritating me, it just looks a bit meh after it is cleaned, it is also flat on top so a dust magnet.

I have a lot of autoglym products but not sure what best to use post wash. Don't mind buying some stuff either.

Spoiler: Pic

I suspect there is not a solution to all the scratches on it on the other side where a cat uses the back of the car to jump down.....

Also interior has some of that dreadful piano black plastic, I have been using a microfibre cloth. However one of the little terrors has got dirty finger prints and smudge marks on it, needs something else to take it off. P

 

[ShiWarrior]

Black plastic

You want to clean it, polish it, panel prep then apply black trim restorer and then ceramic coat it

 

[Manbatius]

Black plastic

You want to clean it, polish it, panel prep then apply black trim restorer and then ceramic coat it

Thanks dude. I wasn't sure if that exterior plastic stuff that's glass look alike, but actually plastic was any different from regular trim, hence the trepidation.

Nice. I have some ceramic stuff that forensic detailing mentioned. Which I never got round to using.

 

[MrRockliffe]

Guys, the black plastic on the back of the Yaris Cross we have is irritating me, it just looks a bit meh after it is cleaned, it is also flat on top so a dust magnet.

I have a lot of autoglym products but not sure what best to use post wash. Don't mind buying some stuff either.

Spoiler: Pic

I suspect there is not a solution to all the scratches on it on the other side where a cat uses the back of the car to jump down.....

Also interior has some of that dreadful piano black plastic, I have been using a microfibre cloth. However one of the little terrors has got dirty finger prints and smudge marks on it, needs something else to take it off. P

That looks pretty glossy, rather than “trim” plastic.


If you’re finding that it’s scratched, it’ll need polishing off.

 

[Manbatius]

That looks pretty glossy, rather than “trim” plastic.


If you’re finding that it’s scratched, it’ll need polishing off.

Yeah, the left side is, as is the window. Pretty sure its the cat as I have only contact washed the car twice!
Good to know it can be polished off though.