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

[MrRockliffe]

I have ran out of Autoglym interior shampoo and has been my go to interior cleaner because it is very mild and I like the smell. It used to be £5 a bottle but just seen now it is £9 for the same.

Anyone recommend anything bulk that is good and mild?

I don't want anything abrasive. I learnt my lesson with G101 on interior plastics.

I’d start with Koch Chemie Pol Star as you can dilute it to whichever level you wish.

 

[ShiWarrior]

i got rid of my worx cordless pressure washer , i now have a Geenworks cordless
as i do rinseless wash i don't use the greenworks at the mo, I'm saving it till i get my own place, so im currently thinking of getting something like an IK sprayer as its be quicker and just as effective really

 

[xs2man]

I have ran out of Autoglym interior shampoo and has been my go to interior cleaner because it is very mild and I like the smell. It used to be £5 a bottle but just seen now it is £9 for the same.

Anyone recommend anything bulk that is good and mild?

I don't want anything abrasive. I learnt my lesson with G101 on interior plastics.

I made up some Surfex HD at 2%. Did a good job of cleaning everything really. The wife has been using it around the house with no problems. Certainly lifted plenty mank off the sofas and stuff. So versatile, I use it in an IK foamer at 10% for engine bay plastics and stuff too. Works great IME.

 

[GravyMonster]

Might be a biased opinion but I’ve always found Bilt Hamber auto foam to be really good. I did my car yesterday, was caked in salt and dirt and not much was left afterwards. The new touchless is meant to be good as well, can’t go wrong either way imo.

Another vote here for BH AutoFoam. It's leagues ahead of AG stuff.

 

[MrRockliffe]

I made up some Surfex HD at 2%. Did a good job of cleaning everything really. The wife has been using it around the house with no problems. Certainly lifted plenty mank off the sofas and stuff. So versatile, I use it in an IK foamer at 10% for engine bay plastics and stuff too. Works great IME.

Just got to be careful with Surfex HD. It's by nature a degreaser, and can pull the oils out of plastics with repeated use, dehydrating them and making black plastics more grey.

It's amazing though, especially for cleaning grease in the kitchen

 

[lordrobs]

Why not get an IK Sprayer? The larger ones

That looks like a great option for getting the foam on. Doesn't it need to be jetted off under pressure though to take the crud with it? Or will a regular hose suffice?

 

[xs2man]

Just got to be careful with Surfex HD. It's by nature a degreaser, and can pull the oils out of plastics with repeated use, dehydrating them and making black plastics more grey.

It's amazing though, especially for cleaning grease in the kitchen

For sure. Which is why I diluted it down very weak, and use it sparingly. But it does work well.

I also used Autoglym Interior Shampoo which is probably a better solution for maintenance cleaning, rather than the occasional one off to gett a deep clean done.

That said, I don't actually use it on plastics inside the car

 

[adam cool dude]

I am thinking about something that is premixed like Autoglym Interior Shampoo but just cheaper . I use it mainly for removing kids muddy marks and other marks from getting in and out. I bought 3 of them last year when on offer at Halfords but most places are near enough £10 for a bottle. I just want something premixed that is very mild as a quick spritz and wipe for the interior.

With dilute stuff I always end up picking up the wrong bottle that is too harsh and end up ruining my plastic or removing font from switchgear so try and just stay away from it now (Chemicals that needs diluting down) and use stuff like that for wheel arches and engine bay etc.

 

[Ranger]

I have ran out of Autoglym interior shampoo and has been my go to interior cleaner because it is very mild and I like the smell. It used to be £5 a bottle but just seen now it is £9 for the same.

Anyone recommend anything bulk that is good and mild?

I don't want anything abrasive. I learnt my lesson with G101 on interior plastics.

I picked up 5 litres of Autoglym Interior cleaner from a company called Status Car Care for £23 (and 5 litres of Autogylm Window Cleaner for £25) - free delivery too.

 

[Zaphan58]

What do people think of Autoglym all purpose cleaner? I'm looking for something for around the bottom of the doors, filler cap, boot liner, treads etc.

 

[ShiWarrior]

if the milder solution doesn't work, then you move up to APC

you don't need an APC for "specific" areas

 

[V_R]

Go for the better touch less

There is very little in it, and tbh I doubt 99% of people would notice a difference. Get which ever is available.

 

[Janesy B]

The new touchless is double concentrate so goes a lot further now.

 

[dannyjo22]

The instructions to work out how much touchless to use in a foam cannon looks like a lot of faff and maths!

For application with pressure equipment it is essential to determine the amount of water being delivered to the equipment reservoir. Use the following method to calculate

Step 1 Fill the detergent bottle or reservoir (on machine or lance) up to capacity with plain water. Turn detergent feed to full. Take a large bucket or container and discharge the lance into this, watching the detergent bottle until empty. Once empty, stop.

Step 2 The following calculations will achieve 2% dilution; Measure the total amount collected and multiply this number by 0.02 (Total can be measured in either volume with a measuring jug or by weight) this is the amount of TOUCH-LESS to use.

Step 3 Add the calculated amount from STEP TWO to the pressure-washer reservoir and top up to full with cold water and shake in for a few moments.

Did you go through this or just wing it with 50ml or so and see how it worked out?

 

[GravyMonster]

Yep it absolutely is.

I just fill the bottle up then adjust the tap on the foam cannon. If the car is filthy/salty, open the tap for a thicker foam and let it dwell for longer. If it's just a summer/maintenance wash, turn the tap to almost closed and be more frugal with it.

A 5l container of BH AutoFoam lasts me about 18 months, washing 2 cars roughly every 2 weeks. There's no need to micromanage every single millilitre.

 

[MrRockliffe]

On a 500L/h pressure washer, I use about 200-250ml of touchless in a 1L snow foam cannon. This works out at 2% PIR as per their guidance.



Managed to clean the bus today

 

[Mekrel]

You only need to calculate the PIR once, unless you change your setup (either pressure washer or foam cannon).

It's pretty easy to calculate, I used luggage scales to weigh an empty bucket, then weigh the bucket with the water passed through the cannon to empty 1ltr of water. The difference between the two tells me how many litres are in there.

I need to clean the car this weekend, I don't think it has ever been this filthy.

 

[LuckyBenski]

I need to clean the car this weekend, I don't think it has ever been this filthy.

I think it's the season. I've seen several registration plates this week that I thought were intentionally dirtied up to obscure them. But after the first couple I've realised it's just the entire back end being caked in black grime!

I guess we're deep into the peak of "don't want to wash my car outside" weather. Me included!

 

[adam cool dude]

Yep it absolutely is.

I just fill the bottle up then adjust the tap on the foam cannon. If the car is filthy/salty, open the tap for a thicker foam and let it dwell for longer. If it's just a summer/maintenance wash, turn the tap to almost closed and be more frugal with it.

A 5l container of BH AutoFoam lasts me about 18 months, washing 2 cars roughly every 2 weeks. There's no need to micromanage every single millilitre.

Agreed. You just end up getting a feeling for it in the end and know what is or isn't right.

Washed my car last Monday by Thursday I had to do it again because of all the fog and mist. Absolutely filthy.

The great thing with BH Touchless is just spray it on. Have a cup of tea. Jet wash it all off then rinse with the hose on the race glaze filter and it is done. 20 minutes tops. I can just about do 3 cars in an hour.

 

[CaptainRAVE]

BH is great, haven’t even got the touchless stuff yet. Left it soak for longer today and topped it up a couple of times. So much grit on the car, wasn’t too keen to do a contact wash. Takes a lot off: