Car washing

spirit · 10 Feb 2006 at 13:39

What do you guys use (shampoo etc) ? How do you dry your car (what type of cloth/towel do you use)?

Firestar_3x · 10 Feb 2006 at 13:41

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17534761

Meguiar's NXT Tech Wax (532ml) (LS-011-MG)

I use a Blade to get most of the water off then leather shammy to dry the rest, then Meguiar's Foam Applicator Pads (Twin Pack) (LS-052-MG) you actually get one free with the polish i would deffo get some of this Meguiar's Quick Clay Detailing System (473ml) (LS-008-MG) takes some time but well worth the effort.

Nozzer · 10 Feb 2006 at 13:42

Rinse off with cold water and sponge. Zymol coconut & banana shampoo. Rinse off again with cold water. Rub alloys down with the manky old sponge I found in the shed. Go over glass with Autoglym 'fast glass'.

Firestar_3x · 10 Feb 2006 at 13:43

Nozzer said:
Rinse off with cold water. Coconut & banana shampoo. Rinse off again with cold water.

He said he car not his hair

Nozzer · 10 Feb 2006 at 13:46

Firestar_3x said:
He said he car not his hair

It gives my cars an alluring musk.

Mechanical Arts · 10 Feb 2006 at 13:48

A bucket of soapy water and a sponge, then take it for a drive...

Firestar_3x · 10 Feb 2006 at 13:55

Nozzer said:
It gives my cars an alluring musk.

Just make sure it doesn't clash with the smell of your magic tree

thedazman67 · 10 Feb 2006 at 17:22

Rinse car with hose to remove lose dirt and other stuff

Meguires NXT Car Wash combined with lambswool wash mitt

rinse again

Meguires Water Magnet Drying Towel, the usage of the word magnet really is appropriate as it does exactly that, the water clings to it like a magnet

This is all i would generally do, however if was waxing and a polish the car again
i use the 3 stage series from meguires which includes.

Meguiar's Step 1 Deep Crystal Paint
Meguiar's Step 2 Deep Crystal Polish
Meguiar's Step 3 Deep Crystal Carnauba Wax

all applied a panel at a time with the applicator pads removed with the microfibre cloths, it takes time doing the whole lot but it lasts a while.

thedazman

Puzzled · 10 Feb 2006 at 17:30

Just to add to the original question.

How do you lot clean your engine bays?

Mines in a real state, and I'd ideally like it to be steam cleaned but garages don't seem to be too keen to do it.

Anyone know of a good company around Thame, Oxfordshire? Or another method to get it sparkling? (It's Focus 1.6 if it makes any difference, garages are afraid of getting the electrics wet)

Siliconslave · 10 Feb 2006 at 17:34

car cleaning wise i tend to use the flash cleaner thing, constantly impressed with how well it works, then give it a nice coat of turtle wax thing if i can be bothered, loathed to bin it as it seems to work alright

Scania · 10 Feb 2006 at 17:37

MonkeyMan said:
Just to add to the original question.

How do you lot clean your engine bays?

I don't! - That said, my engines nice & clean anyway!

Theres so much electronic wizardry under the average cars bonnet these days, the last thing I'd want to do is spray water / steam any where near it.

Posts on BMW forums about large bills for new ECU's have more than convinced me of this.

Use the quality Meguiar's kit found here @ OC/UK to keep the Car's exterior beautiful and keep the bonnet firmly shut.

Puzzled · 10 Feb 2006 at 17:42

R124/LA420 said:
I don't! - That said, my engines nice & clean anyway!

Theres so much electronic wizardry under the average cars bonnet these days, the last thing I'd want to do is spray water / steam any where near it.

But there must some way of cleaning it, mines caked in crap so that be can't be good for it either.

Is it going to a brothers toothbrush job?

Some people with older cars must have done it before.

thedazman67 · 10 Feb 2006 at 17:48

One time on my older car i split oil all over the place, i used a engine and part degrease and a can of engine cleaner, didnt make it sparkle, but cleared the oil.

thedazman

Siliconslave · 10 Feb 2006 at 17:54

there was a post about it earlyer this week.... basically a link to some site describing how to cover all the electrics with tin foil, spraying de-greaser everywhere and then spraying it off. Then use a trim blacker on the black bits....

vygec · 10 Feb 2006 at 18:02

its always amazed me in this place, how seriously everyone takes their 'washing'. There was a time where i would take the time, wash everything! make it spick n span. Just cant be arsed any more.
Solution.
Now,take to the local eastern european hangout...hand over a fiver, and they do the exact same job in around 10 minutes..can fault it

Scania · 10 Feb 2006 at 18:14

vygec said:
Now,take to the local eastern european hangout...hand over a fiver, and they do the exact same job in around 10 minutes..can fault it

Works for me too.

I use a place in stoke with the motto "The Best Hand Job in Town" :eek:

LoadsaMoney · 10 Feb 2006 at 18:22

Turtle Wax Car Shampoo in a bucket of water with a sponge, then i rinse it off with the hose jet, then shammie leather it to get rid of the swirls etc... as they show up terrible on my car as its Magnum Grey in colour, then if im waxing/polishing i use Mer, and it comes up like new, which it should as its only 8 months old.

quackers · 10 Feb 2006 at 18:26

What do you guys use to clean your alloy wheels? That wonder wheels stuff?

Scania · 10 Feb 2006 at 18:29

quackers said:
What do you guys use to clean your alloy wheels? That wonder wheels stuff?

Yup! or, Domestos! (Seriously!

)

quackers · 10 Feb 2006 at 18:34

bleach works on alloy wheels?