*** The Car Cleaning Thread ***

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That's impressive. I've been meaning to find a decent sealant to try once I finally get a chance to give my car a decent correction (I don't really think a sealant would look great on black unless the paint is perfect) - this looks like just the job.
 
Just spent a few hours washing the Micra! Used Autoglym Body Shampoo & Condition, AG High Resin Polish, AG EGP and finished with AG Hi-Def Wax. Used AG Vinyl & Rubber spray for all of the plastics and rubber trimmings which brought them back to a nice black and AG Fast Glass & AG Glass Polish on windows and lights. Haven't done any pictures as it's getting overcast here, hopefully tomorrow I will though!
 
Today, I discovered how awesome claybars and quick detailers are. The amount of crud I took off the Celica was astonishing. Used a Megs bar which lasted about 40% of the car (they eventually all fell on the floor tbh). I also used the Megs quick detailer and it was superb to get rid of my dried water stains. Left a very clean finish. I think I will gradually clay the whole car, and possibly the wheels. Should prob buy 3 or 4 bars actually. I doubt the car has ever been clayed before, so that's 6 years of dirt it need removing. Only took a couple of pics today (full car clean from another day is in the post your motors thread):





Bit of orange peel?

On a side note:

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I use Autoglym alloy cleaner on my wheels, and whilst it's perfectly fine for the rest of my wheels, it's damaging the centre cap. It seems to be getting under the sticker (?) and I can't rinse it off.

This also used to happen on my mum's Clio's Fox Racing alloys' centre caps as well when using Megs Hot Wheels. Those stickers would then peel off.

Has this happenned to anyone else and is there a way to avoid it? My centre caps don't look like they could be made good anymore. Guys on CCUK reckon it's road salf getting underneath the decal and I presume the cleaner is reacting with it.
 
Use something a bit milder on the wheels - Bilberry seems popular amongst the DW crowd. The other option of course is to remove the centre caps whilst cleaning them (once you've replaced them, presumably).

As for the clay bar - one bar should last ages, just don't drop it.
 
MikeHiow said:
I could travel to you and probably do it for £100 less.
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By the time you pay for your travel, time spent travelling and your materials, what are you earning per hour?

This is not a dig by the way, but £150 inclusive of travel for a full interior/exterior and engine clean + wax just seems cheap considering your location. I know what I'd expect at £250, so it's not just a hoover and a wipe...I'd want leather cleaned and conditioned, carpets and mats wet vacced, shuts and seams spotless before anything happens to the engine bay (degrease and dressed) or paintwork (wash, clay, wax and wheels spotless and sealed).

Again, not directed at you but there are a lot of guys on DW who do this as a weekend/evening thing and seem to deliver a decent job at a low price, then disappear. If I weren't doing my own cars, I'd personally avoid anyone without insurance and a PTG.
 
DiamondMark said:
I think id give anyone a go as long as there was no correction involved, whats the worst that can happen?
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Not much, maybe apply too much of something so you have to live with a shiney dashboard for a week or they might hoover laterally or something. If they are crap at claying, well, then you could have (correctable) issues.

I like doing it, if I didn't, £150 for everything bar correction sounds tempting and I'd let someone give it a shot.
 
DiamondMark said:
It never ends well when i try myself, i think i use too much of stuff, then i get all irritated.

I got new mats by the way :)
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Wahey, nice one. Lovely, are they not? Worth every penny :D

On that note, if somebody gets the water temp wrong washing your wool mats, it'll get bloody.

As far as product application, until I actually listened, I always put too much sealant/wax on, twice the product for twice the results and all that. Then I saw how much Rich actually used per panel, when they say "use sparingly" they really, really mean it. So much easier and better results.
 
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