*** The Car Cleaning Thread ***

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I'd never keep any cleaning products in my car, but I do have slight OCD

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and that's not the cupboard with my proper stuff in it, like the rotary, pads and all the menzerna machine polishes :D

Don't use half the stuff in there, like the megs waxes for example, should really sell them on/bin them.

Here's todays mission:

1. Rinse with hose
2. Cover all electrical parts (e.g. alternator)
3. Soak with meguiars super degreaser at 4:1
4. Wash with meguiars hyperwash and microfibre mitt
5. Rinse with hose
6. Polish and seal the painted surfaces
7. Apply Aerospace 303 protectant to all plastics
8. Polish all metals with meguiars nxt metal polysh
9. Apply plasters to numerous finger and knuckle injuries

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token reflection shot

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thanks, it's white but the same principles apply with white and silver - sealant instead of wax for the win

see the centre of the middle shelf for the 4 products of great success
 
the poorboys glaze doesn't really contribute much to the reflections, it adds a bit of depth though and a nice base for the sealant. The werkstat acrylic is what gives crazy reflections, also gives great flake pop on metallic paint. I keep getting tempted to top with wax for some unknown reason, as most people get tempted to do with sealants, but I'm resisting as the sharp sealant finish suits lighter cars better
 
lol! that's a fair kit. I'm not far off that now with my machine polisher cupboard taken in to account, it's becoming a problem. At least you can make your money back on it easily detailing other peoples cars, I must be about broken even currently or slightly in profit...but then I just end up buying something else :(
 
Hey, Got some degreaser for the engine bay today as its rather dirty. Can anyone give me an idea of what to cover up in the engine i dont have a clue put a pic bellow is the best i could find of the engine bay on google.

Also would it still turn out all right if I just user a light mist of water from say a spray gun to clean as I dont want to hose it just incase. Just reading about a guy that power washed it and ruined the idle on his caddy :(

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/4795/caddytrimkg1.jpg
 
Great thread, been a really helpful resource for me. I've recently got a car I actually care about, so it's time to spend some dosh! It's a red mx5 mk1. I've priced up some stuff from a shop, comes to 90 quid :O Have I missed anything?

Super Spray - Hose end sprayer (seems to be kinda useful, if a bit cheap, but why not?)

Meguiars Lambswool Wash Mitt

Meguiars Hyper wash

Meguiars Quik Clay kit

Collinite 915 Marque D'Elegance

Sonus Perfect Shine Drying Towel

I currently have *nothing*, so is there anything else I need to get going?
 
mrk said:
If someone spills anything on the seats then I'd rather not just wipe it and let the spillage dry, hence the cream staying in the car as I would rather keep my leather protected than wait until getting home to sort it.
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i bet you're fun at parties
 
Begbie said:
O yeah and clean polish and wax it :p
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:mad:

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Okay, popped into halfrauds (i know, i know) today quickly. Came out with this lot. From left to right.

Auto Glym Bodywork Shampoo Conditioner
Auto Glym Super Resin Polish
Auto Glym Extra Gloss Protection
Halfrauds Clear Lacquer
T-Cut (Original) Blue
Some Oil
Halfrauds 2x heavy duty microfiber clothes
Halfrauds gray primer
Halfrauds Polishing Mitt

Top.
Halfrauds Engine Cleaner
Random cockpit shine stuff.
TurtleWax black in a flash

so ignoring the lacquer and stuff (this is all going towards repairing some rusty spots.

I've basically got

Auto Glym Bodywork Shampoo Conditioner
Auto Glym Super Resin Polish
Auto Glym Extra Gloss Protection
T-Cut (Orginial) Blue
Halfrauds 2x heavy duty microfiber clothes
Halfrauds Polishing Mitt
TurtleWax black in a flash

So, firstly - Does this sound about right for someone who is looking for a semi decent finish.

If so, what do I do now! never cleaned a car propperly. And regarding t-cut. I assume I just rinse the car and do that first yeah?
 
allllec said:
:mad:

SP_A0148.jpg


Okay, popped into halfrauds (i know, i know) today quickly. Came out with this lot. From left to right.

Auto Glym Bodywork Shampoo Conditioner
Auto Glym Super Resin Polish
Auto Glym Extra Gloss Protection
Halfrauds Clear Lacquer
T-Cut (Original) Blue
Some Oil
Halfrauds 2x heavy duty microfiber clothes
Halfrauds gray primer
Halfrauds Polishing Mitt

Top.
Halfrauds Engine Cleaner
Random cockpit shine stuff.
TurtleWax black in a flash

so ignoring the lacquer and stuff (this is all going towards repairing some rusty spots.

I've basically got

Auto Glym Bodywork Shampoo Conditioner
Auto Glym Super Resin Polish
Auto Glym Extra Gloss Protection
T-Cut (Orginial) Blue
Halfrauds 2x heavy duty microfiber clothes
Halfrauds Polishing Mitt
TurtleWax black in a flash

So, firstly - Does this sound about right for someone who is looking for a semi decent finish.

If so, what do I do now! never cleaned a car propperly. And regarding t-cut. I assume I just rinse the car and do that first yeah?
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:D


Nice wee begginer kit, start off small.

The best tip is before you begin to make sure it is fully dry. Should have got a some polish pads, but you can pick them up cheap enough anyway, they make things a lot easier, can't help myself pick up a set everytime I go near a halfords. :)

Would get some better black plastic cleaner, as the mk2 golf has a lot of it does it not?

Good luck and get some pics up! :)


O I would start of without using T-Cut first and go straight to the AGP see what results you get.
 
Polish pads.

Okay, well I got pop into halfrauds again tomorrow, Nomisf and I managed to completely sheer one of my exhaust clamps today while fitting new exhaust!

And I have some Black in a Flash for the black trim buddy ;)

Oh, changing subject slightly. Halfords Engine Cleaner, works bloody well, no intervention from me, litterally wacked it over the block and done a pretty good job (managed to thin about 10-15mm of oil down to a few mm in one sitting)

Will keep soaking the engine every day until I run out! should hopefully be pretty clean by the time I'm done!
 
allllec said:
Polish pads.

Okay, well I got pop into halfrauds again tomorrow, Nomisf and I managed to completely sheer one of my exhaust clamps today while fitting new exhaust!

And I have some Black in a Flash for the black trim buddy ;)

Oh, changing subject slightly. Halfords Engine Cleaner, works bloody well, no intervention from me, litterally wacked it over the block and done a pretty good job (managed to thin about 10-15mm of oil down to a few mm in one sitting)

Will keep soaking the engine every day until I run out! should hopefully be pretty clean by the time I'm done!
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Hmm I don't like it. But if it works then fair enough.

I prefer the gunky AG stuff, works wonders lasts for ages.

Yeah the megs ones are about £3?, make the job a lot easier.
 
Ok I've now settled on a good tyre dressing, Autoglym Instant Tyre Dressing. I waited to post this because I wanted to see how long each dressing lasts.

It comes out like Milk and looks like milk too but if you rub it into the tyre wall it will keep the tyre looking freshly washed until the next time you wash your car pretty much! in fact clean looking tyres and alloys make the car look cleaner even if the car itself has not been washed in 2 weeks!

It's £6.49 a spraybottle but well worth it, you don't need to use it every other day like the cheaper ones thus using more and you end up spending a similar amount on several spray cans of cheaper product.

Result right after applying:

tyre_dressing_1.jpg


tyre_dressing_2.jpg

(once you let it dry into the tyre the result is a wet look gloss finish, it's rained all day today so can't show this until tomorrow if it stops :p)

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Saytan said:
i bet you're fun at parties
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Your post is fail post of the year. What relation does that have with looking after your leather car seats? I look after my car and would rather not have my seats in the same condition as 80% of the general public who don't give a rat's ass about what condition their car is in.
 
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Begbie said:
Hmm I don't like it. But if it works then fair enough.

I prefer the gunky AG stuff, works wonders lasts for ages.

Yeah the megs ones are about £3?, make the job a lot easier.
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I've just read your post again. I see what you said... BETTER stuff to black trim. :p Just my poor reading. Well I've spent the money so I will use the stuff I got, but next time I buy something ill get the mags one.

So to wash the car..

Rinse the car first
2 buckets, one with shampoo one with water
1 panel at a time with a wash mit, rinsing in the clean water after each one
rinse down the car again
dry with microfibre towel
Put SRP onto polishing mit and lightly polish each panel
allow to dry
Use EGP with a cotton cloth onto all the panels(microfibre)
allow to dry
finish off lightly buffing with a clean cotton cloth (microfibre?)

back to black the trim

stand back and enjoy.

So thats what the Auto Glym stuff says to do on the bottles, does that sound about right?

So I need a wash mit still, and cotton cloth? or would a microfibre suffice?

Cheers

Alec

(I'm new to all this so go easy on me!)
 
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mrk said:
Ok I've now settled on a good tyre dressing, Autoglym Instant Tyre Dressing. I waited to post this because I wanted to see how long each dressing lasts.

It comes out like Milk and looks like milk too but if you rub it into the tyre wall it will keep the tyre looking freshly washed until the next time you wash your car pretty much! in fact clean looking tyres and alloys make the car look cleaner even if the car itself has not been washed in 2 weeks!

It's £6.49 a spraybottle but well worth it, you don't need to use it every other day like the cheaper ones thus using more and you end up spending a similar amount on several spray cans of cheaper product.

Result right after applying:


emot-clint.gif




Your post is fail post of the year. What relation does that have with looking after your leather car seats? I look after my car and would rather not have my seats in the same condition as 80% of the general public who don't give a rat's ass about what condition their car is in.
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Not overly impressed with that MRK, the megs endurance stuff is way better and is about the same price.

I dont blame you keeping stuff in the car, as you say, you can clean the mess up quickly, I keep glass cleaner and polish in the car aswell, with the miles i do in the summer, the flies just weld theirselves to the screen if i dont clean them off after my journey.

Oh and those wheels are horrid:p
 
allllec said:
I've just read your post again. I see what you said... BETTER stuff to black trim. :p Just my poor reading. Well I've spent the money so I will use the stuff I got, but next time I buy something ill get the mags one.

So to wash the car..

Rinse the car first
2 buckets, one with shampoo one with water
1 panel at a time with a wash mit, rinsing in the clean water after each one
rinse down the car again
dry with microfibre towel
Put SRP onto polishing mit and lightly polish each panel
allow to dry
Use EGP with a cotton cloth onto all the panels(microfibre)
allow to dry
finish off lightly buffing with a clean cotton cloth (microfibre?)

back to black the trim

stand back and enjoy.

So thats what the Auto Glym stuff says to do on the bottles, does that sound about right?

So I need a wash mit still, and cotton cloth? or would a microfibre suffice?

Cheers

Alec

(I'm new to all this so go easy on me!)
Click to expand...

You might want to buff the polish off first! :p

Yeah sounds right, I normally start with the roof and work the way down as generally the further you get down the dirtier the car is.

wohoo said:
Not overly impressed with that MRK, the megs endurance stuff is way better and is about the same price.

I dont blame you keeping stuff in the car, as you say, you can clean the mess up quickly, I keep glass cleaner and polish in the car aswell, with the miles i do in the summer, the flies just weld theirselves to the screen if i dont clean them off after my journey.

Oh and those wheels are horrid:p
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Got to agree here i'm afriad MRK the megs stuff is much better and smells awesome! :D


Just noticed the pics, that does look very nice though! :D
 
the AG is good, nice satin finish but doesn't last hardly any time

megs doesn't have as nice a finish but lasts a bit longer, better than megs is blackfire long lasting tyre gel, it's awesome
 
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