* The Car Cleaning Thread *

Vita · 12 Jul 2012 at 19:02

I used a mitt for the first time today. It is a big difference then to using a sponge.

"andy" · 12 Jul 2012 at 19:08

any got any really good before and after shots of machine polishing ?

trying to understand just how much correcting it can actually do

Fr0dders · 12 Jul 2012 at 19:11

Just look in the gallery on detailing world

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=129

This is a really good example

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=269153

"andy" · 12 Jul 2012 at 19:15

that golf is exactly what i wanted to see. what a state !

ganesh · 12 Jul 2012 at 23:25

Raymond Lin said:
Prima Amigo.

They both are equally as good and both have their fans. BH has more "filler" I believe than Amigo.

I asked the same question in DW last week and opted for Amigo from recommendations there. No idea how long it lasts but I would put it on after polishing, since the polishing will remove it anyway.

Although this is an interesting glaze

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=251477

Thanks for the reply, I've gone for the poorboys, it's cheaper and if it does contain more fillers then that's probably a good thing. My paintwork is 19 years old so has a lot of marks/scratches to fill.

Gaygle · 12 Jul 2012 at 23:27

Done a bit of shopping in my boredom tonight. Got some Gtechniq's P1, a couple of trifoam polishing pads.

Also got some Concours Perficio pre wax cleaner and their "LiquidShield" quick sealant as a bit of a wildcard to test it out!

Now...just to wait for this bloody rain to go away :mad:

Raymond Lin · 13 Jul 2012 at 00:08

ganesh said:
Thanks for the reply, I've gone for the poorboys, it's cheaper and if it does contain more fillers then that's probably a good thing. My paintwork is 19 years old so has a lot of marks/scratches to fill.

Good choice

rossk26 · 13 Jul 2012 at 09:33

Spent a couple of hours cleaning the car. Been overdue, but with the rain we have had in the NE recently is hasn't been possible!

Before:

During:

After:

Method:
- Rinse
- Foam
- Wheels with deironiser
- Rinse
- AG Shampoo and Conditioner with Megs Lambswool mit
- Rinse
- Dry

In desperate need of some wax, but I'm not going to wax it until the paint is corrected. So saving up for the bits and bobs I need for that. The wheels will be getting refurbed in the coming weeks. And they will get protected straight away!

Maccy · 13 Jul 2012 at 11:00

Rinse then foam? Surely if you rinse and then foam, the foam will just run straight off?

rossk26 · 13 Jul 2012 at 11:17

Maccy said:
Rinse then foam? Surely if you rinse and then foam, the foam will just run straight off?

Nope. See 'during' photo!

It's a great debate this is extensively discussed on the DW forum. It's personal choice to foam before rinsing, or rinse before foaming. There's no evidence either is better.

mrk · 13 Jul 2012 at 11:18

I rinse with pressure washer, foam then rinse again. First rinse gets off loose dirt. Makes logical sense.

rossk26 · 13 Jul 2012 at 11:26

Oh yeh, I use a pressure washer all the time (pre-rinse and post-rinse).

You don't get that kind of foam without a pressure washer!

rhysduck · 13 Jul 2012 at 11:29

mrk said:
I rinse with pressure washer, foam then rinse again. First rinse gets off loose dirt. Makes logical sense.

Muchos Agreeos

Westyfield2 · 13 Jul 2012 at 11:34

mrk said:
I rinse with pressure washer, foam then rinse again. First rinse gets off loose dirt. Makes logical sense.

Same.

Dave · 13 Jul 2012 at 11:36

Quick (and probably naive) question - I've always rinsed with a hose (at home!) and then washed with the old 2-bucket method but now my car needs a wash and I don't have any outside tap for a hose as I now live in college accommodation. If you just throw a bucket of water (or 4 in my case, as it's a Mondeo) as a rinse then I presume that it's not going to be nearly as good as removing surface particles / insects on the front of the car. Am I going to be better off just popping into a car wash in the petrol station?

LiE · 13 Jul 2012 at 11:41

Find a petrol station with a pressure washer.

Maccy · 15 Jul 2012 at 18:59

Well I'll be damned, this afternoon I snow foamed, rinsed, hand washed, rinsed and then snow foamed again, as I had some left over. The 2nd coating of snow foam seemed to cling better!

Fr0dders · 15 Jul 2012 at 21:26

LiE said:
Find a petrol station with a pressure washer.

Skip the brush at the jet wash though.

These modern soft touch car washes do far less damage than these brushes that get dropped on the floor in the dirt and scrubbed in the wheel arches etc...

Overlag · 15 Jul 2012 at 23:25

mrk said:
I rinse with pressure washer, foam then rinse again. First rinse gets off loose dirt. Makes logical sense.

not really, the foam will stick better to a dry car, and it will pull off that loose dirt anyway.

rhysduck · 15 Jul 2012 at 23:29

Finally a spell of dry weather to wash the car... only a quick one today as time was limited.

did the inside first. hadnt done it for a good few weeks so it was a tad dusty to say the least! still couldnt find the source of the dodgy smell though!
Hovered, and hoovered some more, then an application of interior detailer (megs). all looking good again

Ze Dash by rhys_rdpstudios, on Flickr

more dash by rhys_rdpstudios, on Flickr
and then on with the outside, a good rinse with the pressure washer and some snow;

Tools by rhys_rdpstudios, on Flickr

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Good consistency to the snow foam like always, sticks well and slithers down at a good pace. bonus that it smells divine too!

whilst the SF was doing its thing I worked the rear side and windscreen window seals with a brush to get rid of all the crud. did a great job! (did it twice infact with a 2nd coating of SF) the colour of the foam whilst doing it was not pretty! :eek:

Before:

After:

i was fed up of my wash mitt becoming black, no more!
The end result;

IMAG0601 by rhys_rdpstudios, on Flickr

Shiny Blueness by rhys_rdpstudios, on Flickr

*** The Car Cleaning Thread ***

* The Car Cleaning Thread *