*** The Car Cleaning Thread ***

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Need some advice. Want to do a post winter clean soon. How does one strip wax or what ever is left on the car to prep for New polish and wax?

I have BH Claybar/AGSRP/456 atm.

Also is there anything I can pop on after I go over the car with srp to give the car a little bit more of a wet look before wax?

My main problem I have atm also is drying :D using a microfiber towel I got off clean your car and its not very good. I see some people using demon shine just as a drying aid?

Also My car is is ford panther Black is this hard or soft?
 
Bigpig said:
Need some advice. Want to do a post winter clean soon. How does one strip wax or what ever is left on the car to prep for New polish and wax?
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So long as you are going to be reapplying a fresh coat of some kind of paint protection (so sealant and/or wax) the same day, just use washing up liquid.

Loads of advice about not using washing up liquid, but these are all in relation to how it strips wax ;)

Bigpig said:
Also is there anything I can pop on after I go over the car with srp to give the car a little bit more of a wet look before wax?
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The "wet" look mainly comes from having utterly smooth paintwork, something you aren't going to achieve by applying SRP by hand. Assuming the paintwork isn't 100% smooth and swirl free, you need to get something with a bit more "cut" on there before the SRP. I'd probably seal with Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection after polishing but before waxing too.
 
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paradigm said:
So long as you are going to be reapplying a fresh coat of some kind of paint protection (so sealant and/or wax) the same day, just use washing up liquid.

Loads of advice about not using washing up liquid, but these are all in relation to how it strips wax ;)



The "wet" look mainly comes from having utterly smooth paintwork, something you aren't going to achieve by applying SRP by hand. Assuming the paintwork isn't 100% smooth and swirl free, you need to get something with a bit more "cut" on there before the SRP. I'd probably seal with Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection after polishing but before waxing too.
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Cheers mate that what I was going to clean it with but then notice all these warning posts not to use it :D

Going to pick up some Orchard Autocare Iron Cleanse/Tar Cleanse and cotton candy snow foam next week as I live very close to them :)
 
How long do folk expect their wheels to look "clean" for, after a wash? It's probably a week to 10 days before mine start to show signs of brake dust / road film.


I bought some Poorboys wheel sealant a while back, but really, due to the design of my wheels...

RnuIe31.jpg



Is it worth bothering? Is there a better option, or should I just accept it? Just cleaning the bloody things is bad enough :p
 
I've found that with a good sealant/wax on the alloys they tend to only need a jet of water to clean them up.

Even during the cold winter when my car barely got any attention, and the alloys were caked in brake dust. A jet wash brought them up straight away.

I still applied IronX and washed them, but not much extra came off...
 
rossk26 said:
I've found that with a good sealant/wax on the alloys they tend to only need a jet of water to clean them up.
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This.

They still get filthy within a week, but at least with a decent layer of wax and/or sealant underneath, they take little maintenance to clean.

I usually just spray on a weak mix of bilberry whilst I'm setting up the pressure washer, then by the time I'm done I can blast the dirt off the wheels with minimal effort.
 
paradigm said:
Sonus SFX-3 is what I currently use as a final stage polish/glaze.
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Cool thanks, I'll check it out.

Howard said:
How long do folk expect their wheels to look "clean" for, after a wash? It's probably a week to 10 days before mine start to show signs of brake dust / road film.


I bought some Poorboys wheel sealant a while back, but really, due to the design of my wheels...

http://i.imgur.com/RnuIe31.jpg


Is it worth bothering? Is there a better option, or should I just accept it? Just cleaning the bloody things is bad enough :p
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Wrap them in black and forget about it. :p
 
Friend has given me a big machine polisher, looking forward to using it as previously used a hand machine polisher whereas this is much bigger. Buffing off SRP and 476s will prove interesting with this :D

As for wheels, mine look clean for up to a month (tyres) and the alloys themselves look deep and clean if it's not been raining, otherwise it's off grey. Not as much brake dust from EBC green pads.
 
I wouldn't bother doing anything regarding waxing with a machine. And whilst you've got it, assuming you've got a suitable pad, you might as well give the car a running over any lightly swirled or marred areas with something stronger than SRP.

Also, why only buffing off SRP and not applying it? Applying it is a) the more labour intensive, and b) the part that actually does anything to the car.
 
I actually like applying both by hand, call me old fashioned but it's just how I like to do it :p

There are no swirl marks to worry about really, the smaller machine that I used before (SoliD's) had the cutting creams with it and that worked well. Claybarred, polished then sealed with 476s and it's been deep and glossy ever since. This machine is just to buff off quickly above all else.
 
I'll do it the right way but to be fair my paint is in such condition that I won't be able to see or feel any difference with either method.

Edit*

20130420_191956.jpg

Had a couple of hours this evening to wash with CYC's Maxisuds. Read the label and it is a shampoo as well as snow foam it seems.

It's very sticky, good foam and the results before I'd even put the wash mitt on were impressive:
20130420_193154_HDR.jpg
 
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