*** The Car Cleaning Thread ***

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A quick lesson when waxing so that you don't make the same mistake I made. I'm new to the whole DIY car cleaning and spent a small fortune buying all the equipemnt to do it well.

When it came to applying the wax (Collinite 476s), I opened the box and without reading the instructions started to wax the whole car. Once I finished, I went to buff off the wax as it had solidified and wow, I could not believe how hard it was to get it off. It took me ages to do only a small area. At this stage I knew I had done something wrong. So I checked online and found the wax should be wiped off soon after applying, just before it sets in. Total noob, I know.

Had to go over the entire car again with the wax, buffing as I go. Took me over 3 hours from starting to finish. Lesson learned the hard way, always read the label kids.
 
Happy_Camper said:
A quick lesson when waxing so that you don't make the same mistake I made. I'm new to the whole DIY car cleaning and spent a small fortune buying all the equipemnt to do it well.

When it came to applying the wax (Collinite 476s), I opened the box and without reading the instructions started to wax the whole car. Once I finished, I went to buff off the wax as it had solidified and wow, I could not believe how hard it was to get it off. It took me ages to do only a small area. At this stage I knew I had done something wrong. So I checked online and found the wax should be wiped off soon after applying, just before it sets in. Total noob, I know.

Had to go over the entire car again with the wax, buffing as I go. Took me over 3 hours from starting to finish. Lesson learned the hard way, always read the label kids.
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Collonite is great, but yeah, it can be a real cow to buff off if you leave it too long. It's a great workout though. I did the car on a hot day once, and left it a bit too long - must have lost a couple of pounds in sweat.

I tend to follow a pattern. I start with one panel, (say, front wing). Apply the wax. Move onto the next panel (door), apply wax. Go back to the first panel and buff it off. Then apply wax to the third panel, then whilst that dries, go back and buff off the second panel. Then work like that around the car.
 
Autoglym SRP->Collonite 476S->Sonax BSD


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Conscript said:
Collonite is great, but yeah, it can be a real cow to buff off if you leave it too long. It's a great workout though. I did the car on a hot day once, and left it a bit too long - must have lost a couple of pounds in sweat.

I tend to follow a pattern. I start with one panel, (say, front wing). Apply the wax. Move onto the next panel (door), apply wax. Go back to the first panel and buff it off. Then apply wax to the third panel, then whilst that dries, go back and buff off the second panel. Then work like that around the car.
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Sure is. My wrist hasn't hurt like that since I was 14! :D
 
lmfy2k said:
great combo mate and nice work :)
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Thanks mate, though my eyes are immediately drawing to the dry, chalky Autoglym SRP on the fog covers, wish I had spotted it prior to taking the shots.

I managed to clean it out with a thin cloth and fingernails. In hindsight I could have also popped the fog covers off :rolleyes:
 
I have a 2010 Focus Titanium in Panther black - what a pain to keep it scratch and swirl free - Finally got to giving it a good clean.

Shampoo and rinse.
Clayed with Clay Majic.
Layer of Car lack 68 then buffed up
Layer of Poorboys Black hole and buffed up
Layer of Collinite 915 and buffed up
Windows cleaned with Auto Glym window shine
Tyres and plastic done with VRP Dressing.

Arms completely knackers and it has taken me three day by hand so far.

Still got to vac it out and clean inside - then clean all windows inside.

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Black is really nice when cleaned but soon get's dirty living out here in sticks - What with cow pats and mud from fields it's a never ending cleaning session


Dave
 
Wow, good job!

I love black when freshly cleaned, but it usually starts to show dust after 30mins of cleaning :D

Not tried any Poorboys products yet, presumably the blackhole stuff is a coloured polish for black cars? Does it not leave white chalky residue like Autoglym SRP?
 
Hutch

I think you really need a machine to put Black hole on with - no matter how hard I rubbed it never got rid of swirls. - I just wished I had confidence to use a machine it would certainly make it easier to polish a car.
Never noticed any residue but kept changing to a new micro fibre after two doors or so.

You are quite right - before I could get it back in garage it had a layer of dust on it - comes from surrounding fields due to surface being dry and bit of wind,

An hours soak in bath has helped arms and back - couldn't do this for a living.

Dave
 
Blackhole is very good and its ok to use by hand or machine! White Dimonde is just the same but for lighter car's too!
 
The paintwork on my car is, sadly, absolutely horrific. It is scratched, swirly, dull, and awful.

I parked up in my local supermarket car-park and paid one of the dirty water scrubbing people with the trolleys to clean the muck off - because I thought that they couldn't possibly make it worse - and much to my amazement, they managed to make it even worse, noticeably. :p

I saw the same person cleaning/ruining a 2012 BMW 330i M-Sport on my way back to the car.

Thought you guys might appreciate that little story... :rolleyes:

Obviously it is never going to look great, but what would you recommend for improving completely trashed paintwork on an uncared for 7 owner car?

It is VW Reflex Silver (LA7W)
 
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Ah man, Just went out and noticed there is 3 patches of bird poo on my car, all in close proximity but they are baked in and gone hard. How can I remove this safely without damaging the paint? Must have happened last night and dried up today :(
 
Soul.Survivor said:
Ah man, Just went out and noticed there is 3 patches of bird poo on my car, all in close proximity but they are baked in and gone hard. How can I remove this safely without damaging the paint? Must have happened last night and dried up today :(
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Warm/hot(ish) water to soften it up a bit first?
 
Soul.Survivor said:
Ah man, Just went out and noticed there is 3 patches of bird poo on my car, all in close proximity but they are baked in and gone hard. How can I remove this safely without damaging the paint? Must have happened last night and dried up today :(
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Soak a couple of microfiber cloths in warm water and lay them on top of the bird poo for about 10-15mins. That should soften them up enough and allow for them to be removed quite easily.
 
I just wet some tissue and put it on for a few mins and it wipes straight off... Don't worry, your car is not written off. :p
 
So does anyone have any advice on how to improve the appearance of ruined paintwork without breaking the bank, as in post #8653? :)
 
Anyone used Autoglym Leather Restorer? I'm looking for something that will bring back to life some faded leather panels on a bike jacket/trousers. This stuff seems to get good reviews, wondering if it will be as good on a jacket as it appears to be on car seats?
 
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