*** The Car Cleaning Thread ***

Status
Not open for further replies.
What do you guys use to clean your windows, inside and out? I've used autoglym fast glass before but that was ages ago so not sure if there's a new favourite out now.
 
Do any of you guys clean cars in the street. Don't have the luxury of a driveway in London, nor easy access to a hose. What's the best way to do it, just use the two bucket method, maybe another bucket for rinsing?
 
Garage jet wash then two bucket at home would be preferable. Otherwise a few mitts for upper and lower parts of the car plus buckets with grit guards.
 
Ideally you need to get the loose dirt off before you start hand washing or you'll scratch the paint.

I wash on the street but have an outside tap so I can use the pressure washer.

On days when I can't be bothered with that I go to the local petrol station 5 minutes away and give it a 5 min soapy blast and then drive back and carry two buckets out to the pavement and wash it at the side of the road.

I would never take a bucket and sponge/wash mitt straight to a dirty car, even if it looks clean.
 
Nazbit said:
Ideally you need to get the loose dirt off before you start hand washing or you'll scratch the paint.

I wash on the street but have an outside tap so I can use the pressure washer.

On days when I can't be bothered with that I go to the local petrol station 5 minutes away and give it a 5 min soapy blast and then drive back and carry two buckets out to the pavement and wash it at the side of the road.

I would never take a bucket and sponge/wash mitt straight to a dirty car, even if it looks clean.
Click to expand...

Cheers, will have a go doing that then.
 
SS-89 said:
Cross post from show us thread. Finally got to use Auto Finesse Ultra Glaze and topped off with Auto Finesse Spirit Wax...got to say though costly, the finish is awesome.
Click to expand...

I've switched to Auto Finesse products and I can't rate them highly enough along with the Bouncers Black Edition - Check the Fleck Wax as you can really see the pearl in my paint now.

All my AG has now been binned.
 
[RXP]Andy;29309345 said:
I've switched to Auto Finesse products and I can't rate them highly enough along with the Bouncers Black Edition - Check the Fleck Wax as you can really see the pearl in my paint now.

All my AG has now been binned.
Click to expand...

Spirit is by far the best wax I've used for making paint fleck pop. I'd definitely recommend it but it's not cheap at £90 a pot.
 
Guys quick question, after you have waxed your car whats the best way to maintain it or slow its deterioration on future washes. Do you reapply another layer of wax after a 2 bucket wash or use one of those quick detailer products? I snow foamed, 2 bucket washed, clay mitted, rinsed, SRPd, black holed then collinite 915 wax on 2 cars. I am in no hurry to repeat the effort as its killed me (good work out tho) so to maintain it would ideal??
 
If you have put on a long lasting wax, like you Colinite then I would top up with easier to apply stuff once a month with 2 bucket wash, no polish as that just takes everything off.

Then 4-6 months later, depending on how good the paste wax is, do another full application. I might try Auto Finese's 3 in one wash as a in-between.
 
Raymond Lin said:
If you have put on a long lasting wax, like you Colinite then I would top up with easier to apply stuff once a month with 2 bucket wash, no polish as that just takes everything off.

Then 4-6 months later, depending on how good the paste wax is, do another full application. I might try Auto Finese's 3 in one wash as a in-between.
Click to expand...

I actually thought the collinite went on really easy (there is easier stuff? Like what, bit new to this level of detail but my word do they shine :) and the swirls have gone.
 
Bagpu55 said:
I actually thought the collinite went on really easy (there is easier stuff? Like what, bit new to this level of detail but my word do they shine :) and the swirls have gone.
Click to expand...

There are other harder waxes, the hardness isn't my only complaint but it feels like i am doing the work twice. The last time I really cleaned my last car was 2 years ago and I did my back in, cost me £400 in osteopath sessions to fix :(

So now I am moving towards easier stuff, like machine polish and liquid wax, squeeze out into the applicator or even on the car, smear on, go do another panel, go back to the first one and wipe.
 
Raymond Lin said:
There are other harder waxes, the hardness isn't my only complaint but it feels like i am doing the work twice. The last time I really cleaned my last car was 2 years ago and I did my back in, cost me £400 in osteopath sessions to fix :(

So now I am moving towards easier stuff, like machine polish and liquid wax, squeeze out into the applicator or even on the car, smear on, go do another panel, go back to the first one and wipe.
Click to expand...

OH no, I bet your not the only one to do that. Mind a good excuse to buy a polisher, might try that. It was a proper work out, every time I try to sit down or go up the stairs my legs are reminding me. The things we do lol.
 
Bagpu55 said:
OH no, I bet your not the only one to do that. Mind a good excuse to buy a polisher, might try that. It was a proper work out, every time I try to sit down or go up the stairs my legs are reminding me. The things we do lol.
Click to expand...

I did not clean my car for 2 years after that because I was afraid I would do my back in again. The only time it got cleaned was when I took it to the dealer for service/recall/MOT. I had slowly moving away from the car and wanted to replace it in my mind at that point, perhaps a little resentment towards it for the cause of my back trouble lol

But now it's fixed I am doing everything not to agitate it again. Bought a little stool to sit on while washing the side panels, not bending over for prolong periods, machine polish, liquid wax, squeeze on, wipe off.

I like a clean car but I like my back more.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom