* The Car Cleaning Thread *

grudas · 4 Apr 2016 at 19:24

I can only assume that the car was never clayed before, I did wash it properly but tar remover would have made a huge difference, something I didn't realise before starting

CaptainRAVE · 8 Apr 2016 at 20:20

Car was lovely and clean, came back to pick it up from a week of being parked up and it was covered in dust again

Blackhawk47 · 8 Apr 2016 at 21:13

The chemical guys hybrid spray sealant/detailer seems to be doing its job. Been over a week since I last washed/used it and the bonnet still looks pretty clean Which is great considering the weather we have had and I've done a couple hundred miles in it.

Side and rear is filthy mind...doesn't help that the roads round here look like tarmac poured on a mud path.

flexo786 · 8 Apr 2016 at 23:14

was after some advice. the front of my mates car has picked up some paint splashes opn the bonnet. not to sure how long they've been there but think its been a good month or two. what's the best way of removing them. was thinking of picking up a clay bar from Halfords should this be able to remove them

Kalexuz · 8 Apr 2016 at 23:30

Clay bars should remove paint over spray and that sort of thing.

-Mike- · 8 Apr 2016 at 23:42

agw_01 said:
Thanks guys. So Bilberry/Dragons Breath and some Iron-X followed by wax/sealant?

I do like Collinite 476S. I last applied it to the Scoob about 10 months ago and it's still beading. Surely a wax of this quality will go some way to protecting the wheels? I have loads of it left.

I can only dream of the time when I had weekends to machine polish a car. The Scoob is in dire need and between work, study and family with a 6 month old baby I have NO time for cleaning cars Hence the need for something strong to get the wheels looking their best.

A bit of nostalgia, here's the Rover in all her machine polished glory...

These pictures were several years post polish. Just goes to show though, if you look after paintwork it'll stay in great condition for many years.

P.S. Sorry for the black wheels Howard

The top picture is OZ Ultraleggera wheels with Eagle F1 GSD3s, so it's not all bad

I should save these photos to show its current owner that it needs a wash

waste of time down here though at the minute as roads are awful!

mr tommo · 9 Apr 2016 at 20:31

Does anybody bother with those snow foam attachments?

New car arriving in June and actually have a car worth cleaning again having neglected my current one. Sounds strange but I've actually missed cleaning and waxing!

Car will be black. All my products are over 3 years old now so guessing I'll need new stuff.

helpimcrap · 9 Apr 2016 at 20:40

How do people clean cabriolet roofs? So I can stick a hard top on and the roof not go manky.

Conscript · 9 Apr 2016 at 21:32

I used the AG fabric roof cleaning kit on my mx5. Comes with a firm sponge and cleaner that you use to give the fabric a good scrub, then apply a spray on water repellent solution. It's magic, water used to bead up and roll of the hood even better than it did off the waxed paintwork.

helpimcrap · 9 Apr 2016 at 21:46

Conscript said:
I used the AG fabric roof cleaning kit on my mx5. Comes with a firm sponge and cleaner that you use to give the fabric a good scrub, then apply a spray on water repellent solution. It's magic, water used to bead up and roll of the hood even better than it did off the waxed paintwork.

Cheers. Did you have to wait 2 or 3 days of dry weather to put roof down and hard top on?

Armageus · 9 Apr 2016 at 21:55

mr tommo said:
Does anybody bother with those snow foam attachments?

Yes - just used mine for the first time, generic one from Amazon and some Valet Pro PH Neutral Snow foam. Can't see it definitely removed any more dirt than just using the pressure washer - but was loads of fun!

Used all the other cleaning goodies I bought as well today - Autoglym bodywork shampoo (which smells amazing!), followed by towel dry and then Autoglym SRP, and then Collinite 845.

First time I've ever bothered doing a decent job of cleaning any of my cars, but must be good as my Wife immediately noticed the difference with her Car.

Will do mine tomorrow (weather permitting) and try and get some photos.

EDIT:
Had a small rain shower a little while ago, so just been out and looked at the beading

Definitely something satisfying about it.

helpimcrap · 9 Apr 2016 at 22:07

What do people use for polish now? How do you polish? What's detailing?

I have a car for the first time ever worth polishing.... lol

CaptainRAVE · 9 Apr 2016 at 22:18

Super Resin Polish is my go to polish. Your next question should be about waxes to use

shauncr91 · 9 Apr 2016 at 23:27

Chemical Guys V36 on a DA is my go to polish/method for correcting paint.

Raymond Lin · 9 Apr 2016 at 23:34

helpimcrap said:
What do people use for polish now? How do you polish? What's detailing?

I have a car for the first time ever worth polishing.... lol

Depends...

For safe polish that doesn't damage paint - Autoglym Super Resin Polish

I got these Menzerna to go with my DA the other week for finishing.

I also have some Meguiar's Ultimate Compound and Scratch X for deeper cut.

This chart should help...

Voxination · 10 Apr 2016 at 12:00

With the warmer weather coming round it's really about time I replaced my broken Karcher K5. I know the question has been asked a million times (and probably before by myself) but what Nilfisk machine should I go for? Is the C120 worth the extra over the C110 or am I just paying for the patio accessories with that?

Armageus · 10 Apr 2016 at 12:33

Voxination said:
With the warmer weather coming round it's really about time I replaced my broken Karcher K5. I know the question has been asked a million times (and probably before by myself) but what Nilfisk machine should I go for? Is the C120 worth the extra over the C110 or am I just paying for the patio accessories with that?

I have the C110 and it's plenty powerful enough. However it's worth bearing in mind it doesn't come with the "Auto" car washing nozzle (around £15) which may be included with some of the higher models

mattcrane · 10 Apr 2016 at 12:49

Voxination said:
With the warmer weather coming round it's really about time I replaced my broken Karcher K5. I know the question has been asked a million times (and probably before by myself) but what Nilfisk machine should I go for? Is the C120 worth the extra over the C110 or am I just paying for the patio accessories with that?

I was looking at buying a Nilfisk from the Nilfisk outlet store, all factory reconditioned units, but in the end I bought the Nilfisk Titan from Argos as although it was a bit dearer it did came with a 3 year warranty.

I am highly unlikely to ever use a couple of the extras it came with but it did come with both the car attachment and the angled car attachment which is great for cleaning wheel arches and under the car.

Just looking at replacing the standard hose with a longer/better quality one when funds allow.

CaptainRAVE · 10 Apr 2016 at 13:38

You will also want to get a better snowfoam lance.

Conscript · 10 Apr 2016 at 13:48

helpimcrap said:
Cheers. Did you have to wait 2 or 3 days of dry weather to put roof down and hard top on?

I never had a hard top, not sure what you mean? Pretty sure you don't have to wait before putting the hard to on.

*** The Car Cleaning Thread ***

Chooser of poor weather meets

* The Car Cleaning Thread *