*** The Car Cleaning Thread ***

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Raymond Lin said:
One more thing I don't need :p

Sticking with my towels thanks lol

Plus, it is handy with Aquawax for top up using a towel too.
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I did two car bonnets this week with quick detailer after some direct hits by the local pigeons. Aquawax, which I have always liked, and Farecla G3. Then it rained shortly afterwards, and the beading looked much better on the one I had done with the G3!
 
Uther said:
I did two car bonnets this week with quick detailer. Aquawax, which I have always liked, and Farecla G3. Then it rained shortly afterwards, and the beading looked much better on the one I had done with the G3!
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Ooooh, I agree ! but I have some Aquawax left over....so need to use it before re-stocking. Aquawax lasts like 3 weeks !
 
helpimcrap said:
Anyone? Just autoglym stuff from halfords?
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You will need more than a polish for a thorough clean.

For an old car it would need 5 steps

Hose it down
2 bucket Wash
Clay
Polish
Wax

You can buy Autoglym stuff, it's how I started, 3 for 2 is on at the moment so its not bad price but there are better stuff than Autoglym. www.cleanyourcar.co.uk has better stock for everything.

Things you will need

Car shampoo - anything really but NOT fairy liquid.
a lot of micro fibre clothes, at least half a dozen
a couple of large micro fibre towels for drying
a wool mitt or wash mitt.
Bottle of polish - Autoglym Super Resin is a good starting one, it's basically a filler.
Wax - Collimate make good stuff

Other things like some Perl for the plastic trims. Iron-X/Sonax wheel cleaner to clean wheels. Some wire wool and metal polish for the exhaust tips. A toothbrush for cleaning the hard to reach places.

You might also want some leather cleaner and conditioner for the seats. Then glass polish/cleaner for the windows.

Can't help with the soft top as I don't have experience with those.
 
helpimcrap said:
Anyone? Just autoglym stuff from halfords?
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Cleaning a cabrio roof is big job if you want to do it properly.

You either need a garage/carport or really good weather.

Canvas Roof Care, Cleaning & Waterproofing

Soft Top Reviver - Re-colours and re-conditions
Fabric Soft Top Cleaner - Cleans and renews
Ultra Proofer - Waterproofs your canvas soft top

http://www.renovointernational.com/

http://www.renovointernational.com/products/car-care.php


You want to clean it thoroughly. Then wait til it's bone dry. Even if it looks dry it will have water underneath soaked in. Then revive it during this time it needs to be kept dry and out of direct sun. It's painted on with a paint brush.

After your happy with the revive. Then you need to seal it with the proofer. If you seal it with the proofer and it's not dry then your sealing water into the roof.


You need to do the above process once a year if your wanting to look after it properly.

Once it's proofed. You wash it using anything other than the renovo cleaner (as this removes the proofing) whenever it looks like it needs done. So use something really mild as to not remove the proofing.

Full Instructions

http://www.renovointernational.com/products/instructions/dry-clean.php

http://www.renovointernational.com/products/instructions/reviver.php

http://www.renovointernational.com/products/instructions/ultra-proofer.php


Due to drying times this is a 3 day job where it should be left garaged and unused.
 
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Thank you both for that. A lot more detail than I was expecting so thank you!
I saw halfords has 3 for 2 on which prompted the question as I could save £15+.
 
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Also, try avoid washing in bright direct hot sunlight. Wash it when in the shade is preferred.

Take your time, I would give yourself at least 6-8 hours for a thorough clean.
 
jamief said:
Looking for some advice - picking up a new Q7 in about a month in pearlescent Daytona Gray colour. I'm quite comfortable with day to day care, but would it be worth buying something like CQuartz UK to apply to the car? Do these type of products differ greatly from a good wax?
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The coatings like CQUK generally don't have the deep gloss you usually expect from a wax - however on a colour like grey it is probably less important as generally it's harder to get a rich deep look from a white/silver/grey car.

Also, you can top off the coating with a wax if you want - or something like Sonax BSD.

There are a could which are pretty easy to apply at home, and perform similar (CQUK, Gtechniq C1, Gyeon Q2 etc) and are all around a similar price point. Some of them may even be based on the same product - so it's no surprise they perform similarly. What's important though is after applying you can keep it dry or away from the elements. You also don't want to be applying it in direct sunlight - so if you can you'd want to apply in a garage and leave overnight to fully cure.

They're worth the investment ~£30-40 as they'll last about a year if applied properly and some of the products have a post wash spray to maintain the finish also (e.g. Carpro Reload, Gyeon Cure) which should help with longevity.
 
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Hi chaps, I'm preparing to do my first proper detail of my cars and need to buy all the stuff. Having read various reviews/forums I've come up with the shopping list below but can you let me know what you think and suggest anything that is missing or that you would change? I'm planning to order from CleanYourCar, although I'm a bit disappointed by the £33 shipping charge to Channel Islands, but at least I should be able to save on VAT. Thanks in advance!

Pre-wash:
Valet PRO pH Neutral snow foam (already have) (will apply with Karcher pressure washer and foam lance)

Wash:
Wolf's Chemicals - White Satin Shampoo
Meguiars Lambswool Wash Mitt (do I need two?)
CleanYourCar - Wash Bucket Set x2

Wheels:
SONAX Wheel Cleaner Plus (Full Effect)
Chemical Guys - Chemical Resistant Stiffy Brush
Poorboys Wheel Sealant
Blue Perl Microfibre Applicator Pads Pkg/2
Tyre dressing – please suggest

Clay:
Bilt Hamber - Auto Clay Soft

Pre-wax:
Dodo Juice - Lime Prime Lite

Wax:
Collinite 476S - Super Doublecoat Auto Wax
Yellow Microfibre Chunky Applicator

Glass:
Rain-x (outside)
Stoner - Invisible Glass (inside)
Pink - Ultra Fine Buffing Towels Pkg/2

Interior:
Leather Cleaning Brush
Leather cleaner – please suggest
Interior trim and surfaces cleaner – please suggest
 
MoRT489 said:
Hi chaps, I'm preparing to do my first proper detail of my cars and need to buy all the stuff. Having read various reviews/forums I've come up with the shopping list below but can you let me know what you think and suggest anything that is missing or that you would change? I'm planning to order from CleanYourCar, although I'm a bit disappointed by the £33 shipping charge to Channel Islands, but at least I should be able to save on VAT. Thanks in advance!

Pre-wash:
Valet PRO pH Neutral snow foam (already have) (will apply with Karcher pressure washer and foam lance)

Wash:
Wolf's Chemicals - White Satin Shampoo
Meguiars Lambswool Wash Mitt (do I need two?)
CleanYourCar - Wash Bucket Set x2

Wheels:
SONAX Wheel Cleaner Plus (Full Effect)
Chemical Guys - Chemical Resistant Stiffy Brush
Poorboys Wheel Sealant
Blue Perl Microfibre Applicator Pads Pkg/2
Tyre dressing – please suggest

Clay:
Bilt Hamber - Auto Clay Soft

Pre-wax:
Dodo Juice - Lime Prime Lite

Wax:
Collinite 476S - Super Doublecoat Auto Wax
Yellow Microfibre Chunky Applicator

Glass:
Rain-x (outside)
Stoner - Invisible Glass (inside)
Pink - Ultra Fine Buffing Towels Pkg/2

Interior:
Leather Cleaning Brush
Leather cleaner – please suggest
Interior trim and surfaces cleaner – please suggest
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might want some tar remover too
 
Spent 5 hours detailing the interior of the family V70 on Sunday (and then another hour washing and topping up the wax - quickest wash I've ever managed!). She was absolutely filthy inside, understandably so as she ferries four of us + two Old English's about all over the place, is used as for dump runs, daily driver, "work vehicle" for the properties we rent, and at least monthly trips to Pembrokeshire. She hadn't had anything done interior wise since we bought her 8 years ago and I figured I'd have a stab at her and see if I could get her looking reasonable again.

Before:

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Afters:

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Was impressed by how well the leather came up, not bad for 160K miles and 11 years of abuse!

Anyone got any ideas on how to deal with the side bolsters? The seatbelt has rubbed against it repeatedly and has worn the leather quite badly, how would I go about treating this or at least preventing it from worsening? Oh, and advice for removing really stubborn Mocha(?) stains from the carpets? I tried an interior cleaning and vigorous scrubbing, and whilst it worked on almost every other stain one of the carpet stains seemed to be immune.
 
iaind said:
What did you use to clean the leather? Half of my seats are a similar colour and getting them to come up nicely is quite challenging!

For the worn side, Gliptone do colour matched leather dies for that sort of thing. Keep it conditioned to stop it drying out should stop it getting any worse

http://www.liquidleather.com/en/leather-care-kits/56-touch-up-kit-.html
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Megs APC 1:10 and a soft-bristle brush to clean it. Followed it up with AGs Leather Care Balm, but that was more to help condition it slightly.
Definitely going to pester my parents to spend 20 mins every month (at least) or so conditioning the leather though.

Thanks for the tip on the dyes :)
 
Well I spent over £60 on cleaning products! :eek: lol

First time I've ever bought Meguire stuff.... looked ok.... couldn't find a soft-top cleaner though so that was the only one.

Do you think this is a start? I'll get it hand-washed & jetsprayed by the carwash people then this is all for after.

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iaind said:
What did you use to clean the leather? Half of my seats are a similar colour and getting them to come up nicely is quite challenging!

For the worn side, Gliptone do colour matched leather dies for that sort of thing. Keep it conditioned to stop it drying out should stop it getting any worse

http://www.liquidleather.com/en/leather-care-kits/56-touch-up-kit-.html
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On my Saab I use G101 in a spray bottle and a steam cleaner with a microfibre towel over the end. Makes the leather look matt and brand new. Finish off with a heat gun to take out the wrinkles (This part is a one time thing).

Then after that use whatever dye you want.
 
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