*** The Car Cleaning Thread ***

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Not technically cleaning (although my car does need a bloody good clean after some off-roading which I'll be doing at the weekend :p) but any tips for how best to reduce the effect of my monster scratch without spending more than the value of the car?

JoEycyJ.png


It's only the last inch or so on each end where it cant be felt running a finger across it :(
 
MoRT489 said:
This is so condescending. Yes, wanting to have a clean and durable finish on a car requires time and patience but suggesting you have to love it to be able to do it and shouldn't even be in this thread is baloney. Anyone with a young child or other commitments will know the most time you get to do something in one block is about 2 hours, so of course spending 6 hours detailing isn't going to be feasible. A full detail would cost me about £350, yet the materials would cost me £160-200 and will last 5-10 full goes plus they'll be stuff in there that will last longer (buckets, MF cloths, etc.). I understand that if I can get one good go in (4 hours maybe) then it will mean when I come to wash it every time for the next 3-6 months it'll take significantly less time!
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Thanks for backing me up - I was kinda thinking unless I'm spending 8hrs cleaning my car maybe I shouldn't be in this thread.... :)

It's more the space I have - I don't have a full size garage so it has to be done outside and I have no control over weather. Also I'm a bit wary about leaving the Porsche out all day with travellers/gypos seeming to visit a lot in the day. I haven't told many people because I could do without the hassle of having it stolen. :)

I'm now thinking - pay out for full detail and then wash and wax?

I don't mind paying out the once but I can't afford to have it done every week but I'm assuming detailing is pretty much a yearly thing.
 
helpimcrap said:
Thanks for backing me up - I was kinda thinking unless I'm spending 8hrs cleaning my car maybe I shouldn't be in this thread.... :)

I'm now thinking - pay out for full detail and then wash and wax?

I don't mind paying out the once but I can't afford to have it done every week but I'm assuming detailing is pretty much a yearly thing.
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Anyone is welcome in the thread regardless of whether they are an enthusiast or not. Ignore Sonny.

My brother had his TT professionally done when the same company repaired a front wing (sheep!). Looked beauitful (black car) and comes up very nicely indeed when washed. He's introduced a few swirls which is pretty much unavoidable but that's where the twice yearly detail comes in.

It all depends whether you want and have the time to learn it all yourself :)

My GTi is due its polish and wax. Waiting for a dry weekend!
 
Raymond Lin said:
Ah, will let you know but the current plan is to do it on May Bank Holiday as I plan a proper clay polish session with it too.
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Sounds good. Not in a major rush just hoping there's something half decent I can do to stop it looking like too much of a shed when I come to sell it in September. Gonna give it some love on Monday in the meantime as I have a day off to wait for BT to arrive (any time between 8am and 6pm....). Fingers crossed its dry.
 
Skillmister said:
Not technically cleaning (although my car does need a bloody good clean after some off-roading which I'll be doing at the weekend :p) but any tips for how best to reduce the effect of my monster scratch without spending more than the value of the car?

JoEycyJ.png


It's only the last inch or so on each end where it cant be felt running a finger across it :(
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Picture doesn't load at work so can't see how bad it is :mad: but if you haven't already check out: http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=217520

There is another thread about it too but I can't find it. Also check our Larry's videos on youtube (Ammo NYC) as he has done a couple of filling in scratches.

helpimcrap said:
Which company or private individual would people recommend near Hinckley in the Midlands?
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The only one I know of that gets recommended in the Midlands is Midlands Car Care in Walsall though might be a little far from you.
 
helpimcrap said:
I have never had to worry which is why I've been asking.
If I can't see the difference I wander if I'm doing it wrong because I have nobody to ask other than on here....

It's why I tested it on my shed of a Focus to get it right first.... :) I appreciate it is some people's hobby which is great however I cannot physically spend 8hrs cleaning a car when I have other stuff to do and need the car (Focus) for.
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A clay bar basically removes everything on top of the paint and lacquer if used properly. All the stuff you cannot see, etc that simple washing cannot get rid of. Stuff like pollution, tree sap, etc.

You then after doing that are supposed to wax the car or use sealant, etc. To basically put some protection on so next time all you need to do is wash the car. A decent wax or sealant will last several months.

Since you haven't used one all the crap is going to lodge itself on the paintwork instead of the wax/sealant basically means it was a waste of time claying it.

The full process you should only really have to do once every few months with a normal washing in between with top ups of wax if need be.

You wouldn't spend 8 hours on your car every week. Just 1 or 2 max.

The whole process only needs doing when it needs doing, depending on how dirty the car gets and how often.

You could easily spend say 8 hours on a full detail once a year. Then 45 mins every week on a simple wash with every 4th wash you adding an extra layer of sealant on at the end.
 
Thank you for explaining Sonny. That makes far more sense now having the reasons why it was important, especially the wax as I genuinely didn't know that. I used to wash and polish only with no thought for wax.

Last question - how do you know if you are claying it right? I managed to lift loads of dark spots off the car so it looked better in that respect.
 
Just run your fingers over the paint, a clean panel will feels smooth, like a baby's bottom. That's what the clay bar does, pick up dirt that you can feel with touch but hard to see.
 
wohoo said:
Well i agree and disagree, on my Panther black ST and Dturbo, yes it would really show that a polish/glaze/sealant/wax combo had been used, but on my current perfomance blue ST you just cant tell the difference, so i just polish and wax.

As i said in the initial post everyone has their personal pref's.I find wax after the sealant dulls the finish a tad.
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Agree with this, darker colours the sealants make the final finish 'pop' but on colours such as blue and non-metallics you just cant tell. Still better for the car to have the sealant on though before waxing just for longevity.
 
Has anyone used Dodo Lime Juice prior to sealing/waxing? I'm planning my first detail and wondering if I've got the steps right or if I've missed anything:

jetwash -> snowfoam -> hose rinse -> two-bucket wash -> clay -> hose rinse -> dry -> waxing prep (Dodo) -> sealant -> wax

When is the best time in this sequence to clean and seal the wheels/dress the tyres? Which part of this process actually removes the old wax/sealant that may be on the car as snowfoam and shampoo don't seem to do it?

I'm planning to order the Dodo Lite without the micro-abrasives as I don't like the idea of rubbing something abrasive into my paintwork (:eek:), but maybe I've chosen the wrong product. Appreciate some guidance here.
 
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MoRT489 said:
Has anyone used Dodo Lime Juice prior to sealing/waxing? I'm planning my first detail and wondering if I've got the steps it right or if I've missed anything:

jetwash -> snowfoam -> hose rinse -> two-bucket wash -> clay -> hose rinse -> dry -> waxing prep (Dodo) -> sealant -> wax

When is the best time in this sequence to clean and seal the wheels/dress the tyres?

I'm planning to order the Dodo Lite without the micro-abrasives as I don't like the idea of rubbing something abrasive into my paintwork (:eek:), but maybe I've chosen the wrong product. Appreciate some guidance here.
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I'm not sure exactly what lime prime does, but you'll want to polish before sealant. Polish is basically an abrasive.

Wheels I always clean first (with a separate bucket), but then seal the wheels and dress tyres as the very last step after the rest of the car is done.
 
Yea, noticed that after posting. But why would you use a cleaner after polishing? Isn't polishing before finishing the clean a bit redundant? Or is the cleaner necessary to remove the particles loosened by the polishing?

Can you recommend a polish (will be doing it by hand as I don't have a DA).
 
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