*** The Car Cleaning Thread ***

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Picking up s new Focus ST (diesel :() in black on Friday.

Not had a car I've cared about for quite a while so looking forward to getting back into the car cleaning malarkey!

Plan for the weekend is

Autoglym SRP
Autoglym EGP
For tyres I have Meguairs Hot Shine spray.

Is there anything else I should be doing? I'm guessing it won't need a clay as its brand new.
Should I look to replace any of the above products?
 
mr tommo said:
Is there anything else I should be doing? I'm guessing it won't need a clay as its brand new.
Should I look to replace any of the above products?
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I'd definitely still clay it, new cars can come with a lot of crap on them! You're going down the full route of polishing and sealing its gonna be worth doing the clay first.
 
Another vote for the mitt. I've never used a claybar before and cannot believe how smooth it makes the paintwork! I just made a soapy solution with Demon Wash (terrible for foam lances if anyones looking at buying it) and put it in a little spray bottle with some warm water.

Picking up another one on Friday as the missus now wants to do her car. Hopefully two people going at it will make lighter work.
 
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I still can't get over how good that mitt is. And I'd almost forgotten how nice and easy it is to wash a freshly-waxed car.
 
Had a detailing day on my mate's white clio 200 on sunday. It was pretty swirly and a few deeper marks, managed to get it 90-95% there and improve the gloss significantly.

A couple of shots of the finished product below using Hexlogic green & orange pads with Menzerna PO203S. Plastics treated with Dlux and topped with Reload 2015.

Sorry the images are a bit naff, ran out of time to take decent ones & white isn't easy...

Before.jpg


After.jpg


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kona786 said:
I love how a well detailed car still stays unbelievably clean after an A road stint with it lashing down with rain.
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I wouldn't say mine is well detailed but will be good to see how it fairs after this few days of rain..

Still shining and I'll be happy :p
 
I'm not sure about that, 200 miles of motorway and A road runs in the rain can make the wheel arches and rear really dirty. My car looks a little pink when it's dirty instead of a deep red.
 
This is since I washed it last thursday and it's rained a few times now and I've driven it about 100 miles. That includes a 16 mile A road journey with the rain hammering down all the way.

Only the back shows any real dirt. As usual in the rain

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All I have done is blacked the tyres again yesterday. I'm really surprised at the lack of dirt on the side of the car, its usually a lot filthier after a drive in the rain.

grudas said:
same here... it even gets dirty standing outside my house lol.
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Don't get me wrong I still have little dirty water marks but nothing like without a coat of wax. Plus I drive regularly so the rain kinda helps clean the car when on the move unless the road is mega filthy.
 
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haha, I know London is filthy but this is the Saharan dust that seems to make a mess out of my car while it's parked!

I hardly drive it during the week bar the gym/shops so rain alone ends up with it looking like -;

 
Si105 said:
I'd definitely still clay it, new cars can come with a lot of crap on them! You're going down the full route of polishing and sealing its gonna be worth doing the clay first.
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Good shout! :)

Picked up my Focus ST yesterday... decided to have a cleaning session today.

Washed
G3 clay mitt (this is so good!)
Autoglym Super Resin Polish
G3 Super gloss wax - Very easy to apply and buff off, really happy with the finish

Couldn't get the best photos with my phone but here goes..

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EDIT : Forgot to add, am I missing a step with my products? I'm a little confused about wax and sealants... should I be adding a sealing to the above process?
 
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You could do but it's not necessary :)

You can do sealant then wax, or sealant on it's own, or just wax on it's own. I just use wax, I get a nicer shine from it.
 
Yep the G3 wax you used mr tommo is rated for upto 6 months longevity. So no real need for a sealant. I'm going top it up again within 3 months and then again just before winter hits hard.
 
Probably been asked a hundred times already - what do you guys recommend to clean bird poop off the car when theres no water available?

In the past years my car's been okay and doesn't usually get targetted, the last few weeks however, my cars often gone from purple to a mess off whatever colour food the birds around work have been eating that day.

I was thinking a diluted TFR in a spray bottle would do the trick but happy to hear if there's anything else that can be recommended.

Thanks.
 
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