*** The Car Cleaning Thread ***

[paradigm]

Any idea on similar products that are ok for self-application?

I.E. something that is slightly easier to work with than GTechniq, I've heard that if you apply it wrong it needs sanding back off to correct! I'm not going to even entertain doing that myself.

 

[Howard]

Looking at the guides for CQuartz it looks easy enough to apply. It's not something I'd pay someone else to do but that's just me.

The Gtechniq glass treatment, as xs2man said, is very impressive on the windscreen. It's a bit of a fiddly process though and not something I'd want to do over the whole paintwork, so I'd probably go for the CQuartz if I wanted a sealant that lasted a bit longer than a traditional wax. It looks like you do have to maintain it with their 'reload' spray though, where I just use a decent QD every time I wash the car to bring out the shine and maintain the wax.

 

[Azza]

Anything decent to protect glass from tree sap? Or makes it easier to clean off?

There's a lovely big tree outside our house and even with the cars in the drive they still end up being covered by the stuff.

 

[scrivz69]

Just gave my engine bay a quick clean.


image sharing

 

[ScoobyDoo69]

Anyone used Slim's Detailing before?

 

[Shimmyhill]

I gave our new to us car a good clean with all the stuff I now have, snow foam is great fun and took off all the odd sand stuff all the cars are covered with so I'm sold on it already!

Got some cracking results from the clay bar on the bonnet and hatch, the hatch looked really good when I looked at it but felt horrible under the clay but has come up stunning now - I imagine it was tree sap or similar just because of the amount of whatever the stuff was - clay was dirtier on the hatch than I have ever seen!

But I have a question, the drivers door has almost dull patches on it - I don't think I clayed it as I was running out of time due to hatch so don't think its anything I have done!?!? What is it likely to be, it doesn't look like the top coat has been damaged or anything that bad just in certain light it looks a bit 'patchy' but get another angle and it looks stunning again hence my confusion!!?

 

[Shoei]

Just gave my engine bay a quick clean.

Can i ask what you used on it?

Thanks

 

[Sui]

Gave it a wash and wax this morning - perfect cloudy weather!

The G3 Super Gloss Wax in Halfords is so easy to use.

 

[Si105]

Anyone used Slim's Detailing before?

Quite often, never had any problems. Never had to contact their support for any reason to comment on them.

 

[Del Lardo]

Seeing as my car was filthy after a drive across Europe I decided that it needed a proper clean. I could have done it myself but there was a fridge full of beer that needed drinking so I got on with that instead and left my car with some very friendly locals for 3 days. Photos included where I have them.


Application Active Foam

Engine degrease

Clean door slams

Rinsing the active foam

Cleaning wheels

Cleaning wheel arches

Washing method 2 buckets with glove made of natural wool using a pH neutral shampoo
Rinsing vehicles from shampoo and dirt residues
Repeated until they were happy, happy meant 5 hours of washing

Polish glass exterior

Clay bar

Application Active Foam after Clay bar
Rinsing active foam

Contactless drying with hot air

Check paint/lacquer depth

Two-part polishing removing holograms and medium scratches

Remove oils from lacquer

Apply pre-wax cleaner product to prepare base for wax

Apply wax - 3 layers. Longevity was most important to me so they used Collinite 476s which should hopefully last a year

Wax door slams

Apply wax to alloy wheels – Swissvax Autobahn

Protection to all exterior plastics

All rubber seals treated

Apply protection to tyres

Deep cleaning including vacuuming and brushing (vents etc) of interior

Clean and protect all interior plastics

Polish interior glass

Clean door seals

Leather fully cleaned and protected

I'm very happy with the end result

Of course, 2 hours after I collected the car it rained for 3 minutes covering it in a fine layer of dust but as I'll be driving 1000 miles back to the UK next week I'm not really bothered.

This was a very comprehensive valet/detail, frustratingly my phone has lost the photo I took of the Leather treatment but like the wax it's well regarded if not hugely (in the car cleaning world) expensive. I believe them when the owner said he spent 5 hours on his own repeatedly washing the car as well frankly he came across as the type who would and I know a few people like that as friends. I'm interested to hear what people think this kind of process would cost in the UK? I'm not going to post up wait I paid quite yet as it is still a fair amount of money to be spending on getting a clean car (regardless of just how good it looks) but I am happy with what I've spent.

 

[mrk]

A single coat of 476s will last a year, 3 coats will still last a year Use sparingly, that tin should last years.

 

[snips86x]

I'm looking for some decent car shampoo which will remove the grime without needing to scrub like a mutha'. What are your suggestions? I'm not looking to spend silly amounts for car shampoo.

I've seen that 'Bilt-Hamber auto-wash' has been recommended but I'm not clued up on where to look for reviews/suggestions.

 

[Gibbo]

OcUK shall be offering the Autobrite range soon for those interested.

 

[Cookeh]

Bit early for an April fools, no? Out of interest, what spawned that? I don't at all profess to understand retail, but surely the Autobrite range has no crossover to PCs?

snips, Bilt Hamber is good, Autobrite is good, CarPro is good. Assuming you're not using it in a snowfoam mix, Megs Gold Class is also exceptional too, my person favourite and removed 6 weeks of dirt yesterday with nothing more than a few passes.

 

[rhysduck]

Bit of a wierd branch for OcUK

 

[paradigm]

Bit of a wierd branch for OcUK

Not really, Gibbo likes the Autobrite range, if I had that kind of purchasing power I'd make sure we bought in products I wanted to use at a discount

 

[Armageus]

I'm looking for some decent car shampoo which will remove the grime without needing to scrub like a mutha'. What are your suggestions? I'm not looking to spend silly amounts for car shampoo.

A lot depends on what else you are doing with regards to cleaning/protecting the paint. Assuming your car is sealed/waxed, then the worst of the dirt is usually easily removed with Snow Foam/Pressure washer rinse.

Then follow up with a "normal" car shampoo (I use Autoglym's bodywork shampoo) and a wash mitt, but don't scrub - just glide the mitt over the paint should remove nearly everything. Anything left then gets removed with more specialist products e.g. Insect remover or Tar remover.

Bit early for an April fools, no? Out of interest, what spawned that? I don't at all profess to understand retail, but surely the Autobrite range has no crossover to PCs?

Bit of a wierd branch for OcUK

Seem to remember OcUK stocking meguiars products at one point. Although saying that car paint protection products are ideal for painted PC cases

 

[~Divine~Wind~]

Yep deffo remember Meguiars stuff on OcUK a long time back.

 

[RSR]

OcUK shall be offering the Autobrite range soon for those interested.

I've been waiting on Autobrite to restock on their Heavy Duty Foam Snow Foam Lance so I can order it at the same time as the Kranzle K7.

What's the current ETA on this?

 

[wassap]

Folks, after a bit of advice. I have a brand new car coming in a weeks time, and its going to be a dark grey colour.

Im not expecting to have to do much in the way of correction, but im thinking what polish coating i should put on it. I want longevity but i also want a nice deep gloss.

Ive not bothered keeping abreast of all that latest gear over the last few years, but i do have Poorboys BH Glaze and a tin of FK1000P, and some collinite. I do a lot of miles and have a family, and only get to wash the car every few weeks, ive spent the last few year using the local car wash and the 4 year old audi paint on my A4 is knackered, plus I didnt really love the car, so the motivation was not there to look after it!

I need some new shampoo aswell, my CG lemon gallon has finally finished after 5 years! any recommendations?