*** The Car Cleaning Thread ***

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Megs Gold Class is cheap but very effective, removed 7 weeks of dirt and bugs on my car with minimal effort.

Collinite waxes and FK1000P are pretty much the longest lasting waxes you can buy anyway, and again are both very effective - wouldn't worry about 'upgrading' or replacing those.

I'd also look into applying a sealant before you wax though. Some like AutoGlym EGP or Poorboys Sealant or Chemical Guys Jetseal - that kind of thing.
 
Think I found my new go to polish.

After having it in the drawer for 8 months I decided to tackle the car with CarPro Essence.

It can be used with a polishing pad e.g. orange hex to get a decent correction or just a gloss pad for well, maximum gloss. Using the later I filled a few minor swirls and was incredibly easy to apply / wipe off.

On top, it builds a layer of Sio2 Quartz for up to 12 months protection which can be instantly topped with a water based sealant like Reload for extra durability.

And did I say Gloss??

Some terrible pics but it really is great -

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Cookeh said:
Could you have gotten any closer to that 408? :eek: Looks great though!
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Thats how they pack em on the tunnel! I guess if you have 100 cars in a row, if you park them like that you can easily fit another couple at the back with the space!

Think its the lighting in the tunnel but everything looks shiny in there!

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Ordered some PlastX and UV protectant mentioned by Duke on the previous page and set about sorting out the awful headlights on the Impreza

On an otherwise nice car, they were really embarrasing. Faded, yellow, dull

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My method was a quick wash and clay followed by wet sanding using 800, 1200 and then 2000 grit. I sanded with 800 until there was no more yellow residue. Dried them off and applied the PlastX. Took 3 applications until I was happy with the outcome and then applied the sealant. Two coats of that. I might also apply a layer of Collinite over the top to add a bit more weatherproofing.

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Much better I'm sure you'll agree. The headlights do have some internal scratches somehow but look absolutely worlds apart from before. Took about 2 hours to complete.
 
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Del Lardo said:
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.
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£400 to £500 for a good paint correction and all over detail. More if you get proper long lasting ceramic paint protection.
 
How do you guys clean the inside of your windscreens and not get any smearing/streaking showing up when the sun shines on it?

It's infuriating me now - I've cleaned it thoroughly literally 4 times now with AG glass cleaner, GTechniq glass cleaner, some household glass cleaner, and each time it looks absolutely pristine in the shade but when I drive into the sun it looks bloody awful. I must be doing something wrong but I can't work out what!! I've tried both spraying onto cloths and wiping thoroughly and leaving it, as well as buffing with a dry cloth afterwards.

Grr.
 
I use Auto Glym Car Glass Polish, seems fine for me. Dont use too much, just polish it off with any old microfibre cloth. Final buff with a nice clean cloth.
 
Howard said:
How do you guys clean the inside of your windscreens and not get any smearing/streaking showing up when the sun shines on it?

It's infuriating me now - I've cleaned it thoroughly literally 4 times now with AG glass cleaner, GTechniq glass cleaner, some household glass cleaner, and each time it looks absolutely pristine in the shade but when I drive into the sun it looks bloody awful. I must be doing something wrong but I can't work out what!! I've tried both spraying onto cloths and wiping thoroughly and leaving it, as well as buffing with a dry cloth afterwards.

Grr.
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Maybe try a different motion i.e up and down instead of circular or vice versa?
 
dacads said:
Maybe try a different motion i.e up and down instead of circular or vice versa?
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Tried all of that!

I've just been out to give it another go, in our cool underground parking. The screen is spotless and there's no smearing or anything visible under the flourescent lighting in the car park, so if it's smeary when I drive home later, I'm going to just kick out the windscreen and solve the problem that way.
 
Im getting so confused trawling through this thread looking at what i need haha.

Can someone give me a basic run down of excatly what steps need to be taken and what products to use.

If i buy snowfoam will i need to shampoo as well?

Would it be foam, wash (shouldi buy i serpeate shampoo or wash with the foam on?) rinse it then clay? (decent clay to buy?) straight from clay to polish? Then Wax?

Seeing all your shiny cars has made me want to step my game up from a bottle of shampoo from halfords and a sponge. haha

Decent tyre dressing and wheel cleaner to?
 
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