* The Car Cleaning Thread *

Havana_UK · 5 Jan 2017 at 09:06

I think TFRs are generally OK as long as you don't leave them to sit for many minutes. It's reallly a spray it on and rinse it straight off type of product. As pointed out they are pretty potent chemicals.

I normally use Valet Pro Citrus Pre Wash diluted about 6:1 as a first step, leave it to dwell for about 5-10 minutes then pressure wash it off. I find this cuts through the worst of the surface muck effectively, especially the salt spray at this time of year. As a second stage I then use Magifoam and leave this to dwell for 30-40 minutes while I clean the wheels before rinsing and washing the car.

kona786 · 5 Jan 2017 at 16:04

Filthy

FRESH!

dacads · 5 Jan 2017 at 16:56

Greg0986 said:
Still not perfect though (for me). A lot more I could do (full polish, stone chip repair, de-tar etc)

Yeah I guess it depends how far you are prepared to go, it's easy to forget and not keep on top so probably won't hurt too much not going the full monty.

It's only for yourself really you'll notice the extra stuff.

MoRT489 · 5 Jan 2017 at 17:45

Wow great shine Kona, what steps did you do?

Lashout_UK · 5 Jan 2017 at 17:54

Celica looks superb!

kona786 · 5 Jan 2017 at 19:24

Thanks

Today was just a standard wash and some BSD.

The actual factory paintwork finish deserves most of the credit.

Dis86 · 5 Jan 2017 at 19:53

Nice Kona. Also great parking!

Kaka · 7 Jan 2017 at 10:18

Raymond Lin said:
I thought TFR is a big NO NO? They do terrible things to plastic chrome bits like wheel caps i thought.

Or is this some new magical formula?

kindai said:
You have to wonder... how something can cut through so much so quickly, must have some pretty nasty stuff in it...

Just to revisit this, here are some pictures I took of the car this morning. If the stuff was that potent and dangerous then surely it would have stripped the layer of wax first I would have thought.

dacads · 8 Jan 2017 at 14:48

Cleaned wheels using auto wheel, this stuff never disappoints.

But now the bodywork is looking sorry for itself

Sparky · 8 Jan 2017 at 14:57

I'm looking for some advice ref: cordless hand held vacuums. What are you using or are people mainly using wired vacuums still ?

Jokester · 8 Jan 2017 at 14:59

Sparky-F1 said:
I'm looking for some advice ref: cordless hand held vacuums. What are you using or are people mainly using wired vacuums still ?

They're a lot better these days compared to a few years ago. I use a handheld Dyson now and it's more than adequate suction wise and far easier to handle as well.

dacads · 8 Jan 2017 at 15:29

Sparky-F1 said:
I'm looking for some advice ref: cordless hand held vacuums. What are you using or are people mainly using wired vacuums still ?

Have an old henry hoover which isn't powerful enough, although haven't used it since buying a handheld 12v powered which is even weaker. Although a proper Dyson etc as above would probably be enough.

I think the big vacuum is still useful for yearly clean-up, whereas handheld is ideal for the occasional clean which most people can't manage

Raymond Lin · 8 Jan 2017 at 15:31

I use a Dyson V6, it is more than adequate for the job, use the brush attachment to loosen up and thing in the gaps and it all get sucked up.

I can't be bothered to pull out the extension cord for the Henry.

Sparky · 8 Jan 2017 at 15:53

Raymond Lin said:
I use a Dyson V6, it is more than adequate for the job, use the brush attachment to loosen up and thing in the gaps and it all get sucked up.

I can't be bothered to pull out the extension cord for the Henry.

Just picked that very one up from Argos £50 off

Raymond Lin · 8 Jan 2017 at 16:00

Sparky-F1 said:
Just picked that very one up from Argos £50 off

I think there are deals all the time, I got mine from Dyson store during May bank holiday deal for like £200.

mrk · 14 Jan 2017 at 15:16

Figured I'd give this hydrophobic version of Meg's QD a try, seems decent. Smells nice too.

Housey · 14 Jan 2017 at 17:20

I did 3 cars today. Snow foamed them to death, I love that then jetwashed, washed and leathered off. Not the best wash they have ever had, but all looked like **** tips so needed doing, even if 1 goes in to the garage Monday for a 'make it new' process.

Ryan-3 · 14 Jan 2017 at 17:25

Its freezing here, even still have a few bits of snow lying against the curb.

But, the clay bars are here and so is the battenberg fragranced AutoGlym rapid detailer lube.

Gaygle · 18 Jan 2017 at 16:08

So i've had a pretty rubbish car cleaning day.

The M3 was looking pretty grotty, so I thought it'd be a perfect time to test out my new Powermax Traffic Film remover. So the first thing that went wrong was that I dripped a tiny bit on the kitchen worktop. I didn't realise it at the time, and I should have cleaned it up immediately, but it went through the wood oil/varnish like a knife through butter. It has now stained my kitchen side.

The second thing that went wrong was that it was so cold outside, that the water in the pressure washer, which was in the shed, had frozen. No water was getting through, so I gave it a little shake - unfortunately a few bits of gravel had found it's way into the washer, so as soon as I shook it I heard a horrible clatter where a stone must have got into the pump - and it died. I've tried taking it apart, changing the fuse etc, but no luck.

So in summary to todays car wash - I need to sand down my kitchen worktop and apply some wood oil in the hope it doesn't make it worse, and I need to spend £100 on a new pressure washer. :rolleyes:

azibux1 · 18 Jan 2017 at 21:55

Gaygle said:
No water was getting through, so I gave it a little shake - unfortunately a few bits of gravel had found it's way into the washer...

On the upside, I thought this was going to go along the lines of you firing stones at your M3

So at least it didn't go that badly

*** The Car Cleaning Thread ***

* The Car Cleaning Thread *