* The Car Cleaning Thread *

Telecaster · 15 Jun 2018 at 18:12

Hopefully picking up a car this month and looking for a couple of products for long term ish intervals, I won't be washing it as I don't have any access so will probably get the local hand wash to wash it and then apply a polish and a wax myself, was thinking auto glym super resin polish and then a couple coats of Colonite 476?

Car isn't a daily anyway so just looking for faff free protection more than anything.

Cookeh · 15 Jun 2018 at 18:46

Or you could look into Optimum No Rinse and the rinseless method. At least then you should hopefully minimise swirling.

Both products you stated work well. For minimal faff though grab a sealant (CarPlan Super Gloss No. 1 or Powerlock) and then you will only have to worry about polishing and sealing twice a year.

Dis86 · 15 Jun 2018 at 18:47

Why bother protecting it if you're having monkey's wash it?

Telecaster · 16 Jun 2018 at 15:03

Because it will go a long time between washes, it's either "monkeys" as you delightfully called them or an automatic car wash.

Dis86 · 16 Jun 2018 at 15:04

Telecaster said:
Because it will go a long time between washes, it's either "monkeys" as you delightfully called them or an automatic car wash.

Then there's still no point. It's going to look crap because it will be swirled to hell.

Telecaster · 16 Jun 2018 at 15:10

From one wash? Sure....

Dis86 · 16 Jun 2018 at 15:11

Telecaster said:
From one wash? Sure....

Yes from one wash. That's how swirling works.

Telecaster · 16 Jun 2018 at 15:15

Aside from that, it wasn't about making it look all anally detailed it was just about sealing the paint and preventing the crap between washes from doing anything harmful, I'm not really fussed about swirling etc but I want to prevent as best I can within my means doing any long term irreversible damage.

Blackhawk47 · 16 Jun 2018 at 15:17

Dis86 said:
Then there's still no point. It's going to look crap because it will be swirled to hell.

If you have no access to water, surely it would be better just to use the self service jet wash at a petrol station, take a couple of your own car wash things (mitt, drying towel), and get it done.

When I was going to buy an apartment to live in, I was seriously considering purchasing one of these, no hose required - just a bucket full of water.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/WORX-WG629...158604&sr=8-1&keywords=mobile+pressure+washer

EDIT: also if you did put protection on the car, next time you go to the local hand car wash there traffic film remover/pre-wash will strip any wax you have - and I can't see it being good on paint sealant.

Telecaster · 16 Jun 2018 at 15:22

I should have known better than to bother asking TBH. Who knew it was impossible to take reasonable care of your car without owning ten grands worth of unicorn tears polish-of-the-month.

Dis86 · 16 Jun 2018 at 15:24

Blackhawk47 said:
If you have no access to water, surely it would be better just to use the self service jet wash at a petrol station, take a couple of your own car wash things (mitt, drying towel), and get it done.

When I was going to buy an apartment to live in, I was seriously considering purchasing one of these, no hose required - just a bucket full of water.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/WORX-WG629...158604&sr=8-1&keywords=mobile+pressure+washer

EDIT: also if you did put protection on the car, next time you go to the local hand car wash there traffic film remover/pre-wash will strip any wax you have - and I can't see it being good on paint sealant.

Yup it would. I was literally just about to post the same!

Cookeh · 16 Jun 2018 at 15:56

Telecaster said:
I should have known better than to bother asking TBH. Who knew it was impossible to take reasonable care of your car without owning ten grands worth of unicorn tears polish-of-the-month.

Stop over-reacting and throwing the toys out of the pram. You have been given two answer, one by me and one by Blackhawk, that are both credible options. I also answered your question regarding post wash.

Telecaster · 16 Jun 2018 at 15:58

Cookeh said:
Stop over-reacting and throwing the toys out of the pram. You have been given two answer, one by me and one by Blackhawk, that are both credible options. I also answered your question regarding post wash.

Yours was best reply, thanks.

I'm not wasting £150 on a power washer and all the gubbins to go with it just for the occasional car wash.

Dis86 · 16 Jun 2018 at 16:05

Telecaster said:
Yours was best reply, thanks.

I'm not wasting £150 on a power washer and all the gubbins to go with it just for the occasional car wash.

@Blackhawk47's suggestion is the most sensible. Wash it properly yourself, keep the paint in good nick and then apply protection to minimise the number if washes. It'll stay cleaner for longer and look great.

Cookeh · 16 Jun 2018 at 16:20

£150 upfront sounds like a lot but it's only 30 or 15 paid for car washes depending on the cost of your local wash shop.

Telecaster · 16 Jun 2018 at 16:21

Washing it properly myself though involves a load of faff and expense.

I suppose jet washing it myself at the local petrol station isn't out of the question, but doesn't seem any less harmful than having the "monkeys" wash it, I'm sure there's just as much crap in the brushes at the jet wash as in the cloths/sponges of the "monkeys"

Dis86 · 16 Jun 2018 at 16:41

Telecaster said:
Washing it properly myself though involves a load of faff and expense.

I suppose jet washing it myself at the local petrol station isn't out of the question, but doesn't seem any less harmful than having the "monkeys" wash it, I'm sure there's just as much crap in the brushes at the jet wash as in the cloths/sponges of the "monkeys"

You don't use their brush, that's the point of taking your own mitt.

I'm not sure what you're wanting here. You're talking about wax application etc. to keep the car looking good yet you don't want to go through any effort to actually have it cleaned properly in the first place. Applying wax takes longer than washing the car.

Taking it somewhere to have someone else wash it also involves faff and expense. It would cost substantially more if I was to take it to any carwashing business than it costs me to wash it.

Telecaster · 16 Jun 2018 at 17:29

Dis86 said:
I'm not sure what you're wanting here. You're talking about wax application etc. to keep the car looking good yet you don't want to go through any effort to actually have it cleaned properly in the first place. Applying wax takes longer than washing the car.

Taking it somewhere to have someone else wash it also involves faff and expense. It would cost substantially more if I was to take it to any carwashing business than it costs me to wash it.

I was on about a long lasting wax like Collinite due to infrequent washing. A single yearly wax application is less effort than a weekly wash.

Driving to a hand wash and having them wash it for £7 every 3 months or so seems less expense and hassle than spending ££ on a load of products I would use occasionally, not to mention the space to keep it all.

I get your point, you like washing your car that is fine. I don't, hence looking for products to keep it in decent condition between infrequent washing.

Armageus · 16 Jun 2018 at 17:39

Telecaster said:
I was on about a long lasting wax like Collinite due to infrequent washing. A single yearly wax application is less effort than a weekly wash.

Driving to a hand wash and having them wash it for £7 every 3 months or so seems less expense and hassle

3 months between washes? No wax will prevent 3 months worth of dirt accumulating and damaging the paint.

I use collinite 845 on my focus and while it is fairly long lasting, it's only of benefit if you wash on a regular basis.

Telecaster · 16 Jun 2018 at 17:54

It's not a daily driver, it will be mostly sat outside my place doing nothing so not too worried about infrequent washing.

*** The Car Cleaning Thread ***

* The Car Cleaning Thread *