*** The Car Cleaning Thread ***

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MisChief said:
i've only ever washed my car 2 or maybe 3 times in my 6 years of driving (normally wait for my annual valet car wash by the servicing people :D).... and when i did wash it myself, i just used the basic and cheapest stuff you can find in halfords..

i didn't put much effort into washing my old car because it was a dark grey kinda colour.... but i got myself a white car 2 weeks ago and realised i will probably have to wash it every 1 month at least to stop it from looking grey :o

what are the basic products you would recommend me to buy? i am writing my list of things to buy from halfords and so far i have... sponge, chamois cloth... what else? :p
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Are you looking to wash it or semi-detail it?

The latter requiers to buckets, mitt, shampoo, and you can finish off with a wax or sealant if you wish.

The first requires a bucket, sponge and shampoo.

Personally I use a strong snow foam ( autosmart actimousse) and just do it weekly and it cleans the car very well without me having to touch it and get the old buckets out etc. Excellent for winter.
 
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hmm the actimousse sounds like a good idea but doesn't it contain a load of bad chemicals?

and is it bad using a sponge or something? i've seen some mitts that look like a fluffy hot water bottle cover or something... maybe i'll try using one of those!

think i will try out some paste wax.. any particular brand you would recommend? and is there an easier way to apply other than using those tiny little pads? :p
 
MisChief said:
hmm the actimousse sounds like a good idea but doesn't it contain a load of bad chemicals?

and is it bad using a sponge or something? i've seen some mitts that look like a fluffy hot water bottle cover or something... maybe i'll try using one of those!

think i will try out some paste wax.. any particular brand you would recommend? and is there an easier way to apply other than using those tiny little pads? :p
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Oh wow :eek:

Oki dokes, Actimousse does contain extremely bad earth killing chemicals ! It is a traffic film remover, however if diluted correctly and used with a snow foam lance it's perfectly safe. It any doubts you can use Bilt Hamber snow foam, works half decently and is guranteed safe ( assuming you havn't got the brains to dilute actimousse :D )...

Snow lance - £45 and it requires a pressure washer obviously. Different fittings are available for different models.

Sponges are terrible to use (unless zymol is written on it :rolleyes: ) then basically create swirl marks and pretty much ruin the paint over time. Sponges take the grit on your paint work and rubs it all over. Whereas mitts holds them in and doesn't scratch your car all over. ALong with the mitt you require 2 buckets, one with shampoo and clean water, and one with water. Dip in shampoo, clean car, dip in other bucket and clean etc etc. You get the idea.

Easy waxes.....poorboys nattys paste applied with hands ? Sealants are easy to apply ..or you can get a spray wax like DODO red mist.
 
no doubt i will dilute it wrongly... i don't even know how to dilute screenwash fluid properly! so i think i will stick to normal shampoo and bucket..

when applying the paste wax, do you apply it roughly with an applicator pad (when i say roughly, i mean leaving obvious waxy swirl marks where you've been applying it) and then only buffing it with a towel or something afterwards to finish it off? i picture myself spending 3 hours trying to smooth out the wax using those tiny applicator pads... :o
 
MisChief said:
no doubt i will dilute it wrongly... i don't even know how to dilute screenwash fluid properly! so i think i will stick to normal shampoo and bucket..

when applying the paste wax, do you apply it roughly with an applicator pad (when i say roughly, i mean leaving obvious waxy swirl marks where you've been applying it) and then only buffing it with a towel or something afterwards to finish it off? i picture myself spending 3 hours trying to smooth out the wax using those tiny applicator pads... :o
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Wow, I just rub wax on my hands then just spread it all over the car in an even coverage.

Also don't apply it in swirls, apply it in straight lines.

Let it cure, then buff off normally
 
using your bare hands to apply??? wouldn't your hands get sore from covering such a large surface area lol. think i will stick to the pads... can't be getting wax under my finger nails
 
Any recommendations for a decent drying towel? The water round here leaves stains if it air dries. I've tried searching DW but it's just mind-boggling.

Will any old Microfibre towel do or is there an outstanding product that isn't eleventy million pounds?
 
Lopéz said:
Any recommendations for a decent drying towel? The water round here leaves stains if it air dries. I've tried searching DW but it's just mind-boggling.

Will any old Microfibre towel do or is there an outstanding product that isn't eleventy million pounds?
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I've been using the Sonus towels for a number of years now and can't fault them, a quick spritz with some detailing spray and it drys spotless.

Get mine from here http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/microfibre-cloths/cat_5.html

This Poorboys luxury one looks pretty swish http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog/pb-luxury-drying-towel-wash.html
 
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Lopéz said:
Any recommendations for a decent drying towel? The water round here leaves stains if it air dries. I've tried searching DW but it's just mind-boggling.

Will any old Microfibre towel do or is there an outstanding product that isn't eleventy million pounds?
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The Poorboys blue waffle weave or the luxury yellow as posted above, tried pretty much every other one and these (especially the waffle weave) imo are the best. One will dry two big cars without wringing out.
 
i picked up one from the detailing section in walmart in the states.

Great big fluffy thing and its great.

in short, it doesnt really matter. They're all designed to be soft on the paintwork which is what matters :)
 
Lopéz said:
Any recommendations for a decent drying towel? The water round here leaves stains if it air dries. I've tried searching DW but it's just mind-boggling.

Will any old Microfibre towel do or is there an outstanding product that isn't eleventy million pounds?
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I use the Magic.

Bottle off with distilled water if you can after washing the car. Less to dry aswell.
 
Lopéz said:
Any recommendations for a decent drying towel? The water round here leaves stains if it air dries. I've tried searching DW but it's just mind-boggling.

Will any old Microfibre towel do or is there an outstanding product that isn't eleventy million pounds?
Click to expand...

We have very hard water round here.

I use cheap 6 for £4 ones that I pick up in Asda. Kent I think is the brand and a squirt of Wax It Wet which seems to help even more with hard water residue.
 
had a go at washing my car properly for the first time ever today, and i'm quite pleased with the results :p however... it did take me 3 hours, in the cold snowy weather :o i used Meguiars NXT car wash, Sonus ultra-fine clay bar + Glyde spray and Meguiars NXT tech wax

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Hello all,

nice work and some great looking pics in this thread :)

As I am a newb when it comes to car cleaning I would appreciate some tips from the vets here.

For example, a mini list of the basics I should spend on to begin.

Also, there are a few light/minor scratches on my paint (metallic) and my question is should I work the specific area or is best to work the whole panel/door so it does not look odd?

Thanks all!
 
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