That cleaning feeling
Discussion
I have just cleaned my Mazda and bought a £7 bottle of alloy wheel cleaner beggining with M, ending in R with E as the middle letter.
Anyways, all 4 wheels came up cleaner, sparklier and less marked than before. For some odd reason this made me very, very happy. Looking out the window I can see a car that isnt exactly a piece of art but it was once dirty and is now clean and fresh.
The Missuse think I am bonkers and on any other occasion I would agree.
Does anyone else get a similar feeling when they have given their P and J some TLC?
Anyways, all 4 wheels came up cleaner, sparklier and less marked than before. For some odd reason this made me very, very happy. Looking out the window I can see a car that isnt exactly a piece of art but it was once dirty and is now clean and fresh.
The Missuse think I am bonkers and on any other occasion I would agree.
Does anyone else get a similar feeling when they have given their P and J some TLC?
Absolutely, I know the feeling you mean - I can get more and more "meh" about looking at my car on the drive, especially with the winter wheels on and the persistent battery niggles. Then I'll take the time to give her a good wash, dry and polish and start to love the thing again 
I'm definitely not anal about keeping the car clean, and it's often weeks and weeks between washes especially at this time of year, but it does make me feel good.
I'm definitely not anal about keeping the car clean, and it's often weeks and weeks between washes especially at this time of year, but it does make me feel good.
I washed both cars today, hoovered both out also, paid more attention to the interior of the Bora as I've recently got it and it wasn't clean enough inside for me, actually it was bogging.
All my work has been undone already, went into town in the 335 this afternoon and it's now filthy, and the Bora battery has decided that it's now on its way out
Typical, I may wash the BMW again tomorrow, but it's unlikely
All my work has been undone already, went into town in the 335 this afternoon and it's now filthy, and the Bora battery has decided that it's now on its way out
Typical, I may wash the BMW again tomorrow, but it's unlikely
ClaesB said:
soad said:
Tried detailing it yet?
+1 Sensational feeling when its done properly!
it did come up pretty well though (see main profile pic - though this is before i treated all the plastics....hence mudflaps are a bit faded, now they're factory black (i.e. not glossy!)
get a good sealant on there too to keep it clean, i'm lucky enough to have gtechniq C1 on mine
Bisonhead said:
So what does claying actually do?
Get comfy.Right, i collinited my car recently then got a claying kit. By claying it i removed all the bonded surface contaminants i didnt even know were there. After doing it the panels that i thought were clean from just waxing had yielded a load of surface crap i didnt even know were there and look like glass by comparison. You'd be bloody amazed just how much surface contaminant is locked onto the top coat until you actually start claying it.
VinceFox said:
Bisonhead said:
So what does claying actually do?
Get comfy.Right, i collinited my car recently then got a claying kit. By claying it i removed all the bonded surface contaminants i didnt even know were there. After doing it the panels that i thought were clean from just waxing had yielded a load of surface crap i didnt even know were there and look like glass by comparison. You'd be bloody amazed just how much surface contaminant is locked onto the top coat until you actually start claying it.
often requires a polish after, depending on what grade of clay (aggressive, gentle etc) you use.
E38Ross said:
VinceFox said:
Bisonhead said:
So what does claying actually do?
Get comfy.Right, i collinited my car recently then got a claying kit. By claying it i removed all the bonded surface contaminants i didnt even know were there. After doing it the panels that i thought were clean from just waxing had yielded a load of surface crap i didnt even know were there and look like glass by comparison. You'd be bloody amazed just how much surface contaminant is locked onto the top coat until you actually start claying it.
often requires a polish after, depending on what grade of clay (aggressive, gentle etc) you use.
VinceFox said:
I used a pretty mild megs white clay, just took off a general yellowing from the bonnet but the side panels were a revelation. I was absolutely shocked at how much came off the further i got down the car. Rewaxing after is essential btw.
waxes are old-tech. for best protection use nano-coatings 
gtechniq C1 for the win
Got to admit I've always really enjoyed cleaning my cars,inside and out and even the engine bay, to me that's a must, I find it relaxing and theraputic regardless of the cuts n bruises bumps n scrapes getting into every nook and cranny followed by varying amounts of colourful language, a great way to unwind and loved the satisfaction of the end result, and for as long as I've owned cars I've always been proud of the attention they've recieved regarding their appearance. Now I always thought my methods were good, however after reading a thread on here about 18 months or so ago written by a detailler regarding the correct preperation, washing ,drying ,cleaning and waxing of cars with the correct products to use and then the maintanence following........my god , my eyes were opened, I saw the light and ever since then I've become a changed man, I think my wife calls it obsessed. Ok so the initial outlay for the right bits may put a slight dent in the wallet but it's just so worth it, if you love your cars as much as I do then treat them, the end result is is so much better and noticable, even better if at first you can afford to have a detailer do a paint correction detail for you and highlight the imperfections then all you do is keep on top of it, it takes a shade more time to do and is a little more involved but the pride you feel after looking back at your job done, can't beat it you'll enjoy it even more.
VinceFox said:
Get comfy.
Right, i collinited my car recently then got a claying kit. By claying it i removed all the bonded surface contaminants i didnt even know were there. After doing it the panels that i thought were clean from just waxing had yielded a load of surface crap i didnt even know were there and look like glass by comparison. You'd be bloody amazed just how much surface contaminant is locked onto the top coat until you actually start claying it.
My man you have done this a bit wrong. Right, i collinited my car recently then got a claying kit. By claying it i removed all the bonded surface contaminants i didnt even know were there. After doing it the panels that i thought were clean from just waxing had yielded a load of surface crap i didnt even know were there and look like glass by comparison. You'd be bloody amazed just how much surface contaminant is locked onto the top coat until you actually start claying it.
Your correct in saying the clay removes particals that you cant see / also some you can.
However you have gone wrong in the process and understanding what the products do.
A basic way to do it is the following ( other steps can be added )
1. Wash the car
2. Clay
3. Wash again
4. Dry
5. Polish
6. Wax
The idea is to get the paint as clean as possible with the wash / clay parts. Then use a polish ( this gives the shine ). Then apply the wax ( wax protects the paint not clean it )
If you have used the clay after the Coli was put on the car you have wasted your time as the clay will remove it. + Coli is a right mere to get off a lot of hard work gone in for nothing.
Sorry for the long post just thought id try to help you out a little. Your doing the right thing using Coli its a great long lasting wax. Any questions just ask im happy to help.
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