How to actually clean a car?
Discussion
Good evening all,
With the winter months approaching some extra TLC is needed for both the fly encrusted motorbike and the car.
A well specified valeting kit is now on my shopping list, yet what seems to evade me is the order in which you use it all.
Currently on the list:
-Autoglym full valet set 9 piece
-Gliptone leather cleaner and conditioner
-Engine Degreaser
-Meguiars lamb wool mit
-Brushes and Microfibres
Possible:
-Clay Bar
-Wax
This is where my issue begins. Exterior only
1.I understand I clean the car beginning with a rinse, two bucket method. Possibly do this twice.
2.Then polish the car
3.Then put extra gloss protection on
At what point does claying and waxing take place?
-Before or after washing/polishing?
-If clayed does that mean I have to wax?
-Spray wax vs real wax? I don't have access to any tools or the skill set for proper use
-The car did get a silverseal protection thing a few years back, would waxing remove all this?
Sorry for the absolute noob question!
With the winter months approaching some extra TLC is needed for both the fly encrusted motorbike and the car.
A well specified valeting kit is now on my shopping list, yet what seems to evade me is the order in which you use it all.
Currently on the list:
-Autoglym full valet set 9 piece
-Gliptone leather cleaner and conditioner
-Engine Degreaser
-Meguiars lamb wool mit
-Brushes and Microfibres
Possible:
-Clay Bar
-Wax
This is where my issue begins. Exterior only
1.I understand I clean the car beginning with a rinse, two bucket method. Possibly do this twice.
2.Then polish the car
3.Then put extra gloss protection on
At what point does claying and waxing take place?
-Before or after washing/polishing?
-If clayed does that mean I have to wax?
-Spray wax vs real wax? I don't have access to any tools or the skill set for proper use
-The car did get a silverseal protection thing a few years back, would waxing remove all this?
Sorry for the absolute noob question!
Iron-X spray to remove all the bits in the paint and wheels (you'd be astonished how bad paintwork and wheel often are)
Wash with 2 buckets and a good wool mitt / noodle mitt
Clay - this gets rid of bonded contamination. Please use plenty of lube else you'll hurt the paint
Most will then clean the surface with IPA (Alcohol + water mix) or re-wash to get rid of any clay remains
Polish - AutoGlym range are perfectly good base products for working by hand. This cleans the surface ready for the top coat
Then a good wax - so much depends on your budget, time and how much you want to read up on better products (detailingworld.co.uk has loads of guides - and loads of rubbish advice!).
If you like, you can then put on something like Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection (chosen as it is easy to get hold of).
PErsonally, for really good winter protection, I find nothing beats the current generation of nano-sealants like Wolf Body Wrap. Great protection and less maintenance than wax.
And for the windscreen, I really rate the Angelwax H2Go Water Repellent ; it makes rain bead off the windscreen at 30mph or less.
Wash with 2 buckets and a good wool mitt / noodle mitt
Clay - this gets rid of bonded contamination. Please use plenty of lube else you'll hurt the paint
Most will then clean the surface with IPA (Alcohol + water mix) or re-wash to get rid of any clay remains
Polish - AutoGlym range are perfectly good base products for working by hand. This cleans the surface ready for the top coat
Then a good wax - so much depends on your budget, time and how much you want to read up on better products (detailingworld.co.uk has loads of guides - and loads of rubbish advice!).
If you like, you can then put on something like Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection (chosen as it is easy to get hold of).
PErsonally, for really good winter protection, I find nothing beats the current generation of nano-sealants like Wolf Body Wrap. Great protection and less maintenance than wax.
And for the windscreen, I really rate the Angelwax H2Go Water Repellent ; it makes rain bead off the windscreen at 30mph or less.
Think of it like this, polish will take off a very fine layer of lacquer or paint or whatever you're rubbing it on, this is to remove fine swirls and blemishes in the paint. Once you've done that wax simply creates the lustre and enhances the shine, it is smooth, has no abrasives in it and does not cut into the paint. If you did it the other way round the polish would strip off the wax you'd previously put on 
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