Looking after fresh paint?
Discussion
My car looks amazing after being painted at Surface and Design but after 200 miles yesterday its already caked in dead critters.
I am away from home now, using the car to travel from digs to work in Manchester and will be heading straight down to Rye on friday to kick off my attempts in the UK Power Tour.
So how do i clean the car and make it look pretty at the 3 drag strips this weekend without putting the first swirl marks in the paint. Can i trust the guy who comes washes the cars at the office this Thursday?
I am away from home now, using the car to travel from digs to work in Manchester and will be heading straight down to Rye on friday to kick off my attempts in the UK Power Tour.
So how do i clean the car and make it look pretty at the 3 drag strips this weekend without putting the first swirl marks in the paint. Can i trust the guy who comes washes the cars at the office this Thursday?
If I had gone through all the time and expense you have, the only person cleaning my car would be me TBH. Most paint damage is done during the washing process where contact has to be made with the surface of the paint. If the thing touching the paint isn't perfectly free of grit then you are effectively sanding the paint on a microscopic level.
If you really haven't got the time then ask the car cleaner if they use the '2 bucket method' of washing the car. If they look bemused then I'd leave it dusty until you have the time to do a proper job.
Edited to add: nice paint job by the way. I'd like to use S&D for a repaint sometime in the future.
If you really haven't got the time then ask the car cleaner if they use the '2 bucket method' of washing the car. If they look bemused then I'd leave it dusty until you have the time to do a proper job.
Edited to add: nice paint job by the way. I'd like to use S&D for a repaint sometime in the future.
Edited by swisstoni on Monday 19th May 09:47
db484bhpv8 said:
So how do i clean the car and make it look pretty at the 3 drag strips this weekend without putting the first swirl marks in the paint. Can i trust the guy who comes washes the cars at the office this Thursday?
I think you know the answer to the last question already. NOYou can't really seal the paint for a month or so I'd say just to let it breath. Then you can give it a polish and then a coat or several of wax.
Waxing is the best way to protect against critters and it makes it so much easier to wash and it helps the car to still shine even when it's actually dirty. I killed thousands of critters this weekend on a run to Leicester and back and they just wiped off the waxed paintwork using a detailing spray.
I suppose the other suggestion is to get it covered in a protection film but I think it's expensive and it's a toss up (in my eyes anyway) whether it's worth it. (I decided not to)
Well, get yourself a sheepskin mitt from Halfords. Then have a bucket for shampoo and a bucket with water only.
Dip the sheepskin in the shampoo and wipe over as normal but rinse the mitt in the water only bucket and try do dislodge all the grit.
Then dip in the shampoo and repeat.
Also worth soaking the car first to loosen things up.
Dip the sheepskin in the shampoo and wipe over as normal but rinse the mitt in the water only bucket and try do dislodge all the grit.
Then dip in the shampoo and repeat.
Also worth soaking the car first to loosen things up.
tehawk crows.Soak it with water if it's dried to soften it. If you have a hose rinse it off and then wipe with a soft cloth.
I'm not convinced by sheepskin mitts, I used to use them and they can get debris lodged in them. I think those brightly coloured 'noodle' mitts are the best and cheapest solution as you can have several for different parts of the car and they're cheap enough to throw away on a regular basis.
I'm not convinced by sheepskin mitts, I used to use them and they can get debris lodged in them. I think those brightly coloured 'noodle' mitts are the best and cheapest solution as you can have several for different parts of the car and they're cheap enough to throw away on a regular basis.
Edited by V8 GRF on Monday 19th May 16:11
V8 GRF said:
Soak it with water if it's dried to soften it. If you have a hose rinse it off and then wipe with a soft cloth.
I'm not convinced by sheepskin mitts, I used to use them and they can get debris lodged in them. I think those brightly coloured 'noodle' mitts are the best and cheapest solution as you can have several for different parts of the car and they're cheap enough to throw away on a regular basis.
noodle mitts, new ones for drying and top surfaces and used ones for lower down, , throw away after a few usesI'm not convinced by sheepskin mitts, I used to use them and they can get debris lodged in them. I think those brightly coloured 'noodle' mitts are the best and cheapest solution as you can have several for different parts of the car and they're cheap enough to throw away on a regular basis.
Edited by V8 GRF on Monday 19th May 16:11
Microfibre cloths are excellent, remove almost anything with just warm water any don't deposit it back. I use them to clean my glasses and no scratches yet. Amazon do a pack of 15 or so 1 ft sq for a few quid.
Of course, the most important thing to remember with new paint is to not accelerate too quickly as the forces can cause the paint surfaces to sheer and you will loose the shine quotient.....
Of course, the most important thing to remember with new paint is to not accelerate too quickly as the forces can cause the paint surfaces to sheer and you will loose the shine quotient.....
Don't forget the drying stage too when you're washing a car. You can cause as much if not more damage when drying the car. Don't use a chamois leather or a drying blade you WILL scratch it and put swirls in the paint. Get yourself a large drying towel like this one http://www.mainzcarcare.co.uk/exterior-cleaning/mi... There are loads of videos on youtube to show you how to safely wash cars. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiGj5f0l5as that's quite a good video to show the basics. As David says after a month or so get some layers of wax or sealant on it, makes cleaning it in future much easier.
Perhaps not new paint, but some decent videos showing method(s) here: carcleaningguru.
Careful Derek, you don't want to get labelled as a 'polisher' 
In all seriousness though your Tiv now looks fantastic so sensible to do some research on how to keep the paintwork in condition. I normally spend half a day a year proper cleaning mine and applying a good quality wax. I find that this protects the paintwork and makes it much easier to clean for the rest of summer, just a quick wash and perhaps a bit of quick detailer which takes about an hour will bring it back to being shiny again.
In all seriousness though your Tiv now looks fantastic so sensible to do some research on how to keep the paintwork in condition. I normally spend half a day a year proper cleaning mine and applying a good quality wax. I find that this protects the paintwork and makes it much easier to clean for the rest of summer, just a quick wash and perhaps a bit of quick detailer which takes about an hour will bring it back to being shiny again.
Colin RedGriff said:
LordGrover said:
Ask S&D what they recommend?
This would be my first stepMicrofibres, 2 bucket method, be gentle and no wax just yet.
and i still aint washed it!
Rain took most the bugs off and i gave the wheels a quick wash.
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