Cleaning a waxed car? Tips?
Discussion
I have a car which had gone pink and I colour-restored it. Once that had been done I gave it a good coat of wax. After a couple of weeks dirt has stuck itself to the bodywork. I was hoping to just wipe it clean with a new soft cloth but that isn't working.
The objective is to save time.
I could start again from the beginning and use some sort of solvent to remove the wax and dirt and reapply. That solvent could be Autoglym Super Resin polish or cellouse thinners or anything really. But that is the same as taking off the wax and then it needs to be reapplied.
I want to clean the dirt off and then maybe wax it again but I don't want it to take the whole day.
Maybe dust it to get the dirt off, then super resin polish and then wax? Trouble is I think super resin polish makes the wax turn into little black dots all over the bodywork where it has half cleaned it and half left it.
The objective is to save time.
I could start again from the beginning and use some sort of solvent to remove the wax and dirt and reapply. That solvent could be Autoglym Super Resin polish or cellouse thinners or anything really. But that is the same as taking off the wax and then it needs to be reapplied.
I want to clean the dirt off and then maybe wax it again but I don't want it to take the whole day.
Maybe dust it to get the dirt off, then super resin polish and then wax? Trouble is I think super resin polish makes the wax turn into little black dots all over the bodywork where it has half cleaned it and half left it.
Ah, one thing I forgot to mention. It has to be a dry cleaning method of some sort as I don't have easy access to water here.
It's a convertible with big side-skirts so bodywork really is limited to bonnet, boot lid and a 12-inch strip between the windows and the bodykit.
Maybe window cleaner will shift the dirt without destroying the wax coat?
It's a convertible with big side-skirts so bodywork really is limited to bonnet, boot lid and a 12-inch strip between the windows and the bodykit.
Maybe window cleaner will shift the dirt without destroying the wax coat?
ejenner said:
I have a car which had gone pink and I colour-restored it. Once that had been done I gave it a good coat of wax. After a couple of weeks dirt has stuck itself to the bodywork. I was hoping to just wipe it clean with a new soft cloth but that isn't working.
The objective is to save time.
I could start again from the beginning and use some sort of solvent to remove the wax and dirt and reapply. That solvent could be Autoglym Super Resin polish or cellouse thinners or anything really. But that is the same as taking off the wax and then it needs to be reapplied.
I want to clean the dirt off and then maybe wax it again but I don't want it to take the whole day.
Maybe dust it to get the dirt off, then super resin polish and then wax? Trouble is I think super resin polish makes the wax turn into little black dots all over the bodywork where it has half cleaned it and half left it.
This thread will probably get moved, but anyway.The objective is to save time.
I could start again from the beginning and use some sort of solvent to remove the wax and dirt and reapply. That solvent could be Autoglym Super Resin polish or cellouse thinners or anything really. But that is the same as taking off the wax and then it needs to be reapplied.
I want to clean the dirt off and then maybe wax it again but I don't want it to take the whole day.
Maybe dust it to get the dirt off, then super resin polish and then wax? Trouble is I think super resin polish makes the wax turn into little black dots all over the bodywork where it has half cleaned it and half left it.
Super Resin Polisher has very little 'cut', and is filler heavy so not an (abrasive) polish in the typical sense. Buy a decent polish and redo the car again (preferably with a machine polisher and a very light abrasive polish).
I presume you already clayed the car before polishing, but if not, then do so.
Once clayed and polished, use a sealant (Poorboys or Autoglym is okay). A sealant does not have the depth of shine as wax, but lasts longer. Try and get a couple of coats on, leaving plenty of time between each application.
Then apply the wax, preferably a couple of coats (again, leave time between each coat ~24hours).
If you are using a decent wax, then dirt will not bond to it.
Is this a wind- up?
My dad taught me how to wash a car when I was five, about forty years ago, it didn't involve dusting.
Water and car shampoo seems to work everytime - and yes that will work on a waxed/polished car too.
If it takes more than half an hour you are doing something wrong
My dad taught me how to wash a car when I was five, about forty years ago, it didn't involve dusting.
Water and car shampoo seems to work everytime - and yes that will work on a waxed/polished car too.
If it takes more than half an hour you are doing something wrong
tex200 said:
Is this a wind- up?
My dad taught me how to wash a car when I was five, about forty years ago, it didn't involve dusting.
Water and car shampoo seems to work everytime - and yes that will work on a waxed/polished car too.
If it takes more than half an hour you are doing something wrong
Half an hour? I suggest you don't visit the Deatiling World forum. My dad taught me how to wash a car when I was five, about forty years ago, it didn't involve dusting.
Water and car shampoo seems to work everytime - and yes that will work on a waxed/polished car too.
If it takes more than half an hour you are doing something wrong
JFReturns said:
tex200 said:
Is this a wind- up?
My dad taught me how to wash a car when I was five, about forty years ago, it didn't involve dusting.
Water and car shampoo seems to work everytime - and yes that will work on a waxed/polished car too.
If it takes more than half an hour you are doing something wrong
Half an hour? I suggest you don't visit the Deatiling World forum. My dad taught me how to wash a car when I was five, about forty years ago, it didn't involve dusting.
Water and car shampoo seems to work everytime - and yes that will work on a waxed/polished car too.
If it takes more than half an hour you are doing something wrong
Super resin polish isn't the 'wax' that I've been using. The paintwork is protected by a coat of clear protector wax similar to the autoglym 'extra gloss protection'
As I say, if you use SRP on the wax protector coat then the wax will bead-up and leave loads of black dots all over the paint.
, love itDo you live in flats with no tap access? You really do need to have water involved in the cleaning at some stage otherwise you'll just wreck your hard work by dragging dirt over the body work. What about a mobile battery powered pressure washer? It's not going to blast the dirt but if all you need is to loosen it and then wash properly (two bucket method while using a lambs wool mitt and chanting the ingredients of the shampoo in a shallow voice) then this is prob your best step forwards. I did my cars paint recently and after all that effort theres no chance that I would want to skimp on the care or do it wrong.
http://www.nomad-direct.co.uk/index.php/Products/N...
That ones £180
http://www.mobiwasher.co.uk/shop/product/v15/
That ones £94 and you need a £30 battery pack aswell
http://www.nomad-direct.co.uk/index.php/Products/N...
That ones £180
http://www.mobiwasher.co.uk/shop/product/v15/
That ones £94 and you need a £30 battery pack aswell
If water is a problem then try
http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/washing-and-drying/o...
It still needs water but not much of it.
Just wiping dirt off of a car will make it look s
te after a few times. Why not just go to your local £5 hand car wash place?
http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/washing-and-drying/o...
It still needs water but not much of it.
Just wiping dirt off of a car will make it look s
te after a few times. Why not just go to your local £5 hand car wash place?Arun_D said:
Thanks for those. Might come in handy for where I live. Got no access to a hose but can easily take a couple of pre-filled buckets down from the flat and use one of these machines as substitute for a hose.
They have inbuilt tanks, about 15L i think so no need for buckets - I was looking seriously at them when in flats as carrying buckets in and out made me look like a mentalist and didn't make you want to clean the car too often. I'm far from what you might call a detailer, but I've found that by far the best wax for making your car easy to wash and stopping dirt and bird lime sticking is Collinite 845 insulator wax. Even seagull st can't get a hold and runs off. It also seals alloys really well - brake dust comes off with a wipe from a dry duster. I am not in any way affiliated with this product. 
t can't get a hold and runs off. It also seals alloys really well - brake dust comes off with a wipe from a dry duster. I am not in any way affiliated with this product. ejenner said:
Got a link to that calkhead?
I went with the window cleaner method. Just waiting for the wax to dry now before I polish it up.
It wasn't very dirty. Just water marks from rain which appeared to contain dust? Either that or the car was dusty before it rained.
http://www.shipshapenorfolkltd.co.uk/ect/proddetai...I went with the window cleaner method. Just waiting for the wax to dry now before I polish it up.
It wasn't very dirty. Just water marks from rain which appeared to contain dust? Either that or the car was dusty before it rained.
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