what happened to using a bucket and a sponge?

[WonkeyDonkey]

I just let the rain clean the car.

[Uncle Meat]

I wouldn't use any large car wash place. Some of the chemcials they use are quite shocking, but I haven't quite got to the extent of varnishing my car (ceramic coating).
This guy bought a brand new Tesla, gave it a good detail (he owns a detailing shop) and took it the local auto wash (aka swirlomatic)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbgkv0dUgoE

[AC43]

jamei303 said:

Demelitia said:

For some people, cars are the second most expensive thing they’ll ever buy after a house, and so they’re understandably keen to keep them in good condition.

How many people wash the outside of their house, other than the windows?

I did it - or at least had a brick expert do it. I's always wondered why some developed houses looked better than others.

I ended up having all the original brickwork acid-cleaned to take out 90 years of London grime so it matched the new bricks in the infills & extension.

Then had the whole lot groove pointed to tie it all together.

While he was at it got the remaining old sections of roof tiles done too.

Detailed house. Massive improvement LOL.

[SeeFive]

AC43 said:

jamei303 said:

Demelitia said:

For some people, cars are the second most expensive thing they’ll ever buy after a house, and so they’re understandably keen to keep them in good condition.

How many people wash the outside of their house, other than the windows?

I did it - or at least had a brick expert do it. I's always wondered why some developed houses looked better than others.

I ended up having all the original brickwork acid-cleaned to take out 90 years of London grime so it matched the new bricks in the infills & extension.

Then had the whole lot groove pointed to tie it all together.

While he was at it got the remaining old sections of roof tiles done too.

Detailed house. Massive improvement LOL.

I noticed that my mums conservatory frames looked a bit dull at the weekend so I am taking the machine polisher and 3 inch pads over on Thursday.

If you want a polishing challenge, get a boat. I have no excuse, mine is at the bottom of the back garden. Takes bloody ages each spring to get round that with a DA.

[plenty]

Some people enjoy keeping their cars clean, some people don’t. The only thing really worth noting is that some who don’t, feel the need to loudly tell people that they don’t.

The reasons for this are well documented in Kate Fox’s “Watching the English”, and like so many things is rooted in class and wanting to be perceived by others in a certain way.

[PH User]

plenty said:

Some people enjoy keeping their cars clean, some people don’t.

Exactly.

[Jonny Wishbone]

plenty said:

Some people enjoy keeping their cars clean, some people don’t. The only thing really worth noting is that some who don’t, feel the need to loudly tell people that they don’t.

The reasons for this are well documented in Kate Fox’s “Watching the English”, and like so many things is rooted in class and wanting to be perceived by others in a certain way.

It is a fascinating read.

[rodericb]

Jonny Wishbone said:

ddom said:

CDB1983 said:

I often wondered how ceramic coatings work. If they repel dirt so well then why does st stick to a ceramic toilet so well?

Not convinced of ceramic coatings, for me, the new snake oil product.

I’m agnostic at the moment. I got my previous car detailed and ceramic coated professionally from new at the same time I took an interest in properly looking after the car. After four years there was barely a swirl on the paint, but I have no idea if that’s because of the ceramic coating or because I used the basic techniques to prevent swirling highlighted in this thread. It seems a pretty safe bet that, like me, most people who get their cars coated are likely to be the sorts of people who look after their paint so it’s possible the reported benefits of ceramic coating are placebo.

I’ve not bothered getting my new car coated and will stick with regular washes with intermittent decon, polish and wax. I’m curious to see whether the paint is any worse off after a couple of years.

I think the thought behind ceramic coatings, those foam guns and blow-dry is to have car cleaning non-contact and thus the surface won't collect swirls and scratches from traditional cleaning. Car clear coats are apparently softer nowadays which makes them more prone to get swirls. Couple this with chemicals advancements in being able to repel crud (the surface) and encapsulating it (washing chemicals) and it should all come together in the future with the result that you only have to give the car a bit of a squirt to clean it to very close to brand new shine.

[Mr Tidy]

plenty said:

Some people enjoy keeping their cars clean, some people don’t. The only thing really worth noting is that some who don’t, feel the need to loudly tell people that they don’t.

And it seems those that do can't stop telling everyone all about it!

[dhutch]

LuS1fer said:

Tesco spec thick sponge.
One bucket.
Start at the top and move down, hose rinse....

This.
If the car had decent paint to start I would use a grit guard.

[nickfrog]

TopTrump said:

nickfrog said:

I can imagine the huge marketing budgets involved in making me buy two £1 pound buckets rather than one and a £5 soft mitt rather than a £1 sponge that will swirl my back paint instantly.

Wow are you a bit slow?

Do you not think there are millions upon millions of polishes, resins, clay bars, waxes, rubber finishes etc.? Bell.

I am sorry to hear about your emotional fragility Mike.

[Captain Raymond Holt]

dhutch said:

LuS1fer said:

Tesco spec thick sponge.
One bucket.
Start at the top and move down, hose rinse....

This.
If the car had decent paint to start I would use a grit guard.

Yup. No drying, no polishing.

Oh, and it’s an annual wash

Philosophy being that the initial coat of dirt is a protective layer

Edited by Captain Raymond Holt on Tuesday 30th March 08:51

[Prohibiting]

I’ve been doing it the “better” way for years now.

For a quick clean (1.5hrs) wash mitt, 2 buckets, alloy wheel cleaner, black plastic dresser, glass cleaner, quick detailer, tyre gel.

For a “de-contamination” clean (3hrs), the same as above but with added tar remover, iron-X fall out remover, and a clay bar mitt. I always do this when I buy a new used car.

If my car makes it to my ownership of over a year then it’ll get the machine polish treatment and heavy wax coating : I think I’ve used my machine polisher only twice in a few years as it’s a lot of invested time. I have recently bought a 1998 truck and that is absolutely covered in swirls. It’s had my de-contamination clean which improved the paint massively but I’ve already told myself it’s going to get a machine polish early on, maybe April.

Edited by Prohibiting on Tuesday 30th March 09:49

[otolith]

plenty said:

Some people enjoy keeping their cars clean, some people don’t.

While that's true, I'm not sure that's the actual split - of those who do clean their cars (or get them cleaned), there are those who care about superficially damaging the paint in the process and those who don't.

[Emeye]

I don't even see the point in washing a car until it is making your clothes dirty when you get in and out of it.

Some fker will just drive into it in the supermarket car park anyway.

[PH User]

I like my cars when they look clean, but cleaning them is a rather boring process.

[plenty]

otolith said:

plenty said:

Some people enjoy keeping their cars clean, some people don’t.

While that's true, I'm not sure that's the actual split - of those who do clean their cars (or get them cleaned), there are those who care about superficially damaging the paint in the process and those who don't.

Very true. I should rephrase "Some people care about their paint, some people don't".

[PH User]

plenty said:

otolith said:

plenty said:

Some people enjoy keeping their cars clean, some people don’t.

While that's true, I'm not sure that's the actual split - of those who do clean their cars (or get them cleaned), there are those who care about superficially damaging the paint in the process and those who don't.

Very true. I should rephrase "Some people care about their paint, some people don't".

You have 3 levels really.

Don't care

Care

Really care


Most people fall into the care level

[plenty]

PH User said:

Most people fall into the care level

To be even more granular, I think there is a sizeable segment of "I care but I hate cleaning cars so I'll live with it"

[PH User]

plenty said:

PH User said:

Most people fall into the care level

To be even more granular, I think there is a sizeable segment of "I care but I hate cleaning cars so I'll live with it"

Well yes, you also get those who have a bit of a cleaning obsession, so that's another level, but I think 3 is probably enough.