what happened to using a bucket and a sponge?

[otolith]

I spent some time on Sunday cleaning all three cars.

I had a Karcher snow foam kit, which was crap. It just didn't work. I'd bought an Autoglym "Polar Blast" one some time ago to replace it, which I was sceptical of, but it basically covered everything in sight in foam. Not bad.

I cleaned their wheels, then snow foamed them, pressure washed it off then washed them by hand.

This was the first time I cleaned the Mercedes since I bought it, so I also clayed it, polished and waxed it. It's more something your dad has in his shed that your detailing obsessive's unicorn spunk, but it's surprising how much things come up with a bit of Super Resin Polish and a DA polisher.

[alorotom]

otolith said:

I spent some time on Sunday cleaning all three cars.

I had a Karcher snow foam kit, which was crap. It just didn't work. I'd bought an Autoglym "Polar Blast" one some time ago to replace it, which I was sceptical of, but it basically covered everything in sight in foam. Not bad.

I cleaned their wheels, then snow foamed them, pressure washed it off then washed them by hand.

This was the first time I cleaned the Mercedes since I bought it, so I also clayed it, polished and waxed it. It's more something your dad has in his shed that your detailing obsessive's unicorn spunk, but it's surprising how much things come up with a bit of Super Resin Polish and a DA polisher.

I used to be fanatical about cleaning and detailing and pre-child would often spend all weekend doing my car once a month and then most Saturdays at least half the day. Spent literally thousands on waxes, glazes, sealants, polishes, special pads and cloths, a couple of DAs, a rotary, etc.... then I totally fell out of love with it all when one of my cars was repeatedly vandalised.

For a while I used a valeter who used to come to the office I was working at once a month which was handy and he only charged £40 for the half day and it was always immaculate which was cheap for a big SUV. I was only contracted there for a 18mths though so it didn't last.

My current car (a leased Skoda) goes back in 4mths time, its a 3 year lease. It has yet to have it first wash (and I was unimpressed that the dealer didn't wash it when it was serviced in September last year)

[ro250]

I look after the 2 family cars and will wash them weekly normally. As others have said, it's quite therapeutic and, especially in the last year, it's a lot better for you than sitting on your backside watching Netflix.

Although I have a few shampoos and sealants, it isn't really an expensive thing to do well on your drive, you just need the inclination. I must admit, I've never quite understood the people who only clean a car when they are selling it.

Chap over the road just had a brand new car delivered and he washed it straight away. Even if you don't know your car washing techniques, the fact he was putting the sponge on the ground at various points in the wash was making me wince!

My neighbour never cleans her car and it looks disgusting. What I found fascinating was she had a bump recently (her own doing - small dent and bumper crack) and got it fixed immediately. I couldn't even see the dent for the 3 years of crud around so I don't get her logic for bothering.

[nickfrog]

otolith said:

I spent some time on Sunday cleaning all three cars.

I had a Karcher snow foam kit, which was crap. It just didn't work. I'd bought an Autoglym "Polar Blast" one some time ago to replace it, which I was sceptical of, but it basically covered everything in sight in foam. Not bad.

I cleaned their wheels, then snow foamed them, pressure washed it off then washed them by hand.

This was the first time I cleaned the Mercedes since I bought it, so I also clayed it, polished and waxed it. It's more something your dad has in his shed that your detailing obsessive's unicorn spunk, but it's surprising how much things come up with a bit of Super Resin Polish and a DA polisher.

Nice job although the driveway may also need some of your magic applied to it.;)

[otolith]

nickfrog said:

Nice job although the driveway may also need some of your magic applied to it.;)

You sound like my neighbour

I've been away a lot because of lockdown, so it's worse for weeds than normal, but the whole thing needs taking up and replacing. I'd also like to fit an underground propane tank and may be forced to fit a sewage treatment unit, though, so there's no point doing the drive and then digging it up again.

[anonymous-user]

Pistonheader101 said:

does anyone still use the good old fashioned method anymore?

Me! One bucket, 2 sponges (one just for wheels and tyres), that's all I need. Wet the car with hose, wash it top to bottom, rinse with hose. Take it out to dry it off a bit, let it get dirty again.

I will get involved if the birds crap on it though to prevent paint damage.

[bad company]

I’ve had to wash my own car the last few weeks while the car wash was closed. I’m using this stuff, is someone going to say it’s no good and will remove the paint from my pride & joy?

I don’t enjoy car washing and it causes back ache for me though I must say that it’s satisfying.

[320d is all you need]

M_O_W_G_L_I said:

Pistonheader101 said:

does anyone still use the good old fashioned method anymore?

Me! One bucket, 2 sponges (one just for wheels and tyres), that's all I need. Wet the car with hose, wash it top to bottom, rinse with hose. Take it out to dry it off a bit, let it get dirty again.

I will get involved if the birds crap on it though to prevent paint damage.

I wouldn't care about paint damage with that wash routine!

[Prohibiting]

My wheel woolies turned up today and I’ve already put them to use... game changer. Can’t believe I’ve been making do with a brush from a dust pan set for so long. Also the big yellow brush is also new and fantastic for doing the face of the wheel and tyre wall.

I pretty much have every base covered without having spent thousands like some cleaning nuts. My collection has been slowly built up over 10 years and it’s fair to say I have spent a few hundred. However, you don’t need to spend £100 on a single tub of wax. Bilt Hamber double wax at £14 a tub has raving reviews. You can also save a lot by buying concentrates and watering them down to the recommended ration which means some products can literally last for 10 years.

I tend to stick to a few brands otherwise it can get overwhelming with so much choice

Shampoo: Bilt Hamber Auto Wash concentrate
All purpose cleaner: Bilt Hamber Surfex HD concentrate
Wheel cleaner: Valet Pro Bilberry concentrate
Tar remover: Tardis tar & glue
Iron fall out remover: Bilt Hamber Korrosol
Clay: Farecla G3 Pro clay mitt (game changer)
Tyre gel: Auto Finesse
Black plastic dressing: 303 Aerospace
Glass cleaner: Any supermarket stuff
Quick detailer: Bilt Hamber Auto QD
Cleanser (before wax): Bilt Hamber cleanser fluid
Wax: Bilt Hamber double speed

Polishes: Menzerna
Polishing pads: Lake Country hydrotech
Dual action polisher: DAS6

Wash mitt: Gtechniq WM2 microfibre mitt
Drying towels: Chemical Guys Woolly Mammoth
Wheel brushes: Wheel woolies large and medium
General purpose detailing brush: Valet Pro
Wheel face brush: Martin Cox brush

Any decent microfibre clothes (a lot of the Bilt Hamber stuff comes with a free very nice microfibre cloth.



If you’re a beginner and want to improve your game, the shampoo, wheel cleaner, iron remover, tar remover, tyre gel, wash mitt, clay mitt, quick detailer and drying towel will make a world of difference (iron remover, tar remover and clay mitt only used once every 6 months).

Edited by Prohibiting on Tuesday 6th April 19:14

[nismo48]

Thats not a bad philosophy...
There are more important things in life..

M_O_W_G_L_I said:

Pistonheader101 said:

does anyone still use the good old fashioned method anymore?

Me! One bucket, 2 sponges (one just for wheels and tyres), that's all I need. Wet the car with hose, wash it top to bottom, rinse with hose. Take it out to dry it off a bit, let it get dirty again.

I will get involved if the birds crap on it though to prevent paint damage.

[Tony427]

My company sells car wash chemicals into the forecourt marketplace so there;s a very good chance that if you have ever used an automatic car wash or a jet wash, certainly in the West Midlands, you are using our stuff. We do not supply the hand car wash marketplace as the price points are so low. Many of their chemicals appear to come over from Russia and Eastern Europe via shell companies in the EU.

The tales of brick acid wheel cleaners are genuine.

Unfortunately for the hand car wash market since lockdown has closed them down the talk on the street is that as most of the staff were employed off the books cash only, furlough payments were not forthcoming so no wages meant a great many Albanians, Lithuanians, Romanians etc went home and now post Brexit cannot get back. So no staff means no car washing.

However that does mean that forecourt roll over machines and jet washes are going ballistic. We can just about keep up with demand for the chemicals. By the way, the more modern soft brush machines will not damage your car but do not take anything in there with loose trim. Really, don't do that it will end in tears. Re jet washes, before the brush gets anywhere near your car give the brush itself a good blast with the lance to clear the grit the last user coated it in.

Modern chemicals are really good both at cleaning and waxing your car both in rollovers and in jet washes. Don't skimp on the wax programme btw it will pay dividends in keeping your car clean. Some of our customers offer a caramic coating as part of the top wash programme. Its brilliant, I use it myself. When you have a warehouse full of chemicals some inevitably finds its way home. Talk about beading and shine !!

On some jet wash machines we have just launched an iron remover wheel cleaner. It works tremendous well and is rightly very, very popular. Probably our best selling chemical.

Having said all that unless I'm testing a machine I wash my cars myself by hand. Powerwash to get the worst off, and then yes, a bucket and sponge, tepid water with a one step shampoo and wax. Twice a year I put some ceramic coat in the water as well. Spray wheel cleaner on the wheels and exhaust tips, and whilst thats dissolving the brake dust and diesel soot, a wash down from the roof, then windows then doors then sills. Rinse wheels then wash them.

This means that the paintwork has had lubrication to enable the dirt to be rolled up by the detergent in the shampoo, and has at least one protectorant and occasionally two. Dirt doesn't really stick to car that has lots of protection, especially if its ceramic based.

Then its rinse off and if I'm feeling particularly dilligent I'll apply a Carnuaba spray wax using a microfibre towel thus drying and polishing the car at the same time. Spray on tyre dressing may also be used, because why not.

Takes about 40 minutes. I find it theraputic.

Edited by Tony427 on Tuesday 6th April 21:34

[fourstardan]

You say this but I think the main change in cleaning technique at the first stages has been down to the invention of the pressure washer.

For finishing cars it's definitely become a bit of a fetish for some, I've been through it a bit myself with my nicer cars, now I just do a protection in spring/autumn so I just need to jet wash off any dirt that forms.

[shtu]

Tony427 said:

Twice a year I put some ceramic coat in the water as well.

I'm intrigued, that sounds like my kind of effort level. What could a punter like me get hold of?

[ro250]

shtu said:

Tony427 said:

Twice a year I put some ceramic coat in the water as well.

I'm intrigued, that sounds like my kind of effort level. What could a punter like me get hold of?

Slightly unusual reference to ceramic there. You don't add a ceramic coating to the water or do it a couple of times a year. Ceramic coatings are a semi-permanent coating applied after full paintwork correction and decontamination.

Edited by ro250 on Tuesday 6th April 22:30

[Wills2]

I like a bit of home detailing/washing and find it therapeutic every now and then once every 6 months to a year.

Jet wash
Snow foam
Bilberry for the wheels
2 buckets with grit guards
Lambs wool mitt
A decent car wash solution (megs/Valet pro etc..)
Clay bar (if needed)
ironX (if needed)
Polish with DA (if needed) I like using a Menzerna finishing polish and a yellow pad to remove light swirling.
Dried with Megs waffle weave towels (many of them)
Glass polish inside and out (PITA that bit)
Some decent protection like Swissvax concours to finish and some wheel sealant.

Car looks great afterwards and I've enjoyed it.

[320d is all you need]

ro250 said:

shtu said:

Tony427 said:

Twice a year I put some ceramic coat in the water as well.

I'm intrigued, that sounds like my kind of effort level. What could a punter like me get hold of?

Slightly unusual reference to ceramic there. You don't add a ceramic coating to the water or do it a couple of times a year. Ceramic coatings are a semi-permanent coating applied after full paintwork correction and decontamination.

Edited by ro250 on Tuesday 6th April 22:30

I suspect he means one of the newer hydro-coatings which are si02 infused spray on / rinse off coatings.

[ro250]

320d is all you need said:

ro250 said:

shtu said:

Tony427 said:

Twice a year I put some ceramic coat in the water as well.

I'm intrigued, that sounds like my kind of effort level. What could a punter like me get hold of?

Slightly unusual reference to ceramic there. You don't add a ceramic coating to the water or do it a couple of times a year. Ceramic coatings are a semi-permanent coating applied after full paintwork correction and decontamination.

Edited by ro250 on Tuesday 6th April 22:30

I suspect he means one of the newer hydro-coatings which are si02 infused spray on / rinse off coatings.

Yep, me too. It's just odd (and misleading) to call them ceramic coatings, especially from someone in the trade.

[InitialDave]

If you want to try one you can buy in Halfords/ECP, both the Meguiar's and Turtle Wax trigger spray ones are very good

[Tony427]

ro250 said:

shtu said:

Tony427 said:

Twice a year I put some ceramic coat in the water as well.

I'm intrigued, that sounds like my kind of effort level. What could a punter like me get hold of?

Slightly unusual reference to ceramic there. You don't add a ceramic coating to the water or do it a couple of times a year. Ceramic coatings are a semi-permanent coating applied after full paintwork correction and decontamination.

Edited by ro250 on Tuesday 6th April 22:30

We have been selling Mafralux Foam into the forecourt market for the last 8 years or so which uses Polarite to put a hydrophobic coating on a car. Its the most expensive chemical we sell by far. It's the same stuff Ma Fra ( Italian Company) sell in concentrated form called "Forever Young" as a Ceramic Coating just like other ceramic coatings that need special application methods.

However once I saw the concentrate bottle with the warning "Risk of Death" on it I thought that its definitely not for the UK market.

Another of our suppliers sell a ceramic coating that once applied has to be rested for 24 hours, so a customer's car would just sit there for 24 hours waiting for the ceramic coating to harden.

We actually don't sell retail products as the UK car care market is so overcrowded with products but its available albeit in a silicone base, the car wash version does not have silicone in it, as " Ma Fra Polish Express" and should be available via our continental cousins on ebay or amazon. Use very sparingly. We tend to dose Mafralux Foam in car washes at a max of 10ml per wash ( 5ml is ideal) as if you use any more it will just be wasted.

Almost every supplier into the automatic car wash/ jet wash chemical market has a final wax/ rinse product with nano technology ie ceramic in it. Its a great profit earner because the cars do look fantastic after a wash and polish with this type of product and so people are happy to pay a premium. We also have car wash chemicals with a mix of Polarite and Carnauba wax which offer a cheaper alternative which is almost as good but which is aimed at the jet wash marketplace principally to aid spot free drying.

Edited by Tony427 on Tuesday 6th April 23:57

[pointer7]

I shudder at the thought of using a sponge on my Volvo with its soft as chocolate paint and being dark grey, swirl marks and scratches galore!

My Usual Method:

Soft lambswool mitt
Microfibre drying towel
Meguiars products for everything
Wash from top down first, squeegee windows dry, then wash and dry a panel at a time followed by wheels last.

I always find that drying the car using the least amount of pressure always works on a dark car to avoid the swirls etc. just gently dragging or patting the towel on the car... and of course not in direct sunlight!

Very therapeutic for some people too