Weekly Car Wash Step by Step
Discussion
1. With a hosepipe get the car wet.
2. If you have a snowfoam nozzle snowfoam the car. If not using the two bucket method, both buckets should have grit guards in them, fill one bucket with a decent shampoo, and fill the second bucket 1/2 full with cold water.
3. Spray the wheels if very dirty with wheel cleaner.
4. Wash from the top of the car downwards, rubbing the washmitt (no sponges please) into the cold water bucket to remove and loose grit, before dipping it into the soapy one.
5. Wash the whole car, before cleaning the wheels (using an old mitt or wheel brush)
6. Rinse down the car with an open ended hose, and also the wheel arches etc.
7. Using a QD (Quick Detailer) spray the wet surface. A QD like Meguiars Last Touch helps dispel water and stops water marks appearing.
8. Using a drying towel (waffle weave) pat dry the car from top to bottom. No leathers in 2008!
9. Dry the door shuts, if dirty use an APC (All Purpose Cleaner) mixed four parts water to one part APC or ten parts water to one part apc.
10. Clean the glass.
11. Wax every 8 weeks.
I would go on regarding dressing the tyres, arches, plastic trim etc, but the above should be adequate.
2. If you have a snowfoam nozzle snowfoam the car. If not using the two bucket method, both buckets should have grit guards in them, fill one bucket with a decent shampoo, and fill the second bucket 1/2 full with cold water.
3. Spray the wheels if very dirty with wheel cleaner.
4. Wash from the top of the car downwards, rubbing the washmitt (no sponges please) into the cold water bucket to remove and loose grit, before dipping it into the soapy one.
5. Wash the whole car, before cleaning the wheels (using an old mitt or wheel brush)
6. Rinse down the car with an open ended hose, and also the wheel arches etc.
7. Using a QD (Quick Detailer) spray the wet surface. A QD like Meguiars Last Touch helps dispel water and stops water marks appearing.
8. Using a drying towel (waffle weave) pat dry the car from top to bottom. No leathers in 2008!
9. Dry the door shuts, if dirty use an APC (All Purpose Cleaner) mixed four parts water to one part APC or ten parts water to one part apc.
10. Clean the glass.
11. Wax every 8 weeks.
I would go on regarding dressing the tyres, arches, plastic trim etc, but the above should be adequate.
Once or twice a year it is worth using autoclay to remove any surface contamination of the paint. Clat is like a putty, which when used with a lubricant removes any debris and returns the surface to a smooth finish.
Polish should like clay only be applied once or twice a year as polish is an abrasive and somewhat aggressive process.
Polish first, seal with a decent sealent, this will protect the paintwork and then glaze for an eye popping shine and finally wax.
When it comes to recommending materials I will be opening a can of worms...but here goes.
Dodo Juice Lime Prime is a top pre wax cleaner which will prepare the surface, it is not expensive but will help if you use Dodo juice waxes.
For sealing the car Chemical Guys Jetseal #109, Carlack 68 or Poorboys EX-P would top my list. Apply sparingly and do not let sit in sunlight for more than a minute or two.
Wax...hmm. For longevity use Collinite 915, for eye poping flake use Dodo Juice Purple Haze which is designed for dark cars.
Victoria Wax, Concourse is also outstanding on dark colours.
Am happy to advise if you need any more pointers, re prep work and additional materials, application techniques etc.
Polish should like clay only be applied once or twice a year as polish is an abrasive and somewhat aggressive process.
Polish first, seal with a decent sealent, this will protect the paintwork and then glaze for an eye popping shine and finally wax.
When it comes to recommending materials I will be opening a can of worms...but here goes.
Dodo Juice Lime Prime is a top pre wax cleaner which will prepare the surface, it is not expensive but will help if you use Dodo juice waxes.
For sealing the car Chemical Guys Jetseal #109, Carlack 68 or Poorboys EX-P would top my list. Apply sparingly and do not let sit in sunlight for more than a minute or two.
Wax...hmm. For longevity use Collinite 915, for eye poping flake use Dodo Juice Purple Haze which is designed for dark cars.
Victoria Wax, Concourse is also outstanding on dark colours.
Am happy to advise if you need any more pointers, re prep work and additional materials, application techniques etc.
belleair302 said:
Once or twice a year it is worth using autoclay to remove any surface contamination of the paint. Clat is like a putty, which when used with a lubricant removes any debris and returns the surface to a smooth finish.
Polish should like clay only be applied once or twice a year as polish is an abrasive and somewhat aggressive process.
Polish first, seal with a decent sealent, this will protect the paintwork and then glaze for an eye popping shine and finally wax.
When it comes to recommending materials I will be opening a can of worms...but here goes.
Dodo Juice Lime Prime is a top pre wax cleaner which will prepare the surface, it is not expensive but will help if you use Dodo juice waxes.
For sealing the car Chemical Guys Jetseal #109, Carlack 68 or Poorboys EX-P would top my list. Apply sparingly and do not let sit in sunlight for more than a minute or two.
Wax...hmm. For longevity use Collinite 915, for eye poping flake use Dodo Juice Purple Haze which is designed for dark cars.
Victoria Wax, Concourse is also outstanding on dark colours.
Am happy to advise if you need any more pointers, re prep work and additional materials, application techniques etc.
agree with you on the products. only diff i'd say is when using the poorboys ex-p leave it for about 15 mins and then spit shine it. gives a cracking shine, even before glaze and wax.Polish should like clay only be applied once or twice a year as polish is an abrasive and somewhat aggressive process.
Polish first, seal with a decent sealent, this will protect the paintwork and then glaze for an eye popping shine and finally wax.
When it comes to recommending materials I will be opening a can of worms...but here goes.
Dodo Juice Lime Prime is a top pre wax cleaner which will prepare the surface, it is not expensive but will help if you use Dodo juice waxes.
For sealing the car Chemical Guys Jetseal #109, Carlack 68 or Poorboys EX-P would top my list. Apply sparingly and do not let sit in sunlight for more than a minute or two.
Wax...hmm. For longevity use Collinite 915, for eye poping flake use Dodo Juice Purple Haze which is designed for dark cars.
Victoria Wax, Concourse is also outstanding on dark colours.
Am happy to advise if you need any more pointers, re prep work and additional materials, application techniques etc.
poorboys natty's is a very understated wax. at the end of the day product use comes down to what you are happy with.
Recommending polishes, sealents, waxes etc is such a personal thing. We each have our own favourites and I am always loathe to put one product above another, unless I know the owner and the car. Paying 100's for a wax is all well and good but is it worth it, I am not so sure for 90% or cars and how they are used?
there are several places. www.detailingworld.co.uk is a good place to start. or you could email matthew@2clearbuckets.com
matt.
matt.
Here are some online suppliers of top notch car detailing shampoos, polishes, towels, microfibres, waxes and additional supplies.
1. www.advancedcarproducts.com/
2. www.carwashnwax.com/
3. www.cleanandshiny.co.uk/
4. www.cleanyourcar.co.uk
5. www.elitecarcare.co.uk
6. www.detailedobsession.com
7. www.meguiars.co.uk (look at their trade products)
8. www.swissol.co.uk (High end products)
9. www.thepolishingcompany.com/dodoproductrange.html
10.www.bilthamber.com/autobalm.html (Great for clay and a wonderful finish wax too).
All are worth a look to compare prices and availability.
1. www.advancedcarproducts.com/
2. www.carwashnwax.com/
3. www.cleanandshiny.co.uk/
4. www.cleanyourcar.co.uk
5. www.elitecarcare.co.uk
6. www.detailedobsession.com
7. www.meguiars.co.uk (look at their trade products)
8. www.swissol.co.uk (High end products)
9. www.thepolishingcompany.com/dodoproductrange.html
10.www.bilthamber.com/autobalm.html (Great for clay and a wonderful finish wax too).
All are worth a look to compare prices and availability.
miles_stylus said:
[quote=mneame...using the poorboys ex-p leave it for about 15 mins and then spit shine it. gives a cracking shine, even before glaze and wax....quote]
What is "spit shine"? I have a bad vision of you gobbing on the car each time you buff up!
TIA
Miles
It's where you apply two coats of wax without leaving the wax for a more usual 24 hours to cure. With one layer applied and buffed, you apply a second coat but after spraying with Quick Detailer.What is "spit shine"? I have a bad vision of you gobbing on the car each time you buff up!
TIA
Miles
The theory is that the QD prevents the oils in the second layer of wax from dissolving the first layer already applied. A quicker way to get two coats of wax on the paint.
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