Pro tips on car cleaning please!
Discussion
Hi all - I've got a new car and I want to really look after it.
My prior car ended up with swirl marks, which I understand is from using a sponge or brush with grit/dirt already on it, and now I have something worth looking after I really want to do things properly and keep the car looking great.
I asked a bodywork repair man for his thoughts and I would really value any comments or additions you PH experts have to his suggested car cleaning process (as it sounds like it wastes a lot of microfibre cloths!):
- Use "two bucket method" when washing car exterior:
- One bucket of clean water for rinsing used cloths usesd for polish only.
- One bucket of car wash soap (Maguires, Autoglym etc - something of quality that will really glide that costs about £8, not the £2 stuff). Once microfibre cloths have cleaned the car they never go back in this bucket or touch the bodywork again.
Then specifically for external bodywork:
1) Pre wash, jet wash rinse.
2) Then soapy wash with brands mentioned above.
3) Then jet wash rinse again. Supermarket jet washes are fine, just don't use their brush.
4) Then apply a spray-on wax coat twice a year. Should only need one spray per panel, spread on panel with microfibre cloth and then allow to dry. Some brands can be applied while car is still wet which is ideal. Use this instead of a wax or polish as he thinks gives an even better finish and dirt should slide off.
Don't do this when it's hot and sunny as car will dry too quickly.
Then for interior cleaning only:
1) Vacuum everything first
2) Use upholstery cleaner on any stains.
3) Then wet one of those Flash white cleaning blocks and clean interior with that. His detailer friends use these and they get great results.
4) Then dry with a microfibre cloth.
My prior car ended up with swirl marks, which I understand is from using a sponge or brush with grit/dirt already on it, and now I have something worth looking after I really want to do things properly and keep the car looking great.
I asked a bodywork repair man for his thoughts and I would really value any comments or additions you PH experts have to his suggested car cleaning process (as it sounds like it wastes a lot of microfibre cloths!):
- Use "two bucket method" when washing car exterior:
- One bucket of clean water for rinsing used cloths usesd for polish only.
- One bucket of car wash soap (Maguires, Autoglym etc - something of quality that will really glide that costs about £8, not the £2 stuff). Once microfibre cloths have cleaned the car they never go back in this bucket or touch the bodywork again.
Then specifically for external bodywork:
1) Pre wash, jet wash rinse.
2) Then soapy wash with brands mentioned above.
3) Then jet wash rinse again. Supermarket jet washes are fine, just don't use their brush.
4) Then apply a spray-on wax coat twice a year. Should only need one spray per panel, spread on panel with microfibre cloth and then allow to dry. Some brands can be applied while car is still wet which is ideal. Use this instead of a wax or polish as he thinks gives an even better finish and dirt should slide off.
Don't do this when it's hot and sunny as car will dry too quickly.
Then for interior cleaning only:
1) Vacuum everything first
2) Use upholstery cleaner on any stains.
3) Then wet one of those Flash white cleaning blocks and clean interior with that. His detailer friends use these and they get great results.
4) Then dry with a microfibre cloth.
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