Keeping a new car clean, no more fairy liquid??
Discussion
Hi all,
I should probably put a bit of effort into keeping the new car clean (the norm here is a quarterly wash, at best, with fairy and whatever sponge is around).
There are many kits, lotions, potions around.
In terms of a starter kit, what would people recommend? Is the AIO bucket overkill? clicky
Thanks!
I should probably put a bit of effort into keeping the new car clean (the norm here is a quarterly wash, at best, with fairy and whatever sponge is around).
There are many kits, lotions, potions around.
In terms of a starter kit, what would people recommend? Is the AIO bucket overkill? clicky
Thanks!
To be honest. I’m a bit lax in the car cleaning dept too but I do have a bucket with a grit guard. I just looked at the bundle you mentioned and there is no grit guard. I thought it was a gimic until I got 2 of them.
Now I use the grit guard in a bucket and i can see all the grit and debris at the bottom of the bucket that i would have smeared all over the paintwork and scratched it . . .
Have a look online - ideally 2 buckets, both with a grit guard is the way ahead. If I’m feeling fussy I then use an ‘aqua wax’ which I just spray on the car and then gently polish off.
In my opinion you need to also look at the 2 bucket was system - I also do this. Hope this helps, dan
Now I use the grit guard in a bucket and i can see all the grit and debris at the bottom of the bucket that i would have smeared all over the paintwork and scratched it . . .
Have a look online - ideally 2 buckets, both with a grit guard is the way ahead. If I’m feeling fussy I then use an ‘aqua wax’ which I just spray on the car and then gently polish off.
In my opinion you need to also look at the 2 bucket was system - I also do this. Hope this helps, dan
swanseaboydan said:
To be honest. I’m a bit lax in the car cleaning dept too but I do have a bucket with a grit guard. I just looked at the bundle you mentioned and there is no grit guard. I thought it was a gimic until I got 2 of them
I still think they are. You can just not dip your wash mitt all the way to the bottom of the bucket as an alternative idea. The guard only covers the bottom two inches anyway. swanseaboydan said:
Out of interest, what do you use the chamois for ?
Me? I don't use one any more - but it used to be used for drying the car.https://www.amazon.co.uk/chamois-leather/s?k=chamo...
Chamois leather is an old school alternative to microfibre towels for drying the paintwork. Great way of introducing swirl marks and microscratches in my experience. I don’t use microfibre towels anymore either. Once a month or so, I just wash two bucket method with a good quality shampoo and rinse with deionised water - I buy 50 litres of reverse osmosis water from my local aquatics store for six quid and that does for 5 washes. Quick, leaves a streak-free shiny car and minimises cloth contact with the paintwork. Car stays looking decent for a while with this approach. Twice a year, I’ll give the paintwork a clean with Carlack 68 and top with a durable carnuba wax. That’s all I do and car looks decent most of the time
Edited by Oberheim on Monday 26th May 08:53
Edited by Oberheim on Monday 26th May 08:54
Mark V GTD said:
I still think they are. You can just not dip your wash mitt all the way to the bottom of the bucket as an alternative idea. The guard only covers the bottom two inches anyway.
^this, the grit sinks to the bottom anyway, just rinse the mitt in the top half of the bucket. There's no need to wipe it round the bottom to scoop up a handful of grit.swanseaboydan said:
But I thought the idea was imagine the mitt on the grit guard as this makes the grit drop out of the mitt ? That’s what I do.
On another note, I occasionally use ‘swirl remover ‘ to get rid of swirls in the paintwork - a bit like a mild T cut
That is my understanding. Rub it against the guard and it scrapes everything off. On another note, I occasionally use ‘swirl remover ‘ to get rid of swirls in the paintwork - a bit like a mild T cut
Scabutz said:
swanseaboydan said:
But I thought the idea was imagine the mitt on the grit guard as this makes the grit drop out of the mitt ? That’s what I do.
On another note, I occasionally use ‘swirl remover ‘ to get rid of swirls in the paintwork - a bit like a mild T cut
That is my understanding. Rub it against the guard and it scrapes everything off. On another note, I occasionally use ‘swirl remover ‘ to get rid of swirls in the paintwork - a bit like a mild T cut
Belle427 said:
1 bucket and a decent mitt for me.
Never really seen any paint marring from it.
Autoglym stuff from halfords will do for someone who isn't really that bothered.
I do use a large drying towel and find it very good.
This.Never really seen any paint marring from it.
Autoglym stuff from halfords will do for someone who isn't really that bothered.
I do use a large drying towel and find it very good.
I use quick detailer once I've dried the car off, finish with microfibre cloth. It's quick and does an okay job.
Autoglym stuff is easily available and generally good.
Belle427 said:
There are 3 brands that you could literally buy everything from and are at the top of their game for me.
Bilt Hamber, Garage Therapy and Koch Chemie.
I have a mixture of them but they are all first class.
I had some BH Auto Balm which was good.Bilt Hamber, Garage Therapy and Koch Chemie.
I have a mixture of them but they are all first class.
But the OP is starting from a point of builder's bucket and Tesco budget washing up liquid. I am saying convenience wins here and, for that, your suggestion of Autoglym is ideal. It can be bought everywhere, it's easy to understand and if you need something AG probably has it.
I've never used a gravel guard. I tried the "2 buckets" thing once - and closely looking at the contents of the buckets once most of the water was removed, showed it was a bit of a waste of time.
BUT I do always use a pressure washer first, for a "contactless" wash. If the car is particularly grimy, and even if it isn't, the first round is a thorough spraying and wetting of the whole car all over, including wheels and wheelarches. Then its a foam, followed by a rinse. If the car was dirty I'll repeat this step.
Only then does it get a "contact" wash with a mitt (no sponge these days) and a car shampoo. And since the pressure washer is out, I'll use it to rinse off.
If its dark or black, then it will be dried too, carefully using a large microfibre towel, mainly placed onto the bodywork then lifted away in stages, rather than dragging it around too much.
BUT I do always use a pressure washer first, for a "contactless" wash. If the car is particularly grimy, and even if it isn't, the first round is a thorough spraying and wetting of the whole car all over, including wheels and wheelarches. Then its a foam, followed by a rinse. If the car was dirty I'll repeat this step.
Only then does it get a "contact" wash with a mitt (no sponge these days) and a car shampoo. And since the pressure washer is out, I'll use it to rinse off.
If its dark or black, then it will be dried too, carefully using a large microfibre towel, mainly placed onto the bodywork then lifted away in stages, rather than dragging it around too much.
Furbo said:
Belle427 said:
There are 3 brands that you could literally buy everything from and are at the top of their game for me.
Bilt Hamber, Garage Therapy and Koch Chemie.
I have a mixture of them but they are all first class.
I had some BH Auto Balm which was good.Bilt Hamber, Garage Therapy and Koch Chemie.
I have a mixture of them but they are all first class.
But the OP is starting from a point of builder's bucket and Tesco budget washing up liquid. I am saying convenience wins here and, for that, your suggestion of Autoglym is ideal. It can be bought everywhere, it's easy to understand and if you need something AG probably has it.
I've just gone a bit ott and followed the dark hole that is detailing!
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