Washing your car.
Discussion
Guys,
I was just wondering what you use to keep your cars clean?
I was having a look at zymol site and it seems I have been abusing every car I have ever owned by washing it with car shampoo!?!
Should I take the zymol site with a pinch of salt or would you suggest using this stuff?
Also, am I write in saying that the 'car care' kits that Porsche sell are simply rebranded zymol contents?
All advice greatly appreciated, as I am currently using super turtle wax shampoo, and the Zymol page has made me feel like a bit of a car sadist to my poor wee car.....8-)
John.
I was just wondering what you use to keep your cars clean?
I was having a look at zymol site and it seems I have been abusing every car I have ever owned by washing it with car shampoo!?!
Should I take the zymol site with a pinch of salt or would you suggest using this stuff?
Also, am I write in saying that the 'car care' kits that Porsche sell are simply rebranded zymol contents?
All advice greatly appreciated, as I am currently using super turtle wax shampoo, and the Zymol page has made me feel like a bit of a car sadist to my poor wee car.....8-)
John.
. 
John.
Did you really want to make your car smooth? And smelling of chocolate and bananas? (See Ted's Zymol review for a right giggle). Zymol is some HUMOUNGOUS price, mind.
My Pride and Joy gets honest to goodness Turtle Wax car shampoo (NOT FAIRY LIQUID <- VERY BAD!) at a few quid for an enormous pot. Warm water and a sponge. New clean sponge for the paintwork. Old sponge for around the edge of the wheel arches. Rinse with the hose or pressure washer. Dry off with a chamois.
Want your P+J to look shiny? Get some wax polish. I defy anyone to tell the difference between the expensive brands and Halfords own brand coloured wax. I haven't yet gone for a "machine polisher" yet as I need the exercise. I will admit one of these machine polish thingies does really get that wax coat to gleam nicely. AFN did that to mine before I picked it up - very nice.
I doubt very much if it actually knackers the paint but I, personally, wouldn't do such a thing too often.
A pressure washer is a must for
1) Cleaning the alloy wheels of grime with the brush attachment. You'll still need something to get the brake dust off the interior of the wheel (if you care) I have a little brush.
2) Getting all the salt and crud off the chassis/underside of the car.
DO NOT use your sponge on the convertible roof. Bits of sponge just get stuck in it and have to be brushed off. I have a soft-bristle brush which (with plain water) can be used to get the bird-sh*t/other crap off it.
Having said all of the above - "Driven Not Polished!"
Did you really want to make your car smooth? And smelling of chocolate and bananas? (See Ted's Zymol review for a right giggle). Zymol is some HUMOUNGOUS price, mind.
My Pride and Joy gets honest to goodness Turtle Wax car shampoo (NOT FAIRY LIQUID <- VERY BAD!) at a few quid for an enormous pot. Warm water and a sponge. New clean sponge for the paintwork. Old sponge for around the edge of the wheel arches. Rinse with the hose or pressure washer. Dry off with a chamois.
Want your P+J to look shiny? Get some wax polish. I defy anyone to tell the difference between the expensive brands and Halfords own brand coloured wax. I haven't yet gone for a "machine polisher" yet as I need the exercise. I will admit one of these machine polish thingies does really get that wax coat to gleam nicely. AFN did that to mine before I picked it up - very nice.
I doubt very much if it actually knackers the paint but I, personally, wouldn't do such a thing too often.
A pressure washer is a must for
1) Cleaning the alloy wheels of grime with the brush attachment. You'll still need something to get the brake dust off the interior of the wheel (if you care) I have a little brush.
2) Getting all the salt and crud off the chassis/underside of the car.
DO NOT use your sponge on the convertible roof. Bits of sponge just get stuck in it and have to be brushed off. I have a soft-bristle brush which (with plain water) can be used to get the bird-sh*t/other crap off it.
Having said all of the above - "Driven Not Polished!"
IMHO you should use anything that gives you a result you are happy with. It may be washing up liquid (me, on a cheap car), super turtle wax (me on a more expensive car) or Zymol, AutoGlym etc. etc. There is no point spending a fortune on a different product if you are happy with the current one.
I bought all of the autoglym stuff, yes all. Exterior, interior, wheels, windows.....
The car shampoo stuff works well. Waxes work well, especially the extra gloss (or what ever it is called).
Interior stuff is not that good. Leather cleaner doesn't clean, carpet cleaner is OK, but won't shift years of muddy feet on cream carpets. Window stuff is shit. Lots of smears.
I would get the sampoo and both waxes.
Personally, I would never use a pressure washer on my car. Water at speed may as well be gravel
The other thing is, spend a long time cleaning your car the first time. Especially on the wax side. It makes subsequent cleaning a piece of piss. So much so, I always give the car a 5 min wash after a long drive. Doesn't take any longer
The car shampoo stuff works well. Waxes work well, especially the extra gloss (or what ever it is called).
Interior stuff is not that good. Leather cleaner doesn't clean, carpet cleaner is OK, but won't shift years of muddy feet on cream carpets. Window stuff is shit. Lots of smears.
I would get the sampoo and both waxes.
Personally, I would never use a pressure washer on my car. Water at speed may as well be gravel
The other thing is, spend a long time cleaning your car the first time. Especially on the wax side. It makes subsequent cleaning a piece of piss. So much so, I always give the car a 5 min wash after a long drive. Doesn't take any longer
John, I've tried the Zymol route and have been quite impressed - not amazed by the results....
The "Clear" shampoo is great, just bloody expensive, the HD Cleanse which should be applied prior to waxing is remarkable - you wouldn't believe the crud that comes off, leaving the paintwork silky smooth and the wax itself is a complete and utter b@&£$*rd to put on..... It leaves a great finish, but requires a lot of elbow grease and a certain amount of skill to apply properly (I'm convinced I haven't got it completely right yet...)
It probably helps if your paintwork is in relatively good condition in the first place. My 87 Carrera isn't in that bad nick, but applying the wax seems to show up miniscule spots in the paintwork that don't appear using AutoGlym.
I'm going to try substituting the AutoGlym as the "Finishing" wax and see what the finish is like.
Zymol UK seems to have a new website if you are interested - www.sportscarworld.ltd.uk/
Whichever route you take Ultra is dead right - give your car a good wax and the car will be so much easier to clean thereafter.....
The "Clear" shampoo is great, just bloody expensive, the HD Cleanse which should be applied prior to waxing is remarkable - you wouldn't believe the crud that comes off, leaving the paintwork silky smooth and the wax itself is a complete and utter b@&£$*rd to put on..... It leaves a great finish, but requires a lot of elbow grease and a certain amount of skill to apply properly (I'm convinced I haven't got it completely right yet...)
It probably helps if your paintwork is in relatively good condition in the first place. My 87 Carrera isn't in that bad nick, but applying the wax seems to show up miniscule spots in the paintwork that don't appear using AutoGlym.
I'm going to try substituting the AutoGlym as the "Finishing" wax and see what the finish is like.
Zymol UK seems to have a new website if you are interested - www.sportscarworld.ltd.uk/
Whichever route you take Ultra is dead right - give your car a good wax and the car will be so much easier to clean thereafter.....
quote:
Personally, I would never use a pressure washer on my car. Water at speed may as well be gravel
Ooops. Should have mentioned that. I don't generally use the pressure washer for rinsing the paintwork. Although I have before now and it didn't cause any problems I could see...I normally just pressure wash the wheels and underside of the car. The paintwork gets rinsed down with a sponge and a normal hose to provide plenty of water to sluice away the smear-forming shampoo residue.
Couldn't agree more: The car is much easier to clean once waxed properly...
>> Edited by Don on Tuesday 19th March 16:44
I've just seen the price of the zymol gear. At that price I would rather get a valet once a week and spend sunday mornings in bed with the missus.
I risk getting a 
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