Detailing and cleaning noob

[Connor]

Right, I want to get into cleaning my car properly. But where do I start? Where and what wash mit do I buy? Micro fibre cloths? Drying towels?Tell me what to buy and where can I get it at the best price?

[Piggy]

start with:

two buckets
two sponges
a good detergent (not fairy liquid)
alloy wheel cleaner
then some micromicrofibre cloth for drying.
a good hard wax if hard core or spray on/wipe pff if less time

---

and some tar/bug remover and glass cleaner!

[Connor]

2 sponges? No, I know enough to know that sponges are a bad idea

[Slam Wagon]

As above but no sponges, microfibre clothes or mit to wash it then get a blade (saves so much time) and a drying towel, will do the whole car with the one towel once youve been over it with a blade.

[Connor]

Links please lol

[ConorTRG]

2 buckets with a grit guard in one, a lambswool wash mitt, good shampoo, drying towel.

Dont use a blade for drying either.

Shop around for prices try cleanyourcar.co.uk, waxamomo.co.uk, waxyclean.co.uk etc.

Dodo juice born to be mild is a great shampoo and good value.

[Just Sean]

Nout wrong with a new sponge

[WiNgNuTz]

Nout wrong with a new sponge

If you're gonna use a brand new sponge every time! I still wouldn't use one myself though, all about the micro fibre sponge for me. Was thinking of getting a noodle mitt, but just haven't got round to it yet.

[Just Sean]

I find mitts and stuff get snagged and the threads pull out. I'd sober a brand new sponge every time

[ConorTRG]

I wouldn't be using a sponge either.

[Piggy]

two sponges...one for top half...second for bottom half.
grit guard buckets are ace!

and big no on the blade...terrible unless you want to polish everytime

[WiNgNuTz]

two sponges...one for top half...second for bottom half.
grit guard buckets are ace!

and big no on the blade...terrible unless you want to polish everytime

what would the preferred method be then, because ive been led to believe that a chamois leather is no good either. I have a big microfibre towel that i use, but usually only after ive used the blade to get the worst of the water off.

[Piggy]

wet synth chamois then dry chamois.

if your flush, air jet from a compressor! blow dry is best.

[Puggie]

As mentioned dont use a sponge there a bastard for holding microscopic particles of gr it. I use a good chamois keep it clean and it should be no problems microfibre wash mit. To wash the car down starting at the top working your way down. Then a microfibre towel and chamois to gey excess water off the car. Polish and wax is all down to personal prefrence.

If you need any advice feel free to pm me inwas a valter/ detailer for 7 years

[Connor]

Less talking, more links to actual products please lol

[Ricky]

Your car is silver yeah? If so I wouldn't go too mad with it, silver never looks any different! haha.

What I would do: (two bucket washing with grit guards in)

1. Wash CLICKY

2. Clay CLICKY Although if your paint is really rough this clay bar is probably too fine.

3. Wash again

4. Dry CLICKY

5. Polish CLICKY

6. Wax CLICKY


I'm rubbish at detailing by hand (never used a machine either), but the above has got me good results.

[Connor]

I already have the washing products, bought an auto glym kit, so I've got shampoop, alloy cleaner, window cleaner and polish. Im more in need of the equipment. But thanks ricky, that's closer to what I was hoping for

[kentiiboii]

I already have the washing products, bought an auto glym kit, so I've got shampoop, alloy cleaner, window cleaner and polish. Im more in need of the equipment. But thanks ricky, that's closer to what I was hoping for

As I said in Cullys thread about clay. I use auto glym simply because I get out cheaper than any where else. There big drying towel cost me £8 which is about £15 usually.

For was I use a like a microfiber sponge. Holds load of water.
Drying the towel will do a car without wiping water of. If you wrote the water of you can do a car twice at least with it.
For polish and waxing I like to use the little polish pads the spread evenly. Then prefect finishing cloth to remove.
After that I top it up with rapid detail using a perfect finishing cloth.

[Connor]

And where can I buy these products that cheap?

[kentiiboii]

And where can I buy these products that cheap?

It's a small diy/garden shop 5 miles from me. I paid £27 for hd wax. £10 for 2ltr of shampoo.
Don't know how they sell out so cheap because at fcs last year the auto glym stand couldn't beat the price.

[cully]

my method right or wrong but works for me

TRF neat on the wheels brush then rinse,
autoglym bodyshampoo on the paintwork/glass work it in with a broom with very soft head rinse,
optional clay bar paintwork
optional wash again
towel dry
Optional machine polish with AutoGlym super resin polish
Wax with poorbouys white*** depending on car colour*** with small aplicator sponge
buff off with microfiber cloth

as for prices
trf liquid borrowed from a pressure washer
halfords do deals on autoglym stuff 3-2 sometimes
poorbouys wax ebay
clay ebay
polisher toolstation silverline
polisher pad red pad from toolstation
towels work
microfiber cloths aldi 5 for £1 a while ago

[ConorTRG]

You could also use demon shine as a drying aid, its cheap in halfords.

Plenty of towels and cloths here:
http://www.carcare.co.uk/index.php?optio...Itemid=101

[devils_fuel]

connor...i wasn't aware you could detail rust! pmsl

I am still working on that front end for you

[Stephen]

Meguairs microfiber wash mitt from halfords is brilliant
They do there own microfiber drying towels which are also good

[Scott]

Sponges are a big no-no. It doesn't matter whether or not the sponge is new or old, it comes down to how grit is picked up by the sponge and has nowhere to go but be squashed down against the paint. It effectively acts as sandpaper, and buying a new sponge every time doesn't change this. Using a proper washmitt will help reduce new or heavier swirls being created.

[kentiiboii]

These are what I use. They have a sponge inside to hold the water but they have microfiber noodles.    

Are these ok to use or are sheep fur wash mits best?

[vlj]

Sponges are a big no-no. It doesn't matter whether or not the sponge is new or old, it comes down to how grit is picked up by the sponge and has nowhere to go but be squashed down against the paint. It effectively acts as sandpaper, and buying a new sponge every time doesn't change this. Using a proper washmitt will help reduce new or heavier swirls being created.

Thanks for the information, Ed

[Scott]

Pftt, if I were Ed, I'd have even listed the equivalent grade sandpaper and a minimum depth of wool, pH balance of the water and optimum temperature.

[kentiiboii]

Pftt, if I were Ed, I'd have even listed the equivalent grade sandpaper and a minimum depth of wool, pH balance of the water and optimum temperature.

Oh please do that would really be helpful

[Niall]

Once you have got the body work to a good standard, invest in a Snow foam set up (llooking at about £50). It means you can wash the car easily without even touching it with grit on the paint work. Also looks cool!