Detailing/Cleaning Starter kit

[SCVRS]

I am thinking about seriously getting my 2 Octy vRS's clean. What stuff do I need to start with. I want to build a good collection eventually!

I currently have in my shed!

A bucket, a wash mit (green fabric one that looks like it has dreadlocks!), a sponge, some turtle wax triplewax shampoo stuff, a bottle of demon shine (?????), some autoglym leather care cream, gunk spray, some evil acidic wheel cleaner (turtle extreme wheels i think??), a hosepipe, some WD40 and a stiff wheel brush. There may be a few other bits but i'm sure you get the idea!! Oh yeah and some GD40 titanium polish (?????)

Any thoughts on this stuff?? What else should I have and what is the "two bucket technique"? I tried searching with no luck! I don't want to spend £100's!!

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

[postmanpat]

Throw away the sponge.

Get NON acidic wheel cleaner
conditioning shampoo rather than all in one wax product
Drying towel
clay bar/ quick detailer
wax of your choice (depends on car colour)


2 Bucket method, one bucket of cold water, one with suds, Agitate/rinse out wash mit in cold water bucket after washing each panel before re-loading from sud bucket (to remove any particles from it that may scratch paint)

Try detailing world/ polished bliss for cleaning guides. Easy to spend '00's pressure washer/ foam lance/ polisher etc.

[gillywibble]

If you haven't got a pressure washer, might be worth investing in a Gilmour to pre-soak.

You can use acidic wheel cleaner if it's sufficiently diluted but ultimately I agree with PP, unless you're sufficiently in the know, get something less harmful.

Given that your car's silver, I would recommend something like Klearcote Vanilla Moose Wax hand glaze after claying, and then follow that with Collinite 476 wax.

[ultra_joel88]

This is purely my opinion, but this is what I think makes a decent "starter" kit for a proper wash and detail:

Wash mitt + 2 buckets
Lots of microfibre cloths/ drying towels
foam applicator pads


Shampoo - AG Bodywork and Conditions/ Meguirs NXT Gen

Clay - Sonus Green with Meguirs detailing spray

Paint cleaner - meguirs paint cleaner

polish - autoglym super resin polish or ultra deep shine for darker cars

glaze - i dont use glaze but im sure someone will reccomend

sealant - turtlewax gloss guard

wax - for a harder wax collinite 476s, otherwise turtlewax platinum caranuba

[SCVRS]

THanks for the advice everyone. How do I use clay? Everyone seems to talk about it, but i have no idea what I should be doing with it!

[Baker21]

Originally Posted by SCVRS

THanks for the advice everyone. How do I use clay? Everyone seems to talk about it, but i have no idea what I should be doing with it!

This may be of use:

Detailing Clay : Starters' Guide - Detailing World

[SCVRS]

Originally Posted by Baker21

This may be of use:

Detailing Clay : Starters' Guide - Detailing World

I have Silver Seal on my car that the dealer put on. Will clay take this off??

Should I still be waxing/polishing the car?

[SCVRS]

*BUMP!!*

What are your thoughts on using waxes, clays, polish etc etc... with Silver Seal??

I didn't realise that Halfords stocked Megs stuff, so will be getting a clay kit and NXT Gen shampoo soon hopefully! Any maybe some Bilberrys Wheel Cleaner!

[anewman]

Cheapest place to get megs clay is here Meguiars Quick Clay - Makes Paint As Smooth As Glass --- Motocare This is exactly the same clay and detailer spray and amount as there is in the Halfords pack, although the Halfords pack comes with a cloth, and some sample/trial size things.

Don't have a clue what silver seal is, but I imagine it's just a sealant. It shouldn't cause any issues though I would imagine. Just make sure you use sealant and/or good wax.

[HC1001]

Have a look at my recent detail of my fab here.........

Fabia VRS Spring/Summer Detail - Detailing World

or a range I did a while ago.....

Range Rover detail (It needed it!!) - Detailing World

Or some of Baker21's........

Something A Little Different.........skoda Superb Detail - Detailing World

or

G220 vs Golf Mk4 1.8T............UDM has died!!! - Detailing World

Hope this will give you some ideas/tips etc..........

Ps: join DW!!

[mark&lisa]

HC1001, the Fabia looks amazing! I have an x-tra day off of work tomorrow and I am going to try and replicate the results on my Octy!

[Baker21]

Originally Posted by HC1001

Ps: join DW!!

[smstext]

some people seem to go a bit to far, just jet wash the car with foam, leave it to soak. Jet wash off. wash with AG shampoo, wash off and dry/wax. every 6 months after washing off the shampoo use the AG resin followed by the gloss then a good coat of collinite and then in between aqua wax from autoglym.

[Baker21]

Originally Posted by smstext

some people seem to go a bit to far, just jet wash the car with foam, leave it to soak. Jet wash off. wash with AG shampoo, wash off and dry/wax. every 6 months after washing off the shampoo use the AG resin followed by the gloss then a good coat of collinite and then in between aqua wax from autoglym.

It's all relative mate........

The work done on DW is on people's cars that need it done 'properly' in order to get the surface protection you need to continue with a quicker wash routine in the future.....

You do like your AG's products don't you.............

[smstext]

it does the job, wasnt impressed with the poor boys, and AG was recommended to me when i joined the site so ive stuck with what persoanlly gives me a decent look. do use collinite a bit more tho.

[mark&lisa]

I've just finished my car. I used Quick Clay, its fantastic. I didn't realise you could get paintwork so smooth! I aim to keep it up now!
How often should clay be used?

[ultra_joel88]

every 6 months or so

[mark&lisa]

Originally Posted by ultra_joel88

every 6 months or so

Thats a relief, I thought I was never going to finish today! It is worth the hard work though!

[HC1001]

Originally Posted by mark&lisa

I've just finished my car.

Post some pic's of the finished article!!!

[Baker21]

Originally Posted by HC1001

Post some pic's of the finished article!!!