Don't want to waste my life detailing!

[madfiddler]

well I just visited the detailing world forums...it was like stepping of the plane on my first trip abroad! Oh my goodness!....

Anyway the thread title says it all. Looking for tips on basic/quick car washing and then maybe a better job once or twice a year that's it really!

I have a pw and foam lance so this is what I intend so far for a quick job.. . Does this sound right?
1. Spray car with water not at high pressure
2. High pressure lance to clean wheels
3. Foam lance and snow foam to degrease
4. Rinse with hose
5. Two bucket method wash with shampoo/wax
6. Rinse and dry
7. Quick hoover inside and wipe round the dash

Clay/polish/wax I only really want to do once or twice a year some sort of cobined product would suit me best if there is such a thing...what products do you use on your skodas? I will shortly have a storm blue Octavia


Do you guys think a pro detail straight after delivery is worthwhile? Not sure what the dealer does prior to delivery

Any thoughts and comments appreciated
cheers all

[gillywibble]

Originally Posted by madfiddler

1. Spray car with water not at high pressure

You'll need high pressure, but not a narrow jet of water. However, don't spray the car first, use the foam lance.

Originally Posted by madfiddler

2. High pressure lance to clean wheels

Spray the wheels with a cleaning solution initially, I tend to use a non acidic product from AutoBrite, or Megs Wheel Brightener (acidic diluted 4:1) if the wheels are particularly bad. The wheels should be clayed twice a year and then a wheel wax applied which helps to shift brake dust.

Originally Posted by madfiddler

3. Foam lance and snow foam to degrease

Do this first.

Originally Posted by madfiddler

4. Rinse with hose

Okay.

Originally Posted by madfiddler

5. Two bucket method wash with shampoo/wax

Some people use a grit guard to rub their wash mitt against as part of the two bucket process (the grit guard is placed in the rinse bucket although some people have one in each). Personally, I use my hand to rub against the wash mitt as I rinse it.

Originally Posted by madfiddler

6. Rinse and dry

Following the final rinse, use a detailing spray (diluted 1:1) to disperse water and remove any final contaminants. This makes the drying process much quicker and easier. Use a waffle weave towel or similar.

Originally Posted by madfiddler

7. Quick hoover inside and wipe round the dash

Fair enough.

Originally Posted by madfiddler

Clay/polish/wax I only really want to do once or twice a year some sort of combined product would suit me best if there is such a thing...what products do you use on your skodas? I will shortly have a storm blue Octavia

• Clay - I recommend Sonus Green with a suitable lubricant (Megs last touch)
• Polish - assuming you're not doing any paint correction then arguably you can skip this step. You may be better off with a paint cleanser although something like Poorboys professional polish may suit
• Wax - there are two other stages before the wax is applied - glaze and sealant. I'll not go into detail here (pun intended) unless you want me to. A really good wax for the storm blue IMO would be Collinite 915. There are loads to choose from though so don't just take my word for it. The main benefit of Collinite is it's longevity.

Originally Posted by madfiddler

Do you guys think a pro detail straight after delivery is worthwhile? Not sure what the dealer does prior to delivery.

Yes I do, particularly with a darker colour. The one sure thing is that the car will come from the dealers with swirl marks, holograms and probably buffer trails and a professional correction will make the car look fantastic.

[Darren260403]

I use slightly different products but spot on advice there!!!!!

[madfiddler]

anyone know any good pro detailers in the Derby/Nottingham area then?
with a good blanace of price v. quality of work?

cheers

[postmanpat]

Just to add to Gillys final point, If you have not yet taken delivery of the car from the dealer and it is brand new, tell them not to touch it (no wash no nothing), as he mentioned they will probably impart allsorts of swirls etc into the paintwork. Once you take delivery do it yourself as descibed checking the paint before claying. If there are no swirls in the paint proceed with the final steps, if there are then think about a pro detail.

[madfiddler]

this is already starting to sound less then "quick"!



SO this is were I am at so far, I've listed product likely to be used also

1. Wheel clean
Meg's wheel brightener

2. pw + foam lance with snow foam
I have a B&Q 1700w 110 bar pressure washer, with its own foam lance
snow foam

3. rinse with hose

4. two bucket method wash
shampoo & wax
wash mitt

5. rinse & quick detail
meg's ultimate quick detailer

6. Dry
aqua flexi-blade
flunkey leather (or chamois?)





I'll worry about the clay/glaze/sealant/wax later! Maybe even be tempted to get a pro-detail once a year if I can find somehwere decent

cheers for the advice

[postmanpat]

Give the wheels a foam and high pressure rinse before using the wheel cleaner with a brush thus removeing any larger contaminents and avoiding scratching

For the drying phase your better off using a good mf waffle weave towel than either a leather or the flexi-blade, both of which will cause more damage if there is any contaminents left on the car.Towel

Also for drying purpose the ultimate quick detailer is too much of a premium product (read expensive) get a large 3.5/5l bottle of megs last touch and dilute 50:50 with water for aiding the drying.last touch

Just one other personally not sure about the shampoo and wax all in one, prefer to use a good conditioning shampoo and follow with a coat of wax once a month.

hth

[bubba]

Since using a waffle weave towel, I've found drying the car to be so much quicker and easier than a Chamois.

I would avoid the blade also, we use them at work for quick drying, but they will damage the paint if you have any crap on there.

[madfiddler]

revised list then!



1. pw + foam lance with snow foam
I have a B&Q 1700w 110 bar pressure washer, with its own foam lance
snow foam

2. Wheel clean
Meg's wheel brightener


3. rinse with hose

4. two bucket method wash
shampoo & wax
wash mitt

5. rinse & quick detail
meg's last touch detailer

6. Dry
waffel weave micro fibre cloth

[gillywibble]

Originally Posted by madfiddler

revised list then!



1. pw + foam lance with snow foam
I have a B&Q 1700w 110 bar pressure washer, with its own foam lance
snow foam

2. Wheel clean
Meg's wheel brightener


3. rinse with hose

4. two bucket method wash
shampoo & wax
wash mitt

5. rinse & quick detail
meg's last touch detailer

6. Dry
waffel weave micro fibre cloth

Looks good to me. Don't forget to dilute the Megs wheel brightener as it is very strong. If your wheels are in good nick, dilute up to 1:10.

[Baker21]

Originally Posted by madfiddler

anyone know any good pro detailers in the Derby/Nottingham area then?
with a good blanace of price v. quality of work?

cheers

You can search local 'detailer's on Detailing World but I would recommend getting it seen to straight after delivery...........