Car cleaning... first steps

apinner · 24-04-2006, 13:41

Righto folks,

i always enjoy getting out the bucket and sponge and giving the car a good cleaning but im afraid my skills and knowlege go no further than a bucket of soapy water followed by a bit of turtle wax and a bit of 'back to black'.

I have a black octy vrs and i really want to make it shine this summer and get it looking pristine. The problem i have is i dont know what steps to take, which product does what and what products to buy.

so if someone could give some tips on a step by step car wash and products that will get it looking great it would be much appreciated.

EDIT: I dont want to spend £200 on a single tub of wax either.. maybe £100 in total.

ChrisRs · 24-04-2006, 14:04

www.polishedbliss.com
Gives you allthe advise you will need

LittlePaul · 24-04-2006, 14:46

I did mine this weekend.
That £15 Flash carwash thing is kickass.
I used fairy liquid in a bucket and a sponge, after hosing the car down.
I have some muc-off for my mountain bike that I sprayed on the alloys, then just sponged down.
Quick hosedown to remove the soap. Then used the autodry on the Flash carwash (deionised water filter) all over. Came up with no smears.
Then used some Chrome Polish on the exhaust etc, some regular carbonara

wax on the paint, Rain-ex on front windscreen, and some turtlewax trim polish on the um trim.
Pukka. Oh and the gf did the inside windows and dash with dash spray!

Tiptronic · 24-04-2006, 16:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by LittlePaul

I did mine this weekend.
I used fairy liquid in a bucket and a sponge, after hosing the car down.

FAIRY LIQUID?!?!?

Thought Fairy Liquid and car paintwork didn't mix?

Bigw2069 · 24-04-2006, 16:16

OOOOHHHH fairy liquid

, its full of salts which help to remove stubborn egg stains, unfortunatly it'll also help leave tiny scratches on your car.

You dont need to spend a fortune, If you follow the 2 bucket wash guide on www.polishedbliss.com using a quality shampoo, I like autoglym shampoo, about £7.99 and give the car a good chamois dry, even a good layer of hand applied wax (I was using Megs Carnuba £9.99 in halfrauds) can make the car shine like a good un, remember to get some tyre shine as it finishes the car off to a tee.

EDIT: It's worthwhile getting a few good polishing cloths, lint free cotton cloths or the likes. nothing worse than old t-shirts

apinner · 24-04-2006, 16:23

heh, i have loads of old t shirts.. its what i had always used!

ChrisRs · 24-04-2006, 16:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiptronic

FAIRY LIQUID?!?!?

Thought Fairy Liquid and car paintwork didn't mix?

He's taking the pi$$

LittlePaul · 24-04-2006, 17:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by robbo51

He's taking the pi$$

*grin*

chowy · 25-04-2006, 10:18

You probably don't need £100. Try the Car accessory shop on Ormesby Road on the Stuarts Park end and they sell Meguiars car care products and theres a guy who works in there that does concours competitions.

He should be able to point you in the right direction and recommend the products you need too.

apinner · 25-04-2006, 12:48

Quote:

www.polishedbliss.com
Gives you allthe advise you will need

There is some superb information on that website! Been looking at car polishers and they are very expensive for what is effectivley a slow angle grinder!

Tiptronic · 25-04-2006, 15:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by robbo51

He's taking the pi$$

Should have known!!

24-04-2006, 13:41	#1
apinner STAFF Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Grimsby Posts: 1,574 Thanks: 56 Thanked 59 Times in 38 Posts	Car cleaning... first steps Righto folks, i always enjoy getting out the bucket and sponge and giving the car a good cleaning but im afraid my skills and knowlege go no further than a bucket of soapy water followed by a bit of turtle wax and a bit of 'back to black'. I have a black octy vrs and i really want to make it shine this summer and get it looking pristine. The problem i have is i dont know what steps to take, which product does what and what products to buy. so if someone could give some tips on a step by step car wash and products that will get it looking great it would be much appreciated. EDIT: I dont want to spend £200 on a single tub of wax either.. maybe £100 in total. __________________ . . Last edited by apinner; 24-04-2006 at 13:42.

24-04-2006, 14:04	#2
ChrisRs Skonda Fabic Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 4,979 Thanks: 17 Thanked 20 Times in 19 Posts	Re: Car cleaning... first steps www.polishedbliss.com Gives you allthe advise you will need

24-04-2006, 14:46	#3
LittlePaul Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Northampton Posts: 504 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Car cleaning... first steps I did mine this weekend. That £15 Flash carwash thing is kickass. I used fairy liquid in a bucket and a sponge, after hosing the car down. I have some muc-off for my mountain bike that I sprayed on the alloys, then just sponged down. Quick hosedown to remove the soap. Then used the autodry on the Flash carwash (deionised water filter) all over. Came up with no smears. Then used some Chrome Polish on the exhaust etc, some regular carbonara wax on the paint, Rain-ex on front windscreen, and some turtlewax trim polish on the um trim. Pukka. Oh and the gf did the inside windows and dash with dash spray! __________________ Black Magic Octavia vRS, cruise control, towbar, nokia NK-7W, PhatBox, bonnet lifters

24-04-2006, 16:16	#5
Bigw2069 Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Rosyth,Scotland Posts: 5,092 Thanks: 195 Thanked 174 Times in 141 Posts	Re: Car cleaning... first steps OOOOHHHH fairy liquid , its full of salts which help to remove stubborn egg stains, unfortunatly it'll also help leave tiny scratches on your car. You dont need to spend a fortune, If you follow the 2 bucket wash guide on www.polishedbliss.com using a quality shampoo, I like autoglym shampoo, about £7.99 and give the car a good chamois dry, even a good layer of hand applied wax (I was using Megs Carnuba £9.99 in halfrauds) can make the car shine like a good un, remember to get some tyre shine as it finishes the car off to a tee. EDIT: It's worthwhile getting a few good polishing cloths, lint free cotton cloths or the likes. nothing worse than old t-shirts __________________ Last edited by Bigw2069; 24-04-2006 at 16:18.

24-04-2006, 16:23	#6
apinner STAFF Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Grimsby Posts: 1,574 Thanks: 56 Thanked 59 Times in 38 Posts	Re: Car cleaning... first steps heh, i have loads of old t shirts.. its what i had always used! __________________ . .

25-04-2006, 10:18	#9
chowy Briskodian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: north east uk Posts: 734 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Car cleaning... first steps You probably don't need £100. Try the Car accessory shop on Ormesby Road on the Stuarts Park end and they sell Meguiars car care products and theres a guy who works in there that does concours competitions. He should be able to point you in the right direction and recommend the products you need too. __________________ Present: BMW 130i M Sport 2007 \| Titanium Silver (No need to use indicators no more ) Sadly gone: Skoda Fabia vRS 2005 \| Black Magic (for pleasure) Present: Skoda Octavia Ambiente 1.9 Tdi 2005 \| Diamond Silver (for work)

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