Hi all,

Now im back in another black car id like to look into making my like easier when cleaning it. This is just a weekly wash to keep it clean over winter not a summer clay session.

So my current cleaning protocol is.

Rinse off most dirt
Use a tfr like product to soak into dirt.
Hot water, autoglym cleaner with sponge.
Rinse off.
I dont even dry it as awd man must have put some good wax on as the water just slips off

What id like to know is there anything i should changed?

Sponges are so £5 wash things but what else can be used?

Is there a wax that can be sprayed on last thelp keep the dirt off? (I like the way water beads off when it rains
)

Finally what about a product i can again spray onto the wheels to keep the brake dust off?

Please dont direct me to a detialing site though

Think you will find a sponge is not recommended as it traps small particles and scratches the paint. you need to use a lambswool mitt instead. Because the mitt isn't a flat surface the small dirt particles don't get trapped to the same extent and therefore cause less scratching. Oh ye and don't visit www.detailingworld.co.uk  MY16 AUTOBIOGRAPHY Indus silver with some toys

2012 3.0 SDV6 Luxury gone, but a great motor

Waah mitts are much better than sponges as they don't get dirt trapped in them which can then scratch your paint. Drying the car after you've washed it, with a micro fibre drying towel, will make it easier. Autoglym super resin Polish is good once you've dried it. Then, finally a wax. Autoglym high definition is good, and will give you good protection and good water beading. Once that coat of wax is on, next time you wash and dry it you can just spray on a quick detailer, such as Sonax, which will keep your shine going and your beading.

You are going sooo wrong cleaning your car Daz, i bet it is full of swirls under the sunlight or bright light.
Swill off with pressure washer first.
Snow foam entire car
Leave to dwell approx 10 minutes. This helps get rid of dirt.
Rince off with pressure.
I then fire a thin coat of snow foam over the car again and proceed to wash with Gtechniq wash http://gtechniq.com/shop/3s-for-cars/wash-maintenance/g-wash/ and a maguires wash mitt, NOT A SPONGE Using the two bucket method
Rince off with pressure washer again.
Towel dry with http://gtechniq.com/shop/3s-for-cars/wash-maintenance/g-wash/
To protect your wheels i use http://gtechniq.com/shop/3s-for-cars/exter...el-armour/ Wheel armour, makes cleaning your wheels so much easier
For all other products just look here http://gtechniq.com/shop/ There are video's to show you how to use them correctly, and that is the key with Gtechniq products.

Last edited by Ady 555 on Thu Jan 16 2014 9:31pm. Edited 1 time in total

I wonder how many pages this will run to

Try using magifoam but apply with a garden sprayer - I find using a snow foam lance spectacular but it makes too much mess.

Ditch the scratchy sponge and get a couple of decent microfibre mitts.

Get the wheels really clean and then give them a couple of coats of Collinite 485 wax which lasts pretty well.

Buy a couple of big microfibre drying towels and use them to err... dry it off and prevent tide marks.

Give it big decontaminate, clay bar, HD cleanse, Super resin polish and quality wax in the summer

Good on you for the weekly wash in winter - it's so easy to let it go and then corrosion sets in  2008 MY Java Black TDV8 HSE

I knew i was going wrong with the sponge which is why i left the door wide open for insults

Im not a total i've had show condition cars that have mag features on them but like i say im just after a quick weekly winter wash protocol. My brother has a big bodyshop so i can have machine polish jobs done as and when required.
.
I have the full autoglym range as im a tight yorkshire boy and think these are good enough. Loads of microfibre pads to apply polish and microfibre towels to buff up

I got my sport off awd man so the paintwork come in really good condition so i dont need to clay it back or clean it up good. The water just fall off after ive washed it but as for drying as i dont really bother as im sure it will rain soon as ive finished it, i even wash it in the rain

A good spray wax would be nice so i could apply it even if its raining to try help keep the dirt off

I even put the car into off road mode and spray the wheel arches off, try spray under the car off too but that sent the rear sensors crazy for a few days

Just having a look for a lambs wool mitt.

Are the cheap ones any good or just buy a meguiars one?

Meguiars are the dogs.. Get yourself a water magnet as well for drying  2010 RRS, TDV8
bali Blue / colour coded
side steps / flappy paddles
black perforated leather
22" overfinch
heated everything, TV,fridge ...... now with gold calipers and mud flaps !( black mud flaps that is) !!
Many years ago,,,,, 1955 series 1 landie , sometimes wish I had kept it

I'd shy away from lambswool mitts if I was you, I just find them too much admin to maintain and even though I ALWAYS washed them out and dried them properly, I found them falling apart after a couple of months.

Though, if you do want to go the lambswool route, check out here for 2 delivered for £18 - highly rated over on DW

I use a Dodo Juice Supernatural sponge and a microfiber wash mitt and as long as you give the car a decent prewash (I foam the car with a mild mix of Bilt Hamber's Surfex, then jet spray off) you should avoid inflicting any damage with pretty much ANY wash media (including a 50p sponge ) and it just becomes personal preference as to what to use  ON THE WAY: BMW F21 M140i
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gogsy1956 wrote:

Meguiars are the dogs.. Get yourself a water magnet as well for drying

Get yourself a couple of these, sooo much softer than a water magnet

Can be had form pretty much all 'detailing' suppliers for around the same price, not just from where I've linked  ON THE WAY: BMW F21 M140i
MERCEDES GL350 - Metallic Navy Blue w/Grey interior

GOING: BMW F31 335D MSport+ xDrive Touring
GONE: Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE - Stornaway Grey w/Black Interior (wish we'd kept it )
GONE: BMW F10 520D MSport - Carbon Black
GONE:MY12 RRS SDV6 HSE Sumatra/Ivory/Grand Black Privacy glass

I always use meguiars clay bars so I think they are good quality products.

Hmm what to do know about lambs wool or not

Hi
Iron X on wheels
Rinse wheels
Power rinse (especially important when salt starts going on the roads)
Snow foam
Power rinse
Snow foam
Wash car with two bucket system
Rinse
Wash wheels
Rinse
Dry with micro fibre towels

Doesn't take that long and you will avoid scratching the car. That will keep the car clean until you move on to glaze, polish, wax, followed by ultimate Detailer ( all meguiars products)

Enjoy it, it's therapeutic, work, you are looking after your investment, and it does not take too much time

Sorry to ask a silly question but two buckets, can i ask why?

Have one bucket full of warm water with the cleaning products in and the other bucket of clean water.

Use the wam water bucket to clean the car but clean the mitt in the cold bucket before it goes back into the warm water.

Saves taking the dirt of the car and putting it in the clean warm water.

Not a very good description of method tho...

one to rinse the sponge, one to add the clean water to the sponge

Never bother myself.

Personally, if you look after you cleaning kit and rinse etc, you should keep the sponge dirt particle free. I have so far. Mike

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