Hi guys

Just wondering what your clean routine is like? I for one can not wait to wash my car after this weather, it's absolutely filthy! I've got an orange GP so all the dirt shows quite easy anyway, but it's horrid at the minute aha.

Normally, once weather dies down I'll look at something like...

5 minutes at petrol station jetwash to remove heavy debris from lower section of car, alloys and arches.

Then using hosepipe... (Not privileged to own or have access to a pressure washer)

Two bucket method wash using Autoglym shampoo and bodywork conditioner.

Dry using large microfibre car towel.

Clay using meguiars claybar and quik detailer spray.

Apply Autoglym super resin polish and remove.

Finish with Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection.

Up to now I've not waxed the car, although I think I should as the final step to the above. I've never really cleaned the alloys either, any suggestions on this?

What do you normally do when you have the right weather and time?

For me it's always been a labour, no hosepipe so no pressure washer

1 bucket of soapy water, soak the car in it one way or another and let it sit for 5 mins, then go in for the 2 bucket method with a sponge (hand mit is next thing to buy!) rinse off with a 4th bucket of water, sometimes even some watering cans haha! Chamois off most of it then finish with a microfibre. Then clay bar, polish and wax to finish.

Wheels are absolutely awful to clean, they usually get a soaking with a sponge then sprayed generously with wheel cleaner to break down the brake dust, then another clean with the sponge before drying up with some old microfibres and get any bits you've missed (roll the car forwards 2 or 3 times to check you haven't missed any spokes) and then tyre and trim blackening if it needs it. Then some wheel sealant but, I haven't purchased any yet

That's pretty much it for me, need to get a few more bits for the kit including some sort of alloy wheel brush to make it a bit easier on me!

https://www.fiatforum.com/car-care/188996-basic-guide-how-clean-your-car.html

Everything you ever wanted to know, and probably a lot of stuff you didn't!

MISC1691 said:

Wheels are absolutely awful to clean, they usually get a soaking with a sponge then sprayed generously with wheel cleaner to break down the brake dust,

Click to expand...

Best to apply the wheel cleaner to dry wheels that way it can get straight to work and do its thing immediately without been diluted by any water sat on the wheel






At this time of the year all mine is getting is a foam rinse and a quick hand wash no point trying to keep it clean one thing worth doing is washing as much salt off the chassis as possible

have a look here:

https://www.fiatforum.com/car-care/288510-quick-winter-wash-tips.html


https://www.fiatforum.com/car-care/222631-quick-lazy-way-cleaning-underside-your-car.html



One thing if you want to get a coat of wax or sealant on the car i would avoid EGP in the cold it takes forever to cure and if the temperature drops and condensation forms its a total pain to buff off....


look at either this http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog/werkstat-prime-acrylic-cat9.html ideally over coated with this http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog/werkstat-acrylic-jett-trigger-cat12.html (you dont need to use much) its as quick to use as a quick detailer spray.....



Or this

http://www.bilthamber.com/wax-and-polishes/auto-balm


applied so sparingly you cant see hardly any residue (i use this as i dry the car sometimes using the foam applicator pad to soak up the water) then buff up one panel at a time......

I stopped using wheelcleaner, because most will attack ( alloy) wheelbolts etc.
Just warm water with a good carshampoo will do the job fine!!

depends on the cleaner peter there are safe alternatives hot soapy water will not release metal particles which if left attack the clear coat accelerating failure and subsequent oxidation

*puts flame suit on*

Car wash...

*runs*

Andy Monty said:

depends on the cleaner peter there are safe alternatives hot soapy water will not release metal particles which if left attack the clear coat accelerating failure and subsequent oxidation

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Well, it works for me!
Even my winter alloys are kept shiny with only soap and water.
Again, most wheelcleaners will contain some sort of acid, if it doesn't, it's nothing else than soapy water...!!

Peter Pick-Up said:

Well, it works for me!
Even my winter alloys are kept shiny with only soap and water.
Again, most wheelcleaners will contain some sort of acid, if it doesn't, it's nothing else than soapy water...!!

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Or.....perhaps your soap is acidic

Possible, it's Turtle shampoo, bought it at Halfords, while on holiday in the UK, last sommer....!!

Peter Pick-Up said:

Possible, it's Turtle shampoo, bought it at Halfords, while on holiday in the UK, last sommer....!!

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Ah right, fair play, when you were saying soap I thought you were on about washing up liquid soap

I use turtle Wax products, not bad stuff (although probably better out there, but I like it ).

Dishwashing soap is out of the question...!!
That's no good on cars at all...!!

Peter Pick-Up said:

Well, it works for me!
Even my winter alloys are kept shiny with only soap and water.
Again, most wheelcleaners will contain some sort of acid, if it doesn't, it's nothing else than soapy water...!!

Click to expand...

can you get Car Pro IRON-X over there? its a safe fall out remover
which turns pink/ purple on contact with iron you'd be surprised what is left even if you wash clay and polish the car / wheels

Don't need it, wheels are like new, even after two salty winters ( and a lot of dirt and brakedust...!)....!!

Andy Monty said:

Best to apply the wheel cleaner to dry wheels that way it can get straight to work and do its thing immediately without been diluted by any water sat on the wheel

Click to expand...

Cannot thank you enough Andy! Saved me so much time, I thought it wiped off a dream when I applied it to the wet alloy but applying straight to a dry alloy...wow what a difference! Need to get myself an alloy brush and i'll be laughing

MISC1691 said:

Cannot thank you enough Andy! Saved me so much time, I thought it wiped off a dream when I applied it to the wet alloy but applying straight to a dry alloy...wow what a difference! Need to get myself an alloy brush and i'll be laughing

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Just a nice soft paint brush will do fine

depending on your alloys and the spoke spacing....


http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/elite...alloy-wheel-cleaning-brush.php?cPath=21_60_61



http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/elite-safe-wheel-spoke-brush.php

^(glue the rubber tip on as they fall off)^

I use a microfiber washmitt to clean the wheels.( I only like 5 spoke designs, and they are easy to clean as well...)
With a washmit you can reach the backside of the spokes, with a brush you can't.

http://www.carclean.nl/product/Monello/Wash_Mitt_MWM0101_102092