Basic cleaning & polishing advice needed

[Red Fred]

I wonder if anyone can give me a basic guide on washing, polishing and whatever after.

As you can see i've got a Pasodoble Red 500, I know in time red is prone to fading and i'd like to keep it good for as long as I can!

I've no wish to be a perfect detailer, but need to know which sort of product to use (and in which order!) Ideally using mid price products.

Also, can you recommend a cleaner for the windows, everytime I steam up I see smeary marks and the rings from the factory suction cups!

Apologies if this has been covered a million times, but have searched and really can't find what i'm looking for.

Thanks, Red Fred

 

[Andy Monty]

I wonder if anyone can give me a basic guide on washing, polishing and whatever after.

As you can see i've got a Pasodoble Red 500, I know in time red is prone to fading and i'd like to keep it good for as long as I can!

I've no wish to be a perfect detailer, but need to know which sort of product to use (and in which order!) Ideally using mid price products.

Also, can you recommend a cleaner for the windows, everytime I steam up I see smeary marks and the rings from the factory suction cups!

Apologies if this has been covered a million times, but have searched and really can't find what i'm looking for.

Thanks, Red Fred

First off modern reds dont fade like the older cars on newer reds they have a clear coat (or lacquer) but a bit of TLC keeps it looking at its best

right washing....

This can get silly or you can keep it senible ideally you want a way to remove the bulk of the dirt before you go near the car with a washmit.
if you have a pressure washer that's ideal if it has a soap bottle even better get some cheap car shampoo from a motorfactors something like turtle wax's Big orange car shampoo 5 ltrs for £5ish and use that as a pre rinse spray it on the car leave for a few mins then rinse off if you don't have a Pressure washer but have a hosepipe get one of these
http://www.superspray.co.uk/


if your using a normal yellow £1 sponge throw it in the bin and invest in a washmit...

I doubt you will know about the 2 bucket method but to keep it simple
you have 2 buckets one with car shampoo (ill get to that later) and another with clean water luke warm water is no problem and it keeps you hands warm.. load up mitt with soap clean a section start at the roof and work down... rinse the mitt in the clean water wring out then load with soap again.....

rinse the car with a free flowing open ended hose pipe..

have a read of this

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=4637

to dry the car invest in a good quality microfiber cloth i use this with a bit of quick detailer to aid drying i got these from lidl

now for clay polish wax and the rest...

once the car is clean (this i do every 3-4 months ish)

first clay i use Bilt hamber clay (soft) it only needs water to lube rather than quick detail spray...




http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/foru...ead.php?t=4829

(you need the car clean)

when you use it you ONLY need light finger pressure..
and plenty of water

then re wash and dry the car (no quick detailer this time)

now the iffernal what next
paint clenser?
Polish?
Wax?
Synthetic sealent?

basically
Paint clenser is a none abrasive solvent based cleaner,
polish is an abbrasive compound,
wax is a predominanty natural product which gives shine and seals the paintwork,
Synthetic sealent is a chemical sealent,

this is where the confusion sets in

without going into too much detail

my 2 favourite options at the moment

are

Autoglym super resin polish
topped with 2 coats of collinite 915, 24 hours apart (ideal if your car needs a polish) and the collinite lasts an age and beads water very well

Or Bilt hamber Auto balm

this is a paint cleanser "filler and sealant all in one

http://detailingworld.com/forum/showthread.php?t=78109


BH have an offer on shampoo, clay (add £1 for soft clay phone order only) and balm with applicator pad set (the scrim is crap but the pads are good)

» FULL CAR CLEANING AND CARE KIT
Buy Auto-wash with Auto-clay and Auto-balm, and have all three for £27.99, saving you £5.89. + FREE applicator and buffing kit worth £4.99

http://www.bilthamber.com/bilthamber-special-offers.php


now for glass cleaner you have a a mind boggling range to choose from but Autoglym fast glass for weekly clean of the glass and Autoglym glass polish for a deep clean..


just to give you an idea what autobalm looks like on a red car

mod: these wont attach for some reason..

Bare in mind its a 51 plate

 

[dannygp]

FYI 3rd link doesn't work mate.

 

[Andy Monty]

can't edit it now


http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=4829

try that

 

[Mark Elvin]

Red Fred, have a chat with me at the IOW fun run, I'm coming over a day early to detail Shaggyjims car.

 

[Red Fred]

Thanks Mark, will do, look forward to meeting y'all.
Mind you, I best be clean and shiny for that weekend!
Have any of you guys booked anything yet?

 

[Mark Elvin]

Have any of you guys booked anything yet?

I'll book the Sandringham this weekend.

 

[Red Fred]

I finally ordered the recommended products, Spent a fair amount of time using them, i'm really pleased, thanks for the advice
Check my reflections!

 

[Andy Monty]

Vary nice Tracy

 

[Bhindi]

Hi,

This has been a very useful thread, as I too will be the proud owner soonish of a pasodoble red 500, and would also like to treat it to a detail on its arrival.

Andymonty..please may I ask why you say to do this: rinse the car with a free flowing open ended hose pipe.. Rather than continue to use the pressure washer.. I'm not trying to be pedantic at all, I just can't see what the difference is, but respect that there must be otherwise you wouldn't have included it.

In the past I have used Zymol shampoo on my car because its a plant based shampoo, and as I try to live organicly, it goes with the grain.. I understand some people rate zymol quite highly. In your opinion can I continue to use this, will it foam well through a pressure washer.

Also on that note, I notice many recomendations of getting the little elite snow foam machine. We have a karcher k7.80md would I be able to create a snow foam with this? Would I need a special lance do you know?

I understand that its recomended using a wash mit, I have very small hands (size 6.5), and wonder if I am going to find these mitts hard work because they will be so loose any thoughts on that?

Sorry for all the questions.

Claire

 

[Andy Monty]

Hi,

This has been a very useful thread, as I too will be the proud owner soonish of a pasodoble red 500, and would also like to treat it to a detail on its arrival.

Andymonty..please may I ask why you say to do this: rinse the car with a free flowing open ended hose pipe.. Rather than continue to use the pressure washer.. I'm not trying to be pedantic at all, I just can't see what the difference is, but respect that there must be otherwise you wouldn't have included it.

In the past I have used Zymol shampoo on my car because its a plant based shampoo, and as I try to live organicly, it goes with the grain.. I understand some people rate zymol quite highly. In your opinion can I continue to use this, will it foam well through a pressure washer.

Also on that note, I notice many recomendations of getting the little elite snow foam machine. We have a karcher k7.80md would I be able to create a snow foam with this? Would I need a special lance do you know?

I understand that its recomended using a wash mit, I have very small hands (size 6.5), and wonder if I am going to find these mitts hard work because they will be so loose any thoughts on that?

Sorry for all the questions.

Claire

Hi Claire No problem

right lets see what i forget to answer....

The reason why i rinse with an open ended hose is 3 fold you get a greater amount of water out to help remove shampoo, you have more control, and the large amount of water enables sheeting (basicly removing water from the car by adding more water than a spray from a Pressure washer/hose spray

think this You tube vid should explain better he (i assume) starts with a spray then uses an open ended hose...






Zymol isn't a bad shampoo at all i have a bit somewhere in the garage takes a bit more rinsing than the bilt hamber stuff but still very good and you can get it in halfords (or you could last time i got some) but factor in the bilt hamber stuff you use 5ml per bucket and its made in the uk (so its not shipped half way round the world) and cleans very well

Nothing beats Bilt hamber auto foam for cleaning power in my eyes normal car shampoos don't have the foaming ability or the concentration to do a good job the Bilt hamber stuff is biodegradable and the foam quickly dissipates unlike the Elite snow foam which in winter can sit on the drive for days...

you will need a special lance i know Karcher do one BUT its not as good as one most of the detailing retailers sell

http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/elite-heavy-duty-foam-lance-6-types-of-fitment-and-free-1l.php


I have this one and its very good got mine from autobrite but they are all the same ...

i use about 200 ml of foam to 800ml of water = a bottle full and that's enough to do 2 small cars (my punto and mums KA)



now onto the matter of your small hands (resists any jokes relating to small hands and washing up )

I found these ok paid about £3 from Boyes (local sell it all type shop)

this might be a better bet (saw these somewhere local this week but cant remember where (could have been Netto)

any more questions fire away