Car cleaning

[worldofceri]

+1 for Astonish.  I used some of their upholstery cleaner on the Saab seats the other day and they came up pretty well for not-much elbow grease.

 

While I was at it I pulled out the rear ash tray from the centre console to find it's a: a bit broken and b: manky as fook.  So I popped it in the dishwasher.  It came out looking even greyer and faded than before so I gave it a quick spray with some teak oil that was kicking around the kitchen (Mrs_WoC had been treating the doors around the house); blimey - with a quick rub with a bit of kitchen roll it came up gleaming like it was fresh out the mould.  Recommended.

 

I'm gonna try it on the bumpers and what not as and when I can be arsed.

[Lord Sterling]

Inspired by this thread I went out and gave the Micra a half-arsed wipe over with some Autoglym Super Resin, it already had a wash at IMO as I found a couple of quid, tyres got some black boot polish so the car is looking a bit shinier. Started to rain after I'd done one side but thankfully being a very small car and having a big rag I soon finished it.

[Stanky]

My method is to run a mop bucket full of hot water from the hot tap, sling in a couple of capfuls of tesco wash & wax stuff then go over the whole car with a household soft broom dunked in the bucket. The is abrasive enough to remove most grot, but not leave marks in the paint.

 

I then wash the bucket out, fill it back up with cold water and go over it all again, but in reverse. The logic being that the last bit I do with bucket #1 is the first bit that gets done with bucket #2 so it evens out.

 

Sometimes I do the windows with some windolene and an old microfibre cloth, depending how grubby they are.

 

I tend to do this routine about fortnightly as it doesn't take too long, but gets me out in the fresh air which makes me feel better about life.

 

Sometimes I hoover the inside of the car too, though as new work have a tarmac carpark (rather than gravel like the old place) the inside of the car tends to be less mucky these days.

[cms206]

I wash whatever car I have at work on a Friday after the schools using a mix of carbon cleaner, G101, TFR and boiling water using the brush we wash the coaches with. If I'm really lazy I just run TFR through the steam jenny and don't bother brushing it. If I'm away on a Friday the whole shebang rolls over to the following week.

[mat_the_cat]

Just a normal 1 bucket wash for me, although I bought a clay bar (BH) a couple of years back as the paintwork on the BX was incredibly rough.

 

I've always used silicone spray on the black trim, which has lasted a month or two. Recently tried boiled linseed oil, which seems to last a similar amount of time but was noticeably sticky after application. For the Stellar trim, seeing as the paintwork will be all new I've splashed out on some Gtechniq C4 which is supposed to last a lot longer.

 

First impressions are that it looks equally as black as anything else I've tried, although one drop goes a huge way. Time will tell I suppose...

[oldcars]

I like Meguiars NXT shampoo, applied with a Meguiars lambswool mitt. I use Valet Pro foam first while I do the wheels with Auto Glym Clean Wheels and the Megs shampoo.

 

I chuck Demon Shine on after rinsing and leather off the remaining water with a synthetic Auto Glym chamois.

 

I use black Colour Magic polish and Megs Gold Class Wax afterwards, or sometimes Auto Glym Rapid Detailer to finish off. Auto Glym Instant Tyre Dressing goes on the black bits.

 

Inside I use Megs Kwik Detailer and Sheraton Wipes on the seats.

 

I daren't add up how much I've spent on cleaning gear.

Demon Shine is great stuff, use it on the caravan all the time.

[dollywobbler]

One bucket, Turtle Wax Zip Wax shampoo (which I find lasts me years!), wash mitt, tap-pressure hose. The XM has received the Autoglym Super Resin treatment twice now, which reminded me just how bloody big it is.

 

My top tip. Rain-X glass cleaner. I don't use it on the windscreen (I don't like the smearing) but use it extensively on side and rear windows. Makes the car look amazing, even if you haven't cleaned the rest of it! Also makes the water bead, so it clears as you drive along - important given the huge quarter-lights on the front doors of the XM.

 

It's pointless going crazy on most of my cars though, as the XM in particular is covered in scratches and scrapes. I like it to be clean, but showroom condition can FRO. 

[UltraWomble]

Washing up liquard the sponge from the sink a bucket and the hose pipe.

Actually, yeah. This is me. Soz folks, but its done me well for the last 30 years I dont see why I need to change now.

[fordperv]

Oh a good thing I tried because I saw it on sale was simoniz carnauba speed wax, it gave a good lustre, after you have washed and rinsed the car you apply it with a microfiber or sponge, don't let it dry rinse it off then dry your car as you usually would, it's great when you are pushed for time and can't give it a proper polish

 

I just found its back on offer at tesco.com

 

http://www.tesco.com/direct/simoniz-carnauba-speed-wax-500ml/562-7578.prd

[FakeConcern]

Just a normal 1 bucket wash for me, although I bought a clay bar (BH) a couple of years back as the paintwork on the BX was incredibly rough.

 

I've always used silicone spray on the black trim, which has lasted a month or two. Recently tried boiled linseed oil, which seems to last a similar amount of time but was noticeably sticky after application. For the Stellar trim, seeing as the paintwork will be all new I've splashed out on some Gtechniq C4 which is supposed to last a lot longer.

 

First impressions are that it looks equally as black as anything else I've tried, although one drop goes a huge way. Time will tell I suppose...

I have used the Gtechniq C4 (on my C4!) & it's just starting to look like it needs doing again nearly 3 years later, so quite expensive for a tiny bottle, but worth it. I tried it as I was fed up with most back to black type stuff lasting a couple of weeks.

[Vince70]

One bucket, Turtle Wax Zip Wax shampoo (which I find lasts me years!), wash mitt, tap-pressure hose. The XM has received the Autoglym Super Resin treatment twice now, which reminded me just how bloody big it is.

 

My top tip. Rain-X glass cleaner. I don't use it on the windscreen (I don't like the smearing) but use it extensively on side and rear windows. Makes the car look amazing, even if you haven't cleaned the rest of it! Also makes the water bead, so it clears as you drive along - important given the huge quarter-lights on the front doors of the XM.

 

It's pointless going crazy on most of my cars though, as the XM in particular is covered in scratches and scrapes. I like it to be clean, but showroom condition can FRO.

 

It sounds like I must of got my car cleaning skills from Mr Dollywobbler the only difference is I use White Vinegar on my windows as I'm a tightarse when it comes to window cleaning products.

[Pillock]

I sold my soul today and cleaned one of the cars.

 

I don't think it's been washed in two years. Whoever it was that suggested using Blutak as a makeshift clay bar, I owe you. Got all the tree sap, tar spots, everything out. The blutak was grubby as fook after going over one panel but I kept folding it and using it. Did half the bonnet as a test, just running my hand over it went from smooth as a baby's bottom to sandpaper.

Still need to do the wheels, the diamond cut face has come up ok with just soap and water but the inny bits are all caked in crud. Buggered if I'm buying anything special though, so has Autoshite got any top tips about what I might find in a stationary cupboard at work to clean wheels with?

[vulgalour]

Middling clean.

 

1 - Hose down with regular from the tap water.  Do the inner arches, mud guards, sills and bumpers to keep mud and salt from building up.

2 - Wash with a mitt - I'm using a squares of a chopped up sheepskin coat that had seen better days - and a bucket of warm water that has some Autoglym shampoo in it.  Work from the top down and do the wheels very last to prevent smearing dirt everywhere, no need for a second bucket.

3 - repeat step 1 and allow to dry in the sun or use a squegee and a clean bath towel to dry things off.

4 - apply supermarket brand glass cleaner to all glass surfaces (inside and out), light lenses and wiper blades.

5 - apply Autoglym Glass Polish to outside of glass and light lenses and polish off.  This prevents wiper judder and helps the electric windows work easier.

6 - apply good old fashioned Turtle Wax to all painted surfaces, keep it off unpainted plastic trim.

 

I also gave the interior a vacuum and a very quick wipe down with what little was left of my Autoglym Vinyl and Rubber Care that I've had for a couple of years now to freshen things up.  Get indoors before it rains, as it has since doing all of the above pretty much constantly.

 

 

 

 

 

If I did a full clean I would have done door shuts and exterior plastics, given the alloys a deeper clean and paid a bit more attention to the interior.  I'd likely also have clayed it as it's getting ready. Full clean can wait until the weather gets its shit together.

[mercrocker]

Wow, that's way beyond my routine!    I always do pay attention to wheel arches though.  Clean 'em out by hand (literally -fingers)  every month in the winter - reckon I could eat my dinner off the 190E ones.....

[vulgalour]

Cleaning out the arches, especially on anything over ten years old, is vital to longevity as far as I'm concerned.  Even more important if you've got a car with rot prone arches like the 190E so your attention to those is actually sensible.  It's amazing how much grot accumulates in the arch lips and corners even over a short distance.

 

If I'm doing a quick wash I only do steps 1-3, providing there's enough wax and polish work done sometimes that's all that's needed.  The Xantia had got to that sweet spot where the weekly wash was really quick because nothing was really sticking to it, the Rover has a long way to go until it's there.

[Station]

Have always used cheapo £1 car shampoo. I believe you are being duped paying £10 for specialist stuff, it's just a degreaser with the same chemicals.

There's nothing like a polished and waxed car though, I do it as often as it gets dirty. Sainsburys jet wash for 3 quid as well.

[fordperv]

I have found this stuff to be good as well, got it on a 3 for 2 from Halfords so thought it was worth a shot

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Turtle-Wax-250g-Original-Paste/dp/B0054JW8WA

[Vantman]

 

I thought I might use this on my newly purchased Saab but this polish is past the sell by date.

[doobietoo]

Peanut butter is a faf to use, I have a container of peanut oil I bought from a fishing shop which is easier to use and way less messy...it used to last a couple of years on VW plastics...

[brickwall]

Peanut oil and fish?

[gordonbennet]

Increasingly can't be arsed.

When i do now its a quick soak of the wheels first with a gentle purpose made alloy cleaner, fast rub over them with long bristled brush to agitate, then rinse off entire car incl wheels with pressure washer.

Then use soap dispenser on said washer to apply washnwax glass finish TFR, which i get from Chemiclean Birminham in 25 litre tub (lasts me years), again a quick agitate with long bristled soft brush then gentle blast off on low pressure high volume setting, including underbody, final squeegee of large panels and glass with on of those silicone squeegees.

10 mins per car at the most, i shall do them all today cos its been a month for our two daily's and 4 months since the Merc's even been started.

[chatsharris]

Two bucket method.  Wonderwheels on the alloys followed by tyre dressing, which never seems to work anyway.

Mer or Meguiars for the shampoo, depending on how I feel it'll get either proper clay or liquid clay after. Then Poorboys Black Hole Glaze, followed by their excellent natty paste wax.  Glass polish on the windows as required.  Machine polish with meguiars ultimate compound and polish as required. 

 

Lots of effort, generally for no purpose.  As soon as I finish it, I generally have to drive 140 miles straight away so it's dirty again!