* The Car Cleaning Thread *

grudas · 14 Aug 2020 at 20:57

kona786 said:
@grudas

Hi mate, can you post link to the soft water system your using to final rinse your car.

TIA.

Yeah, it's the raceglaze 7ltr one I've got.

https://www.raceglaze.co.uk/car-care-exterior/rinsing-water-filters

Their site is a bit flaky right now

LiE · 15 Aug 2020 at 10:23

Some cool water behaviour this morning after the rain, this is with a week old CarPro Elixir.

wedrum · 15 Aug 2020 at 10:29

i had a paint correction on the 2014 audi and the difference is night and day.
less than £150 at the time of lockdown.

SoliD · 15 Aug 2020 at 12:51

mrk said:
Initially I used the Renovo softtop cleaner and protector kit and since then have been using the Autoglym versions every few months. Works great but do note that the brush you use is paramount. A poor quality brush or cheap sponge just won't get into the fibres.

I bought one of these specific bristle brushes which works amazingly:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vikan-Co...Cleaning-Brush-for-TVR-BMW-Audi-/150913001286

Cheers forgot to even ask you! Will grab one of those.

SoliD · 15 Aug 2020 at 12:52

mrk said:
Initially I used the Renovo softtop cleaner and protector kit and since then have been using the Autoglym versions every few months. Works great but do note that the brush you use is paramount. A poor quality brush or cheap sponge just won't get into the fibres.

I bought one of these specific bristle brushes which works amazingly:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vikan-Co...Cleaning-Brush-for-TVR-BMW-Audi-/150913001286

Cheers forgot to even ask you! Will grab one of those.

Tee Hee Johnson · 15 Aug 2020 at 14:23

After a month of ownership, I managed to get the wheels off to give them a good clean and do the arches whilst I was at it.

Engine bay too, didn't need much to be honest since its mainly one big lump of plastic!

Then to a nearby quiet road for a quick snap.

Used a combo of Bilit Hamber wheel cleaner, Turtle Wax bug and tar remover, isopropyl alcohol and a Maguires clay bar on the wheels.

Body got some of the bug and remover where needed and then a simple wash of Autoglym Body Shampoo.

Tee Hee Johnson · 15 Aug 2020 at 14:23

Tee Hee Johnson · 15 Aug 2020 at 14:23

Bald-Eagle22 · 15 Aug 2020 at 19:22

Going to be using a Clay bar for my first time , what should I would washing the car with prior to doing it ?

Any car shampoo and dry ?

Temujin · 15 Aug 2020 at 19:37

Bald-Eagle22 said:
Going to be using a Clay bar for my first time , what should I would washing the car with prior to doing it ?
Any car shampoo and dry ?

Don't dry, there's no real point if you're going to clay. Your usual washing will be fine, but it would be worth using some decon products like iron remover, sap remover etc to reduce the amount of crud the clay has to pick up.
Give yourself plenty of time, and regularly check if the clay requires folding and reshaping. Check your areas regularly to see if there are any parts requiring further work.

Ev0 · 15 Aug 2020 at 20:35

Had a look at the wife’s car for the first time after some rain since having ceramic coating on.

It’s crazy how the water just slides off it.

kona786 · 16 Aug 2020 at 07:28

grudas said:
Yeah, it's the raceglaze 7ltr one I've got.

https://www.raceglaze.co.uk/car-care-exterior/rinsing-water-filters

Their site is a bit flaky right now

Thanks bud.

They have massive Britta filters here at work about the 15 litre size, I'll have a good look at the hose connectors on them tonight to see if I can re purpose them for the car haha. Cheers.

Goose · 17 Aug 2020 at 16:30

Would anyone like to spec me a car shampoo, wash mitt/sponge, wheel cleaner and wheel brush? Cleanyourcar.co.uk has this shampoo at £7/ltr, this sponge, this wheel cleaner at £9/ltr, and this wheel brush.

I'd like to be as budget friendly as possible without actually buying utter tosh.

Jony27 · 17 Aug 2020 at 16:43

Goose said:
Would anyone like to spec me a car shampoo, wash mitt/sponge, wheel cleaner and wheel brush? Cleanyourcar.co.uk has this shampoo at £7/ltr, this sponge, this wheel cleaner at £9/ltr, and this wheel brush.

I'd like to be as budget friendly as possible without actually buying utter tosh.

Im using a local company called anachem-automotive. Customer service is 2nd to none. Had emailed him about how to use a certain product and 5mins later i got a phone call!

LiE · 17 Aug 2020 at 16:45

Goose said:
Would anyone like to spec me a car shampoo, wash mitt/sponge, wheel cleaner and wheel brush? Cleanyourcar.co.uk has this shampoo at £7/ltr, this sponge, this wheel cleaner at £9/ltr, and this wheel brush.

I'd like to be as budget friendly as possible without actually buying utter tosh.

Shampoo - https://www.halfords.com/motoring/c...eguiars-gold-class-car-wash-473ml-334870.html
Wash mitt - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Detailers-...keywords=car+wash+mitt&qid=1597678931&sr=8-11
Wheel cleaner - Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bilt-Hambe...=Bilt+Hamber+Auto+Wheel&qid=1597678990&sr=8-1
2 buckets - https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Plasterer's-Rigid-Bucket---30L/p/103976
Wheel brush - https://www.amazon.co.uk/EZ-Detail-...&qid=1597679077&sprefix=ez+det,aps,144&sr=8-7

GinG · 21 Aug 2020 at 14:56

Afternoon all,

In regards ro interior cleaning I'm thinking of buying a wet and dry vac.

With 2 kids and a dog it's a little bit of a chore cleaning the mats/carpets.

Is this the type of thing I would need so after scrubbing the carpets and mats I could then just suck up the dirty water on the mat, rinse and repeat until clean?

Also thinking it would be handy for spot cleaning in the caravan and around the home.

Seems cheaper than say a vax as can pick up one for under £40 and can also be used to hoovering up after DIY and BBQ ash when not using the wet function.

MatteRB26 · 25 Aug 2020 at 11:56

Bald-Eagle22 said:
Going to be using a Clay bar for my first time , what should I would washing the car with prior to doing it ?

Any car shampoo and dry ?

Claying a wet car actually helps lubricate the bar along with whatever lubricant you're using. Just make sure you give it a good clean and attention to get the less stubborn dirt off and let the clay work its magic on the really stubborn bits. I clayed our car and it made a noticeable difference in both look and feel.

PiKe · 25 Aug 2020 at 13:22

Brand new to dog ownership, have a boot liner but the dog has drooled on the top of the rear seats which has now stained slightly, what can I use to remove these?

Cookeh · 25 Aug 2020 at 14:11

If its fabric then an upholstery cleaner, rather obviously. Equally obviously, an APC or even a magic eraser if its on hard plastics.

adam cool dude · 25 Aug 2020 at 16:56

PiKe said:
Brand new to dog ownership, have a boot liner but the dog has drooled on the top of the rear seats which has now stained slightly, what can I use to remove these?

I would use Autobright biozyme. This will clean it correctly as you need the enzymes to break down the biological matter not just clean the stain. Fantastic for milk and anything like that as well.

visibleman · 25 Aug 2020 at 18:40

Evening all,

The steering wheel is one job i've yet to tackle in the MX5 but was going to use Autoglym Leather Cleaner (or a weak APC solution / Colourlock Mild Cleaner) and a Colourlock brush but i've got no idea what to protect it with once it's cleaned.

I have got Gtechniq L1 but i believe it's only for coated leather rather than genuine or bonded leather which i think the MX5 steering wheel to be.

So what does everyone use to protect their leather steering wheels once they've cleaned it? Or do you not?

Scottland · 25 Aug 2020 at 19:37

Colourlock leather protector

PiKe · 25 Aug 2020 at 20:59

adam cool dude said:
I would use Autobright biozyme. This will clean it correctly as you need the enzymes to break down the biological matter not just clean the stain. Fantastic for milk and anything like that as well.

This isn't specifically car upholstery cleaner but general purpose cleaner?

*** The Car Cleaning Thread ***

* The Car Cleaning Thread *