Washing advice?

jerkmoans

jerkmoans

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366
So. Got home from work yesterday evening: wife and bairns out. What better way to pass the time than to give the car a good scrub, get all the squished flies off the thing. Hosed it off, liberal application of soapy warm water, using some Simonez wash n polish stuff that we got from Costco, hosed again, rub with a chamois to get most of the water off.

This morning I step outside to greet my shiny love machine and ... it looks like sh!t. COVERED in white blotches. I know black cars are supposed to be notorious for keeping clean and shiny but this really looks terrible.

So. This evening I'm gonna go by Halfords on my way home and investigate their array of cleaning products, but I wondered whether fellow fms here had any suggestions as to a decent way forward for keeping my pride and joy looking the way it should, as opposed to the blotchy mess I have at the moment.

As an adjunct, the leather is black, which is fine, with nice contrast white stitching. How to clean the leather without ruining the white stitches...?

Hmmm.
 
allandwf

allandwf

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10,995
Micro fibre cloth to dry, don't do it in the sun, then polish and buff. Should get rid of the water marks. I just wash mine, always dry off or will get water marks. I polish every 2nd or 3rd time as not that too bothered about dirt and marks its for driving. You can spend days if your that way inclined with a black car, or any car come to think of it.
 
Parisien

Parisien

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Its a bit longer......do in shade....take your time and use the right cloths and car wash ...simples......:)


P
 
jerkmoans

jerkmoans

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366
The guide is certainly intriguing, but anyone have any suggestions for a 30 minute job before dinner? Just want to sluice off the crud (and the blotches!) The microfibre towel to dry is a fine notion - I've got a couple I use for hiking: gonna run 'em through the washing machine and hang them out to dry this morning. Any decent soapy stuff you chaps use or shall I just take my pick in Halfords..?
 
allandwf

allandwf

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10,995
For quick and easy use autoglym aqua wax, you can apply when the cars still wet, not as good as a full valet and polish but a good quick way to get car looking good in a rush.
 
Parisien

Parisien

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Yeah.......I would always follow routine of washing, clay barring/tar removal ( only a few times a year for this stage), another quick wash, dry thoroughly then wax......


Inclined to use a higher quality wash, can't remember off hand the name......but buy it in 5 litre packs......


P
 
EnzoMC

EnzoMC

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1,999
best wash from halsfords is maguires gold, i use the pro version of this and both are matched in terms of gentle to the paint work. make sure you use a wash mitt with straight line and NO presure, let the product do the work, this is what you paid for. due to the heat at the moment, wash and dry one panel at a time to aviod water marks which can be a pain to remove

drying with thick microfibre cloth and drag this across the paint work, dont rub
 
M

MAF260

Member
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7,662
I'd suggest you start with a major clean/detail so that you then have a very good base that will allow you the 20 minute 'in between' cleans. There are no short cuts unfortunately.
 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

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48,794
I'm really curious as to how these *can* work, without scratching the **** out of your paint. I'm tempted to try, just before a respray.

C
 
Almichie

Almichie

Junior Member
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799
EnzoMC said:
best wash from halsfords is maguires gold, i use the pro version of this and both are matched in terms of gentle to the paint work. make sure you use a wash mitt with straight line and NO presure, let the product do the work, this is what you paid for. due to the heat at the moment, wash and dry one panel at a time to aviod water marks which can be a pain to remove

drying with thick microfibre cloth and drag this across the paint work, dont rub
Click to expand...

I use the Maguire Gold Wash - very good indeed and when you wax it its gentle enough not to strip it off. Halfords have a good selections of Maguire's and really you cant go far wrong with this. Be warned though; once you start cleaning properly you'll start to see more and more and more and before you know it you'll have a bag full of wax's, cleaners, cloths...

I bought the sheep skin wash mit from Halfords yesterday and it's really good; nice and soft so not to scratch the paint!
 
Almichie

Almichie

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Messages
799
CatmanV2 said:
I'm really curious as to how these *can* work, without scratching the **** out of your paint. I'm tempted to try, just before a respray.

C
Click to expand...

I don't think I'd risk a "waterless" wash... only needs to go wrong once...
 
hukent

hukent

Junior Member
Messages
452
CatmanV2 said:
I'm really curious as to how these *can* work, without scratching the **** out of your paint. I'm tempted to try, just before a respray.
C
Click to expand...

I used it on my 911 for years with no problems, although if the car was REALLY dirty, I would always pressure wash it first.
I've cleaned the Maserati 3 times with it since ownership, and not a blemish on the paintwork.
Leaves a really good shine as it has Carnuba wax in it,
 
EnzoMC

EnzoMC

Member
Messages
1,999
Almichie said:
Be warned though; once you start cleaning properly you'll start to see more and more and more and before you know it you'll have a bag full of wax's, cleaners, cloths...
Click to expand...

Yep just how it started for me, had loads of autogym stuff, mer and various other from halfords - now all filed in the bin :)
maguires is the only stuff i found worked for me.

lots of people, pro detailers including myself will recommend products but its all about what you find works for you. the main point is in the way to use and apply products correctly to get the results you want, what may be good for me won't be for others and visa versa

with waxes these are also similar that some work great and give a good reflected surface on dark cars but not on light cars, also in the paints condition, no point appling high grade wax if the surface is not prep.

sorry went of one one...........
 
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