Advice on washing and polishing cars.

woof woof

woof woof

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Years ago I was really into cars. I can't remember what car wash I used to sponge on but I do remember that I used an American polymer sealant and at the time I was happy with the results and the polymer sealant seamed to last quite a while. These days I just buy a tub of car wash from the supermarket and sponge that on. I have had my cars valeted a couple of times by my local car wash and by a self employed guy and he was a bit better than the car wash but he wasn't anything spectacular and I'm sure he got a less good result than I used to get with that polymer sealant but of course taking care with cars takes time and effort and although I want better results than a tub of car wash from ASDA gets me it'd be nice if the time and effort needed wasn't what it was when I was in my teens and twenties.

I watch a couple of car related things on Youtube and what they do is hose down the car, apply a product and hose it off with no sponge in sight. Does anyone use a product like this and if so what and how good is it? If that process is a bit unrealistic, maybe it's hype for the camera, how do others wash and polish their cars?
 
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Try living near the coast ,every day the morning dew leaves a fine layer of sand on the car , even worse when it rains
 
woof woof said:
Years ago I was really into cars. I can't remember what car wash I used to sponge on but I do remember that I used an American polymer sealant and at the time I was happy with the results and the polymer sealant seamed to last quite a while. These days I just buy a tub of car wash from the supermarket and sponge that on. I have had my cars valeted a couple of times by my local car wash and by a self employed guy and he was a bit better than the car wash but he wasn't anything spectacular and I'm sure he got a less good result than I used to get with that polymer sealant but of course taking care with cars takes time and effort and although I want better results than a tub of car wash from ASDA gets me it'd be nice if the time and effort needed wasn't what it was when I was in my teens and twenties.

I watch a couple of car related things on Youtube and what they do is hose down the car, apply a product and hose it off with no sponge in sight. Does anyone use a product like this and if so what and how good is it? If that process is a bit unrealistic, maybe it's hype for the camera, how do others wash and polish their cars?
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Alan

I use the Autoglym Polar SYstem, I think you are refering to Snow Foam, and yes it does work, but you still have to sponge the Wash part of the system (actually I don't sponge, I use two microfible mitts and work over the car with those before hosing down.

I think the system works well, but you do have to get the consistency of the SNow Foam right for it to 'stick' to the car

www.autoglym.com

Polar Collection

Everything you need to pre-wash, wash and protect your car with the power and ease of thick, grime-attacking foam, all in handy 500ml trial sizes.
www.autoglym.com www.autoglym.com
 
the black fox said:
Try living near the coast ,every day the morning dew leaves a fine layer of sand on the car , even worse when it rains
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We're exactly half way between town and coast and do quite often get a covering of something.
 
nog said:
Good site for car washing/detailing

https://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forums/

Best not to mention you use a sponge though as its similar to using an old dirty rag to clean you lens :)
Snow foam or traffic film remover is used to get the majority of dirt off your car but you still need to use car shampoo afterwards
Click to expand...

I know sponges are bad but I had to be honest with you guys despite the shame.
 
Mr Perceptive said:
Alan

I use the Autoglym Polar SYstem, I think you are refering to Snow Foam, and yes it does work, but you still have to sponge the Wash part of the system (actually I don't sponge, I use two microfible mitts and work over the car with those before hosing down.

I think the system works well, but you do have to get the consistency of the SNow Foam right for it to 'stick' to the car

www.autoglym.com

Polar Collection

Everything you need to pre-wash, wash and protect your car with the power and ease of thick, grime-attacking foam, all in handy 500ml trial sizes.
www.autoglym.com www.autoglym.com
Click to expand...

The car vids I watch are High Peak Autos in which you often see cars being prepared for sale and Salvage Rebuilds and they do go into products more. They use Jennychem and I've just googled them and watched a vid in which they used a snow foam and they do indeed need to do a contact clean... but not with an old sponge. I'll have to look into this more as I'll need some sort of bucket or tub pressure wash setup and no vid I've seen so far goes into this. The Jennychem vid shows the guy using a pressure system which seems to have a small bottle near the jet outlet. Googling showed some power wash kits including a bottle but with no explanation. Any idea what the bottle part does? Being near the jet outlet I can't see it adding to the spray.
 
Bottle you see, usually holds about 1L is screwed onto the snow foam gun which is attached to the pressure washer, you put a diluted snow foam solution in the bottle and make the snow-looks quite inpressive if you get the settings right and can get coloured snow foam so you could have coloured snow :)
I've not watched the video but his videos are usually pretty good
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjWBMutsKqk
 
Ah. I see. I need a pressure washer and a snow foam gun to attach to the end... It makes sense now.
 
woof woof said:
We're exactly half way between town and coast and do quite often get a covering of something.
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We are 200 yards from the Dee ( very sandy ) estuary and atop a hill with nothing in front of us bar the Irish Sea
 
F1.2 said:
This is a whole new never ending subject and also can work out very costly , Don't ask me how I know.
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Yup. Plus the time and effort when there are other things to do and eat up time. Which is why I stopped years ago.
 
Does anyone 2 buckets and a mitt these days?
 
woof woof said:
Yup. Plus the time and effort when there are other things to do and eat up time. Which is why I stopped years ago.
Click to expand...
I think the ultimate goal of a contactless wash i.e. no sponge or mitt required has still to be achieved.
However for winter time I've found the spray on rinse off products to provide a quick way of adding protection, which then makes it easier to clean next time. Currently using this https://www.detailedonline.co.uk/products/nano-sealant-spray-1 but there's plenty of similar products out there

If you are looking for a glossy finish that's easy to use. I've had good results with Sonax BSD as has anyone I've recommended it to. Wash car and dry spray a small amount per panel, spread with a microfibre and wipe off
 
woof woof said:
I watch a couple of car related things on Youtube and what they do is hose down the car, apply a product and hose it off with no sponge in sight. Does anyone use a product like this and if so what and how good is it? If that process is a bit unrealistic, maybe it's hype for the camera, how do others wash and polish their cars?
Click to expand...

Nope, nah, no way. They are as many have already replied hosing (hopefully pressure washing) the loose dirt off, then applying snowfoam (which you generally need a pressure washer for but you can get good pump sprayers nowadays) then leaving it to dwell then washing off the foam which will have captured most of the dirt. That's NOT a full wash, it's a contactless wash.

Full wash would be hose / Pressure washer then snow foam, then 2 bucket Contact wash with noodle mitts, then pressure wash and dry, to extrapolate your example. But not how I do it anymore after being on site Nog mentions below.
nog said:
Good site for car washing/detailing

https://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forums/

Best not to mention you use a sponge though as its similar to using an old dirty rag to clean you lens :)
Snow foam or traffic film remover is used to get the majority of dirt off your car but you still need to use car shampoo afterwards
Click to expand...

Sponge wise yes and no these days, Ive now got the Ultra Safe Black from the rag company (£17 for a sponge) but it really does the job for rinseless!

woof woof said:
The car vids I watch are High Peak Autos in which you often see cars being prepared for sale and Salvage Rebuilds and they do go into products more. They use Jennychem and I've just googled them and watched a vid in which they used a snow foam and they do indeed need to do a contact clean... but not with an old sponge. I'll have to look into this more as I'll need some sort of bucket or tub pressure wash setup and no vid I've seen so far goes into this. The Jennychem vid shows the guy using a pressure system which seems to have a small bottle near the jet outlet. Googling showed some power wash kits including a bottle but with no explanation. Any idea what the bottle part does? Being near the jet outlet I can't see it adding to the spray.
Click to expand...

Thats weird as I watch High Peak Autos all the time and never see any detailing other than Matt dropping off sow's ears at Tameside detailing then getting back a silk purse lol.
 
car detailing is as complex ( or not ) as you want it to be with more products than i can count being demonstrated on YouTube but the thing i always keep in mind as i watch the videos and iv'e watched unhealthy amount if i'm honest is all of them are trying to sell you something be it services or product

for no nonsense off the shelf products i like the turtlewax hybrid solutions offerings
not too pricy and achieve good results with not a lot of effort

for a simple shiny wash n wax finish so to speak with no effort and very little cost i'm extremely impressed with the results of this relatively cheap shampoo usually badged Goodyear at around 4 quid for 2.5 ltrs

finding it for sale can be a little tricky sometimes but if you come across it on your travels pick a tub up i think the results will surprise you


Goodyear Wash & Wax 2.5L | Car Cleaning

The Goodyear Wash and Wax is a hydrophobic polymer formulation that leaves a glossy just waxed deep shine. Simply mix with water to create a foamy mix and wash away all the dirt.
www.yorkshiretrading.com www.yorkshiretrading.com
 
Donnie said:
Nope, nah, no way. They are as many have already replied hosing (hopefully pressure washing) the loose dirt off, then applying snowfoam (which you generally need a pressure washer for but you can get good pump sprayers nowadays) then leaving it to dwell then washing off the foam which will have captured most of the dirt. That's NOT a full wash, it's a contactless wash.

Full wash would be hose / Pressure washer then snow foam, then 2 bucket Contact wash with noodle mitts, then pressure wash and dry, to extrapolate your example. But not how I do it anymore after being on site Nog mentions below.


Sponge wise yes and no these days, Ive now got the Ultra Safe Black from the rag company (£17 for a sponge) but it really does the job for rinseless!



Thats weird as I watch High Peak Autos all the time and never see any detailing other than Matt dropping off sow's ears at Tameside detailing then getting back a silk purse lol.
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And of course as photographers....the camera always tells 100% of the truth
https://www.reddit.com/r/Detailing/comments/1cqhxea/hows_this_for_a_mirror_shot
View: https://www.reddit.com/r/Detailing/comments/1cqhxea/hows_this_for_a_mirror_shot/
 
Thanks all.

As I have nothing else I used a bucket and the thing that should not be named or admitted to and washed all my cars and they came up ok. I'll look into the various kit and potion options and make a decision. I also think they all need a buff.
 
Having worked as a chauffer for a funeral firm in a coastal town (darned seagulls) I can recommend Auto Glym Wax wash and Autoglym super resin polish. Easy to apply with a damp cloth or applicator and easy to buff when dry (even on black, which is a total PITA). I have even used it on hot, sunny days but work in smaller areas at a time ( ie a panel or half a bonnet). It aint cheap but works out cheaper in the long run!
 
Pixbarmy said:
Having worked as a chauffer for a funeral firm in a coastal town (darned seagulls) I can recommend Auto Glym Wax wash and Autoglym super resin polish. Easy to apply with a damp cloth or applicator and easy to buff when dry (even on black, which is a total PITA). I have even used it on hot, sunny days but work in smaller areas at a time ( ie a panel or half a bonnet). It aint cheap but works out cheaper in the long run!
Click to expand...
IIRC super resin polish is good polish but don't get it on any plastic trim as it is a pain to remove
 
Pixbarmy said:
Having worked as a chauffer for a funeral firm in a coastal town (darned seagulls) I can recommend Auto Glym Wax wash and Autoglym super resin polish. Easy to apply with a damp cloth or applicator and easy to buff when dry (even on black, which is a total PITA). I have even used it on hot, sunny days but work in smaller areas at a time ( ie a panel or half a bonnet). It aint cheap but works out cheaper in the long run!
Click to expand...

I used to use Autoglym so it's good to know they're still recommended.
 
nog said:
IIRC super resin polish is good polish but don't get it on any plastic trim as it is a pain to remove
Click to expand...
Oops, Yes! That's very true. We only had proper chrome and painted metal on our cars. Leather and walnut veneer on the interiors!
 
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I use a bucket and sponge. I did go through the polish thing years ago, but it took too long, I just take it in now and again, and get a proper car wash.
My hate is brake dust, I've got fancy wheels with lots of small nooks and cranies, a PITA to clean..
 
I got some HYDRO snow foam products during the Black Friday deals. Found the applicator a bit temperamental but my biggest problem is that the water pressure from our tap is quite low sow getting the last of the grime off my car was not easy. I did manage to get the car spotless last time, but it seems to attract willow pollen at the moment so my car has turned from grey to brown...

Wayne - Hydro's alloy wheel cleaner is quite effective at removing brake dust, I consider it to be better than Dragon/Wonder wheels.
 
Removing bird etchings - I have quite a big bird poo etching on the clear coat on the roof - left it a day in the (very) hot sun and it's vanished

just as I was about to use the heat gun method
 
I've ordered some of that Goodyear stuff. Have been using some Meguiars that I've had for ages. A 2.5L turtle wax lasts about a decade as the car doesn't get washed very much. Just remove bird poop with a mix of car wash and water in a squirty bottle. Or a mix of snow foam/water in the squirty. Never sure which is the best idea.

It's very windy and dusty sometimes. Also I've learned the hard way that washing in the evening just means every insect within 5 miles immediately wants to die on the wet car.
 
I have got some decent quality products and ways of cleaning. I was really into it at one point. Usually fortnightly car cleaning. Now I just can't really be bothered with it. I've had my current good condition, 15 year old but 31,000 mile car since November and gave it a good detail type clean when I got it - brushes everywhere, clayed, etc but didn't get around to machine polishing (which it does need a bit) but now it's been marked, scratched, etc and I've not even cleaned it for about 4 months......

No point spending the time making anything look nice these days unless it's garaged with minimal use.
 
I think I'll ring around and get all three cars buffed and polished and then decide what to do from there.

One thing which has made a difference is buying some new tap and hose ends. They've cut down on escaping dribbles and upped the pressure nicely.
 
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I take mine to the Bulgarian guys down the by pass and let them do it .far easier
 
the black fox said:
I take mine to the Bulgarian guys down the by pass and let them do it .far easier
Click to expand...

There are places like that everywhere and I use one near me but TBH I could do as well and very probably better myself, I used to. The guy who I've used to valet my cars is better than the local immigrants at the car wash but nothing spectacular either hence the thread.

If I can't be bothered to DIY I might try another valet company but I think getting them buffed might be a good start.
 
This is what I would call a standard wash basically the one I do every Sunday.

Clean the inside of the car.

Clean the wheels with EZ car care Viper wheel cleaner and rinse off with a power washer.

Spray the dirtiest areas on the car with Citrus pre-wash, have tried a few and they all do a good job so brand doesn't seem to matter. Rinse of the car with a power washer. (I only use the pre-wash if the car has road scum on it)

Spray the car with Bilt Hamber Touchless Snow Foam, have used a ton of different brands of these and generally they do nothing at all but Bilt Hamber will actually clean the car, rinse the car off with the power washer,

Contact wash using a lambs wool mitt and the 2 bucket method, I also use a detail brush for areas that are always dirty like the inside of the wheel arches etc. Rinse with the power washer. Have used a ton of car shampoo's and struggle to see the difference between the cheaper and more expensive options, car is usually reasonably clean before the contact wash anyway.

Snow foam the car with a hydrophobic sealant, have used lots of different brands and they all seem to do a decent job for a few weeks and it saves waxing the car. Rinse with the power washer. Really like using hydrophobic sealant as it makes the car so much easier to dry as well.

Dry the car with a drying towel.

Dress the tyres with whatever I have in the shed at the time and clean the windows with Bilt Hamber glass cleaner.

Usually takes me about an hour or so depending on how dirty the car is, if I am also doing the wifes car and my daughters car at the same time will usually take me about an hour and a half, although I refuse to do the inside of their cars.

If I have a car show obviously I used to do a lot more detail stuff and even do a proper polish and wax. Last year I spent 4 days cleaning it and applied a 3 year ceramic coating. I also ceramic coated the wheels as well which makes them much easier to keep clean. Because of the ceramic coating haven't needed to polish and wax for about a year.

Have never been keen on using the scratch and shine type car washes often ran by immigrants and would never risk my car in an automated car wash. A few weeks ago I got a new personal reg and the place that done the new plates for me also sell car cleaning chemicals to trade both to valeters the immigrant type car washes and they also supply chemicals to the automated type car washes as well. He said the chemicals used by the immigrant type car washes and the automated car washes are similar in that they are very harsh and long term will damage paint work as they need to wash a car as quickly as possible. Professional valeters on the other hand only buy the best of what they have got.

Forgot to mention I have a stubby gun for the power washer which makes cleaning a lot easier as you are able to get into places you can't with a normal power washer, have tried a few snow foam lances and tbh they all seem to work well enough, I wouldn't spend a lot of cash on one again. The one I am using now only cost about £15.
 
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Mrs D. takes ours to a local hand car wash every once in a while.

Personally I just drive it - really don't care what it looks like.
 
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