Cleaning up with Newspaper

jonbeeza said:
Don't do wax, keep things nice and simple. I did not scratch it, I scrunched paper up nice and soft. I am pleased with the results :)
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Get it under a proper light, I bet you've added loads of scratches.
 
jonbeeza said:
It is a car stuck out in all weather, birds poop on it the sun beats down on it, stone chips often hit the car. It is clean :)
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Did you clay bar it? No? It won't be clean then. A decent wax will fend off most weathering and bird poop.
 
nilagin said:
Did you clay bar it? No? It won't be clean then. A decent wax will fend off most weathering and bird poop.
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I really don't get all this so called "detailing" just more enticement to spend more money, for no reason, a decent shampoo, leather and turtle wax has served me well for the last 40 odd years, I can't see it changing any-time in the next 40 odd years.
edit, oh and T-Cut before all this lacquer crap hit the market
 
Cobra said:
I really don't get all this so called "detailing" just more enticement to spend more money, for no reason, a decent shampoo, leather and turtle wax has served me well for the last 40 odd years, I can't see it changing any-time in the next 40 odd years.
edit, oh and T-Cut before all this lacquer crap hit the market
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It doesn't have to be expensive, I wouldn't use a leather neither, much better with microfiber or lambswool mitt.
 
nilagin said:
It doesn't have to be expensive, I wouldn't use a leather neither, much better with microfiber or lambswool mitt.
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I can't see either of those drying the paintwork anything like a leather TBH.
 
I must admit when I had the supra and had the re spray I brought all kinds of cleaning products from car shows and yep microfiber cloths....it shone!


Any car I've had since got washed when it rained :D
 
Cg_Girl said:
I must admit when I had the supra and had the re spray I brought all kinds of cleaning products from car shows and yep microfiber cloths....it shone!
Any car I've had since got washed when it rained :D
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I really CBA TBH, I wash it to get the crap off, turtle wax for ( some) protection against the elements, I guess if it was a prestige marque
I'd have it valeted on a regular basis. But as its not ...
 
Cobra said:
I can't see either of those drying the paintwork anything like a leather TBH.
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Leathers can still scratch. A microfiber towel will do a better scratch free job of drying the car. Most polishes and waxes should go on with a damp cloth anyway, so by the time you've finished washing the car and rinsed it there should only be a enough water left on the car to make your polishing cloth or mitt wet.
 
nilagin said:
Most polishes and waxes should go on with a damp cloth anyway,
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Yep thats the way I do it, but I don't wax every wash well rinse really, unless there is obviously a lack of polish.
So basically I leather in between washes / waxes
 
Cobra said:
I really CBA TBH, I wash it to get the crap off, turtle wax for ( some) protection against the elements, I guess if it was a prestige marque
I'd have it valeted on a regular basis. But as its not ...
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My car paintwork was treated before I took delivery, it always looks generally clean it's only mud that seems to stick. Apart from that I've cleaned it less than 1/2 a dozen times since I bought it around 18 months ago.
Only use of newspaper on paintwork I would recommend is if you do get bird poop that has dried, lay some wet news paper on top of the mess and it should soften it and help lift it so you don't scratch the paintwork trying to remove it.
Haven't tried this but I recently read of a tip to clean up the polycarbonate headlamps, toothpaste, apparently the fine grit in it cleans it up very well, getting rid of any scuff marks.
 
nilagin said:
Did you clay bar it? No? It won't be clean then. A decent wax will fend off most weathering and bird poop.
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Looks clean to me, it is a car that gets used in all weather. Is is only a car, when it gets dirty again next week, I will clean it with Newspaper all over again :)
 
Cobra said:
I really CBA TBH, I wash it to get the crap off, turtle wax for ( some) protection against the elements, I guess if it was a prestige marque
I'd have it valeted on a regular basis. But as its not ...
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Same here my car is not a prestige luxury pamper thingy, it is a hard working work horse. The muddy dog goes in it, all manner of buggies and chairs go in it. It carts people about etc.
 
Cobra said:
I can't see either of those drying the paintwork anything like a leather TBH.
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I thought that too. Been using chamois leathers since I was a kid helping my Dad, BUT I got a couple to try & surprisingly they do seem better. (y) (bigger & cheaper too)


I also bought a couple of clay bars to try (summat to do when fed up) & again was really surprised how much crud they get off a clean/just washed car. Good for cleaning the windscreen too.

After claying & washing again (wax free shampoo) I gave it a good wax & dirt just seems to wash off in the rain. I think I've only washed it 3 times since July.
 
I will stick to a good wash and then Meguirs cleaning products.
 
Newspaper from now on every time, not wasting money on a car if I can help it. It is only a car, I do not lust over it like some people :). Now if it was a classic, but it is not, it is not worth anything and it never will be...
 
DorsetDude said:
Sign of the times I suppose.
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Who mail-ed you that info or did you get it off your Sun, you need to have a good look at yourself in the mirror? Bored :D trying a different one to Cobras on previous page.

Anyway, another who used to clean the windows with newspaper. I believe that due to the solvent in the ink, sort of re-acting when wet again helped with the cleaning, and why current newspapers are still good for the job.
 
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Swanseajack said:
Who mail-ed you that info or did you get it off your Sun, you need to have a good look at yourself in the mirror? Bored :D trying a different one to Cobras on previous page.

Anyway, another who used to clean the windows with newspaper. I believe that due to the solvent in the ink, sort of re-acting when wet again helped with the cleaning, and why current newspapers are still good for the job.
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I wish I had of used Newspaper years ago, instead of struggling with old rags :)
 
I have heard of cleaning windows with newspaper but never the car :eek:
 
craigm said:
I have heard of cleaning windows with newspaper but never the car :eek:
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I softened the paper first obviously not to scratch the car, then polish away with slightly damp Newspaper, just like a Chamois Leather :)
 
jonbeeza said:
Newspaper from now on every time, not wasting money on a car if I can help it. It is only a car, I do not lust over it like some people :). Now if it was a classic, but it is not, it is not worth anything and it never will be...
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I'm not surprised if you treat it like that. I've had old bangers I treated better than that.
Mate at work was telling me he cleaned his father in laws car the other day, he found a circular patch of scratches on the rear quarter. When he asked him about it, he said there was some dried bird muck that he had found hard to get off so he'd used a scouring pad. Car isn't even a year old.
 
jonbeeza said:
I softened the paper first obviously not to scratch the car, then polish away with slightly damp Newspaper, just like a Chamois Leather :)
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You do realise leathers aren't for polishing.
 
I am thinking of getting the Brillo pads on the paintwork, it will get the bird poops off a treat :)
 
jonbeeza said:
I am thinking of getting the Brillo pads on the paintwork, it will get the bird poops off a treat :)
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We use these (types) at work
EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid) for sensitive area's such as
limestone, marble, calcareous sandstone, glazed brick, architectural terracotta, and polished granite.
Or Acidic cleaner containing hydrofluoric acid
for the less sensitive likes of includes sandstone, slate, granite, unglazed brick, unglazed terracotta and concrete.

It doesn't list paint work as "sensitive" so guess your'll be OK :thumbs:
 
Cobra said:
We use these (types) at work
EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid) for sensitive area's such as
limestone, marble, calcareous sandstone, glazed brick, architectural terracotta, and polished granite.
Or Acidic cleaner containing hydrofluoric acid
for the less sensitive likes of includes sandstone, slate, granite, unglazed brick, unglazed terracotta and concrete.

It doesn't list paint work as "sensitive" so guess your'll be OK (y)
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I wonder what grade of wet and dry should I go for? Loved using that to flatten down :rolleyes:
 
jonbeeza said:
I wonder what grade of wet and dry should I go for? Loved using that to flatten down :rolleyes:
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I'd start off with P12 down to a P240 and finish off on a P1000
You can't beat a bit of wet and dry (y)
 
Quite a few years ago I worked for a small local company, who supplied vehicle cleaning products nation wide, mainly to the trade.
Some stuff such as aerosols were bought in & labelled, but they produced much of their own stuff.

I was surprised just how many different products were made, from so few ingredients. Apart from the odd tweak in strengths, depending on intended use + a few colourings & different perfumes, many products were almost the same.

They supplied a cleaning product to showrooms/garages to use in power washers to clean the protective waxy coating off new vehicles that manufacturers used. ......... it was paraffin.
I've even taken 1000ltrs up to Ayr in Scotland. A 10 hr round trip + wages & fuel/running costs, but obviously profitable.

Another product was alloy wheel cleaner. Very similar product to toilet descaler.
 
OldCarlos said:
Quite a few years ago I worked for a small local company, who supplied vehicle cleaning products nation wide, mainly to the trade.
Some stuff such as aerosols were bought in & labelled, but they produced much of their own stuff.

I was surprised just how many different products were made, from so few ingredients. Apart from the odd tweak in strengths, depending on intended use + a few colourings & different perfumes, many products were almost the same.

They supplied a cleaning product to showrooms/garages to use in power washers to clean the protective waxy coating off new vehicles that manufacturers used. ......... it was paraffin.
I've even taken 1000ltrs up to Ayr in Scotland. A 10 hr round trip + wages & fuel/running costs, but obviously profitable.

Another product was alloy wheel cleaner. Very similar product to toilet descaler.
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When I used to work in catering, we had to clean the greasy walls down with Paraffin, bit stinky but worked a treat..
 
I find that the layer of mud keeps the scratches away when I'm driving down our country lanes which are enough for the width of the car :D but I've heard of the newspaper trick before. I might actually get round to the annual clean. Although 2 seconds later a tractor will go past and splash it with mud again :lol:
 
kelack said:
I find that the layer of mud keeps the scratches away when I'm driving down our country lanes which are enough for the width of the car :D but I've heard of the newspaper trick before. I might actually get round to the annual clean. Although 2 seconds later a tractor will go past and splash it with mud again :lol:
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Have to agree, sometimes it is hardly worth cleaning the car lol
 
jonbeeza said:
Have to agree, sometimes it is hardly worth cleaning the car lol
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This is true. The perils of living in the countryside haha. If only I could float then I wouldn't get mud in the car as well!
 
Cobra said:
I really don't get all this so called "detailing" just more enticement to spend more money, for no reason, a decent shampoo, leather and turtle wax has served me well for the last 40 odd years, I can't see it changing any-time in the next 40 odd years.
edit, oh and T-Cut before all this lacquer crap hit the market
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One thing that hasn't been taken into the equation is the change in make up of car paint post 2006 I think (but can be wrong). The EU introduced rules which effectively has made it so soft that just looking at it will scratch it.

My old Audi Quattro has industructable paint, I can do almost anything to it and it will look good. Heck with my dad we used to go to a stream and fill the buckets of water from that and wash the car there.

Those days are over if you have a newer vehicle. I don't like detailing, can't see the point as it is just a car and my time is more valuable. However with simple steps that don't take any longer you can really avoid swirl and scratch hell on a vehicle.
 
Only reason I clean the car, the missus would refuse to get into it. Ooo I do love a mucky car :)
 
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