Car Cleaning/Detailing Question

oligopoly

Hi. Not new to cleaning my car but quite new to cleaning it properly and with care!

I've bought a couple of products but not sure if I'm missing a step in the middle - can anyone help?

I bought some SONAX Xtreme Brilliant Shine Detailer but I didn't quite realise at the time that this was more of a touch-up product.

I then bought Auto Glym Bodywork Shampoo Conditioner - which i'm yet to use...

My question is, should I also be buying a type of wax to use after the shampoo stage? And if so, which type of wax would complement the two products mentioned above? A liquid wax/wax bar etc.

Thanks in advance.

tykesi

Ready for the can of worms you've opened?

Ideally after washing with the Autoglym you want to be polishing it, Autoglym Super Resin Polish is great for this. Once that is done add a wax, if you're not wanting it to be 100% showroom there are plenty out there for not a lot of money, I wouldn't be too picky just look for a good deal. Once the car is waxed you can use your detailer to keep the surface looking good after your normal washes.

Careful, if you get hooked this can be very bad for your wallet, have a look over on Detailing World's forums for more (endless) info.

Good luck!

oligopoly

tykesi wrote: »

Ready for the can of worms you've opened?

Ideally after washing with the Autoglym you want to be polishing it, Autoglym Super Resin Polish is great for this. Once that is done add a wax, if you're not wanting it to be 100% showroom there are plenty out there for not a lot of money, I wouldn't be too picky just look for a good deal. Once the car is waxed you can use your detailer to keep the surface looking good after your normal washes.

Careful, if you get hooked this can be very bad for your wallet, have a look over on Detailing World's forums for more (endless) info.

Good luck!

Wait, shampoo then polish then wax?!

Crikey. Might neet polish and wax then. Thanks!

tykesi

You don't even want to know what other steps there are to getting it looking good

Invest in some polish and wax though and you won't go far wrong. It will probably only need a polish and wax twice a year, in between you can wash as normal and use the detailer to spruce it up once it's dry.

oligopoly

tykesi wrote: »

You don't even want to know what other steps there are to getting it looking good

Invest in some polish and wax though and you won't go far wrong. It will probably only need a polish and wax twice a year, in between you can wash as normal and use the detailer to spruce it up once it's dry.

ok think that makes sense. Thanks for the advice!

bengalknights

You can just do what i do if you have a pressure washer and buying a foam gun

Use koch chemie green diluted 1:10 parts water and "foam" the car, leave 5 minutes then rinse down (This will give you a near touchless wash)

After this use simoniz wash and wax (from Costco) in a bucket and complete the clean and your car will look very nice and be protected.

neilmcl

OK, here we go. For a full detail (only needed maybe twice a year), you need to wash, decontaminate the paintwork with tar remover, fallout remover then clay. Then you polish, assuming you're doing it by hand, with something like AG SRP as mentioned above, personally I think Bilt Hamber Cleanser Polish is a better product. Once that's out of the way you then seal & protect the finish with your choice of wax.

If you're just doing a standard wash, also referred to as a maintenance was in detailing circles, then you wash using the 2bm and then you can use Sonax BSD as a wax top up. BSD is excellent stuff and protects really well, it can be used once the car has been dried or as a drying aid, ie, just after the car's been rinsed, spray on and wipe off with a decent microfibre towel.

Best place for advice, and a place where you can find out ways to empty your wallet are the forums over on detailingworld.co.uk

306chris

oligopoly wrote: »

Wait, shampoo then polish then wax?!

Crikey. Might neet polish and wax then. Thanks!

You forgot the clay after wash.

Wash
Special wash for wheels only
Clay
Wash again
Towel dry
Polish
Wax/Sealant
Stand back and admire

And don't ever go to deatialingworld if you value your money, time family etc :rotfl:

pappa_golf

so is wilco wash and polish at £1 not realy very good ? I,m going ton get a refund tomorrow!

d0nkeyk0ng

Don't forget to clean the glass, dress the rubber and plastic trim, and dress the tyres. Alloy wheels can also be cleaner using the methods of decontamination, polishing and wax as above.

Then there's cleaning the interior...

pappa_golf

I leave the cleaning of the 37 rolls to the chauffeur