Cheap car cleaning and winter paint prep

NorthantsPete81

Asda - All demon products are now £2!


I think theyre great - I have a massive Volvo so detailing normally takes 2 days solid the old conventional 3-4 step way using Meguirs or autoglym products - not anymore, im into regular 'sprays' for everything from wheels to traffic film/grime, to waxing. And it doesnt have to cost much either



Now I just do one initial claybar session then apply Sonax BSD sealant (£7.50 but lasts ages) then top up every wash with Demon shine as I dry to top up the protection further.



Cheap as chips detailling. Friends asked if Id bought a new car whereas normally theyre sayign "oh you waxed, i can tell by the paste in that gap and theres some on your plastics" :rotfl:



I went one further and bought the 5 litre versions of the wheel, TFR, shine, shampoo and interiror all purpose cleaner (use on anything throw away all other seperate cleaners) which works out £2 a litre all year round (carplan Valet range btw is the same stuff).


Just spray, wipe and go - 24/7 beading, no time at all.



I love telling detailling snobs what i use when they ask, their faces when they spend £15 on 250ml of something fancy that under performs!


What tips do you have for winter detaillign prep?

Car_54

That reminds me. I've had my car for nearly three months now and it could do with a wash ...

James_N

I have a 20 year old volvo and the only wash it ever gets is the rain and its lights. No problems so far.
What is detailing? Is this some way to waste a huge amount of time you could be spending down the boozer or at the footy?

k6chris

One simply does not wash a Volvo......

onomatopoeia99

NorthantsPete81 wrote: »

What tips do you have for winter detaillign prep?

Occasional wash. Once a year is enough.

Car_54

James_N wrote: »

What is detailing? Is this some way to waste a huge amount of time you could be spending down the boozer or at the footy?

And what is “winter paint prep”?
I’ve been driving for half a century, including spells in the Highlands and in the hills of County Durham where you get real winter weather, and I’ve never heard of it. Is this a new way of parting the gullible from their money?

seatbeltnoob

James_N wrote: »

I have a 20 year old volvo and the only wash it ever gets is the rain and its lights. No problems so far.
What is detailing? Is this some way to waste a huge amount of time you could be spending down the boozer or at the footy?

I concurr, i used to detail mt car when i first got it. It becomes an obsession to get it clean every weekend. To the poubt that its a bit sad. The car sits out in the elements, it will never stay clean for longer than an hour. Its a pointless [STRIKE]hobby[/STRIKE] waste of time.

seatbeltnoob

Winter pait prep for me is go through all the door edges, sand off the dust and cover it up in hslfords paint correction kit.

cubegame

Winter paint prep is not washing it all summer to build up a good protective layer of dirt and oil.

chrisw

seatbeltnoob wrote: »

I concurr, i used to detail mt car when i first got it. It becomes an obsession to get it clean every weekend. To the poubt that its a bit sad. The car sits out in the elements, it will never stay clean for longer than an hour. Its a pointless [STRIKE]hobby[/STRIKE] waste of time.

I think you're missing the point.

It's an opportunity to spend a Sunday afternoon avoiding the wife and kids whilst still appearing busy and having a bit of a chin wag with the neighbours.

fred990

Bilt Hamber auto foam using a pump garden sprayer, leave for a few minutes then blast with a decent pressure washer.
Works well and quick.