Cleaning obsession

jaypers777 · Jun 22, 2015

OK.....so I have always pretty much washed my own cars, however, with this new one it has become something of an obsession. I can't stand it being dirty!

Many may mock me on here, but I did go for the Audi Guardx prep when I bought the car. To be fair, they did a pretty good job. Not detected any swirls or anything. In hindsight, I know a good detailer would have done a more thorough job etc, so maybe now with that knowledge this is something for the future.

So my approach.........I pretty much always jet wash it once a week whatever the weather to keep the road grime at bay. Use the local car wash area, and I do get some strange looks that I only jet it down with the spray and don't let the other stuff make contact with the car. End result is that a 30-45min wash keeps it looking brand new. Just done that, via a process of 3 different wash mitts - one for the upper part of the car, one for the lower and another for the arches and wheels etc. Also 2 or 3 micro fibre cloths, used for different areas of the car. I also always clean inside the doors/tail gate etc.

Just done a clean, and it makes me smile and it also definitely drives better when clean.

Sorry for being a bore, but guess we are all bores on here (in a nice way). Have a nice day all. :blahblah1:

Simon L · Jun 22, 2015

jaypers777 said:
OK.....so I have always pretty much washed my own cars, however, with this new one it has become something of an obsession. I can't stand it being dirty!

Many may mock me on here, but I did go for the Audi Guardx prep when I bought the car. To be fair, they did a pretty good job. Not detected any swirls or anything. In hindsight, I know a good detailer would have done a more thorough job etc, so maybe now with that knowledge this is something for the future.

So my approach.........I pretty much always jet wash it once a week whatever the weather to keep the road grime at bay. Use the local car wash area, and I do get some strange looks that I only jet it down with the spray and don't let the other stuff make contact with the car. End result is that a 30-45min wash keeps it looking brand new. Just done that, via a process of 3 different wash mitts - one for the upper part of the car, one for the lower and another for the arches and wheels etc. Also 2 or 3 micro fibre cloths, used for different areas of the car. I also always clean inside the doors/tail gate etc.

Just done a clean, and it makes me smile and it also definitely drives better when clean.

Sorry for being a bore, but guess we are all bores on here (in a nice way). Have a nice day all.

You're a complete geek with far too much time on your hands!

........... (you did say we could mock you)

If it makes you feel any better, I intend to do exactly the same (time permitting)

steeve · Jun 22, 2015

Sorry Japers but compared to quite a few of us that's not obsessive.............................

Bristle Hound · Jun 22, 2015

jaypers777 said:
OK.....so I have always pretty much washed my own cars, however, with this new one it has become something of an obsession. I can't stand it being dirty!

Many may mock me on here, but I did go for the Audi Guardx prep when I bought the car. To be fair, they did a pretty good job. Not detected any swirls or anything. In hindsight, I know a good detailer would have done a more thorough job etc, so maybe now with that knowledge this is something for the future.

So my approach.........I pretty much always jet wash it once a week whatever the weather to keep the road grime at bay. Use the local car wash area, and I do get some strange looks that I only jet it down with the spray and don't let the other stuff make contact with the car. End result is that a 30-45min wash keeps it looking brand new. Just done that, via a process of 3 different wash mitts - one for the upper part of the car, one for the lower and another for the arches and wheels etc. Also 2 or 3 micro fibre cloths, used for different areas of the car. I also always clean inside the doors/tail gate etc.

Just done a clean, and it makes me smile and it also definitely drives better when clean.

Sorry for being a bore, but guess we are all bores on here (in a nice way). Have a nice day all.

@jaypers777 - As @steeve says your a mere amateur lol

SilureMark · Jun 22, 2015

I clean my S3 maybe twice a month or if it's been bombed by the seagulls. Can't see the point in getting obsessive with cleaning it, after all, it's just an S3 and my daily drive - it's not a 80 grand porsche. I have waxed it twice this year mind :rockwoot:

A3Kent · Jun 22, 2015

Mine gets a wash every 2 weeks as well. Citrus Pre Wash first, pressure spray off then the top half with Zymol Shampoo/Maguires Wash Mitt using the 2 bucket technique. Then on the bottom half where the visits to the second clean water bucket gets visited far more regularly. Pressure spray off then dry with a micro fibre towel.

Wheels are then coated with Bilberry for 5 mins then pressure washered off. Then mircrofibre is used for any bits missed.

I then use Autoglym Tyre cleaner, tar remover and bug remover to finish off.

I can't be bothered to do any more than that! That takes about 45mins to an hour.

h5djr · Jun 22, 2015

I used to wash my cars every week-end but it's just something I am not physically capable of doing any more so my A3 still gets washed once a week but by using a conveyor type car wash. The chaps give it a very good soaking and get any insects off with a pressure washers before it goes through the washer and dryer and then I usual just wipe over the windows and mirrors with an e-cloth as soon as I get home. It makes a good job of the alloys and I often finish off the tyres with a spay tyre wall cleaner. The car being Silver helps as it does not show any odd water marks.

amped2 · Jun 22, 2015

i do ours twice a week without fail,

pre-wash
rinse
snowfoam
rinse
snowfoam & use as shampoo
rinse
rinse with filtered water
pat dry last few bits
quick detailer spray and wipe.

and every two moths re-wax

MA3RC · Jun 22, 2015

A3Kent said:
Mine gets a wash every 2 weeks as well. Citrus Pre Wash first, pressure spray off then the top half with Zymol Shampoo/Maguires Wash Mitt using the 2 bucket technique. Then on the bottom half where the visits to the second clean water bucket gets visited far more regularly. Pressure spray off then dry with a micro fibre towel.

Wheels are then coated with Bilberry for 5 mins then pressure washered off. Then mircrofibre is used for any bits missed.

I then use Autoglym Tyre cleaner, tar remover and bug remover to finish off.

I can't be bothered to do any more than that! That takes about 45mins to an hour.

Why don't you seal your wheels with a high temp wax or nano coat? You wouldn't need to use Bilberry every time then as overuse isn't very good for your wheels. Shampoo will always budge dirt from coated wheels

A3Kent · Jun 22, 2015

MA3RC said:
Why don't you seal your wheels with a high temp wax or nano coat? You wouldn't need to use Bilberry every time then as overuse isn't very good for your wheels. Shampoo will always budge dirt from coated wheels

It has crossed my mind to be honest. How do you apply the products you have mentioned? Microfibre?

A3Kent · Jun 22, 2015

I do have some Autoglym Alloy Wheel Seal. Would this do the job?

J4MMYz · Jun 22, 2015

It takes me 3 hours to wash mine..

After two months it looks like my wax has worn away so looks like I'll have to wax it again soon! That'll take a whole day to de-tar and wax. Too time consuming lol

...Might just wax it actually, it's not really got any tar spots just the odd little one in places.

MA3RC · Jun 22, 2015

A3Kent said:
It has crossed my mind to be honest. How do you apply the products you have mentioned? Microfibre?

You use your bilberry to fully strip and clean the wheels, then a microfibre will be ideal for a wax based sealant such as Finnish Kare 1000p (rates highly on detailing world). A nano coating will last longer but takes a little longer to apply.

amped2 · Jun 22, 2015

I used nanolex ultra on my wheels and paint, easy to use and great protection

msdmjb · Jun 22, 2015

I washed mine at the weekend with a bucket and sponge although I did hose it down first, this was the first time since I got it.........11months ago! Oh the shame........

Wheels\lights\exhaust tips get done every couple of weeks

jaypers777 · Jun 22, 2015

msdmjb said:
I washed mine at the weekend with a bucket and sponge although I did hose it down first, this was the first time since I got it.........11months ago! Oh the shame........

Wheels\lights\exhaust tips get done every couple of weeks

This is a wind up, right?! Think I need a lie down. :sos:

h5djr · Jun 22, 2015

jaypers777 said:
This is a wind up, right?! Think I need a lie down.

Perhaps he prefers to spend his time driving the car rather than cleaning it !! I know I do.

wideboybloke · Jun 22, 2015

Being retired, I can spend as long as I like cleaning mine. As Saturday was a nice overcast day I claybarred the roof, bonnet and tailgate. It didn't take as long as I thought it would and of course once it's all re-waxed the finish is like glass. Today's rain has rather spoilt the immaculate appearance, although I enjoyed watching the rain bead and run off. On the next overcast day I'll do as much of the remainder as I can manage. Plenty of time, so no rush!

Blackwhite · Jun 22, 2015

Bristle Hound said:
@jaypers777 - As @steeve says your a mere amateur lol

BH. You are the Detail King!

Bristle Hound · Jun 22, 2015

Blackwhite said:
BH. You are the Detail King!

Your making me blush again BW! lol

J4MMYz · Jun 22, 2015

jaypers777 said:
This is a wind up, right?! Think I need a lie down.

You think thats bad? I use a rotary brush attached to the power washer to clean my girlfriends car. To make things worse the head fell off it and hit her car on the way down!

In my defence, it's 9 nearly 10 years old, it has different shades of grey on it from previous owner resprays and lives in a carpark that has trees over it = acidy bird poop that ruins the paint (not like it's making the different shades look worse though lol) and lately absolutely tonnes of tree sap. I'm surprised she can open the door! Oh, not to mention swirl mark heaven, so why bother

dolo · Jun 22, 2015

Yes there are more than a few with a touch of OCD with regards their cars.
4 days in I did the full monty, full decontamination, Clay, Machine Polish and CarPro Quartz on the Body and CarPro Dlux on the wheels. Took 2 days but was worth it.
The paint is like glass and so easy to wash. It was funny to watch bird s**t failing to stick to the bonnet and just running down before I wiped it away

Muttley75 · Jun 22, 2015

I'm still debating if I made the right colour choice! I wanted Daytona but not when I'd already spent way too much on options so compromised on the colour to keep the costs down. It was between solid black and solid (Ibis) white. I've owned several black and white cars in the past. The problem with white is that you can spend hours waxing it and it still only looks 'clean' rather than 'shiny'; the problem with black is that you spend hours waxing it only to find it covered in dust within the hour. Black has been ordered and the order will be locked down very soon. Change to white, or stick with black???

As for the cleaning, I clean mine and the missus' cars every weekend without fail - even in winter. I once used warm water to melt away the ice so I could clean the car. I know it's futile but I feel guilty if I don't clean them. It's my weekly routine and has become a mild obsession.

Muttley75 · Jun 23, 2015

dolo said:
Yes there are more than a few with a touch of OCD with regards their cars.
4 days in I did the full monty, full decontamination, Clay, Machine Polish and CarPro Quartz on the Body and CarPro Dlux on the wheels. Took 2 days but was worth it.
The paint is like glass and so easy to wash. It was funny to watch bird s**t failing to stick to the bonnet and just running down before I wiped it away

That is one seriously sexy car!

Rob2k68 · Jun 23, 2015

Mine generally gets a Friday afternoon allocation every fortnight. Takes almost two hours to do it properly including jetwashing the arches and topping up the beading with either Gyeon Wet Coat or Gyeon Cure.

Typical bloke though mind not touched the interior since it was new when I gave it a layer of Swissvax Leather Glaze then the occasional dust. Little lad is banned from eating Crisps and Hharibo in the back - strickly no sticky fingers !!!! :whip:

J4MMYz · Jun 23, 2015

Muttley75 said:
I'm still debating if I made the right colour choice! I wanted Daytona but not when I'd already spent way too much on options so compromised on the colour to keep the costs down. It was between solid black and solid (Ibis) white. I've owned several black and white cars in the past. The problem with white is that you can spend hours waxing it and it still only looks 'clean' rather than 'shiny'; the problem with black is that you spend hours waxing it only to find it covered in dust within the hour. Black has been ordered and the order will be locked down very soon. Change to white, or stick with black???

As for the cleaning, I clean mine and the missus' cars every weekend without fail - even in winter. I once used warm water to melt away the ice so I could clean the car. I know it's futile but I feel guilty if I don't clean them. It's my weekly routine and has become a mild obsession.

White all the way for me, doesn't show scratches so easily - surprisingly clean looking even when dirty (unless it's the winter with all the salt..) - doesn't conduct all the heat like black does so the car is cooler inside, black in my opinion shows all the scratches, easier to notice dents (don't want them either way)

I'd say change to white.. I also had a black car and the moment it was clean it was dirty again, shows all the streaks as well if you don't spend ages drying.

msdmjb · Jun 23, 2015

jaypers777 said:
This is a wind up, right?! Think I need a lie down.

No wind up, just can't be bothered as
- it is just metal and plastic and no emotion involved (when it wears out/breaks I will just buy another one)
- it just gets dirty again (ironic given I live near the med and the sun does shine quite a lot so would look nice)

Ran a couple of motorbikes a while back both up to 90k miles and neither of them ever got cleaned.

Beginning to worry I am one of the odd ones out on here, an A3 is just a mass produced small family hatch/saloon!

veeeight · Jun 23, 2015

^ you are not alone.

Mine has been washed once since Nov.

It's only an A3, just mass produced metal

(and please don't even start to tell me about bird poo and etching)

Daveotto · Jun 23, 2015

I have washed mine every 1-2 weeks.

Pressure wash then two bucket method with lambs wool wash mit then dry with a microfibre towel. Wheels also also pressure washed and brushed. Exhaust tips cleaned with WD40 and a polishing cloth. Inside is vacuumed and wiped down

Takes about 1.5 hours and on weeks I don't have time I use a rapid detailer spray and microfibre cloth to remove surface dirt.

Every 3-4 months it gets a full paint clean, polish and wax. Wheels also treated with a deep clean and sealed, use a tyre gel to brighten up the tyres and use a vinyl cleaner for black surfaces, takes between 4-6 hours.

Biggest compliment was from the couple who just bought it who said it looked like new.

Blackwhite · Jun 23, 2015

veeeight said:
^ you are not alone.

Mine has been washed once since Nov.

It's only an A3, just mass produced metal

(and please don't even start to tell me about bird poo and etching)

lee_fr200 · Jun 23, 2015

i love washing the car, and as a detailer what I've done has been hard but I'm doing it to make a YouTube vid, over the last 6 months I let the wife use it and wash it how she pleased for 3 month and for the last 3 month it hasn't been touched inside or outside or had an air freshener so it's covered in swirls, has nail varnish marks and is generally a mess! So compared to every week of you guys washing this is going to be hard, I will say though washing every week doesn't give the protection much time to cure, it's also not the best idea to polish them week in week out due to the level of paint thickness.

Minion Bob! · Jun 24, 2015

veeeight said:
^ you are not alone.

Mine has been washed once since Nov.

It's only an A3, just mass produced metal

(and please don't even start to tell me about bird poo and etching)

please tell me this is a wind up

veeeight · Jun 24, 2015

It's just a car, a metal box.

I spend my time driving it.

Like white goods.

I don't spend my time washing and polishing my microwave, I just use it.

(Besides, it's a mass market A3, hardly a Ferrari

)

steeve · Jun 24, 2015

veeeight said:
It's just a car, a metal box. I spend my time driving it.

Like white goods.

I don't spend my time washing and polishing my microwave, I just use it.

(Besides, it's a mass market A3, hardly a Ferrari )

"You're a very naughty boy, you'll have to sit on the naughty step"

J4MMYz · Jun 24, 2015

My neighbour's must look at me and think "He's washing that car again"

Half the time people walk past and tell me to stop it as i'll make it rain! - It's true though, every damn time I wash it -_-

J4MMYz · Jun 24, 2015

Daveotto said:
I have washed mine every 1-2 weeks.

Pressure wash then two bucket method with lambs wool wash mit then dry with a microfibre towel. Wheels also also pressure washed and brushed. Exhaust tips cleaned with WD40 and a polishing cloth. Inside is vacuumed and wiped down

Takes about 1.5 hours and on weeks I don't have time I use a rapid detailer spray and microfibre cloth to remove surface dirt.

Every 3-4 months it gets a full paint clean, polish and wax. Wheels also treated with a deep clean and sealed, use a tyre gel to brighten up the tyres and use a vinyl cleaner for black surfaces, takes between 4-6 hours.

Biggest compliment was from the couple who just bought it who said it looked like new.

View attachment 61604

1.5 hours to clean it with all that? :wtf:

- What is your secret? It takes me 3 hours easy... and thats not including cleaning the inside, I normally just do that when it needs it on the off days, doesn't take long to hoover it out and give it a quick dust

When I detailed it 2 months ago, I started at 8:00am - washed as normal, then used TRIX which got rid of the awful tar I had + rust spots from the train ride over, that did take a while since the tar I had was like mud (long story) then I waxed it after... i finished at 4pm - I don't think i'm very OCD... maybe I am..

Blackwhite · Jun 24, 2015

veeeight said:
It's just a car, a metal box. I spend my time driving it.

Like white goods.

I don't spend my time washing and polishing my microwave, I just use it.

(Besides, it's a mass market A3, hardly a Ferrari )

The only thing veeeight: We can't see the beautiful, "Portuguese Blue"
color. :shrug:

Bristle Hound · Jun 25, 2015

veeeight said:
I don't spend my time washing and polishing my microwave, I just use it.

@veeeight - Must be just me that does then!

Phil-1 · Jun 25, 2015

I wash mine every Saturday takes about 2 hours and that's for a very quick clean. Rinse off snow foam 2 bucket wash, rinse dry quick detail spray and wheels washed. Then every 3 months the same as above with wheels off cleaned inside and out, clayed polished and 2 coats of wax.
Have been known to wash it in the rain

Bristle Hound · Jun 25, 2015

Phil-1 said:
Have been known to wash it in the rain

Guilty of that and washing it in the garage too ... :help:

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