For anyone interested, here is the email from Paul regarding the best way to clean your car.
"Now that you've had your car detailed, you may be wondering how to look after the finish in between details. And if you've just had it paint corrected, you'll especially want to avoid introducing swirl marks. The following guide should be of use:
1) Washing the car
- This is where swirl marks tend to be introduced... by way of a gritty sponge or dirty cloth. Make sure you jet wash or hose the car first, to remove or loosen surface dirt. ALWAYS use clean sponges and microfibre drying towels and always work in straight lines (the workers at your local £8 hand car wash probably don't!). Then use a pH-neutral wax-friendly shampoo like Swissvax car bath shampoo, working from the top of the car down, doing the wheels last. I prefer Zymol sponges or the new Edge Wash ShMiTT to wash mitts. But as long as the applicator is clean it doesn't really matter that much.
- Never use a detergent (like washing up liquid) as it strips the wax off the car.
- If particularly keen, you may like to invest in a grit guard or use two buckets. The grit guard stops the sponge or mitt picking up particles in the bucket, and the two bucket method simply means rinsing the sponge/mitt in one bucket, then picking up fresh solution from another. Both are merely means to minimise dirt contamination in either the solution or on the applicator.
- After washing, jet wash or hose off the soapy residue and dry with a clean microfibre drying towel; they are better than a chamois in my opinion.
2) Topping up the carnauba layer
- Zymol Field Glaze or another detailing 'spritz' spray is a good way of topping up the carnauba layer. Just apply it after washing and buff it after 30 seconds or so. Although there is less carnauba in the solution than in a carnauba wax, it helps remove light contaminants and gives the existing wax layer more durability and depth of shine.
3) Wheels
- I like P21S wheel gel for cleaning alloy wheels. Try and avoid acid based cleaners as they are very harsh on the wheels. A good hog's hair brush may also prove useful.
4) Retailers
- Zymol products are available from UK stockists and at
http://www.vertar.com/
- Swissvax products are available from
http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/ and
http://www.swissvax.co.uk/
- Grit guards, P21S wheel gel, green drying towels and other specialist detailing products are easily found at
www.thepolishingcompany.com
- Edge Wash SchMiTTs available from
http://www.cleanandshiny.co.uk/
- I sometimes carry some of these items as stock, in small volumes. Please enquire if you are having trouble locating any product.
Finally, please don't hesitate to ask me any questions. I am often available by email or telephone, even after hours."