Wow thanks Lee_fr200, that's a good old-fashioned "full valet"!
Anyone got a good one hour routine rather that a 2-3 day one !
Anyone got a good one hour routine rather that a 2-3 day one !
Car washing tips
- Thread starter andywil13
- Start date
This is what I do every fortnight:
1) Spray car with ValetPro Citrus PreWash. Leave to dwell for 10 mins.
2) Rinse off with pressure washer.
3) Spray wheels with Valetpro acid-free Billberry Wheel Cleaner. Leave for 5 minutes. Agitate with alloy brush, pressure wash off.
4) Move car back half a tyre rotation and repeat step 3.
5) Using two buckets (one with shampoo / conditioner, the other just hot water) and a lambswool mitt clean the car from top to bottom. Wring out the mitt in the plain hot water, and then soak up fresh soapy water from the other bucket. Stops cross contamination and ensures you're only applying clean water to your paintwork.
6) Rinse with pressure washer.
7) Use Tar-X and Iron-X to remove any stubborn tar or dead bugs as required. (Don't leave Tar-x to dwell more than 7 minutes)
8) Rinse with pressure washer.
9) Spray with Autoglym Aqua Wax on all windows and panels (NOT WINDSCREEN!) and work in with a damp microfibre cloth. Buff with a large clean drying towel.
10) Spray windscreen with Autoglym Fast Glass and work in with a microfibre towel. Use a Glass Microfibre towel to polish screen.
11) Apply Meguiars Ultimate Tyre Gel to dress the tyres.
All in all takes between 1.5 and 3 hours depending on whether step 7 is required. Personally I always make sure to sling my cloths and towels in the washing machine after each wash. 40 degree wash with detergent but no conditioner. This makes sure there's no grit / contaminates stuck in there for next time.
I'd say this isn't quite a full detailing routine, but I like to think it's a gentle and thorough clean and wax
1) Spray car with ValetPro Citrus PreWash. Leave to dwell for 10 mins.
2) Rinse off with pressure washer.
3) Spray wheels with Valetpro acid-free Billberry Wheel Cleaner. Leave for 5 minutes. Agitate with alloy brush, pressure wash off.
4) Move car back half a tyre rotation and repeat step 3.
5) Using two buckets (one with shampoo / conditioner, the other just hot water) and a lambswool mitt clean the car from top to bottom. Wring out the mitt in the plain hot water, and then soak up fresh soapy water from the other bucket. Stops cross contamination and ensures you're only applying clean water to your paintwork.
6) Rinse with pressure washer.
7) Use Tar-X and Iron-X to remove any stubborn tar or dead bugs as required. (Don't leave Tar-x to dwell more than 7 minutes)
8) Rinse with pressure washer.
9) Spray with Autoglym Aqua Wax on all windows and panels (NOT WINDSCREEN!) and work in with a damp microfibre cloth. Buff with a large clean drying towel.
10) Spray windscreen with Autoglym Fast Glass and work in with a microfibre towel. Use a Glass Microfibre towel to polish screen.
11) Apply Meguiars Ultimate Tyre Gel to dress the tyres.
All in all takes between 1.5 and 3 hours depending on whether step 7 is required. Personally I always make sure to sling my cloths and towels in the washing machine after each wash. 40 degree wash with detergent but no conditioner. This makes sure there's no grit / contaminates stuck in there for next time.
I'd say this isn't quite a full detailing routine, but I like to think it's a gentle and thorough clean and wax
Last edited:
Wow thanks Lee_fr200, that's a good old-fashioned "full valet"!
Anyone got a good one hour routine rather that a 2-3 day one !
That will take a day apart from the machine polishing as that's where it goes into more days,
Best thing to do is just apply a nice polish by hand (machines and special compounds and polishes can be pricey)
Buff off and wax
Can do that in a day easily
Thanks guys, I think MJC's routine is a bit closer to the time I have available, so will try a variation on that, but it sounds like the Autoglym Aquawax is a good investment.
I use either gtechniq or autofinesse
And for exhaust I use autofinesse or autosol as well
I used gtechnic C5 on the wheels. Takes a while to prep the wheels thoroughly but I'm pleased with the results.
Bilt Hamber soft clay to clean tar etc off, as you use it with water rather than detailer, then follow with a good wax and sealant.
I've also found Menzerna products very effective for removing light scratches, as it cuts without causing swirls.
I've also found Menzerna products very effective for removing light scratches, as it cuts without causing swirls.
... no need... it looks like the detailing section has come to us.
I have 2 cars to keep clean and don't have time to do all that faffing. (Though I do prep and apply a sealant summer and winter).
With the amount of rain in my area of the country and the rural roads we have to drive on our 2 cars are rarely clean for more than a few days.
Like the original poster - I want 90% of the results with 10% of the effort.
So there's no marring you would be best using a tar remover first such as tardis or oblitarate then anything left will be picked up by the clay
Where did you get it? My brother wants one and Argos/Homebase don't seem to have them in stock.
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2009
- Messages
- 4,595
- Reaction score
- 1,273
- Points
- 113
- Location
- Stoke On Trent
- Website
- www.businessguysit.com
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2009
- Messages
- 4,595
- Reaction score
- 1,273
- Points
- 113
- Location
- Stoke On Trent
- Website
- www.businessguysit.com
After reading this thread again I'm gonna order a few things which should speed up cleaning our 2 cars...
Pre wash to go in my garden sprayer - Valet Pro Citrus Pre Wash. (May not be as much fun as snow foam, but sounds just as effective and less messy.)
Wheel wax - Collinite 845. (Sounds like waxing the wheels is worth the effort.)
Wet wax - Autoglym Aqua Wax. (Looks interesting, never used anything like this before, gets good reviews. The solid red A3 always needs dried anyway.)
Also getting a grit guard and going to put my wash mit through the washing machine more often.
Pre wash to go in my garden sprayer - Valet Pro Citrus Pre Wash. (May not be as much fun as snow foam, but sounds just as effective and less messy.)
Wheel wax - Collinite 845. (Sounds like waxing the wheels is worth the effort.)
Wet wax - Autoglym Aqua Wax. (Looks interesting, never used anything like this before, gets good reviews. The solid red A3 always needs dried anyway.)
Also getting a grit guard and going to put my wash mit through the washing machine more often.
Last edited:
