My routine

Detailing & Bodywork
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Tim_GTi
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My routine

Post by Tim_GTi »

Thought I might share this routine with you all. It's not instructional at all, merely sharing what I do and how I do it with you. I know everyone does it differently. I just know that a guide like this would have really helped me get off my feet back in the beginning, without having to trawl through endless threads on unfamiliar forums.

First of all a big thanks to Ollie_R who has recommended me most of the products I now use. thanks for the pointers also Jeff.

Ok first thing to do is windows and wipers up. I start with a jet wash. If you haven't got one I'd consider investing, for they play a big part in preventing swirls. Make sure the nozzle is set to wide n spread out, not thin and pointy. And skim the whole car with it, never squirting the paint direct on. This will loosen up and get rid of alot of the dirt and dust you'd otherwise move about and rub into your paintwork whilst washing.

Washing

Once jetted, I use one of these:

Image
http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/washing-a ... d_335.html

I put AG shampoo in this at the moment, may be an idea to include a bit of AG intense tar remover in it too. This coats the car with shampoo, and will help dis-lodge anything stubborn.

Let that soak whilst you fill your buckets. ALWAYS use two buckets, fill up one with shampoo, the other with warm water. At the moment I'm using AG shampoo and conditioner, I'll probably move onto to something in the Mer's range once it's all used up though.

For buckets see here:

Image
http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/product_i ... 49044eef72

These have grit guards also, so will stop anything that comes off your paintwork going back on when you swirl out your mitt!

Once your buckets are filled your ready to go.

I use a sheep wool mitt to wash my paintwork, they are brilliant!! Something like this:

Image
http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/product_i ... 49044eef72

Use the shampoo filled bucket to soak your mitt; this is your washing bucket. When you've finished washing a panel, rinse off your mitt in the water filled bucket to remove dirt. Then soak it again in your washing bucket. Repeat this process for the whole car; wash with one bucket, rinse with the other. This is the two bucket method, it's prevents old grit and dirt getting back onto the paintwork and scratching it.

When washing, wash in straight and circular motions, starting from the top and working down (cleanest, to the dirtyest). I do the following:

wash roof
wash bonnet
wash windscreen
wash all side windows

Change the water in both buckets, and give the car a quick soak with the jet wash (to prevent watermarks). Then:

wash the top sections of all doors
wash the front quarters
wash the rear quarters
wash the rear windscreen

Change bucket water, and give the car a quick jet wash. Then:

wash the lower sections of all doors
wash the tailgate and rear bumper
wash the front bumper

Then a final soak with the jet wash to get rid of any left over shampoo.

It's now clean! You need to dry it as soon as possible.
I use these:

Image
http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/product_i ... 49044eef72

They hold water really well, and don't leave smears.
I drag one of these over the whole car really quickly, spreading it out as much as it goes, eliminating all resting water. I then take another towel (i have two identical ones) and perfect each panel, buffing dry. I open and slam all doors to get any future drips out and dry them.

your car should now be perfectly dry and clean.

Claying

Claying your car gets rid of contaminants on the paintwork, that aren'y picked up by the wash, and can't always be seen by the eye.

It works by spraying the area you wish to work with a lubricant, kneeding the cay so that it is soft and managable, and gently gliding it over the lubricated surface. NEVER run clay over a dry surface, and wipe area dry once finished.

Here's the clay kit I use:

Image
http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/product_i ... 49044eef72

It's nothing special, probably gunna try some of this next:

Image
http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/product_i ... 49044eef72

I don't use quick detailer for lubricant, it's a waste of product. Instead I just use standard water in a trigger spray bottle.

Spray water onto the paintwork, shape the clay into a large flat shape and very gently glide it over the surface. Wipe dry with a MF cloth like these:

Image
http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/product_i ... 49044eef72

Here's a good video to claying, I havent gone into it in massive detail so this may help:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZcZRj509Ir8

Polishing

I use this stuff:

Image
http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/product_i ... 49044eef72

It's fantastic, gives a nice deep shine and is easy to buff off.

I apply is using these:

Image
http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/product_i ... 49044eef72

Very handy little things.

Squirt a blob about the size of a two pence piece onto the MF applicator and apply it to the paintwork in circular motions. Just so you have an idea 2-3 blobs (alot of people will even use less) will cover the bonnet.

Apply this to the whole car first, this gives the polish time to cure.
Then once finished, buff off with a the same circular motion using a MF cloth. or something like this:

Image
http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/product_i ... 49044eef72

I polish, once every 1-2 months approximately, depending on upcoming shows/meets etc.

Glazing
New to this stuff, and it's great.

It's something you throw on your paintwork inbetween polishing and waxing to get a real deep shine out of the paintwork. You buff on and off as you would a polish. Use an applicator pad of MF cloth/block to apply, whatever you feel more comfortable with, and MF cloth/towel to buff off.

This stuff is amazing:

Image
http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/product_i ... cts_id=435

Only tried and tested on my bonnet at present, because of the poor weather. But it really is great, very easy to apply and buff off.


Waxing

I use Collinite 476s:

Image
http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/product_i ... 49044eef72

I've used a few waxes, and this is by far the best stuff I've used. It's my favourite product I have. If your using megs step3 and think that's good, you'll laugh once you've tried out this.

Use an applicator pad to apply, and MF cloth to buff off. Just like what's included in the kit in that link.

Again apply sparingly, 1 dab of the tin should cover the bonnet. And cover the whole car before buffing off, allowing it to glaze over and cure.
Look at waxing quarterly, the coat will last ages.

If you ever find wax or polish like this hard to buff off, a suqirt of water msited over it before buffing off will help alot.

This stuff is really good to use before applying a new coat of wax:

Image
http://www.vertar.com/car-care-exterior ... eaner-wax/

It strips the car of any wax/polish on the car. So it's good to use this first just like you would any other polish (MF applicator and MF cloth). Then repolish and wax after!

Wheels

I tend to do this first because it's my least favourite part!!

Use a different mitt to the one you use on the paintwork. I'm currently using a MF one, but a woolen one will do a great job also (probably better actually).

I give each wheel a quick squirt with AG custom wheel cleaner, then use AG shampoo just like the paintwork, again using the two bucket method. I also have a softbrush toothbrush at hand, for the tight spots!

Before drying the wheels I give them a quick quirt with AG Aqua wax,

Image
http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/product_i ... cts_id=286

I've had this stuff for ages, it's useless on paintwork but I knew having it lying around would come in handy for something at some point. It's good for bringing out a quick shine, and adds some protection between washes.

After letting the aqua wax set for a while, I dry and wipe them down with a MF cloth.

I'm currently using the collinite as my main wheel sealant, it offers great protection, but when I make another order from eltecarecare I'll probably get some of this:

Image
http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/product_i ... 49044eef72

Recommended by Ollie. this would last as long as wax on paintwork.

A great product for tyres, again recommended by Ollie, is this stuff:

Image
http://www.armorall.eu/uk/wheeltire2.html

Comes ready with an applicator. I've tried stuff from megs turtle wax etc, but they're not that great really.

For plastic trim get this stuff:

Image
http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/product_i ... 49044eef72

A simple wipe on, let cure and wipe off method is all you need. Great stuff.

For rubber seals, apparently 1z Gummi Pflege is ment to be the daddy. Haven't had a chance to get hold of some at the moment though!
Image

Windows

to be honest, the best smer free stuff I found for this was water in a spray bottle. I used to only use it on my rear tinted windows for film protection reasons, but found it works great on both inside and outside.

After initially washing them like the paintwork, spray them with some water and wipe them dry with a MF cloth to eliminate watermarks.

If your windows are shoddy however, or they fail to gleam, use this stuff. It's great:

Image
http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/product_i ... ucts_id=97

Apply like a normal polish.

Interior
A quick dust and a hoover is a good start.

I then run over all the plastic dash, doorcards etc with this, can't fault it:

Image
http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/product_i ... cts_id=107

Don't get it anywhere near your seats though, it's a right pain to remove.

Generally, a good method for cleaning seats is good old water and a brush. Products like AG Hi foam shampoo (link below) are good to use, but you have to apply it to the whole seat because it stains when drying.

Image
http://www.4wheelplay.co.uk/autoglym-hi ... 00130.html

for interior windows, see previous 'windows' section.

That's pretty much it I think, next for me is a foam gun and DA machine polisher 8)

Hope this helps someone, any questions feel free
Last edited by Tim_GTi on Tue Aug 05, 2008 10:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
s-l-i-x
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Post by s-l-i-x »

Good guide but i'd be exhausted after all that!! :P 8)
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Tim_GTi
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Post by Tim_GTi »

s-l-i-x wrote:Good guide but i'd be exhausted after all that!! :P 8)
It's very much a love thing. I find alot of it quite relaxing 8)
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Polo96CL
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Post by Polo96CL »

Very good guide however a majority of the links require you to make an account with the website to view the products :wink:

I find cleaning my car a real release from the world, as if while i'm washing off the dirt, i'm washing away my real life stress and problems :lol:

that sounded really gay didn't it :oops:
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Tim_GTi
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Post by Tim_GTi »

That did sound gay, but I totally understand what you mean 8)

I'll get pics up to accompany the links, cheers for the heads up
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lolhoward
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Post by lolhoward »

Blimey, lot of effort gone in there. :shock:

Good guide though mate :wink:
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Tim_GTi
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Post by Tim_GTi »

Pictures now added.
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lolhoward
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Post by lolhoward »

even better now. Good work 8)
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Tim_GTi
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Post by Tim_GTi »

Cheers mate
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Polo96CL
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Post by Polo96CL »

I'm going to try and give this "routine" a go on the weekend Tim, although I haven't got a few of the products i'm sure I can make a comprimise with some of the stuff in my garage. Well tbh if I fail my theory on thursday I might be doing it sooner than I think :lol:
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Tim_GTi
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Post by Tim_GTi »

Ah cool, good luck mate! With the theory and clean 8)
Mike
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Post by Mike »

Nice guide Tim..I use slightly diff products, but will have a look at those, still trying to find the best ones, also try some Mr sheen or other silicon based spray on a rag for your door rubbers
Had a look on a detailing forum a few nights back and they scared me, when they got out the paint thickness electronic gauge, I thought mmm time to leave. To each there own I suppose, good site if a little bit OTT
i've got it down to a fine art to remove the kebabs the muppets leave on my car now.
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Tim_GTi
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Post by Tim_GTi »

Haha, funnily enough I'm looking at getting a paint thickness electronic gauge soon :lol:

It's relevant to machine polishing though, you need to know how deep the paint is before you attack it with the polisher. You need to know how much clear coat you have to play with.
Mike
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Post by Mike »

" Put the paint thickness electronic gauge down, and move slowly away from the car!"
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lolhoward
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Post by lolhoward »

Mike wrote:" Put the paint thickness electronic gauge down, and move slowly away from the car!"

lol :lol:
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