GolfGTIforum.co.uk
General => Detailing => Topic started by: centurian on 02 December 2011, 12:47
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Hi,
I’m seeking some maintainance/cleaning products hope you can recommend something for the following please:
Something to maintain alloy wheels (I clean my car weekly so what would be recommended to on a weekly basis please? Also, been advised to apply a hard wax every so often - what would you recommend for this please & how often is 'evey so often'?)
Something for the bodywork - nb, what is the difference between a hard wax and a polishing product and am I best to use both please? If so can you advise of a polishing & a hard wax? (Or is the hard wax you'd recommend for the alloys also suitable for the paint work?)
Where best to get a micro fibre cloth to clean upholstery and also I've heard you can get 'cockpit' care cleaning gloves?
Silicone spray to apply to rubber door/boot seals to prevent freezing in winter
Brush/tool to clean alloys with
Thanks & kind regards
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Hi,
I'll try and help.
If you clean your alloys weekly you should only need a very weak diluted wheel cleaner, or if they are sealed with a wax or sealant, you may even get away with just shampoo to clean them.
A good safe whee cleaner is Valet Pro Bilberry, or maybe even a very weak solution of Autosmart Smart Wheels. If you want something very safe, you could go with AutoSmart G101.
The difference between a polish and a wax - A polish does just that, it polishes and enhances the surface, a wax is a protective layer that sits on top of the paintwork to protect your paintwork. This is a sacrificial layer that will deteriorate (it's suppose to). Hence why you need to re-apply every 1-3 months.
A nice polish to use by hand is something like Dodo Juice Lime Prime, it's hard to recommend a wax without a budget. A good durable wax for the winter is Collinite 845, if you wanted to spend a bit more than that, you could go with one of the Dodo Juice waxes that are around £28-£32.
We stock hundreds of micro fibre cloths.
Wheel cleaning brushes - see here - http://www.waxamomo.co.uk/index.php?app=ecom&ns=catshow&ref=brushes
I think that's is everything covered? If i've missed anything or you need any more advice or questions answered, just fire them on this thread :wink:
Chris
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Think Chris covered most of that! I recommend poor boys wheel sealant for sealing the wheels. Dirt hardly sticks to the wheels and wipes off so easily.
Good range of stuff and prices from Waxamomo, mind your forum discount too!
And welcome to the forum too :wink:
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Thanks for the replies.
On my alloys I currently wash them with the same turtle wax car shampoo I use for rest of my car and then apply a coat of regular car polish - i hope this is ok until I decide on the proper gear? Nb, I have noticed that the polish I use does not remove residue (brake dust?) so I'm open to all suggestions as to how best to maintain my alloys. Rimwax?
I'm clear about the difference between the polish and the wax thanks to the explanation - I polished my old car say every 3-months & never used wax - with my new car how often would you recommend polishing & waxing please?
I've checked out the Waxamomo website and it does indeed stock a wide range of micro fibre cloths & wheel brushes (and everything else for that matter) - will even the lower priced items perform well? You mentioned budget previously & to be honest I've never been much into anything other then giving my car a basic wash once/week but I now feel I should pay a bit more attention - however at this point (and time of year) my budget will be 'entry level'.
Two other points if I can - any brushes you can recomemed for washing the car with please and i'm also looking for a silicone spray to apply to my door/boot seals to prevent freezing. Thanks & apologies for my ignorance here
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Basically Chris (waxamomo) has covered it all. G101 (autosmart) is a great product, can use on wheels/paint work. I use it as a TFR (trafic film remover /wheel cleaner as mine are sealed).
I'd say get a good DJ wax, I am using super natural hybrid, it is a great wax.
Brushes, get a good wheel brush. One with a decent reach so you can clean the back of the wheels too! I have used wolfs brake duster in the past to dramatic effect, I mean it is unreal how well it destroys brake dust on your alloys, I wouldn't say this would be needed weekly however.
Yes the 'basic' MF's, micros fibres, will do a good job. You are really only looking into premium MF's for a difference IMO. Wax is similar IMO also.
As for frozen boot/door seals I know of no product that has/can prevent this...maybe a jug or warm water like I use :P
Waxamomo is the place to buy from BTW. Really good site.
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What does it mean when someone says their alloys are 'sealed' and how do yuo recognise is wheels are sealed please?
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Once your wheels are clean then you apply a sealer to them to help protect them, it effectively seals out any contaminants like: brake dust, tar.. etc. This is the one i use.
http://www.waxamomo.co.uk/index.php?app=ecom&ns=prodshow&ref=pbwhs
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Thanks - my understanding is now as follows;
Alloys - clean them with say AutoSmart G101, then apply either Poorboys Wheel Sealant of Rimwax. Is this correct please?
Nb, once sealant has been applied, I guess you just wash the wheels weekly with the G101 until the wax has deteriorated. How do you know when it's deteriorated?
Bodywork - clean with shampoo, then polish (DJ Lime Prime) then wax (Collinite 845). Is this correct please?
Nb, again I guess that once you've waxed the car you just shampoo it weekly until the wax has deteriorated then polish and wax again?
regards
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Yes, G101 is a great 'all round cleaner', can be used on engine bay/wheels/paint, for me it is a good generic option for my 'SEALED' wheels. Make sure your wheels are spotless before applying poor boys/rimwax! You will notice the breakdown probably when it stops beading water as well as it did at first. A good wheel protection based product should last you 2-3 months, maybe more.
Yes your body work you should clean with a good shampoo, perhaps even clay bar your car, then polish with a polish such as DJ LP and then protect with a good wax like C845.
Make sure to take many pictures of your car cleaning sesh :cool:
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Have a read through this mate.
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=66113.0
PS, please don't use a brush to clean your car, a wash mit is the best thing for it. :wink:
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Thanks for all the advice folks, much appreciated. Especially like the advice about the cleaning mit as opposed to a brush - pretty obvious choice now it's been pointed out but the mit would never have occurred to me if this forum had not mentioned it!
Jimble - your link below has helped a lot - but it suggests to use a sealant before a wax -I though the wax was a sealant?
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=66113.0
Thanks
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Wax is acts a 'sealant' as it forms a barriers on the outside of your car so it seals the paint work in from the elements. But wax and sealants work in different way.
Wax is basically like rubbing a candle all over your car to get a thin layer all over your car so there is a barrier between your paint and the wind/rain.
Sealant 'bonds' to the paint work and has more to do with the chemical composition of the sealant, which then repels dirt. compared to WAX which is basically just wax, ie not many chemicals.
I think that is correct, best way I can put it for ya :laugh:
And YES you can apply both a sealant and a wax, in which case you would apply the sealant then the wax to give your self uber protecion. However really only 1 is required when coming to the last stage protection LSP of your car.
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Yes mate the correct combination would be:*
1) Wash (2 bucket method)
2) Clay (rubbing a clay bar over the paint with a lube to remove contaminates)
3) Wash
4) Dry
5) Polish
6) Seal
7) Wax
Seems a lot but you'd only have to do points 2,5 and 6 every three to six months or so dependent on conditions, and i know you may not be able to do it but spend a little more as better products will last soooooo much longer and so is more cost effective.
* This is my opinion that not everyone will agree with. :wink:
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Last thing (I think) - claying is totally new to me - I realise a clay lubricant is needed for this process but is it something I could do myself, having no experience of the process? (Have seen reports that you can damage paintwork if not careful)
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I thought the same the first time i tried it! :sick: The more agressive the clay is then the more effort will be required when polishing to remove "marring" BUT if you use a very light clay then you won't do any harm, i just use the Meguirs smooth surface kit which you can pick up from Halfords, better kits are available but i found it a good way to start.
Just a light mist of lube or quick detailer with half a bar warmed and flattened in the palm of your hand and gently rubbed over the surface is all it takes, then rub your hand over where you've done and it should feel smooth as glass ready for polishing, if not use a little more pressure untill your happy.
It is really really easy.
Hope this helps mate. :wink:
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Fair point,
Will be pricing up some products later. One I had just about decided on as it seesm suitable for both paintwork and alloys is C845 but a review on another website stated it's only really suitable for lighter coloured vehicles - and my car is black...
Almost forgot - interior cleaning - is the method of cleaning determined by whether or not the cloth interior is 'regular cloth' or 'alcantar' and how do you know what type of interoir you have?
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I'm not too sure about cleaning interiors mate, for the most part mine just needs a good vacuum! :grin:
Alcantara is like short haired suede and i would imagine needs different care to normal cloth, some clever bods on here though not least this sections mod Guy, i'm sure you'll get an answer. :wink:
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fk1000p is good for paint, wheels and windows, 17 quid a tub from cyc.
dont worry about if c845 is for lighter cars, doesnt mean it wont work on your black car.