GolfGTIforum.co.uk
General => General discussion => Topic started by: gonnahavemesomefun on 31 March 2007, 18:18
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Hi Forum,
I spent too long in Halfords today reading the packaging of the MILLIONS of cleaning and polishing products available.
Does anyone have a guide to cleaning my car, from the initial clean through to polishing and what products are best?
I have a Metalic Black Golf GT TDI (2006) - I bought it second-hand, it's in very good condition but have noticed a few usage scratches here and there that I'd like to get rid of and the remains of a bad polish job where the paint looks slightly "rubbed" and there is what looks like polish (white solution smudges) on the black window rubber surround.
I'm tempted to just take it into a professional and get them to tidy it up to perfection so I can then keep it up each week, if that's the way to go and anyone knows a good company to do the job in Cheshire I'd go with a recomendation, failing that I'd appreciate any guide or advice on what to do and what products to use.
cheers for any replies.
PS: So far friends have told me to use AutoGlym products combined with Meguiars clay bar
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There you are click the Corsa sport link on the first thread
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There you are click the Corsa sport link on the first thread
Sorry mate not quite with you, click where?
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go here http://www.edition38.com/forums/index.php?s=9e22445e0d3e0eb089166cd52f7ab7da&showforum=57
and read, read, read.... there is some v in depth guides
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Thanks very much pegasus, some good stuff in there :-)
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www.detailingworld.co.uk
www.autopia.org
be prepared to spend lots of money!! :laugh: :laugh:
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dude, all i use is some car shampoo/sponge and then some good quality wax! after about 15 polish's your car looks like glass as the coats build up! once you get to this stage you dont even need to wax it that much just use a shamy! (i am really anal about cleaning my car so i wax it most weekends when the weather permits!!) :grin:
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sponge? tut tut tut... its all about lambswool mits and the two bucket method...
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really? whats the two bucket method (sounds like a good saturday night out to me!! lol :laugh:)
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one bucket with proper car shampoo, one with clean water. put lambswool mitt in soapy water, wash part of car, put into bucket of clean water to rinse the crap off the mitt. wring out mitt, back into the soapy water wash part of car, rinse in the clean water, wring out, back in soapy water etc etc etc etc. after all this, pour out the rinsing water slowly and see the amount of sh!te that otherwise would be in your washing water and in turn, rubbed all over your car. its all this crap that causes swirl marks!
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I clean the interior first before anything else.
I use the lambswool mitt two bucket thingie as described above.
For the wheels I use some acid wheel cleaner and an alloy wheel brush/old toothbrush. Making sure it's very well rinsed off. Also make sure you clean around the arches well.
Then use a chomois to dry, have a nice cuppa whilst it all get thourougly dry.
Then I tcut anything that needs it occasionally (red faded to pink bits, you won't have this problem although T cut can remove light scuffs)
Then I use Autoglym Super Resin Polish. Apply it all over and leave while I apply Autoglym Bumper care to the black trim. This stops the bumper stuff getting on paintwork and making a mess.
Then buff the black trim up
Then buff the polish of the car body and polish the wheels.
Then I polish the glass.
Then I do a top coat of Meguiars Gold Class wax (I always want to eat it it smells sooooo good!)
Don't forget to open your doors, bonnet and boot to get all those edges nice and clean!!
ummm think thats about it.
Need to do all this soon, have only given it quick baths over winter!! :undecided:
Wow that wasted a few mins at work :grin:
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yeah you need to use the two bucket method, if you've got the £ get the meguairs dirt trap bucket or zymol ones.
my full wash consist of
wheels using wonder wheels, i use a sponge to rinse these, with a dedicated bucket for rim cleaning.
wash the car using nxt shampoo, giving a second clean if needed.
dry using a squeegee & natural chamoises
clay bar horizonatl panals and the tail gate (mk4's get so much dirt on the loading lip)
meguiars stage 1 paint cleaner and t-cut where needed
meguiars stage 2 polish
meguiars ntx wax (this stuff is really easy to apply so i normally wax the bonnet and roof twice)
for polish i use the meguiars pads and Supreme Shine Microfibre, before you apply paint cleaner / polish etc on the pads, mish water on the applicator surface to ease the application of x on the surface.
oh i use a different pad / towel for each too (that might sound lavish but those towels / pads last ages)
if you've got the money then get zymol, except its so expensive, i think the cheapest wax is £50
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^^^ thats pretty much how i do mine except i just use meguiars shampoo for the wheels as well as mine are polished alloy so need to be gentle!!
kittie, theres no need to let the polish stay on that long, all it does is make it harder to remove!!! wax however is worth leaving on for as long as you can to let it impregnate as much as possible.
Don't forget to open your doors, bonnet and boot to get all those edges nice and clean!!
makes all the difference!
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Thanks guys. Seems like I made the right choice when I bought the dambs wool mit. I'll deffo try the two bucket approach, makes perfect sense.
The tester area I did looks amazing in todays son, although I can see that the VW matalic black paint isn't a perfect surface, it's kinda bumpy (shiney, but bumpy) - is that right?
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^^ orange peeley?! its pretty common on paint to be honest, look at most modern cars. you'll need it flatting back to get it proper smooth, something best left to the pro's.
also for a bit of info, i washed my car today with meguiars gold class wash, instead of the nxt stuff i normally used. totally different to use, didn't seem as effective at de-greasing but the water fell off the car meaning minimal drying, great for a top up wash but i'd stick to meguiars NXT stuff for the proper cleaning. ;)
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^^^ thats pretty much how i do mine except i just use meguiars shampoo for the wheels as well as mine are polished alloy so need to be gentle!!
kittie, theres no need to let the polish stay on that long, all it does is make it harder to remove!!! wax however is worth leaving on for as long as you can to let it impregnate as much as possible.
Don't forget to open your doors, bonnet and boot to get all those edges nice and clean!!
makes all the difference!
Yea I know there's no need to leave the polish on, it just makes it easier to avoid getting bumper polish on the nicely polished paintwork
I find that AG super resin polish glides off easily no matter how long it's on, (just don't leave it sat in the hot sunshine or anything!) it is wonderful stuff :grin: that's why I always use it.
I do ususally have a tea break after applying the wax to leave it to do it's work too!
I love it when it rains sometime after you have waxed your car and all the water beads perfectly all over it, very satisfying :grin:
Although I would like to try the meg's three step system some time. Probably when the other stuff has run out, as it's very expensive to keep buying these things :sad:
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Kittie - can you please come a clean my car? pretty please! :grin:
I'd ask joe but he's too handsome and seeing his reflection in the freshly polished paint would make me jealous! :grin:
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maybe you can entice her with a bag of sweets like the other young'ns..
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I'd ask joe but he's too handsome and seeing his reflection in the freshly polished paint would make me jealous! :grin:
ahh thanks len!
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Dont need sweeties Toph - my natural charm works well enough! :wink: :laugh:
joe you know I love you really! But dont tell Gibby coz he'll get jealous! :laugh:
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Did somebody say sweeties?
I like sweeties! Have you got some jelly babies :grin:
Anyway I like cleaning cars until I get half way through the job and think noooo I just can't be arsed any more! But you have to finish it, doh!
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trust me, you don't want any of lens sweeties, he'll make you 'find' them your self in his dirty trouser pockets. :undecided:
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If thats what it takes Kittie I'll get ya some jellie babies! :wink: :laugh:
That wasnt sweeties you were feeling joe! :rolleyes:
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yaaaayyyy I'll take those and take your car to the polish 'non' scratch car wash for £2.50
:evil: A cunning plan!! Mwaahhaahahaaaa :evil:
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What the h**l happened there??
One minute I'm asking about cleaning, the next there's a load of flirting going on.
HAHAHAHAHA
Anyway, thanks everyone for your replies, I think!
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don't worry its just Len the forum Letch at it again :grin:
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Hey I'm far to old and past it to be a letch! Its just wishful thinking these days!
I was just trying to get my car well cleaned for nowt! Well just some jelly babies! :grin:
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What the h**l happened there??
One minute I'm asking about cleaning, the next there's a load of flirting going on.
HAHAHAHAHA
Anyway, thanks everyone for your replies, I think!
Hey I did post about cleaning!! :grin:
Although this thread is making me feel guilty and that I should spend Easter Weekend on the car :undecided:
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Where was the flirting?
Trying to get a lady to wash my car, the wife refuses nowadays!