newbie cleaning...

[twistedblack69]

I know this stuff has probably been covered a million times, but I'm on my phone and can't use the search function. Finish work at 3 today, and wanna crack on cleaning my car (hasn't been cleande for months, since before the volcano ash problem, just been reading that thread...scary stuff). I only have access to a hose, what's the Snowfoam stuff people were talking about? Anyway...I'm on a bit of a budget, was planning on going to Halfords after work to get some cleaning stuff, is there anything that you guys can recommend, or at least to avoid? Or would I be better off waiting til tomoro and going somewhere else? If so, where? The paintwork isn't all that good anyway, so not after exthingyive stuff, but the paint does come up pretty well.

Also what's the order to wash, is it wax then polish or polish then wax?

[Guy]

If you're off to halfords I would buy meguiars products.. Their 1,2,3 step paint cleaning process will bring your paintwork back up. Megs gold class shampoo is ok and so are their wash mitts and drying towels. Autoglym is overpriced for what it is. The only really decent product they have is super resin polish.

Its wash, polish and the wax if you're doing it as a basic process.

[twistedblack69]

So what's my other options, other than the basic process, without spending hundreds lol

[twistedblack69]

What about Autoglym? Its 3 for 2 at Halfords lol. If not, whered be the best place to get the Meguiars from, online?

[Guy]

The reason why I suggested meguiars is because you are off to halfords and it is usually in their 3 for 2 offers

You said you wanted to buy after work so I suggested products according to your brief.. I would have suggested otherwise if you said you were buying online.

As I said autoglym are overpriced for what it is as meguiars is the better choice at halfords imo.
What is your budget? I suggest that you have a read through of the stickies before you go further.

[twistedblack69]

OK cheers Guy, I'm toying with getting a pressure washer and foamlance combo, have decided to hold off a couple days as my friend wants to do his car and said he'd split the cost of products with me. Am now trying to get him to go splits on washer and lance lol. Will have a gander at the stickies, cheers for your help

[twistedblack69]

OK so I've read through the FAQs, feeling a bit overwhelmed, but my plan for a major clean is Meguiars 3 step with a clay. Am I right in thinking I apply stage 1 of the 3 step to get rid of all the surface dirt, then clay it to get rid of the embedded stuff, then polish (stage 2) and wax (stage 3)? I'm still a bit confsed as to what to use. I get that sponges are a bad idea, but what do I use for each stage? Could I use one of these for each stage, or would I need one for each stage, or is there other things to use (chamois - what would that be used for) I do apologise if I'm starting to annoy you guys, but the FAQs are too much information to take in at once, and the car is in dire need of a clean

[Guy]

OK so I've read through the FAQs, feeling a bit overwhelmed, but my plan for a major clean is Meguiars 3 step with a clay. Am I right in thinking I apply stage 1 of the 3 step to get rid of all the surface dirt, then clay it to get rid of the embedded stuff, then polish (stage 2) and wax (stage 3)? I'm still a bit confsed as to what to use. I get that sponges are a bad idea, but what do I use for each stage? Could I use one of these for each stage, or would I need one for each stage, or is there other things to use (chamois - what would that be used for) I do apologise if I'm starting to annoy you guys, but the FAQs are too much information to take in at once, and the car is in dire need of a clean

no you wouldn't need one of those for each stage. you would need little sponge applicator pads.

your process would be

2 bucket wash
clay
2 bucket wash
polish (megs 123 if you were doing that)
wax

are you still buying from halfords? if not then I am sure that you could get a better set of products to kick start you from waxamomo. what is your budget for this?

[twistedblack69]

I'm not sure what my budget is...say £80? But I also need applicator pads etc, the only thing I have is some Kent microfibre towels I picked up from Asda lol

EDIT: oK I'm also confused by what you've said in your last post. To me, it soudns like your saying that the polish step after the second 2bucket is the whole Meg kit? But I figured I use the first step of the Meg kit (paint cleaner) for the first and second two bucket, then polish it with the second step, and wax it with the third step? And would I use applicator pads for all the steps, or just the polish and wax? I might just stick with the Meg kit as the paint is pretty shoddy anyway, if it comes up nice, I'll spend a bit more next time.

[mellow yellow]

mate, in the nicest possible way, if you spend some time reading the stickies and use the search functions on here you will be well on your way to being an expert on the subject.

£80.00 is a decent budget and will get you some good products.

ideally you need to do the following.

1) wash the car with a decent shampoo using the 2 bucket method and use a decent wash mit (total £15.00)
2) clay the car (clay and lube £25.00)
3) wash again using 2bm
4) polish the car (polish and pad to apply with £15.00) microfibre cloth to remove
5) wax (search for decent waxes, start with the more reasonable soft waxes) £10.00 - £40.00 again apply with a pad and remove with microfibre.


other steps can be added but this should see you fine for the time being and should bring your paint up a treat.

also invest in some tyre dresser, alloy wheel cleaner and trim dresser and you should be sorted 

i do reccomend researching and reading the stickies here to get a feel of everything, this site has been a great help to me.