WANTED: Car cleaning/polishing guide

[gonnahavemesomefun]

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

[Stu.750]

There you are click the Corsa sport link on the first thread

[gonnahavemesomefun]

There you are click the Corsa sport link on the first thread

Sorry mate not quite with you, click where?

[pegasus]

go here http://www.edition38.com/forums/index.php?s=9e22445e0d3e0eb089166cd52f7ab7da&showforum=57

and read, read, read.... there is some v in depth guides

[gonnahavemesomefun]

Thanks very much pegasus, some good stuff in there :-)

[Rhyso]

www.detailingworld.co.uk

www.autopia.org

be prepared to spend lots of money!! 

[BobbyT]

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!!) 

[...joe]

sponge? tut tut tut... its all about lambswool mits and the two bucket method...

[BobbyT]

really? whats the two bucket method (sounds like a good saturday night out to me!! lol  )

[...joe]

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!