Whats your wash ritual?

[sarg]

Your routine is better than most, but yes to 2 buckets. Although I use them, I doubt the real beenfit of grit guards.

The big thing I spot is using a sponge - sponges hold dirt and grit on the surface, so you are scratching away at your paint with a sponge. Ditch the sponges and replace with a lambs wool wash mitt. (i hand wash mine rather than machine wash). Those swirls you mention, that's mostly the work of sponges and leathers. It will only cover over the problem, but Poorboys Blackhole is a good 'filler' for your colour, but taking it to a pro for a MOP is better.

Wheels - I use Bilberry wheel cleaner as it's very gentle. From memory the Autoglym one is pretty acidic, no doubt it makes your eyes sting if you get in the way of a mist spray?

I don't clay because (a) it's a job I really dislike and (b) if you get it wrong you can actually introduce marring on the paint so I leave the claying to the pros

Iron X is a very good product for removing iron fallout/metal contaminants from your paintwork.

Ther than that, R1NE or Autosmart G101 are good all rounder products

[The_Laird]

Two buckets are a must. Otherwise, half way through, you're washing the car with dirty, gritty water.

My routine for just a wash:

Low pressure, non-contact rinse with the pressure washer not pumping
Snow foam, the leave for 5 minutes
Wash (2 buckets and grit guard) with a lambs wool mit
Rinse with pressure washer (with the 'car' nozzle)
Open doors, boot, bonnet, petrol flap and clean sills etc with a microfibe cloth
Towel dry with large microfibre towel
Wash wheels (they have been snowfoamed too) with a third bucket (wheels are too dirty to share a bucket with the paintwork)

[Adrian E]

I snow foam our cars after blasting off the worst with plain water.

I always start with washing the wheels though, as it can splash onto the bodywork and even using PH neutral stuff it can take a layer of protection off your paint if you leave it on the car too long

After snow foam will hand wash with a lambs wool mitt and dry off with a towel

[B17NKA]

Sponges should only be used for backs of wheels and calipers,I use a lambs wool mit on the paint work
I use meguiars polishes and clay bar,I find autoglym polishes are too dusty,but I love all the other autoglym products especially extra gloss protection
I only use one bucket,but have been told many times you need two with grit guards ?
I agree with The_Laird all door checks,bonnet,boot areas etc must be done,pressure washers should only be used for removing thick dirt but standing well away from the car with the lance
I worked for Neville Wood who owns Pickwick Performance now in Scotland,we used to be in St Helen's and then Evenwood County Durham and we always made sure the cars were immaculately presented
I can spend all day on my car just tinkering with it when cleaning,they cost plenty so need to be looked fter,must be washed every week in the winter months and waxed regularly in the summer

[ainarssems]

must be washed every week in the winter months and waxed regularly in the summer

I prefer to think that dirt layer protects paintwork from ultraviolet rays so it gets washed twice a year. Once in the spring to get rid of winter salt and second time half year later.

[Palmer]

Heard some good stuff about poorboys black hole. Gonna gets me some got a week off soon gonna have a massive detail on the car.

what shampoo do peeps use?

[sarg]

Originally Posted by Palmer

Heard some good stuff about poorboys black hole. Gonna gets me some got a week off soon gonna have a massive detail on the car.

what shampoo do peeps use?

I mentioned Black Hole a while back

Originally Posted by sarg

Those swirls you mention, that's mostly the work of sponges and leathers. It will only cover over the problem, but Poorboys Blackhole is a good 'filler' for your colour, but taking it to a pro for a MOP is better.

But, I emphasise it is a filler only and will only cover over your swirls, not fix them.

PoorBoys do some decent shampoo too, I am currently using one of the Meguiars shampoos, cannot remember which, but I prefer the Poorboys one to be honest, seems to foam up and stick better

[Adrian E]

I've got a big bottle of this stuff:

http://www.i4detailing.co.uk/shop/br...d-shampoo.html

It works nicely to thicken up snow foam so I mainly bought it for that but also use it for hand washing. Always used Autoglym before this and I'm happy with both - the Britemax is probably slightly less aggressive if you've got layers of protection on the car already but seems to clean all the crud off just as well