Just waxed the car!

junii

It looks great! Should I powerwash it down now after doing it or is it alright.

How often do you wax your car?

mike65

Don't power wash a car full stop, always do it by hand using the 3 bucket method (asuming car not too dirty) with a sponge for each bucket and then a rince. Use warm but not hot water.

I wax my car as often as I win the lotto (almost).

Mike.

Fey!

Leave it a day before you wash it, just to make sure the wax is dry. Incidentally, what wax did you use, how difficult was it to apply, and what were the results like?

Mike - why not powerwash? I use a karcher on mine, and have never had problems.

mike65

Did you ever end up pushing some hard edged dirt into the paint? Or drag the hose over a wing or the bonnet and spot a nasty rubbing mark?

Admittedly pure black paint is particularly bad for that sort of thing....

Mike.

Squirrel

Fey! wrote:

Leave it a day before you wash it, just to make sure the wax is dry. Incidentally, what wax did you use, how difficult was it to apply, and what were the results like?

Mike - why not powerwash? I use a karcher on mine, and have never had problems.

I powerwash cars as a valeter in a dealer.

The wax I use is Nielsen Liquid Gold. OP, I'd leave it a few days before washing it to allow the wax to bed in the paintwork.

Fey!

Mike - I hear what you're saying about trying to deal with black!!! I tend to avoid pulling the hose over the bodywork, though!

Squirrel - ever use Meguairs? They do a spray on NXT wax that is very easy to work with.

junii

I used Auto Glym - Super resin polish. It cost 11.50 for 325ml and I only used a tad over half the bottle. It did a great job!

Mike65: My cars black, can you elaborate on this 3 bucket method?

Im just after going out to the car to check what wax I used and theres a ****in cat underneath it. Anybody any idea how to keep the f*cker away from me car.

maidhc

mike65 wrote:

Don't power wash a car full stop, always do it by hand using the 3 bucket method (asuming car not too dirty) with a sponge for each bucket and then a rince. Use warm but not hot water.

Why not?

I always powerwash the cars. Only damage I did so far was blow about 4 inches of paint off the mondeo bumper! It is an industrial CAT pumps washer though, and I wasn't really paying attention.

Powerwashing will get rid of all the largish particles leaving only a very thin harmless film that you can sponge off without doing any damage.

junkyard

Turtle wax wash and wax is great too its in a clear bottle. I find after washing the car if you clean it with window cleaner like CIF or Windowlene it gets rid of water marks on the paint and is like giving the car a wax at the same time without doing a major job (a short cut I know but it works for me )

BrianD3

junii wrote:

Im just after going out to the car to check what wax I used and theres a ****in cat underneath it. Anybody any idea how to keep the f*cker away from me car.

Speaking of powerwashers.....:D

I am joking of course.

whateveryoulike

...

junkyard

Auto Glym is the bees knees. Used Turtle once, never again.[/QUOTE]

I've used turtle wax for years and never had any problems, its cheap and cheerful I know but easy to use. I'd recommend the colour magic waxes too especially for reds....trust me I'm a panel beater.

mike65

I use Meguiars NXT spray on.

Mike.

Robbo

mike65 wrote:

Don't power wash a car full stop, always do it by hand using the 3 bucket method (asuming car not too dirty) with a sponge for each bucket and then a rince. Use warm but not hot water.

I wax my car as often as I win the lotto (almost).

Mike.

No sponges.

Use a mitt because otherwise you're pushing dirt around between 2 flat surfaces.

mike65

Well I should clarrify I use a mitt type object (which is now loosing its threads) on the middle bucket ie the actual washing part (TurtleWax Wash n Wax). Sponges are for the initial wetting and the washing off.

Mike.

KTRIC

I use this guy http://www.alldumb.com/item/27893/

My little 650 Kawasaki deserves it

junii

junkyard wrote:

Turtle wax wash and wax is great too its in a clear bottle. I find after washing the car if you clean it with window cleaner like CIF or Windowlene it gets rid of water marks on the paint and is like giving the car a wax at the same time without doing a major job (a short cut I know but it works for me )

Great tip. thanks.

The Doktor

I use turtle wax xtreme nano stuff. Its great for getting the bugs off.
Then I get the chamois out, which gets rid of all watermarks. (be very careful with windolene on plastics!!!)
Then I give it a going over with Rock Oil Silicone protector spray (and polish off). This is great for giving a nice shine, and also stops road dirt sticking, and lets water run off easily. If not available I use Autoglym Instant show shine, which is good, but not as good as the rock oil stuff.
Every now and then(once every 2 months maybe) I use Autoglym Super resin polish, which is excellent.

Fey!

junkyard wrote:

Turtle wax wash and wax is great too its in a clear bottle. I find after washing the car if you clean it with window cleaner like CIF or Windowlene it gets rid of water marks on the paint and is like giving the car a wax at the same time without doing a major job (a short cut I know but it works for me )

I thought that getting the likes of windolene on your paint was bad for the paintwork??

Junii - Autoglym is excellent; I use AG degreaser on my engine, followed by AG vinyl protector (run the engine for 10 minutes after, then just give everything a quick wipe down). Comes up beautifully.
Tried Simonez engine cleaner on the gf's car last week; not a patch on the AG stuff.

For the body, it's all Maguairs - NXT wash, dry (use an AG blade - cost about €30 but well worth it - followed by a microfibre cloth), ScratchX (if needed), NXT wax spray, gold shine.
Megs do an excellent alloy wheel cleaner, but don't leave it on too long.

Squirrel

Fey! wrote:

Squirrel - ever use Meguairs? They do a spray on NXT wax that is very easy to work with.

Never used Meguairs. In work we used a Car Brite wax, but I was advised to go for the Liquid Gold, the guy who sells it only sells to the trade and I got a gallon for €40. For washing I use Car Brite Cherry Bomb.

bazz26

mike65 wrote:

I use Meguiars NXT spray on.

Mike.

Can Meguiar products be bought online as any places I have looked don't stock it?

ongarite

Your local rip-off Halfords stock most Meguirs stuff. I have the Clay Bar, ScratchX and Wax by them. All really good stuff.

mike65

There is an offical Meguiars wholesaler but he is'nt answering e-mails, I bought mine from a UK site.

http://www.performancemotorcare.com/

Mike.

elexes

mike65 wrote:

Don't power wash a car full stop, always do it by hand using the 3 bucket method (asuming car not too dirty) with a sponge for each bucket and then a rince. Use warm but not hot water.

I wax my car as often as I win the lotto (almost).

Mike.

three bucket method ? ive heard of the 2 but never a 3

mike65

I wet car, wash car, rinse car.

Mike.

elexes

how come you dont use the wollen mits ?

ninty9er

I've just done mine too. wash then wax. Junii did you mean yoiu washed and waxed it but you're gonna wash it again, never heard of that

I used colour magic, but the back to black still overlapped on the paintwork even though I used masking tape.:(

pics in relevant thread

mike65

elexes I use a wool pad thing for the washing part.

I gave the barge a proper wash for the first time tonight and it looks grand, pity about the stone chips which are being dealt with one at a time!

Mike.

unkel

junkyard wrote:

Turtle wax wash and wax is great too

Yeah that's working grand for me too

Silvera

Using a powerwash isn't a problem when washing a car. Only problem which might arise is if you see a chip on a painted bumper and hold the lance too close, which might peel off more paint.

I wash my car weekly using Turtle Wash n Wax, then dry it off with a leather shammy. It really makes a big difference when you spend the 5 mins or so drying off the car - no water markes are left on the paintwork or windows, and it looks like you just waxed the car!

I try to wax my car at least every six months. I have used many polishes over the years, and find Auto Glym and Turtle Wax to be the best.


Silvera
(Ex-Panel Beater)

unkel

Silvera wrote:

I wash my car weekly using Turtle Wash n Wax, then dry it off with a leather shammy. It really makes a big difference when you spend the 5 mins or so drying off the car - no water markes are left on the paintwork or windows, and it looks like you just waxed the car!

I wash my car once in a while

Powerwash, Turtle Wash 'n Wax and indeed drying off with a chamois makes a difference

Lex Luthor

bazz26 wrote:

Can Meguiar products be bought online as any places I have looked don't stock it?

Unless you know Niall (topazman) on the BMW car club forum, I don't know where else to get it over here.

I also use Meguiars and think it gives great reults. Their microfibre cloth is excellent if not a bit expensive.

Ernie Ball

I wash my car so often, my neighbours worry about my sanity. I've been experimenting with lots of detailing/valeting products. Here are some good links for ordering exotic stuff, most of which is imported from the US:

http://www.motorgeek.co.uk/
http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/index.html
http://www.detalhe.biz/
http://www.poorboysworlduk.co.uk/

I use the power washer to rinse the car and apply the soap. Then I use a 2-bucket method with a microfibre mitt. I also use a Porter-Cable random orbital polisher (not those cheapo jobbies you get at Halford's) to take out swirl marks and scratches. Here's what I used last time:

Wash
Meguiar's Clay Bar and Quik detailer
Menzerna Intensive Polish (to remove scratches and swirls)
Menzerna Final Polish II
Klasse All-In-One (this stuff is the business: acrylic cleaner sealant stuff that protects the paint and prepares it for other toppings)
Wolfgang Deep Gloss Sealant (3 coats applied at 24-hour intervals)
P21S Carnauba Wax (2 coats, applied a week apart)

After all this, the car looks stunning. To keep it looking stunning, I use a California Car Duster to take the dust off and I also try to give it a once-over with the Quik Detailer or some Meguiar's NXT Detailing Spray every day.

Rewash once a week and the shine lasts for months.

Lately, I've started working on the engine bay. I'm beginning to think I might have a psychological problem...:o

Silvera

Ernie Ball,
What do you drive? Any pics?

I thought I had a 'problem' with cleaning the car each week and polishing every few months!:D

Thats the thing about Ireland, so few people really keep their cars clean/shining that when somebody (like us) does it really stands out!

junii

Ernie Ball: What kind of car do you have?

What do you guys use for the bumpers then?