How do you clean your vehicles?

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D41
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Re: How do you clean your vehicles?

Post by D41 »

Pretty much what CM wrote.
I'll work scratches outwards...in effect making them bigger, or "shallower"...although that's not the right term. Scratches under door handles are worth looking for...the recessed part of the panel. Inside doors & the rocker panels are worth taking care of. Don't smoke or eat in the fcuking car!!......And don't let anyone else do it either, unless she's incredibly hot, in which case use discretion.
Little touches like folding & tucking a rear center seat-belt help a bit....just latch it & take the slack out of it...tidies up the rear seat....takes away the clutter.
Clean the inside of the doors ...the part where the locks/latches are, rocker panels, etc.
Putting your kids up for adoption is a good preventative maintenance option worth considering.
Clean the air vents....pop them out & soak them if you like.
Clean glass inside & out, but checking from the inside is the best way to go. Use Windex...the Windex knock-off stuff is generally crap.
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Re: How do you clean your vehicles?

Post by Rossgo »

For me I would generally Hoover inside and wipe down the dash. Then start on the outside.
Many years ago I bought the autoglym washing case with everything in there from shampoo to tar spot treatment liquid! Used to spent entire days cleaning the car then go out for car meets etc. Now it's quick and easy so

Snow foam in lance
Jet spray down
Auto glym shampoo in a bucket or any brand that I have picked up
Shammie or microfiber towel dry down (if I got time/ bothered)
Quick speed polish spray if I got time/ bothered

Done


Bike

I also add in

Spray down brake discs with brake cleaner
A ACF50 coat
Decrease the chain and relube it with ACF50 & then Chain lube on top (always feel like I'm protecting it more- don't know whether I am or not but the chain is still in top notch condition and I've added 5k miles to the bike)
Standard furniture polish to the mirrors and lights then buff





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Re: How do you clean your vehicles?

Post by D41 »

I'm trying to remember what I used on the leather....some saddle soap from England....seats came out supple as can be.
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Re: How do you clean your vehicles?

Post by Itchy »

Rossgo wrote: Many years ago I bought the autoglym washing case with everything in there from shampoo to tar spot treatment liquid!
Is that the one in a red canvas type bag?
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Re: How do you clean your vehicles?

Post by Itchy »

OK, so after predicting it would take me half an hour to clean up the engine bay, then realising it had taken me over an hour, and after looking at the results I have come to the conclusion that I'm not going to become a professional detailer.

It's nowhere near perfect, I've missed several bits and given up on others, but I'm happy with it.
Screenshot_20190410_185233.jpg
Screenshot_20190410_185510.jpg

Screenshot_20190410_185150.jpg
Screenshot_20190410_185416.jpg

Hopefully I'll get plenty of time at the weekend to give it a more traditional cleaning.

I also need to sort this out... (tmi)
Screenshot_20190410_185341.jpg
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Re: How do you clean your vehicles?

Post by Kwacky »

It looks a shit load better
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Re: How do you clean your vehicles?

Post by D6 »

I think that engine bay looks really good. What did you do? I take it you don't just jet wash it. Lol
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Re: How do you clean your vehicles?

Post by Itchy »

D6 wrote:I think that engine bay looks really good. What did you do? I take it you don't just jet wash it. Lol
Lol, probably better not!

I just sprayed some all purpose cleaner onto it all, being careful around the battery, and agitated it with a detailing brush and wiped it off with an old microfibre cloth.
And a little tyre shine on the black plastic just to tart it up a bit.

Like I say, I've missed loads but **** it, it's an engine bay, it'll do!
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Re: How do you clean your vehicles?

Post by D41 »

It's night & day.

AND......if you do it again it a month or so it'll be cleaner still....and then maybe one more time, then just maintain it.
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Re: How do you clean your vehicles?

Post by Rossgo »

Itchy wrote:
Rossgo wrote: Many years ago I bought the autoglym washing case with everything in there from shampoo to tar spot treatment liquid!
Is that the one in a red canvas type bag?
That's the one. I still have it but the bits and pieves inside have all been replaced a lot since buying it lol!

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Re: How do you clean your vehicles?

Post by Rossgo »

Itchy that looks great. Lile D says if you clean it again next time it will.only get better. But in all honesty, mind needs a good scrub fancy doing mine?!

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Re: How do you clean your vehicles?

Post by kiwikrasher »

Mate that looks mint!!

I kept forgetting you guys have to deal with snow and salted roads, on top of plenty of rain.
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Re: How do you clean your vehicles?

Post by Itchy »

Rossgo wrote:
Itchy wrote:
Rossgo wrote: Many years ago I bought the autoglym washing case with everything in there from shampoo to tar spot treatment liquid!
Is that the one in a red canvas type bag?
That's the one. I still have it but the bits and pieves inside have all been replaced a lot since buying it lol!

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See anything familiar sir?
Screenshot_20190411_173447.jpg
Ive had it a good 10 years at least, probably many more. Haven't used most of it because I've not cleaned cars with any great degree of enthusiasm before.
Might have a clear out and use the bag for my new stuff.
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Re: How do you clean your vehicles?

Post by Itchy »

I should've kept my big mouth shut. The mother-in-law is bringing her car around on Saturday for me to wash!
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Re: How do you clean your vehicles?

Post by Rossgo »

Itchy wrote:
Rossgo wrote:
Itchy wrote: Is that the one in a red canvas type bag?
That's the one. I still have it but the bits and pieves inside have all been replaced a lot since buying it lol!

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See anything familiar sir?
Screenshot_20190411_173447.jpg
Ive had it a good 10 years at least, probably many more. Haven't used most of it because I've not cleaned cars with any great degree of enthusiasm before.
Might have a clear out and use the bag for my new stuff.
Boom That's the one lol! I had it approx same sort of time as well (10 year). I got it on a cracking deal to be honest so had to buy it! That's a lot of products for the money

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Re: How do you clean your vehicles?

Post by Rossgo »

Itchy wrote:I should've kept my big mouth shut. The mother-in-law is bringing her car around on Saturday for me to wash!
The fun is only just beginning lol

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Re: How do you clean your vehicles?

Post by Itchy »

Itchy wrote:I should've kept my big mouth shut. The mother-in-law is bringing her car around on Saturday for me to wash!
So she took me up on my offer, but it was a good chance to play with some of my new stuff...

Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel. It's a wheel cleaner that turns purple when it reacts with contamination on the wheels. Although on a car that's only just over a month old with black wheels, that didn't show up on the pics, so here's a before and after...
Screenshot_20190414_220443.jpg
Screenshot_20190414_220506.jpg

Pro-Kleen Snow Foam next...
Screenshot_20190414_220525.jpg
...followed by some Dodo Juice shampoo slapped on with a wash mitt, then dried off.
I was going to stick some Fusso on it, but to be honest the water was pretty much rolling off the car as it was, so I didn't bother.
I think I must have missed washing one of the doors, as dirt was all over it that I wasn't getting off, but she'd also picked up a couple of scratches so I'd got the Super Resin Polish out to deal with two birds in one stone.

Didn't look too bad in the end...
Screenshot_20190414_220549.jpg
Notice the bike in the garage, sulking and getting no attention...
Screenshot_20190414_220628.jpg
I've also done the same to my car, which now looks a lot better but I've also been trying the DA polisher which has given some amazing results. I won't put the pictures up yet, I've only done the bonnet. But SO happy with the results so far.
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Re: How do you clean your vehicles?

Post by kiwikrasher »

I think you need an Australian holiday

Bring your cleaning kit
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Re: How do you clean your vehicles?

Post by Rossgo »

That look great Itchy. Nice one

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Re: How do you clean your vehicles?

Post by D6 »

Hurry up and start on your bike so I can see what you are supposed to do to clean a bike.
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