"Svend" (svend)
11/07/2014 at 10:45 • Filed to: None
3
14|
"Svend" (svend)
11/07/2014 at 10:45 • Filed to: None | 3
| 14 |
I got a text message from a friend at 23:30 last night asking if I could clean his car today (I love friends that let me clean their cars, seriously, no sarcasm, I love it).
Now she hasn't been done since the last time I cleaned her (friends have strict instructions, if you want it clean, call me) which was the 13th of August so it was good to see how the protection was holding up. Other than some surface grime and traffic film she didn't look bad. Quick pressure wash off any heavy debris, snow foam prewash to soak while I sprayed no touch wheel cleaner on, pressure washed it all off, snow foamed again with some shampoo and washed down with some shampoo in a bucket, rinsed, sprayed a quick detailer as a drying aid and a top up and all done in 40 minutes.
I love cleaning cars but when the products are getting so good, it takes all the effort out of it. Total clean time for car exterior, interior, engine bay and coke cola stain removal on rear seat, four hours.
So what's everyone else been doing with their cars today? Any cleaning, giving them a little TLC.
McMike
> Svend
11/07/2014 at 10:51 |
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Sorry, I'm not allowed to drive anymore, my registration is Svended.
WRXerFish - WRX-Wing pilot
> Svend
11/07/2014 at 10:52 |
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I mustache you a question, will you be my friend. My car needs a wash. Trim mustaches too?
Btw, not my car. But shes winking!
adamftw
> Svend
11/07/2014 at 10:53 |
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Ok, so it seems like you know what you're doing I guess. I have mud stains in the plastic of my Rover's door cards. What would you use to get that out? I use Lexol on the leather, and it does a great job. In your opinion, what's the "best" wax/shine/whatever to use on old, fading clear coat? Apparently the paint on my truck is fading underneath the clear, and in certain light it looks like the paint is different shades. I'm using Meguir's wash and wax at the moment.
What say you?
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Svend
> McMike
11/07/2014 at 10:55 |
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I use them for when I take the pictures but it's surprising how much attention they get when people drive past.
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Svend
> WRXerFish - WRX-Wing pilot
11/07/2014 at 10:57 |
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If you were in the U.K. of course and I wouldn't charge you either (I don't charge anyone anything anyway).
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McMike
> Svend
11/07/2014 at 10:59 |
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Shit, I didn't even notice your username. I thought those were the actual plates on the car.
I was making a svended = suspended joke.
Clever idea.
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Svend
> adamftw
11/07/2014 at 11:37 |
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In regards to mud staining the plastic I'd first tackle it with some general all purpose cleaner or degreaser, agitate it with a soft hair brush in small circular motions doing a small section at a time and then wipe off with a damp microfibre, then a dry one if this doesn't shift it then try a dilute solution of IsoPropyl Alcohol at about 12.5% or some panel wipe, again wipe off with a damp microfibre and then a dry one but to be honest the APC and a brush should do it.
Something like this one.
I don't use wax but Bilt Hamber have just released in the last few days or so a new wax called 'Double Speed' which is a Carnauba Polymer Paste Wax that's easy on easy off and has had some good feedback.
http://www.bilthamber.com/wax-and-polish…
I'm on a detailing forum and we usually get to try quite a few products out before they get released.
I use sealants myself and for ease of use with great protection Gtechniq C2v3 is my go to product, use it on glass, plastic, wheels or bodywork. Dilute it 3:1 to use a quick detailer/drying aid and job done (It's what I used on the Focus).
With regards to fading paintwork it's usually down to the clearcote oxidation unless it's a single stage solid paint which will be doing the same as the clearcote in it's place. A good polish to remove the top couple of microns (you really don't have to go down too far unless you want to fully correct the paint) of oxidation and then seal with a wax or sealant that offers UV protection to help it last. Gtechniq do a car/boat shampoo that offers UV protection called UV Wash (It's my summer car shampoo). Car paintwork is like skin, dirt and grime build up and take there toll on the finish so where you'd use an exfoliating wash to scrub off the dirt and clean our your pores a good polish from time to time will work wonders on the finish of your vehicle. Try a bit of polishing compound on a lower edge or valence and follow it up with a finishing polish and you should see a big difference straight away.
To help protect your paint work, the least you physically touch it when cleaning the better use a prewash solution or a snow foam to soften and emulsify the dirt lifting it from the paintwork and then rinse off, when washing use a closed-cell sponge similar to a tile grouting sponge or wash mitt either microfibre noodle of lambs wool and use the two bucket method one bucket for the shampoo and one for plain water to rinse the mitt so starting from the top (cleanest area first, working downwards as you go round) put the sponge/mitt into the shampoo bucket and then doing one section at a time gently wipe over and then put your sponge/mitt into the rinse bucket/plain water and shake it to remove any grit that was lifted from the vehicle lifting out of the bucket squeeze the water out and then place in the shampoo bucket to charge the sponge/mitt with shampoo and then repeat going from shampoo bucket, car, rinse bucket, shampoo bucket, car, rinse bucket so you leave any dirt in the rinse bucket and it's not removed and agitated back into the sponge/mitt in the shampoo bucket.
Wash and wax has it's place for ease of use at a cost effective price but like wash and go shampoo and conditioner, sometimes it is best to take two bottles into the shower.
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adamftw
> Svend
11/07/2014 at 11:42 |
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Super informative, you rock.
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Svend
> McMike
11/07/2014 at 11:43 |
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Ye', I got the joke fella, no worries. They are just detailing plates so when I takes pictures I don't have to spend ages uploading them to the computer to edit out the licence plates before posting the pictures. I had a van stop and three guys just look at them earlier and several people do a double take when they pass. It's the name I use on a car cleaning forum (don't look at me like that, yes there is a forum for car cleaning and it's got 72,000 members).
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Svend
> adamftw
11/07/2014 at 11:47 |
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Cheers fella. Most people think it's a bit 'sad' (read pathetic) when many of us spend so much time cleaning our cars and indeed other peoples cars. I do it as it's very relaxing and therapeutic. Most balk at me when I say the first clean is about 8-10 hours, but it only takes half an hour a fortnight or a month after that.
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adamftw
> Svend
11/07/2014 at 11:49 |
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It's worth it when people don't believe my Rover is almost 20 years old
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Svend
> adamftw
11/07/2014 at 11:59 |
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Good lad. Look after the Landie and the Landie will look after you.
Is yours a 3.9V8 or 300TDi?
When I was younger I was a Landrophile. I had every copy of Land Rover Monthly, Land Rover Enthusiast, Land Rover World and Land Rover Owner International. When I moved house I had to throw them all away, the bin men ground to a halt on my street as they stood reading them. I could tell you everything about every Land Rover from the centre-steer to the 130 Pulse military ambulance.
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adamftw
> Svend
11/07/2014 at 12:03 |
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It's NAS, so 3.9. I love the thing. Got it from the original owner, was always dealer maintained.
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Svend
> adamftw
11/07/2014 at 12:12 |
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Nice one fella. Keep looking after her.
If you need any other car cleaning help just give me a shout.