Noob car cleaning questions and 3 for 2 at halfrauds

[Lew_C]

Im a complete novice when it comes to cleaning cars and I havent spent much effort doing so because my car is dented like no ones business and has lots of scratches.

What is the 'proper' way to clean a car, like the order in the way to do it i.e. wash, wax, polish etc? At the moment ive just been spraying it down with hose water (have no pressure washer) using AG shampoo + conditioner then AG aqua wax and AG fast glass. Made the car look pretty good but never really brought out amazing results.

Ive got a week off work now so wouldn't mind giving it a good go and with halfords 3 for 2 i might as well. Could someone recommend me 3 things, Have already got a wash though, maybe recommend a decent wax and polish that I would be fine for a noob to use? Also the stuff needs to be available at halfords. cant really be bothered to wait for stuff to turn up off that clean your car site

Any help would go down a treat!
:D

[TypeRDavid]

First of all get yourself a decent clay kit, Megs one is available from Halfrauds, next would be a decent wash mitt, and lastly i'd ditch the AG shampoo and go for the Megs Gold Class as i find it froths up much better, what i would say is get yourself a decent PW and snow foam lance at some point it is well worth the wonga.

[TypeRDavid]

Sorry forgot to add

Thorough Rinse down
Wash 2BM
Rinse
Clay (keeping paint wet/lubed with the quick detailer spray provided.)
Re wash
Rinse
Dry (Dont use chamois/ flexi blades), iirc Megs sell a waffle weave drying towel in Halfrauds, this is so much better and will greatly reduce inflicting damage.

Folowed by,
Polish
Sealent
Wax.

Thats a quick step by step guide although there are some more thorough guides available in the How to section.;)

[adamm]

i would say get the megs clay kit ag srp and ag hd wax if your going halfords although the wax is expensive.
i would also recomend a good wash mitt and drying towel
i use this wash mitt http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog/easirider-lambswool-wash-mitt-cat3.html
and this drying towel http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog/pb-luxury-drying-towel-cat24.html
and i cant fault either tbh

[Paul]

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/generalImg/guide.gif


Also take a read of this:

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=27

[adamm]

a good wash mitt from halfords is this http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_19 9095_langId_-1_categoryId_165609
and this is a good drying towell http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_19 9187_langId_-1_categoryId_165609
i havent used either of these but have heard good reviews on them

[Ben_L]

i quite like the zymol cleaner polish they do. smells like bananas :) they also have zymol auto wash too which is good. pricey though.

[woodysVTR]

Don't forget the tyre shine!

[Lew_C]

whats a sealant? im quite confused lol, didnt see anything for sale earlier branded as a sealant.
thanks for all the help

[saxovtsmad]

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/sealants/chemical-guys-wet-mirror-finish/prod_339.html

[Lew_C]

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/sealants/chemical-guys-wet-mirror-finish/prod_339.html

Sweet! cheers mate, that list just keeps getting more and more expensive though..

[saxovtsmad]

ive just paid £30 for just wax

[Lew_C]

ive just paid £30 for just wax

suppose once youve took the initial shafting its not too bad..

[saxovtsmad]

i started of buying the basic stuff like the pads towel and cloths then the month after shampoo and polish and so on till i got a nice little collection and all i do now it keep topping my products up

[Lew_C]

i started of buying the basic stuff like the pads towel and cloths then the month after shampoo and polish and so on till i got a nice little collection and all i do now it keep topping my products up

yeah thats definitely the way to do it, shame i buy shit stuff.
how long does stuff take to come off cyc?

[saxovtsmad]

a couple of days

[SnaRe]

Sweet! cheers mate, that list just keeps getting more and more expensive though..

Like James told me. Less is LOADS more. As far as polish, sealant and wax. So despite the bigger the total, in the long run, if only using thin hazes of each, you'll be saving yourself the money overtime.

I hope that made sense... didn't quite know how to word it. :y:

[Lew_C]

Like James told me. Less is LOADS more. As far as polish, sealant and wax. So despite the bigger the total, in the long run, if only using thin hazes of each, you'll be saving yourself the money overtime.

I hope that made sense... didn't quite know how to word it. :y:

i get you, you'll use less stuff so save buying lots of crap?