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General cleaning help - very basic!!

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M

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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Morning all, this is my first post so be patient!!

I drive a Mk4 GTI 1.8T in black (not metalic) and was after some basic cleaning polishing tips.

I always thought I new all about car cleaning but after reading things on here, I'm miles off...lol.Currently my cleaning goes, rinse car with hose, wash with warm water and mer car shampoo then dry with chammy. About once every couple of months I'll polish using Mer.I've also been getting the tiny circular scratches after polishing....which is a nightmare.

Can someone tell me why they use wax rather than polish, whats the difference? and also a good shampoo and wax or polish to use. Or your cleaning routine

Cheers chaps.

PS what is claybar??
 
J

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#2 ·
Cool, as your new I'll be gentle [:D]

I'd bin the MER stuff & go for either Zymol or Maguiars shampoo 1st off.

I'd start off by going over the whole car with some Maguiars deep crystal paint cleaner, or P21S paint cleanser, either will do a top job.

Then I'd move on to going over the whole car with some Maguiars deep crystal polish, finishing over with a good top wax, the ones to choose from are Maguiars NXT Tech Wax, P21S Cannuba, Pinnicle soveign cannuba wax, or Clearkote vannila moose (that right oxford?)

Do the same for your wheels too.

Tyres, I use Maguiars endurance tyre gel, messy but lasts for weeks.

Useful links

http://www.meguiars.co.uk/

http://www.seriousperformance.co.uk/ (10% members discount)

http://pinnaclewax.com/index.html

Loads of good hints & tips, plus mega cheap with the dollar rate.

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/how-to.html

http://store.superior-carcare.net/carcare.html

http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=TIPS&Store_Code=Z

Happy waxing [^]
 
O

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#4 ·
Jace has it pretty much all covered there! [:)]

Follow that and you will be amazed.

Its "Clearkote Carnauba Moose Wax" [;)]

I would also buy a "clay bar" and go over the whole car with it rubbing the paint in a forward and backward motion to get rid of all the rubbish that will have built on your car over the years (tar, pollutants etc etc). If you dont do that you will just be sealing it in under the wax.

I only tend to do the clay bar every 3 months or so. Use the clay bar just after shampooing and use plenty of soapy water with it, then shampoo the car again... use your hands to feel the paint after you have done it.

Your very lucky, non metallic black comes up SOOOO mint when waxed as to these instructions. You really will be amazed.

Be prepared to take some time on it, but once you have done it then just watch the rain drip off and when you wash it the wax will still be there.

I cant highlight getting decent shampoo enough, the megs stuff, zymol (I recently bought PoorBoys World shampoo and that works well too) wont strip all that wax off.

Also get yourself a decent micro fibre cloth to buff off the wax, its comes off very quickly indeed.

I use "Clearkote VANILLA MOOSE WAX HAND GLAZE" prior to that final wax as it covers some of the scratches and provides a solid base for the wax. I also use this stuff on the windows and lights also, as it does not leave chalk behind like that horrid auto glym stuff.

If your willing to spend a bit, say 30-40 pounds it will last you all year!

The megs applicator sponges are the best, 4 in a pack; also last for ages.

Try www.seriousperformance.co.uk a try, they will give you 10% discount too!

BTW< I am not a professional, I just like to have a clean car [:)]
 
R

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#5 ·
Quote: posted by Mart74 on 12/01/2005 11:21:02

Cheers Jace, plenty there to get me going.

Or you could be just a touch lazier... [:D]

I moved from ordinary car wash to Autoglym to Mer to Meguiars. Each an improvement on the last. When I moved onto Meguiars I bought a nice soft mitt, a bottle of Gold Class wash, a bottle of Gold Class liquid wax and some applicator pads. I washed the car over the next few weeks with the shampoo and then set a day aside for the wax. Job done. I'll probably wax it again in another couple of months. I don't mind cleaning the car regularly and get a kick out of it looking good and shiny but TBH I prefer to drive it than clean it. Basically you can disappear up your own *** with constant and ever more complicated cleaning routines.

You're up against it though with flat black. Good luck!

(BTW I've never polished my metallic black car in nearly two years of ownership and it still looks stunning I reckon [:D])
 
T

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#7 ·
Quote: posted by oxford on 12/01/2005 14:26:05

I find cleaning cars quite relaxing and its good excercise to be honest!

It is quite physical, I agree. I just hate unreeling the hose and all that malarky then connecting the two together.. worse if it's cold weather !
 
J

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#8 ·
Yea me too, I have no problem spending 4-5 hours cleaning her, the results make it all the more worth while.[:D]

Some people relax by reading, watching football or playing golf etc, I relax by cleaning my golf.[^]

Got an email from Maguiars USA this morning inviting me to try some of their new NXT products in advance of launch, how excited was I [:I]
 
T

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#9 ·
Quote: posted by Jace on 12/01/2005 14:41:26

Yea me too, I have no problem spending 4-5 hours cleaning her, the results make it all the more worth while.[:D]

Some people relax by reading, watching football or playing golf etc, I relax by cleaning my golf.[^]

Got an email from Maguiars USA this morning inviting me to try some of their new NXT products in advance of launch, how excited was I [:I]

Bless.... [;)][:p] Would that be the same 'Maguairs' that is spelt with an "E" ? http://www.meguiars.co.uk/

Sorry.. it's been buggin' me for ages dude [:I]
 
S

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#12 ·
Got an email from Maguiars USA this morning inviting me to try some of their new NXT products in advance of launch, how excited was I..

You cant be that good a customer jace, i was sent a few trail satchets about a month ago[^][^][^][^]. The window cleaner is wicked.......[^][^][^]
 
Cat1.4

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#13 ·
Quote: posted by Jace on 12/01/2005 11:15:23

I'd bin the MER stuff & go for either Zymol or Maguiars shampoo 1st off.

Does anybody here use MER? I thought it had an ok rep, and it's about the same price as Megs....

Mart, like many people here I use Meguiars Gold class or NXT Gen shampoo, and hopefully the nights will get lighter soon to give it a going over with a Meguiars claybar and then the Gold class wax (smells yummy [:D])

This place sounds like an advert sometimes [:)]
 
J

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#15 ·
Quote: posted by Cat1.4 on 12/01/2005 18:06:05

This place sounds like an advert sometimes [:)]

oh yea, just cos your gona be a mod ya getting strict on us [;)]

Just messin, you know me [:D]Nice 1 by the way on the promo.

My cat sleeps a lot more than you do [:D]
 
Cat1.4

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#17 ·
Quote: posted by Jace on 12/01/2005 20:15:23

Quote: posted by Cat1.4 on 12/01/2005 18:06:05

This place sounds like an advert sometimes [:)]

oh yea, just cos your gona be a mod ya getting strict on us [;)]

Lol, not quite - just when I realised I'd typed 'Meguiars' four times in as many lines! (Took some back out [:I])

Just messin, you know me [:D]Nice 1 by the way on the promo.

Thanks [:)]

Funny, I thought MER would be ok.... will steer clear though
 
O

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#19 ·
Yep, try to go a panel at a time, get a plant sprayer and mix it with spay water and keep applying it to the body work.

Either throw it away or use it on your wheels if you drop it!

Happy cleaning, you will be amazed!
 
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