What to keep/use and what to throw away before 1st wash

[Tim_]

Hey all,

As i have a black lib i need to keep it clean and would rather do it myself. I need to give her a wash tomorrow and found heaps of different stuff which i could use at home. Problem is some of it is old and i dont know what to use.

Hoping you could point out the better brands and what (if anything) to steer clear from. Im planning on giving her a wash using the two bucket method (use kitten glo wash or armor all car wash?) and then maybe a wax (fw1 spray on wax with carnauba or meguiars colour x?). I have heard meguiars is good but is there anything else here that i should be keeping and using?


Thanks
Tim

[Tim_]

This is what i will be washing

[hamish_023]

Personally I would be steering clear of most of those products. Colour X would be alright if you work it in and follow the instructions

Armorall interior protectant, definitely bin.
Fw1, definitely bin

[Kekotic]

I'll be straight up with you.

get rid of all of it minus the cloths.
There will be some members on this forum who will take it.

Here is what you should buy.

303 Aerospace protectant. (For dash/interior cleaning)

Autoglym Body Wash Shampoo* (*I can't remember the one Hamish uses but that's an okay one and has served me very well for 2 years)

PERL For tyre shine / shining anything rubber or black on your car. It's non silicone based so it won't degrade rubber like all the other shit you would use will. It is actually water soluble so you can choose if you want 100% or 75% etc etc, based on what it is. Personally I go about 75% for tyres and engine bay. I know Hamish_023 our top detailer on this forum does it a bit differently but he uses PERL also just different % solutions.

Poorboys All Purpose Cleaner (APC) Can be used for rim cleaning, underbody cleaning, engine bay cleaning. You name it, this stuff is great for cleaning almost anything and it's non corrosive and can be diluted again because it's water soluble.

That's about as far as my knowledge goes based on what you have in your collection.

If you want any more info PM me or better yet PM hamish_023 http://www.elitefinish.com.au/


Edit: Looks like Hamish got to you before I could.

[Tim_]

Cheers hamish, im guessing colour x would be used as a wax? ie useing 1 mf cloth to apply and spread and using another to wipe off

Ok will bin the armorall and fw1, what makes them so bad?

Also high pressure washer...yay or nay? I have heard it can be harmful to your paint?

[Tim_]

Thanks chaotic, would i find any of those products in autobarn/cupercheap?

I only want to do exterior tomorrow as the interior is immaculate (to my standards )

[Kekotic]

Thanks chaotic, would i find any of those products in autobarn/cupercheap?

I only want to do exterior tomorrow as the interior is immaculate (to my standards )

303 Aerospace and Autoglym shampoo bodywash can be gotten from Autobarn/supercheap.
The ones I made with the links like PERl cannot be purchased from any retail stores. But trust me, you will not regret purchasing those.

[Ben]

Black car I go the three bucket method Warm water in the buckets. First bucket to remove the nasties. Big ass buckets too.

You must use really good quality micro fibre cloths, or it will scratch the car. Don't go scrubbing it either, efficient wipes. There are some good videos from car detailers explaining this.

Tire shine, the meguiars stuff in the can is the best I've used (haven't tried PERL). Leather care, Zaino. Good car wash helps.

Visit a car detailing forum

[Tim_]

Will get online and get ordering then Im guessing a high pressure washer is fine to use on all paintwork then?

[Kekotic]

Will get online and get ordering then Im guessing a high pressure washer is fine to use on all paintwork then?

Provided it hasn't been resprayed badly....yes.

Just keep in mind that car washes use high pH shampoos in their high pressure hoses which can strip waxes and sealants, so basically avoid using car washes altogether and use a high pressure washer at home

[Tim_]

Yeah i have a high pressure washer at home so ill crack it out tomorrow and give it a shot
Im planning on the following so feel free to let me know if theres anything im doing wrong

rinse with high pressure hose
clean wheels and rinse with high presure hose
wash car with 2 bucket method
rinse with high pressure hose
dry
apply colorx

[rooby]

Thanks chaotic, would i find any of those products in autobarn/cupercheap?

I only want to do exterior tomorrow as the interior is immaculate (to my standards )

303 Aerospace and Autoglym shampoo bodywash can be gotten from Autobarn/supercheap.
The ones I made with the links like PERl cannot be purchased from any retail stores. But trust me, you will not regret purchasing those.

Thanks for the heads up on perl. Will def have to try it.

[Kekotic]

Thanks for the heads up on perl. Will def have to try it.

Don't thank me. Thank Hamish.
He's the one that tells me what to use

[Rome_BRZ]

Once my current final inspection stuff is finished I'm gonna give the 303 aerospace a go, not sure on body shampoo yet but will try using PERL and IronX for my wheels too

[hamish_023]

PERL diluted 70:30 with water is almost identical to 303 ; )