novice cleaner

[kirium225]

I need some cleaning help. As there are so many cleaning products on the market I'm a little confused on what to buy. I just want some advice on what to buy for the novice cleaner. Basically some one who only will spend a couple of hours cleaning a car and not a whole day.

Any advice much appreciated.

[dogbucket]

Start by looking after what you already have by getting a wash mit and using proper car shampoo.

From Halfrauds you could get a Meguiars microfibre mit with Meguiars NXT car shampoo, which is what I use. You may have to get a wheel brush as well as you dont want to use the mit on those.

Then if you want to keep it simple put on some Meguiars NXT tech wax once a month to keep it nice and shiny.

[steelwind101]

What condition is your car in?? You most likely need a chemical cleaner and a clay bar. Think of the first wash being a yearly prep and then you can get away with apply an LSP through out the rest of the year.

[kirium225]

car is only couple of years old. i was thinking of using a clay bar, but looks like to much elbow grease.

quick question- how long should it take to clay bar a average car.

[J_C]

IME the key to good results lies in the preparation more than the products used, although some products are better than others obviously. If the car is two years old it will definitely need claying and this will take you a good few hours, but once you see (and feel!) the results you'll be amazed. Follow up with a good polish and coats of wax and it'll be a lot easier to keep on top of the cleaning. If you wax without claying you'll just be sealing in the bonded contaminants. Do a search on here and you'll find pictures that people have posted of the sort of muck that can come off of supposedly 'clean' cars after claying.

[adigraham]

Good info on www.detailingworld.co.uk as well.

[alexc]

[ QUOTE ]

car is only couple of years old. i was thinking of using a clay bar, but looks like to much elbow grease.

quick question- how long should it take to clay bar a average car.

[/ QUOTE ]

It depends really but allow yourself approx an hour. Always wash before and after claying (the car that is, not you).

[MarskeBear]

bloody wheel brushs,great stuff but been though 2 in 2 month, they just break at the handle. Had megs one, 4 washes then halfrauds again around 4 washes. arse.

[P_G]

Steven_M, if you clean your wheels up and then apply two coats of Autoglym Super Resin Polish and possibly Extra Gloss Protection you should only need a microfibre to clean them after that.

If you can't be arsed with that, use AG Alloy wheel seal, works as well but not as durable.

Myself I have just invested in some Poorboys wheel seal but it's pricey compared to the former two methods. However I feel my wheels are worth it.

[J_C]

I've just got some of that Poorboys wheel sealant and applied it when I took the front wheels off recently to do the calipers. Since then they've been washed three times, and all the crap came off with just a quick mist of heavily diluted Megs wheel brightener and a blast from the pressure washer - I only needed to give the wheels a quick wipe round afterwards. So far, the sealant seems to be holding up well.

I used to use the same AG combination as you, but I found it doesn't last - I think the heat build up breaks it down.