First cleaning/detailing report
Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2010 3:39 pm
So I completed my first cleaning/detailing session on Saturday and thought I'd share how it went
Took about approx 6 hours I think. Tiring, but well worth it
The materials:
1. Pre-wash (auto perfection snow foam, snow foam lance. Nilfisk C110 pressure washer)
[No Pic due to failure!]
This didn't go to plan. I couldn't get a thick foam that stuck to the car. I think I need to try it a few more times to get the right mix of snow foam and water. I had upwards of 50ml at one point and it still wasn't right. Hopefully it isn't a faulty lance, but we'll see. Still, it cleaned off some dirt patches on the lower sides of the car. It also helped with the next step..
Effort: 4/10 (frustration factor really thou)
Fun factor: 6/10 (would be 10 if it had worked!)
2. Wheels (Kent wheel brush)
I had no wheel cleaner as it's still on order, but as the wheels were quite clean, I used my brush on them while they were snow foamed!
I then rinsed the whole car off with the pressure washer
3. Wash (two bucket method, Luso autobathe, Kent Microfiber wash mitts)
This was very enjoyable. The Luso is is a nice soft shampoo and one cap was indeed enough for the bucket of water. I used one wash mitt for the majority of the car, the second was used for lower panels. Let me say that the two bucket method is well worth it, as while the car is only a few days old, the rinse bucket was pretty damn dirty. There was a fair amount of dirt resting at the bottom as well:
Effort: 4/10 (filling buckets with warm water was a pain as they didn't fit under the tap, so the outside tap and kettle were used!)
Fun factor: 9/10 (quite therapeutic!)
4. Rinse (pressure washer)
5. Dry (Big blue microfiber towel)
The towel was just large enough to do a full dry, as when I'd finished it was soaking through. Smaller and thinner microfibers would have failed the task
6. Claying (autoperfection lube, sonus ultrafine clay, microfiber)
Ok, I think may have gone overboard with the lube for this, as I used about half the bottle! However, it was a very hot sunny day and there was a degree of paranoia about claying for the first time. It was damn hard work, but somewhat easier than I was expecting. Visually speaking, there was not much difference once finished (but it is a brand new car after all...), but the FEEL of the paint was very different, as it was incredibly smooth to the touch. So, hopefully it has done the paintwork some good. For reference, I only needed about 1/3 of the bar.
***Note I then rinsed the car off with the pressure washer and quick dried with a fresh microfiber as I thought there was still lube on it (especially near the window seals)***
Effort: 8/10 (prepare for sore arms and legs)
Fun factor: 6/10
7. Pre wax cleansing (Luso revitalizing cream, foam applicator, microfiber)
I hated it, hated it, hated it!!! Now on reflection, I can perhaps count the hot weather and perhaps me doing soemthing wrong (too much/little product?), but at the time, it was an awful experience. As soon as it went on, it immediately left dry brown streaks (adding more of it to the applicator just made more streaks). After applying, I then had to buff with a microfiber till my arms fell off. Worse, it then left particles everywhere. I managed about 90% of the car then went for a sulk. I came back to find more particles on the window seals etc
Effort: 10,000000000000000000000000000000000000 / 10
Fun factor: - 10, 0000000000000000000000000000000000000 /10
8. Wax (Luso Oro, foam applicator, microfiber)
In contrast to the pre-wax, this stuff was amazing. It went on like silk and my arms were not complaining at all during the buffing stage! I only did one coat in the end, but my significant other immediately commented what a visible shine it left. Smells great as well and my Scirocco now has a Caribbean whiff to it!
Effort: 5/10
Fun factor: 8/10
9. Wheel sealant (autoperfection wheel sealant, foam applicator, microfiber)
Relatively easy here. First coat sank straight in as expected, the second was easily buffed. Wheels looked noticeably smoother and had a decent reflection in them.
I did a quick vacuum of the interior, but everything else was still spotless, so that's about it for the first time around!
Pics (alas, at this point the sun was going in, so the shine was not as prominent in the pics)
Think this one was just after washing:
Drying
Overall I can easily see myself keeping up the pre-wash and wash phases every two weeks or so
Due to the waxing being relatively painless as well, that should be no problem every month (or two to three months!!)
Took about approx 6 hours I think. Tiring, but well worth it
The materials:
1. Pre-wash (auto perfection snow foam, snow foam lance. Nilfisk C110 pressure washer)
[No Pic due to failure!]
This didn't go to plan. I couldn't get a thick foam that stuck to the car. I think I need to try it a few more times to get the right mix of snow foam and water. I had upwards of 50ml at one point and it still wasn't right. Hopefully it isn't a faulty lance, but we'll see. Still, it cleaned off some dirt patches on the lower sides of the car. It also helped with the next step..
Effort: 4/10 (frustration factor really thou)
Fun factor: 6/10 (would be 10 if it had worked!)
2. Wheels (Kent wheel brush)
I had no wheel cleaner as it's still on order, but as the wheels were quite clean, I used my brush on them while they were snow foamed!
I then rinsed the whole car off with the pressure washer
3. Wash (two bucket method, Luso autobathe, Kent Microfiber wash mitts)
This was very enjoyable. The Luso is is a nice soft shampoo and one cap was indeed enough for the bucket of water. I used one wash mitt for the majority of the car, the second was used for lower panels. Let me say that the two bucket method is well worth it, as while the car is only a few days old, the rinse bucket was pretty damn dirty. There was a fair amount of dirt resting at the bottom as well:
Effort: 4/10 (filling buckets with warm water was a pain as they didn't fit under the tap, so the outside tap and kettle were used!)
Fun factor: 9/10 (quite therapeutic!)
4. Rinse (pressure washer)
5. Dry (Big blue microfiber towel)
The towel was just large enough to do a full dry, as when I'd finished it was soaking through. Smaller and thinner microfibers would have failed the task
6. Claying (autoperfection lube, sonus ultrafine clay, microfiber)
Ok, I think may have gone overboard with the lube for this, as I used about half the bottle! However, it was a very hot sunny day and there was a degree of paranoia about claying for the first time. It was damn hard work, but somewhat easier than I was expecting. Visually speaking, there was not much difference once finished (but it is a brand new car after all...), but the FEEL of the paint was very different, as it was incredibly smooth to the touch. So, hopefully it has done the paintwork some good. For reference, I only needed about 1/3 of the bar.
***Note I then rinsed the car off with the pressure washer and quick dried with a fresh microfiber as I thought there was still lube on it (especially near the window seals)***
Effort: 8/10 (prepare for sore arms and legs)
Fun factor: 6/10
7. Pre wax cleansing (Luso revitalizing cream, foam applicator, microfiber)
I hated it, hated it, hated it!!! Now on reflection, I can perhaps count the hot weather and perhaps me doing soemthing wrong (too much/little product?), but at the time, it was an awful experience. As soon as it went on, it immediately left dry brown streaks (adding more of it to the applicator just made more streaks). After applying, I then had to buff with a microfiber till my arms fell off. Worse, it then left particles everywhere. I managed about 90% of the car then went for a sulk. I came back to find more particles on the window seals etc
Effort: 10,000000000000000000000000000000000000 / 10
Fun factor: - 10, 0000000000000000000000000000000000000 /10
8. Wax (Luso Oro, foam applicator, microfiber)
In contrast to the pre-wax, this stuff was amazing. It went on like silk and my arms were not complaining at all during the buffing stage! I only did one coat in the end, but my significant other immediately commented what a visible shine it left. Smells great as well and my Scirocco now has a Caribbean whiff to it!
Effort: 5/10
Fun factor: 8/10
9. Wheel sealant (autoperfection wheel sealant, foam applicator, microfiber)
Relatively easy here. First coat sank straight in as expected, the second was easily buffed. Wheels looked noticeably smoother and had a decent reflection in them.
I did a quick vacuum of the interior, but everything else was still spotless, so that's about it for the first time around!
Pics (alas, at this point the sun was going in, so the shine was not as prominent in the pics)
Think this one was just after washing:
Drying
Overall I can easily see myself keeping up the pre-wash and wash phases every two weeks or so
Due to the waxing being relatively painless as well, that should be no problem every month (or two to three months!!)
cleaning/detailing session. Unfortunately no photos as my digital camera is playing up)