Cleaning your car

[glennm]

As with all new cars, the urge to keep it clean and pristine has befallen me. I have gotten a little obsessive over the prospect of keeping my car in tip top clean condition. And as such I have purchased a few items to assist me. Since there doesn't seem to be a topic on this as of yet, either that or my searching skills really suck, I decided to create this thread to everyone can share the tips and know-hows. It can range from the products you use, to any techniques that may shorten your cleaning time.

 

Here is what I'll be doing for my car:

 

I've had my car serviced by Detail Mania for their PPS. Excellent work. As per their advice, I won't be washing it for a week and I need to use neutral pH shampoo as well as non-wax shampoo. So for this I bought duragloss 901 concentrated car wash. 

 

I'll be using the two bucket system, one for rinsing and one for the car shampoo, along with grit guards in both buckets to reduce debris that may latch on to your cleaning apparatus. 

 

So far in my arsenal I have:

 

Durogloss 901

Armorall Extreme Shine Gel (with applicator)

2x 5 Gallon buckets

2x Grit Guards

?x Microfibre cloths (too many to count)

2x Microfibre washing mitts (May experiment with wool washing mitts later)

2x Waffle weave microfibre drying cloths

1x Water blade

1x Rim brush

1x Tire brush (functions as well as a wheel well brush)

3x Microfibre wheel brushes (to get deep into the rim)

1x Lug nut brush

 

I found most of these online via Singapore retailers and Autobacs; like I said earlier, I've gotten a little obsessive 

 

As per Detail Mania's intructions, I'm not to wash my car for a week as to allow the coating to cure. So I'm writing this as a preparation to my cleaning event. Will update with process and pictures once I am able to start cleaning. 

 

[Tanzy]

I hope you are only intending to use the water blade on the glass and not on the paint.

[blackmercs]

Weekly wash using only water without car sampoo will do. Use sampoo after 2 weeks later, the coating will protect yr car paint.

[glennm]

Weekly wash using only water without car sampoo will do. Use sampoo after 2 weeks later, the coating will protect yr car paint.

Personally I don't feel comfortable only using water to wash the car. As there is no soap to act as a lubricant between the dirt and the car when you lift it off, I feel like there's more potential for scratching washing without shampoo than with shampoo. 

[Ody_2004]

I don use shampoo at all.. But i make sure the car surface is cool and i use more water to unstick the dirt from the surface before i wash with spounge/towel.

[Old-MAN]

Personally I don't feel comfortable only using water to wash the car. As there is no soap to act as a lubricant between the dirt and the car when you lift it off, I feel like there's more potential for scratching washing without shampoo than with shampoo. 

 

I only use my hands with a water hose......

[blackmercs]

I only use my hands with a water hose......

Yes this method is my fav after wax grooming. The protective coating can last a week or two, after which is advisable to use car sampoo.

[Old-MAN]

BM, when you want to orgui-nise mass car wash....we can share tips also....    

[blackmercs]

Will do mega wash if i can find the place bro.

[Ah Bui]

Will do mega wash if i can find the place bro.

And the sexily dressed girls. ...

[glennm]

Yes this method is my fav after wax grooming. The protective coating can last a week or two, after which is advisable to use car sampoo.

 

Honestly i think this wouldn't be a very good option, depending on how dirty it is. If your cleaning media is your hand, there's no space or room for the dirt to be lifted off of from. There may be protection on the car, but no coating above the clear coat will be able to withstand a grain of sand being dragged across it. 

 

Wouldn't ever recommend not using shampoo or any form of lubricant between the washing media and car paint, unless you don't really care about marring and scratches. 

[blackmercs]

Honestly i think this wouldn't be a very good option, depending on how dirty it is. If your cleaning media is your hand, there's no space or room for the dirt to be lifted off of from. There may be protection on the car, but no coating above the clear coat will be able to withstand a grain of sand being dragged across it. 

 

Wouldn't ever recommend not using shampoo or any form of lubricant between the washing media and car paint, unless you don't really care about marring and scratches.

Thanks for sharing. I learn something new.