What do you clean your car with?

[Beaker]

Now the warmer weather is coming, I guess lots of us will be outside washing and making our pride 'n' joy sparkle.

It would be good to see what products people use the most, and what products are reccommended.

For me its just a shampoo and wax (I have just bought some turtlewax shampoo, as all turtlewax products are on a bogof in 'Halfrauds'). Although I keep being reccomended to try this detailing clay, so I may splash out on that in the summer and give it a go.


Skatie

[J199 HHG]

I haven't washed any of my Montegos in 6 years.

The rain does it for me.

[MaestroMatt]

I use a wash and wax from Tesco (!) which is actually very good at getting the dirt off, then I polish to a gleam using Mer on bodywork, chrome trim, bumpers and all glasswork except front and rear windscreens (as they go manky when you use the wipers otherwise). Mer probably isn't as good as Autoglym but it is pretty damned good. I think it was the wash I gave A82 on Saturday morning that got her through the MoT without a hitch!

[SimonR]

I do the same as MaestroMatt, except that I don't use Mer on the windows, instead I use Meths and kitchen towel.

We've found that if you use a cheapie wash and wax like the Tesco one (the make Carplan seems to spring to mind) and then dry it with a chammy then it gleams

SR.

[E_T_V]

Well after cleaning the glass with glass cleaner, applying Rain X certainly makes a difference if you apply it right.

Pressure washers rule :D

[Maria]

Pretty much Autoglym everything. The car glass polish is great - no smears or streaks because it's not liquid.

[Beaker]

Rain X is great.

I remember the first time we put it on our Rover 214, was driving in torrential rain without having to use the windscreen wipers at all, as all the water beads up and floats off the screen.

[John S]

My car goes through a 'rejuvenation' period every so many miles where I treat it to a thorough clean inside out and jetwash the underneath. I also polish the sills to reduce exposure to moisture and give the arches a light treatment with black hammerite.
On an average fortnightly clean I use Autoglym rust inhibiting shampoo and then polished with Turtle Wax Metallic (tin version). If your car is garaged, it's a good idea to get a towel and dry the insides of the doors and also the sills. Again, my point is to prevent collection of moisture - a problem often related with garages that allow little airflow to dry the car.

[Jack]

If you've got any black plastic bits (as I have with my bumper corners on the steel clubman bumpers) then Auto Glym Bumper Restorer is by far the best of it's type. Back to black type stuff does not last long and some of it leaves streaks. To make the auto glym stuff last, apply it with an old nail brush to work it into the grain of the plastic and wipe off with a lint free rag (an old T-shirt).

On the wax front I think I use Carplan stuff but have no particular brand allegiance. I would say though that electic polishing mops make life a lot easier. I got mine for £16.99 I think last summer and should have bought one years ago. You must have some white spirit on hand though to wipe the excess off that inevitably gets onto rubber trim etc.

Personally, I think a good waxoyling inside box sections is more important than all this though.

[G51 NAV]

Originally posted by J199 HHG
I haven't washed any of my Montegos in 6 years.

The rain does it for me.
My brother has that attitude, and when his wheel-arches rot through from the rear caused by the accumulation of built-up rubbish, it will no doubt be Austin Rover's fault, not his :banghead:

I swear by AutoGlym products, though if you go by the guidance on their website about how to wash your car you will find you need about 15 different products all costing at least £6 each, so it's wise to buy just a few select products.

For example, their engine & machine cleaner works out cheaper than their wheel-cleaner in the long run, and is just as good at cleaning wheels.

[H48HPE]

Rain X is great.

Ive never tried rainex on the outside but i did have some rainex anti mist for the inside and it was rubish, normal mist used to clear with the blower after a few mins but with that stuff on the water made loads of little runs and beads, it was horible, the blower couldnt shift it cos it was concentrated into small areas and i ended up wiping it away which I dont like doing cos the screen gets messed up. Not recomended.

I use car plan wash and wax on the bodywork and try and polish it with autoglym every other week. most important in winter with all the crap getting spreayed all over it. Inside I use simoniz dashboard shine. and mostly during the summer I use tyre cleaning foam from car plan to make the tyres look new (a waste of time in winter)

For getting rid of dirt and grease in the engine bay I use Gunk. very effective

And for general body protection Waxoyle ids the weapon of choice.

Andy

[Jonathan]

Usually just use a cheap Halfords shampoo unless I'm preparing a car for something special like a show, followed by turtle wax which with a bit of work buffs up to a nice shine although it does leave a powder all over the place that has to be wiped away. I spent quite a bit of time on this on Sunday, and now everything's already a pale shade of M25 Grey again :(

[talkingcars]

I use my son and his mate.............





then when they have claimed their £5 (between them) and disapeared to spend it I use a cheap shampoo in warm water and sponge, wash it, rainse with clean cold water and chammy it. I sometimes polish with a product I aquired about 6 years ago when I was a car valetor and polish the whole car with it.

[Simon]

Wash car weekly with nothing more than clean water and a sponge, hosing off afterwards. Polish every 2 months with Mer (winter because you can polish whilst car is still wet)or Autoglym (summer because of anti streak properties). I used to like the old fashioned green turtle wax goo in the tall botttle, for a hard shell shine.

[SubCat001]

AutoGlym. I find all of there products are of a high standard and dont deteriate with storage. Tried gimmicks cleaners and there not upto the Job imo

[D87 SMW]

I'm sure I've heard all this before...

Just when I thought my thread, http://www.maestro.org.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=844 was hidden away as a pointless subject, here is another on exactly the same topic!

Amazing!

:D

[Austin-Rover]

I cant be seen to be driving a dirty car for long, so its a regular thing to get out the pressure washer and get the muck from inside the wheel arches and other area's. I have been using the Halfords Car Shampoo for quite a long time and it does a good job. I have to say i side with Autoglym again - it seems to be the best stuff about for getting a nice shine.

I have also tried the Meguiars Clay kit, after first feeling rather daft rubbing a block of clay over the car, it did prove to do what it said and removed road film and tar splatters from the paintwork with ease, making it a glass like smooth finish once again. I would reccomend it, even if the process can take you almost a whole day.

:)

[Mat_C]

Wash mine with halfords advance car wash and wax. When I do it properly I wax with turtle wax colour polish, and take off with one of those cheap 10 quid buffers. I used to use the green old fashioned stuff which I think does give a better shine, but can show up the odd little stonechip.

[Beaker]

Are the electric car polishers you can buy any good? Just wondering what sort of finish they give, as anything that can save time is worth paying money for if it gives a nice finish.

[Austin-Rover]

Now you come to mention it... i got one today, but the jury is out on the results as it rained half way through :(

I'll be having another go at the weekend no doubt.

[Mat_C]

I find them great for taking wax off - sooo much easier and i think it gives better results than elbow grease. Still need a bit of elbow grease for the areas the buffer can't get at.

It's useless for rubbing down etc.

[Ricky]

Washing the car? Precipitation is wonderful! Does seem to have a habit of all ending up in the drivers side footwell however..... :laugh:
Usually nick the work's jet wash (one of the perks of working in a petrol station!) :cool:

Ricky.

[Wonko_The_Sane]

A Hosepipe, car wash 'n' wax, sponge, yard brush, and for the greasy bits under the bonnet, Mr. Muscle Orange cleaner, or Mr. Muscle Spray on oven cleaner.

Does a LOVELY job under the bonnet.