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Ok, im getting old and I need your help regards cleaning my car.

I notice that car cleaning has become big business and everyone is trying to sell thier miracle product. I dont have time to sit and machine polish my car, but want it clean and well protected.

I use a two bucket method, with a wool mit and buy Simoniz car wash and carnuba wax from Costco.

I rinse the car off using a standard hose and then dry with mircofibre. If i have time i apply a thin layer of Meguairs Gold class wax.

What am i doing wrong? How could improve this and waste less time and get better results without forking out mega bucks of swisswax? I notice that people are clay baring, DA polishing, de iorning.......

Any help appreciated.

Like most things in life, you need to have decent foundations. In the case of cars, that making sure the base paint layer is prepared and protected.

After that, it takes little effort to keep it looking good - and your routine is fine - but applying polish on a poor base surface won't solve the problem.

Clay bars, paint correction and the rest are what gives you that decent base - then it's a case of who's marketing spiel you like most when buying shampoo, wax, polish and any other sweet smelling concoction to throw on your pride and joy

As Charles’s states the prep is the important bit. Personally I was amazed the difference to the surface of the paint felt like after using a clay bar. You clean the car first then use a clay bar with a little quick detailer to help lubricate and the difference is night and day to before and after!
I got myself a cheap DA polisher and watched lots of YouTube videos on what to do. It’s actually a lot easier than you think, start slowly too build your confidence. Now it’s easier for me to run a finishing polish over the car a couple of times a year to keep the swirls away. The shine comes from the polishing beforehand not there was you put on top.
Once the car is clean and protected it’s actually really easy to keep clean, just give it a quick wipe over with a quick detailer and it’s like new again.
I can’t be doing too bad as I have won best Alpina for the last 2 years at the BMW national festival!
Give it a go, watch lots of videos and you will be surprised how easy and good the results are. The professional detailers make out like its some voodoo dark art but it’s not really.
Maybe just buy a clay bar and quick detailer first to see and feel the difference in the paint easily.

As has been said, spend a day or weekend getting the base right, then once done (or had done) your cleaning regime will be much reduced and the car would look great for some time to come. You don't have to spend big money (depends on what you call big thigh) but some meguires will help.

What am i doing wrong? How could improve this and waste less time

Basically the base you are working with isn't as good as you tough it was, put the effort in to start with and the benefits will be seen later on down the line.

Maybe not for the purist but try the Farecia G3 clay mitt instead of a bar, available from Halfords amongst others as it really makes claying easy

BarryM wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 10, 2019 11:59 pm

Maybe not for the purist but try the Farecia G3 clay mitt instead of a bar, available from Halfords amongst others as it really makes claying easy

100% agree. So much easier than a clay bar. Some car shampoo in a bucket and away you go.

Great tips & advice all - much appreciated!

Hi morning,

If you would like to improve the finish and give yourself a good base to work with I would recommend getting it detailed professionally. I've attached a pic from half way through the detail. I honestly thought my car was clean and had washed carefully, applied wax and often stood back thinking yes its clean. After getting in properly detailed the difference is amazing. As you can see in the pic I've attached the front door has been machine polished the back door not. The finish I have now is amazing, feels like glass, really easy to clean and keep clean. Rinsing off the car is almost funny as the water just sheets off and hardly leaves anything behind. Its a bit of an investment but really makes a difference.

Wellsey,

Have you got Sackboy locked in the back of your car??

gIzzE wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 29, 2020 9:59 pm

Wellsey,

Have you got Sackboy locked in the back of your car??

HA HA HA, sorry just seen this and took a few mins to realise what you meant.

Wellsy wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 20, 2019 10:05 am

Hi morning,

If you would like to improve the finish and give yourself a good base to work with I would recommend getting it detailed professionally. I've attached a pic from half way through the detail. I honestly thought my car was clean and had washed carefully, applied wax and often stood back thinking yes its clean. After getting in properly detailed the difference is amazing. As you can see in the pic I've attached the front door has been machine polished the back door not. The finish I have now is amazing, feels like glass, really easy to clean and keep clean. Rinsing off the car is almost funny as the water just sheets off and hardly leaves anything behind. Its a bit of an investment but really makes a difference.

As Wellsy mentioned getting a professional detail at some point will help a lot. When I got mine it had lots of swirls and other paint issues. Had it all machine polished and then a ceramic coat for paint and wheels. Cleaning is now easy and have to work a lot less. Wheels only need snow foam and a wipe and clean all over, including dish. It wasn't cheap but pleased I did it.

From your technique, easiest thing to change is the way you apply the wax, don't apply it in a circular manner, apply in a liner manner, like the way the wind flows over the car.