Been lurking a bit in this side of the forum and very interested in learning in the detailing side of things as I like a clean tidy car as in some respects it's my "calling card".

Currently I wash in the following way:

AG Wheel cleaner on wheels, agitate with brush and pressure wash off.

TFR and agitate using a rough sponge for fly splat or stubborn dirt.

Pressure wash off.

Foam with dwell time

Foam and then agitate using soft brush rinsed regularly in clean water

Pressure wash.

Wet wax applied through dilution facility on pressure washer.

Pressure wash.

Squegee with AG silicone blade.

Polishing:

Car has been treated by dealer with AG lifeshine so:

SRP.

EGP x 2 coats with 1 hour drying time each.

High Definition Wax.

AG Bumper care on black trim.

I would like to keep with AG products as I have a shed full after having been given several valet kits for xmas and birthdays!

Can I do what I do any better?

Thanks

Tom

If I was you I'd have a good read of some of the guides on detailingworld .

As far as your wash process goes most of the cleaning anoraks on here (me included) use the 2 bucket method, and for drying I'd bin the blade and get some good quality drying towels and use a quick detailer to help with water dispersal.

If your in the market for products there are plenty of dealers, personally I've had good service from Clean Your Car, Elite Car Care, and Chemical Guys .

Points I'd flag up there would be:

"Foam and then agitate using soft brush rinsed regularly in clean water" - what are you agitating with a brush? Bodywork, wheels??

"Squegee with AG silicone blade." - I'd only ever use this on the glass, as if there's a rogue piece of dirt/grit on your paint this will drag it along! Use a decent MF drying towel.

You maybe don't need quite so many washing steps either. I count seven above. Personally I foam first and let it dwell, pressure wash off and the 2BM the car and hose rinse the car down with normal water pressure afterwards. I find the foam and then the mesh side of a washmitt usually defeats any bug splatter and negates the need for TFR which will eat into any previous wax protection anyway.

Can't think of much else at the moment; if you've got a lot of AG products you want to get through then fair enough, it makes sense to use them

Cheers,

Steve

EDIT: I've always found the guidance articles on Polished Bliss to be very helpful too. Plus they offer some great products and service, if you're ever tempted away from AG in the future

Edited 20 May, 201016 yr by Wardy

The "agitated with a soft brush" got me worried :S Get your self a decent wash mitt, you'll see the differance

Throw the bodywork brush and blade in the bin! The SRP would have long since removed the "lifeshine" which is basicly EGP. I'd also drop the TFR as that will strip the wax. Also, not sure why your applying "wet wax" when you have already waxed the car. :wonder: Get rid of that also!

Your "polishing" routine is spot on. Don't use the wheel cleaner each time, use an ezi brush and wheel schmit and get some good shampoo like Megs SP or Duragloss 901. Get a good drying towl and some Megs QD to use as a drying aid, also get a clay bar to use before SRP. I'd also get something to seal the wheels.

If you want to top up the LSP during washing try AG's spray wax cant recall the name! Get a woolmit and bucket with grit card and some Orange Pre Wash for foaming!!!!!!!!!!

I'd add some protection on the wheels. I really like Poorboys Wheel Sealant but you could go with the SRP/EGP combo. You'll then be able to pressure wash most of the dirt of and the rest will come of with shampoo/water.