Evening all.

Firstly, I'm not a car cleaning 'geek' - I do the two bucket thing and some spray on wax stuff and thats about it. Keep it looking as clean as possible but I simply don't have the time to spend hours on it every weekend!

But, I think I could be spending the time on the car better with better products/methods and with the Octy being black, starts to look dirty quickly.

So, without stuff like snow foam (yeh, everyone else on the street would love me for doing that!), could someone reccommend the best way to clean the car and keep it looking good? I take it theres a method(s) for giving it a real good clean/polish/wax whatever and then gradually building on it weekly/fortnightly? Don't want to go mad buying a pressure washer/snow lance/machine polisher etc so what can do with my two buckets

Best kit/method to wash the car down and then polish/wax it?

Cheers

Dave

Regular washing with wash-mitt, drying too with a decent towel

Clay-bar every now and then. The first time its done will lift off a LOT of crap from the surface if its never been done before.

That alone will do a lot. As for polishing, unless using a machine to do it, you'll struggle to get the really noticeable results, so the above two things are probably as far as you need go. Its cleaning regularly which is important.

Spend a day or two with super resin polish and a durable wax. Then was once a week with optimum no rinse which take 30-45 mins to fully wash your car. Top the protection up with a detailing spray.

Re polish and wax in about 2-3 months time. I'd say this is the best route if your not mad on all the cleaning, you'll soon get bored of lugging the pressure washer out every weekend.

I've got a black fabia and follow this routine (although on corrected paintwork) and always get comments like 'do you polish it every weekend'. Normally only been touched by a wash bucket for the past 1-2 months though!

Cheers. Once I've had a few bits sorted on the body ill be going shopping for some cleaning stuff!

Blackfire wet diamond...

a few cars from my old career i did with it..

Time of the year really, lots of crap on the road, you are fighting a losing battle

Pay someone else to wash it.

Once you've got the car how you like it and polished either use Permanon Super Shine Brilliant or similar sealant and it's only a matter of maintenance with a quick shampoo and rinse from time to time and a periodic full wash.