Hi guys, 

 

Having changes the Octavia recently and seeing how bad we have been at keeping the Fabia clean over the years I would like to keep on top of the keeping them clean now. 

I am not a detailer and don't have the time with a busy job and 2 small children.

I would like a quickish scheme to keep things clean and tidy (the wives Fabia needs claying and properly polished really). 

 

I currently rinse, wash with some Car Plan shampoo, rinse, clean alloys, dry with chamois, wipe down the sills and interior with MF cloths, rain repellent on all windows bar the front one. 

 

I was thinking instead:

 

• Snow foam with one of these http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/washing-and-drying/super-spray-hose-end-sprayer/prod_335.html and which foam?
• Wash (recommended shampoo?)
• Clean alloys
• A quick detailer whilst drying (This was recommended: http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/detailing-sprays/chemical-guys-speed-wipe/prod_180.html)
• Seal alloys 
• Rain repellent

If I can get it to an hour to 1.5hrs per car I would be happy every couple of weeks. 

 

Thoughts and suggestions greatfully received.

my experience is that if you want to use snow foam you'll need a jet wash and a specific snow foam applicator as the usual shampoo bottles etc don't add air to the mix so it comes out too thin.

 

My routine is:

Apply debug spray.

Go and get hose out, attach jet wash then spray to remove.

Apply snowfoam (2 inches in applicator topped up with hot water) to all of car inc wheels

Go indoors and fill 2 buckets up, 1 with AG shampoo/water the other with clean water. When I come back out the snow foam has then done it's bit and has mostly dripped off the car

Jetwash off any remaining showfoam.

With a MF mit apply the AG shampoo using the 2 bucket method. for the sills and lower rear I use a seperate MF mit to keep the one I use on the rest of the car clean to prevent any chance of swirls as thats where most grit will be.

Rinse off with jetwash. Apply bilberry wheel cleaner to wheels (if they are really dirty do it before you shampoo the car, shampoo car then rinse at the same time as the rest of teh car and apply 2nd time here)

Agitate bilbery juice with decent wheel brush (I also use 2nd MF mit I use for sills with some bilberry on to reach the back of the spokes you can't access with a brush).

Rinse off with jet wash

With an open hose rinse car down from top- this simple addition drags off loads of water that's beaded you'd then have to spend time towelling off.

Throw you chamis in the bin

Use large MF towels instead by laying the flat then pull across car to remove water. I use 1 to do the car initially then have a second dry one to finish it off. this saves time

 

If you use bilberry wheel seal or gtechnik it'll last about 6 months and will save you having to reseal them each time, just needs 2 MF cloths, 1 to remove water the other for final polish. you can apply QD if you wish

I use a 3rd large MF towel to dry the door shuts and under the bonnet/inside the hatch.

Using multiple towels I just hang them up after- saves trying to wring em out all the time which both saves time and they absorb more too.

Use a QD after and MF cloths on the inside as you suggest.

I use Valet Pro snowfoam, but it needs agitating when it gets cold as it seperates out

I use turtlewax wet and black tyre stuff applied with a sponge too which is good stuff.

 

These are the towels I use

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-X-KENT-EXTRA-LARGE-MICROFIBRE-TOWEL-CLOTH-VALETING-CLEANING-FIBRE-DRYING-XXL-/350656744504?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Car_Care_Cleaning&hash=item51a4c54c38#ht_1809wt_1273

 

Give your car a good seeing to every 6 months clean with snowfoam, a detox shampoo, remove Tar, use ironx, reshampoo, clay if necessary  then a good quality wax

 

HTH

Spot on advice as usual

As said

Get a pressure washer, proper snow foam lance and a 5l container of Snow Foam

The one you describe is cr*ap....as its only an applicator..Snow foam will not work with it

&

Ditch the Chamois...they scratch paintwork

I follow a very similar process to that littleade describes.

I find Ultimate Snow Foam and Meguiars Endurance Gel (for tyres & lower plastic trims like mudflaps) very good and reasonable price wise too.

As ChrisRs and littleaid said.

I do I pretty much the same routine, and can get it done in around an hour.

Also sign up to detailingworld.co.uk, very good detailing forum, also the do group buys on stuff like snowfoam.

Many thanks for your time all. 
 
So the mains based snow foam thingies aren't worth getting? Is snow foam worth it for regular cleaning? It seems like a lot to get an attachment (£50) for my power washer which only cost £60 (something JCB from Homebase years ago)!

 

What shampoo would people suggest? 

 

Why do you use the two buckets? One to rinse the mit off? I will get my buckets from Wickes (£3.99 for 5 gallon) instead of a 'detailers' version. 

 

Any recommended quick detailers and are they worth it?

 

Thanks

If you read this first, you may be able to answer these questions:

http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog/car-care-advice.html

Get the Autobrite snow foam lance and 5l of Magifoam

there's a group buy on Detailing World and I think it's just under £60 all in, mite be under £50 even, can't remember

Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk

Yes the super spray thing is rubbish (I've got one) so bite the bullet and get the lance

 

Meguiars Gold Class is a good shampoo that you can get in halfords. I use dodo juice born to be mild but the choice of shampoos is massive

 

Get microfibre mitts and cloths from asda

 

This stuff is supposed to be awesome.

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/detailing-sprays/sonax-xtreme-brilliant-shine-detailer-750ml/prod_1178.html

 

read about it here

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=295795&highlight=sonax

Yes the super spray thing is rubbish (I've got one) so bite the bullet and get the lance

 

Meguiars Gold Class is a good shampoo that you can get in halfords. I use dodo juice born to be mild but the choice of shampoos is massive

 

Get microfibre mitts and cloths from asda

 

This stuff is supposed to be awesome.

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/detailing-sprays/sonax-xtreme-brilliant-shine-detailer-750ml/prod_1178.html

 

read about it here

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=295795&highlight=sonax

I have the Sonax QD, it has actually made me a little boring as I bang on about it to anyone that will listen. Goes on like a QD protects like a wax/sealant, beads for weeks and is an absolute mother to strip, which gives you an idea on it's longevity. Tough stuff, great product.

I have the AB Snow foam lance and purple magifoam, it is excellent.........but.

The way my house is set up, getting the p/w out, for me this involves extension cord and a long hose reel, is a complete pain in the crevice.

A good solution Inbetween SF is a good handheld pump pressure sprayer and a TFR/Prewash like Valet Pro. With that and a hose pipe you have a quick prep before TBM hand wash.

+1 to throwing out the Chamois Leather, get some good MF Drying towels

Once again; thanks to all. 

 

I have ordered some Sonax and the MF clothes as suggested. 

 

The snow foam lance will need to be another month as tax due this month. 

I know what QD and MF is but what are the other acronyms?!?

Yeah, they're a pain aren't they. But you will get to understand them all in time.

tfr is traffic film remover, but don't use tfr unless your prepping your car for a full detailing as its alkaline and will strip any wax off your car. if you want to clean without stripping the wax off use a ph neutral cleaner like snow foam. yes you do need to use it each time because it softens up and removes much of the crud without you actually touching the paintwork so helps avoid swirl marks. tbm. two bucket method. yes you use the clean water to rinse your mit to stop you rubbing the crud you've just removed from 1 part of the car onto the next. I dunk my mit in then wring it out outside the bucket so the clean bucket of water stays clean, again to prevent you rubbing crud back onto the car. also get 2grit guards about 6 quid each on ebay. these prevent you scooping up any grit in the bottom of the bucket onto your car. for shampoo. use a ph neutral one. something like autoglym shampoo is fine

Thanks guys.

 

Ordered the Sonax, the MF towels, 2 x 5gallon buckets (£3.99 ea from Wickes) and brought a few other bits from Halfords last night. 

I will give both cars a good clean on Monday (we are having our second child on Tuesday (c-section already booked!) so will be busy after that!)

 

Many thanks for your time

Not all TFRs strip wax, and some snow foams will.

It's just about reading up and a little trial and error. For something cheap but good try the Demon Shine rapid dirt shifter available at Asda, it does the job and I have found it even leaves less resilient natural carnauba waxes intact.

I use this too and it doesn't degrade my LSP either

I keep some in my car and find it especially good for a really lazy hose down in between "real" cleans when the weather is poor (like now in fact)

 

Take car to local garage with a "buy time" pressure washer, spray Rapid Dirt Shifter all over, leave it as long as possible without being antisocial and causing a queue, then rinse off.

 

Not only is it more effective than the garage car wash shampoo's, I know that it won't strip my LSP (Last Stage Protection)

Just thought i'd give an update on this. I purchased Sonax QD, Turtle Wax ICE Shampoo, AG wheel sealer and Turtle Wax Rain-X equivalent. 

 

It makes life much easier and the car is quicker to keep clean, loose surface dirt can be pulled off by the water when driving or rinsed with the hose. I've found the TW Rain-X works a charm and the Sonax is a bead magnet

 

I have only done a single Sonax coat since August time (before the second baby came along!) and its still going strong. Only a few places (top of the windscreen where the rain runs off at speed) it has started to wear away. I shall be topping it up this weekend (as long as the weather holds). I have done both the Superb and the Fabia. 

 

Here is a few pics of the wonderful beading properties.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for everyones help and suggestion

Great stuff Nathanio

Welcome to the very rewarding world of Car Detailing!

Top man for coming back with the update. Some nice shots too.

Really glad you've found the Sonax QD as good as I did.

Great stuff Nathanio

Welcome to the very rewarding world of Car Detailing!

 

Not too much; work and family take too much time up to real geeky

 

Top man for coming back with the update. Some nice shots too.

Really glad you've found the Sonax QD as good as I did.

 

I felt I should as others don't and sometimes its nice to get an update. Plus I wanted to say thanks to those that took their time to answer my multitude of questions