Hi all.

My Octy I guess like everyone else's has a textured finish to the sills exterior which is then painted over.

While I do have a regular if not totally thorough cleaning regime, I find the textured finish seems to trap dirt which then becomes reluctant to move.

So, can anyone recommend a sort of pre wash prep that I can apply to loosen the grime so I can relatively easily clean the crud off?

I don't have a power washer so any snow foam type products I can't use, it's gonna have to be spray or squeezy bottle based I assume?

Thank you in advance.

You mention you do not have a pressure washer and therefor cannot use a snow foam product....there is a snowfoam product which needs just a standard hosepipe connected to the bottle and it dispenses snow foam

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-cleaning/shampoo-polish-wax/demon-shine-demon-foam-with-snow-foam-gun-2-litre

Not much to do with your sills I'm afraid but thought a mention on the snow foam was worthy.

Edited 8 January, 201610 yr by Defenderben

Hey, appreciate the heads up on that, thank you.

I suggest you use an old MF cloth, which you spray with Valet Pro Pre Wash or Power Maxed TFR ( Always dilute to recommended rate BTW)...or a similar product ...APC for example

Wipe along the sills after you've washed the car....works very well, no dirt on the sills should remain

I always just get an old micro fibre cloth at the end of the wash and run it along the sills which seems to get all the muck off.

 

Unless it's oily or tar then it should just come straight off especially if left till the end when it'd had a good soak.

Hi all.

My Octy I guess like everyone else's has a textured finish to the sills exterior which is then painted over.

While I do have a regular if not totally thorough cleaning regime, I find the textured finish seems to trap dirt which then becomes reluctant to move.

So, can anyone recommend a sort of pre wash prep that I can apply to loosen the grime so I can relatively easily clean the crud off?

I don't have a power washer so any snow foam type products I can't use, it's gonna have to be spray or squeezy bottle based I assume?

Thank you in advance.

 

 

Interesting one. If you dont have a power washer - i would recommend a Kwazar foamer type product.

YouTube video for this type item:-

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TuLlLWDxpI

 

You can use this for standard snowfoam, TFR, citrus pre-wash etc. Very useful and reliable.

This is normally the first stage to soften the top layers then rinse, then wash or APC 2nd hit.

 

When the worst is off - may be worth checking for Tar and finally if you are going for an

ultra clean finish....clay or clay mitt with remove another layer.

 

Certainly a routine i used many times on my Octavia Mk2....

 

Whichever route you go - once thoroughly cleaned then look at a good product to seal the section afterwards.

Ok guys, thank you, will take a look at some prewash now.

Might sound a little OTT but during my wash process after or during the Citrus prewash I use, I tend to spray the door sills, shuts and hinges with APC or citrus prewash and agititate with a soft brush.

My door sills & shuts are also sealed & waxed so makes it a lot easier to clean.

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OTT??
Don't we all do that?

I seal all my shuts and sills with Sonax BSD

Might sound a little OTT but during my wash process after or during the Citrus pre-wash I use,

I tend to spray the door sills, shuts and hinges with APC or citrus prewash and agitate with a soft brush.

My door sills & shuts are also sealed & waxed so makes it a lot easier to clean.

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You do have a very thorough routine Karl - one of the best i have witnessed.

 

Good to share this with like-minded chaps on the forum... 

You do have a very thorough routine Karl - one of the best i have witnessed.

Good to share this with like-minded chaps on the forum... [emoji106]

Haha cheers mate! I do try the best I can!

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I tend to just use a damp microfibres cloth which usually works for me. If you do that regularly, like every time you wash your car the dirt shouldn't have the chance to build up, although my car has smooth sills so yours with the stone chip style paint may require a a soft bristle brush, maybe like a decent wheel brush used in conjunction with some apc.

Edited 8 January, 201610 yr by theezenutz

Noted fella, my current soft bristle brush is looking decidedly bald so time for a new one methinks

Right, attacked the sills with Crudzilla and a new brush (repeated on tricky bits), rinsed, dried then given a once over with tar remover before another rinse and dry.

Two coats of wax and some sealer and she is looking grand, well, at least up to about 14" off the ground!

Would have posted a pic but it started to pee down just as I finished.

So once again, thank you guys, you really are top chaps.

Until the next daft question...

Right, attacked the sills with Crudzilla and a new brush (repeated on tricky bits), rinsed, dried then given a once over with tar remover before another rinse and dry.

Two coats of wax and some sealer and she is looking grand, well, at least up to about 14" off the ground!

Would have posted a pic but it started to pee down just as I finished.

So once again, thank you guys, you really are top chaps.

Until the next daft question...

Glad all the posts helped mate! No question is ever stupid, we all have to learn & keep learning.

Keep firing the questions if you have any queries at all.

Karl.

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