Hi all,

 

I’m more in love with my new Karoq than any other car I have ever had and I want to keep it super shiny and perfect forever.

This however means detailing myself as I don’t trust any of the car washes in my local but, alas, I live in London and facilities are few and far between. I have no driveway and no access to water other than carrying it from my kitchen. I can get to a pressure washer at a my local Sainsbury’s Jet Wash but that’s £1 for 3min and I dont know how they will feel about using their bay for plain bucket wash and the occasional rinse. 

 

Any ideas?

 

 

Edited 15 November, 20187 yr by IceyLady

There are a lot of professional detailing companies that will come to your house and wash your car out of their own specially adapted vehicle (a van with a jet wash and water source normally).

 

Most charge an annual fee which includes a set number of washes. They use quality products too, their reputation depends on it so you usually get a very high standard of workmanship.

 

They will also apply protection to your paintwork too, which should reduce the need for regular washing.

 

Not cheap, compared to washing it yourself on the side of the road, or trusting the drive-through's, but if you want a good job then it'll cost you.

 

Where abouts in London are you?

 

A quick Google revealed lots of options...

 

https://www.carcarelm.co.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIipKs0cTW3gIV1P_jBx0KbwCREAAYAyAAEgKX5vD_BwE

 

£20 for a one-off 'outside wash', which for me is pricey, but for London I'm guessing might be OK!? 

 

Edited 15 November, 20187 yr by silver1011

50 minutes ago, silver1011 said:

There are a lot of professional detailing companies that will come to your house and wash your car out of their own specially adapted vehicle (a van with a jet wash and water source normally).

 

Most charge an annual fee which includes a set number of washes. They use quality products too, their reputation depends on it so you usually get a very high standard of workmanship.

 

They will also apply protection to your paintwork too, which should reduce the need for regular washing.

 

Not cheap, compared to washing it yourself on the side of the road, or trusting the drive-through's, but if you want a good job then it'll cost you.

 

Where abouts in London are you?

 

A quick Google revealed lots of options...

 

https://www.carcarelm.co.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIipKs0cTW3gIV1P_jBx0KbwCREAAYAyAAEgKX5vD_BwE

 

£20 for a one-off 'outside wash', which for me is pricey, but for London I'm guessing might be OK!? 

 

Thanks for this! I'd actually love to clean it myself, I find it very relaxing but the mobile detailing service is great to know about for one-offs. I love this car more than I loved my 2002 Corvette but I had facilities at home then so it was never something I had to think about. I used to take my Yeti to the drive through hand wash and was quite happy but not for this one I think. 

Detailing world http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/ have a lot of good advice, bit too good as I've spent around £150 on detailing products for a car that I haven't got yet! If you were to do a bucket perhaps finish with gyeon wet coat spray on hose off protection.

Has anyone got any experience with waterless wash & waxes? I'm old school, preferring the old two buckets, but I keep hearing a lot about this. 

11 minutes ago, IceyLady said:

Has anyone got any experience with waterless wash & waxes? I'm old school, preferring the old two buckets, but I keep hearing a lot about this. 

Ihttp://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=392000

11 minutes ago, Goldtw74 said:

Ihttp://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=392000

 

24 minutes ago, IceyLady said:

Has anyone got any experience with waterless wash & waxes? I'm old school, preferring the old two buckets, but I keep hearing a lot about this. 

The folk who have to eventually go for a full paint correction probably have     Avoid this system at all costs !!! 

25 minutes ago, Boxerdog1 said:

 

The folk who have to eventually go for a full paint correction probably have     Avoid this system at all costs !!! 

This is what my instinct says too, but I see so many people singing it praises. 

18 hours ago, IceyLady said:

Hi all,

 

I’m more in love with my new Karoq than any other car I have ever had and I want to keep it super shiny and perfect forever.

This however means detailing myself as I don’t trust any of the car washes in my local but, alas, I live in London and facilities are few and far between. I have no driveway and no access to water other than carrying it from my kitchen. I can get to a pressure washer at a my local Sainsbury’s Jet Wash but that’s £1 for 3min and I dont know how they will feel about using their bay for plain bucket wash and the occasional rinse. 

 

Any ideas?

 

 

 

I have the same water problem here in Germany as well. Normally the places that offer the pressure washes are not happy about you taking
your own stuff and hand washing in their bays, especially in the busy periods.

 

With that in mind I do the following for my maintainenance washes

a) spray down car with some citrus pre-wash - this helps loosen all the flies and roadmuck caked around the car
b) spray some tyre/wheel cleaner on all 4 corners

 

this normally takes minutes so is not a problem in the provided bays

 

c) pressure wash everything off
d) drive out of bay to somewhere close where you can then do some extra work
e) using something like a Gloria FM pump spray containing pre-prepared water and snowfoam/shampoo cover the whole car
f) with foam in place and using a second spray bottle prepared with water and shampoo start hand washing the car - here I use 3 wash mitts and spray the mitts with the water/shampoo mix and work over foam making sure that I do top half first and move down as that is where the majority of dirt is. When I feel one mitt is getting too dirty I move to the next
g) drive back into bay and pressure water off everything again
h) drive out and dry down - typically I will also spray on some drying aid/quick wax if I am doing a quick job 

 

this I will do every 2 weeks and hence it is never really that dirty to start with

 

Every 4 months or so I will do a more serious wash where I will 

 

h) drive out a decontaminate car (iron and tar removal plus claying)
i) pressure wash off again
j) towel dry
k) polish
l) seal/wax

 

I know some will say this is crazy but I find it relaxing

 

I would also second the comment above about detailingworld, it is a great resource but can get expensive :-)

 

1 hour ago, FrankfurtDave said:

 

I have the same water problem here in Germany as well. Normally the places that offer the pressure washes are not happy about you taking
your own stuff and hand washing in their bays, especially in the busy periods.

 

With that in mind I do the following for my maintainenance washes

a) spray down car with some citrus pre-wash - this helps loosen all the flies and roadmuck caked around the car
b) spray some tyre/wheel cleaner on all 4 corners

 

this normally takes minutes so is not a problem in the provided bays

 

c) pressure wash everything off
d) drive out of bay to somewhere close where you can then do some extra work
e) using something like a Gloria FM pump spray containing pre-prepared water and snowfoam/shampoo cover the whole car
f) with foam in place and using a second spray bottle prepared with water and shampoo start hand washing the car - here I use 3 wash mitts and spray the mitts with the water/shampoo mix and work over foam making sure that I do top half first and move down as that is where the majority of dirt is. When I feel one mitt is getting too dirty I move to the next
g) drive back into bay and pressure water off everything again
h) drive out and dry down - typically I will also spray on some drying aid/quick wax if I am doing a quick job 

 

this I will do every 2 weeks and hence it is never really that dirty to start with

 

Every 4 months or so I will do a more serious wash where I will 

 

h) drive out a decontaminate car (iron and tar removal plus claying)
i) pressure wash off again
j) towel dry
k) polish
l) seal/wax

 

I know some will say this is crazy but I find it relaxing

 

I would also second the comment above about detailingworld, it is a great resource but can get expensive :-)

 

That's Great advice!! I was actually thinking that if I get rubber sealed lids on my buckets I could make them up before going to the jet wash and, as you said, wash the rest outside the jet wash and then rinse off.

 

I have been looking into AMMO Frothe but unfortunately it's only available in the US and is very expensive to import. I've been looking for something similar so I'll have to look into the Gloria FM stuff. 

 

I really like your routine, making a note of that. 

1 minute ago, IceyLady said:

That's Great advice!! I was actually thinking that if I get rubber sealed lids on my buckets I could make them up before going to the jet wash and, as you said, wash the rest outside the jet wash and then rinse off.

 

I have been looking into AMMO Frothe but unfortunately it's only available in the US and is very expensive to import. I've been looking for something similar so I'll have to look into the Gloria FM stuff. 

 

I really like your routine, making a note of that. 

 

I also watched some of the AMMO videos on youtube as he explains things well, but the products are expensive and not available here.

 

The Gloria is only the bottlle, generally the CarChem 1900 wash shampoo is well regarded along with the Bilt Hamber autofoam. 

 

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=409731

 

is a very good thread for the best products currently.

33 minutes ago, FrankfurtDave said:

 

I also watched some of the AMMO videos on youtube as he explains things well, but the products are expensive and not available here.

 

The Gloria is only the bottlle, generally the CarChem 1900 wash shampoo is well regarded along with the Bilt Hamber autofoam. 

 

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=409731

 

is a very good thread for the best products currently.

 

That's a great thread.  I have been using Autoglym for years and have been very happy with the results but I might give some of these a go. 

I would also have a look at this video at good value products https://youtu.be/ktSKsDvahxQ

6 hours ago, IceyLady said:

 

That's a great thread.  I have been using Autoglym for years and have been very happy with the results but I might give some of these a go. 

I do like the colour of your car. I went for Moon White that I think suits the Karoq. Did you have your car "lifetime shine" treated by the dealer before delivery? 

4 hours ago, Doogle69 said:

I do like the colour of your car. I went for Moon White that I think suits the Karoq. Did you have your car "lifetime shine" treated by the dealer before delivery? 

Thanks I really wasnt sure about it at first and originally went for the Quarts Grey, I then completely fell in love with it and had it changes. I didn’t go for the life shine though but will be waxing it regularly. 

On ‎15‎/‎11‎/‎2018 at 17:23, IceyLady said:

Has anyone got any experience with waterless wash & waxes? I'm old school, preferring the old two buckets, but I keep hearing a lot about this. 

I was very sceptical of such products until "Car Kit Waterless Wash & Wax" was recommended to me. Available only from "The Range" I think, I've found it brilliant, not only to use (wipe on, wipe off), but the finish is excellent. I use it on the glassware too (most of these type don't allow), even the windscreen, & never have any smears, also on the wheels ! A near neighbour, who is fanatical about car detailing, has been converted to use it too, so it's not just me who finds it a real boon - a showroom shine is easily achievable. I use micro fibre cloths to buff up the finish, but old towelling to apply which I chuck away on completion.   

Take advantage of a wet car after rain or a dew. Use a large micro cloth and pull it across horizontal panels holding it at two end corners. Go over it again, then finish off with a dry micro cloth. The car needs to be clean already and this keeps it clean. No scratches this way. Vertical panels, just wipe down and dry. Wring out the cloths as necessary and wash clean afterwards. If you are doing this regularly, they will not be really dirty  Avoid any mud splashes lower down. Wash these of with a wet sponge. Keep the wheels and black trim clean.  Always makes a car look better. Agreed, this needs a water source. 

All work best if already treated with Autoglym.

These methods will go some way to help clean a car parked some way from home.  Re-wetting the sponge may be a problem though.

Petrol Blue 1.5 DSG .  Tan leather trim. 4700 + miles, early March registered. 

Hi IceyLady,

I’ll be getting my Karoq in about three weeks and the wait is killing me slowly.

I’m not sure what your options are in the UK but here in Australia, we can get paint protection which is a clear coating to protect the paint but it also helps with keeping the car shiny and clean. Apparently, just hosing the car down, is often enough. It is obviously an added extra, but like you, I want mine to always looking smart and clean. Perhaps this option is also available to you. With regards to using Sainsbury’s Jet Wash, I don’t see why they would mind you using their bay if you are still paying. 

I'm also a big fan of Autoglym's products after watching someone on a caravan site use the Aqua wax on a black Jaguar in hot brilliant sunshine. I thought he was mad but the results spoke for themselves. No swirling / smearing and a brilliant shine. He'd used it regularly and so needed very little effort to wash the car first.

I've bought both the Aqua wax and the shampoo conditioner in trade (5 litre) containers when visiting shows (Motorhome / Classic Cars etc.). It works out a lot cheaper.

7 hours ago, Simi said:

I’m not sure what your options are in the UK but here in Australia, we can get paint protection which is a clear coating to protect the paint but it also helps with keeping the car shiny and clean. Apparently, just hosing the car down, is often enough. 

 

No coating (including ceramic coatings) will clean the car purely by hosing down.

 

That said we have Gtechnic Crystal Serum ceramic coating on both of our cars, mine is now 3 years / 50K miles old and the wife car is just 4 months old, with a good snowfoam (KKD Blizzard) the car looks better but certainly not clean, with Bilt Hamber Autofoam snowfoam however the car is very nearly clean, I have yet to be tempted to now give it a final 2BM wash though as it’s not clean enough to wiping a microfibre over the panels!

 

We had the Crystal Serum applied by KDS in Gillingham, whilst this is not a cheap coating you will struggle to find anyone better for detailing work.