I’ve had a look at the pinned guides but wondering if as a complete beginner (fairy liquid and a bucket level beginner) anyone can tell me what I need in terms of kit and products for some low maintenance detailing.

 

Picking up a brand new superb this week and it being the first new car I’ve ever owned (as opposed to company cars or leases) I want to keep it in as good nick as possible!

Hi Fantantonio - what colour car are you getting and what does your budget start at? The below is based on about £30 of kit.

 

DetailingWorld is a great forum and starting place. 

 

Basic exterior kit starts out with proper car shampoo (fairy liquid is good at removing all your hard work polishing and waxing your car!), two buckets, a microfibre wash mitt, a wheel brush, and some microfibre cloths.

 

Two buckets are better than one (one to rinse your mitt, one for clean shampoo/water only). Three buckets are better than two (one for wheels!).

You can add a grit guard to buckets to make sure the nasty stuff stays at the bottom (again... basics first, these can come second!).

 

AmazonBasics are good enough for a beginner but if you get into things you’ll be wanting different microfibre colours, GSM and fibre mix for different parts of the car. For now, just make sure you don’t mix dirty and clean cloths, and especially wheels/engine rags with paintwork.

If you are happy to invest in colours (a good start), my system is black for engine/wheels, white for windows, green for paintwork and blue for trim...

 

Start with a rinse, wash wheels first with your brush and rinse. If you’re using two buckets, discard all water and refill before doing paintwork. Shampoo all parts, then rinse again and dry with a microfibre to avoid standing water and wet spots.

 

Once finished, you can then get into glazes, sealants and waxes!

 

There are so many YouTube videos (ex. ChemicalGuys, AMMO NYC) to get you spending a load of £ and time with your paintwork and trim.

 

I’ve recently been bitten, the Fabia has never looked better and the black Superb on order will be spoilt - as no doubt yours will be, too!

Cheers for the info that's really helpful. Do you recommend a specific wax or something for longer term protection, especially as it's new? Mine will be meteor grey so a solid colour rather than metallic, not sure if that has any bearing?

Great colour choice! (...providing you look past the jokes of painting it before needing to protect it...)

 

It depends on budget - if you want the longer term protection, Ceramic detailing can take you into the hundreds, if not up to a thousand for a professional kit and someone trained to apply it. I will stress this is infinitely better than any dealership Autogloss treatment.

 

DIY ceramic kits can be picked up for around £50-£100, but you are at the mercy of your own ability, and the British weather to help it set.

 

Theres a recent, great picture in the Superb MK3 picture thread with Ceramic applied - it looks like a mirror.

 

On the cheaper end, a good wash followed by a polish (a totally different thread, a new car can hopefully miss this step), glaze, sealant and then a wax will see you well, providing you follow good cleaning technique. If you’re new, you might not want to invest in a machine polisher yet - so microfibre towels and applicator pads will do you well until that point.  

Edited 19 February, 20197 yr by Niyx

Id recommend soft99 fusso wax, great value for money and crazy durability

Ok thanks! So it's glaze, sealant AND wax or just one of them? I've ordered some of the fusso wax so will see how I get on with that.

The wash flowchart is quite complex given the thread started on washing up liquid...!

 

The idea is that following polish, the longest lasting protection is applied first, finishing on wax.

 

I find Poorboys being a great brand and reviews very well, but you will pay well for the pleasure. It does last a while, however.

 

Whatever you pick, product goes a long way, and thin application is much better than layering it on - the only bit that matters to the paint is the bit that touches it.

 

As you’ve picked up some wax already, a spray sealant or “post wash” would be a great addition with your shampoo and fusso.

 

You don’t have to take all steps at once and buy everything. Your detailing kit can grow organically with your skills and interest - my wish list on CYC is still a few hundred £££.

 

Do make sure you grab some microfibres and applicators for your wax!

Edited 19 February, 20197 yr by Niyx

15 minutes ago, Fantantonio said:

Ok thanks! So it's glaze, sealant AND wax or just one of them? I've ordered some of the fusso wax so will see how I get on with that.

watch a few videos before application, a lot of people tend to blob a load of it onto a car and then complain about them not being able to buff it off, a thin layer is key to avoid over application, better to do 2 thin layers than 1 thick layer. Also think about a glass coating or a simple rain repellent, will make visibility in the rain a breeze

15 minutes ago, Niyx said:

The wash flowchart is quite complex given the thread started on washing up liquid...!

 

The idea is that following polish, the longest lasting protection is applied first, finishing on wax.

 

I find Poorboys being a great brand and reviews very well, but you will pay well for the pleasure. It does last a while, however.

 

Whatever you pick, product goes a long way, and thin application is much better than layering it on - the only bit that matters to the paint is the bit that touches it.

 

As you’ve picked up some wax already, a spray sealant or “post wash” would be a great addition with your shampoo and fusso.

 

You don’t have to take all steps at once and buy everything. Your detailing kit can grow organically with your skills and interest - my wish list on CYC is still a few hundred £££.

 

Do make sure you grab some microfibres and applicators for your wax!

 

 

This is more complex than I imagined! So wash then polish then wax then post wash sealant?

“Post wash” normally come under drying aids, and are spray on compounds that make the water bead up on contact and make drying easier.

 

Wax is always last - it lasts the shortest amount of time, and typically, anything on top of wax doesn’t stick to the paint.

 

We haven’t even touched on interior (a good vac goes a long way), or glass.

As Vrsboi has said above, a good glass coating will make your life much easier (especially if you’re getting a hatch with no rear wiper!).

 

Some of my favourites are below - but by all means these are the best of what I’ve tried yet (Poorboys make a great darker colour wax which I’ve used for years).

Experimentation is key to finding products that suit you, and many of the detailing shopping sites have reviews to help you make a decision.

 

Shampoo

Valet Pro Advanced Car Wash

 

Post Wash/Drying Aid

CarPro hydro2 lite

 

Wax

Poorboys Natty’s Paste Wax

 

Just a note - all the gear in the world won’t save poor technique (and I say that as I’ve had to correct my own mistakes on the Fabia) - have good discipline with your buckets, cloths and mitt to avoid cross contamination, and YouTube application videos to help get you properly started.

 

Detailing is a huge world - and there’s a reason the professionals are pulling the money they do.