After reading in the motoring press about potential harmful effects of many of the widely available acid based alloy cleaners i decided to look for an effective detergent cleaner. What I have discovered is a product called Stardrops available in Morrisons. It is a yellow liquid in a clear plastic bottle. Mixed in a solution of one third Stardrops and two thirds water and put into a hand held garden sprayer it is actually the best thing i have ever used on the alloys of my Octavia vRS. It is even better than any of the many proprietory alloys cleaners from any of the well known manufacturers and I think over the years I have tried them all!!!! The best news is that the Stardrops only cost approx 70p per bottle!!!!!

Also just to let anyone who is interested know have also discovered a good car shampoo in the form of Turtle Wax Heavy Duty Shampoo. Comparing the ingredients on the bottle it has the same chemical composition as their Platinum range shampoo, and for the same price the bottle is twice the size!!! In my opinion it is a much better product than any of the other more popular shampoos, ie Autoglym, Meguiars Etc.

I hope this is of use to any of you out there.

Regards

After reading in the motoring press about potential harmful effects of many of the widely available acid based alloy cleaners i decided to look for an effective detergent cleaner. What I have discovered is a product called Stardrops available in Morrisons. It is a yellow liquid in a clear plastic bottle. Mixed in a solution of one third Stardrops and two thirds water and put into a hand held garden sprayer it is actually the best thing i have ever used on the alloys of my Octavia vRS. It is even better than any of the many proprietory alloys cleaners from any of the well known manufacturers and I think over the years I have tried them all!!!! The best news is that the Stardrops only cost approx 70p per bottle!!!!!

Also just to let anyone who is interested know have also discovered a good car shampoo in the form of Turtle Wax Heavy Duty Shampoo. Comparing the ingredients on the bottle it has the same chemical composition as their Platinum range shampoo' date=' and for the same price the bottle is twice the size!!! In my opinion it is a much better product than any of the other more popular shampoos, ie Autoglym, Meguiars Etc.

I hope this is of use to any of you out there.

Regards[/quote']

Thanks for the info mate, Im going to try some of the Stardrops myself

This stuff is the dog's doodahs. The best I've ever used and that's a lot!!

EDIT:

The problem with Turtle Wax is that it's NOT pH neutral, therefore strips off the wax

This stuff is the dog's doodahs. The best I've ever used and that's a lot!!

Ditto. Doubt anything from turtle wax can beat it.

Baby shampoo is good for washing your car. It doesn't strip the wax

Baby shampoo is good for washing your car. It doesn't strip the wax

Particularly at the rear end ehh.... :rofl:

I don't get that?

I have always used turtlewax Zip Wax Super Concentrate Wash & Wax

I have noticed that on every car I have owned I always get dark random patches that actually looks like someone has put a dirty hand in certain places.

Do you think this could be a problem with the product I am using. Will try and source some "Meguiars" as above.

Do you think this could be a problem with the product I am using. .

Probably!

Get the Megs NXT or some Poorboys Super Slick & Suds and then apply a proper wax seperately after (Megs NXT wax isn't bad for something that you can get at Halfords) - it doesn't take long once you get used to it

Huge thumbs up for the zymol wash and polishing wax. Is very good

For wheels use Viro-sol made by Clover Chemicals , http://www.cloverchemicals.com/uk/product_range/hard_surface_uk.htm

Its Citrous based so NO ACID !!, simply spray it on, have a cup of tea whilst it works & jet wash it off, for badly marked areas use a toothbrush or similar to help it, this will only be needed on real;ly bad areas

Ring Clover & they will give you a local stockist or search for it on the net. They also do a few other handy products !!

For wheels use Viro-sol made by Clover Chemicals ' date=' http://www.cloverchemicals.com/uk/product_range/hard_surface_uk.htm

Its Citrous based so NO ACID !!, simply spray it on, have a cup of tea whilst it works & jet wash it off, for badly marked areas use a toothbrush or similar to help it, this will only be needed on real;ly bad areas

Ring Clover & they will give you a local stockist or search for it on the net. They also do a few other handy products !!

It may not be acid, but it is a caustic (base) pH is >7

see

9.) PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Appearance: Orange liquid.

Odour: Citrus.

pH: 11.5 - 12.5

Boiling point: 101

It may not be acid' date=' but it is a caustic (base) pH is >7

[/quote']

Ive been using it for years with no adverse effect. Its Identical to Multiclean & MC2which people have raved about for ages

Got the Megs NXT and some Megs Hot Rims, delivered yesterday. Looks like I am busy at the weekend (dependant on weather).

I have never polished / wax a car in my life, but after spending next to £20k on a new car may be a good idea.

Anyone recommend some easy apply (less elbow grease) polish ?

Got the Megs NXT and some Megs Hot Rims, delivered yesterday. Looks like I am busy at the weekend (dependant on weather).

I have never polished / wax a car in my life, but after spending next to

Got the Megs NXT and some Megs Hot Rims, delivered yesterday. Looks like I am busy at the weekend (dependant on weather).

I have never polished / wax a car in my life, but after spending next to

I don't get that?

:eek: Baby Shampoo....rear end......Doh!!!! :rofl:

Try 'ProClean' on the wheels.

I buy mine from a M/cylce shop c.

I use Bi-carbnonate of soda in some warm water for wheels. Awesome stuff.

If they are really, really dirty I use a mix of phosporic and hydrochloric acid on mine :eek: Cleans them up nicely If that doesn't get the stuff off, I know they need refurbing :(

If it feels soapy thats the alkalie and your skin reacting

It may not be acid' date=' but it is a caustic (base) pH is >7

see

[b']

9.) PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

[/b]

Appearance: Orange liquid.

Odour: Citrus.

pH: 11.5 - 12.5

Boiling point: 101°C

Melting point: -1°C

Flashpoint: Not applicable.

Flammability: Not applicable.

Auto flammability: Not applicable.

Explosive properties: Not applicable.

Oxidising properties: Not applicable.

Vapour pressure: As water.

Relative density: 1.0 - 1.1

Solubility: Soluble in water.

Not just > 7 but nearly off the scale at 12, similar to undiluted bleach. Should be used in about a 10% solution though.

It might still be pH12 though even diluted

pH = -log10 [H+]

eg it is -log to the base 10 of the concentration of hydrogen ions.

EDIT: Sorry should have put that assumes the thing is a buffer solution.

After reading in the motoring press about potential harmful effects of many of the widely available acid based alloy cleaners i decided to look for an effective detergent cleaner. What I have discovered is a product called Stardrops available in Morrisons. It is a yellow liquid in a clear plastic bottle. Mixed in a solution of one third Stardrops and two thirds water and put into a hand held garden sprayer it is actually the best thing i have ever used on the alloys of my Octavia vRS. It is even better than any of the many proprietory alloys cleaners from any of the well known manufacturers and I think over the years I have tried them all!!!! The best news is that the Stardrops only cost approx 70p per bottle!!!!!

I hope this is of use to any of you out there.

Regards

Thanks for the tip-off. Picked up a bottle last night, so will be interesting to see how well it works on my extremely mucky wheels.

Thanks

Chris