Damn Good Clean

Right then, this is my first "proper" detail write-up! It's also the first time I've clayed a car! Guess I'll post pictures showing the befores and afters together rather than posting in order of taking them.

So anyway, let's get cracking! For some reason, I didn't take any "before" shots of the car in full. However, it wasn't that dirty TBH! Also not got a Foam Lance yet

So here we go.

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The Kit



2 x Lambswool Wash Mitts.
1 x Bilt-Hamber Auto-wash 300ml
1 x Mark V Showroom Finish Quick Detailer.
1 x Bilt-Hamber Auto-clay.
1 x Dodo Juice Lime Prime paint cleanser.
1 x Dodo Juice wax of your choice.
1 x Surfex HD 1 Ltr
1 x Mark V Windows Sheen 500ml
1 x Mark V California Dressing 500ml
1 x Mark V Qwik Solv Tar and Glue remover 500ml
1 x 250ml bottle of klenzol
1 x Small bottle of Glisten
1 x BIG Microfibre Drying Towel.
6 x Microfibre detailing/work towels.
3 x Microfibre ultra plush buffing towel.
2 x Foam Applicators.

1 x Megs Nxt Generation Metal Polysh
1 x Megs Gold Class Wheel brush

6 x "Cheap" Microfibres (from aunties shop)
1 x 1/2" Paintbrush
1 x 3/4" Paintbrush
Several Cotton Buds
2 x Big Buckets
2 x Large Wilkos Spray Bottles (let's try these out)
2 x Large "Aldi" Microfibre Towels (let's try these out also)
1 x Interior brush

1 x Dr Pepper 500ml (drinking use )

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Agenda

I had already decided that my aim today was to clay, polish (not machine) and wax the car, and maybe a sealant/glaze if I get the time.

I also wanted to get the exhaust looking better, along with door & boot hinges, and again, time dependant, an engine detail.

The wheels will be coming off when I get the lance, so that I can get in the arches etc, and maybe even "fully" protect the wheels.

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Wash

Before





The car was washed using the 2 bucket method. As per instuctions, I put about 5-6ml of Bilt-Hamber Auto-wash in a 14L bucket. It gave some nice suds, but not too many. Also opted for just the one mitt as the car wasn't too dirty on the lower halves. The car was then dried using a BIG Microfibre Drying Towel.







After



I then went on to pay attention to the honeycomb grilles as they hold water and also never seem to get clean.

After using a cotton bud on about 5 or 6 of the holes, the bud looked like this:


It was also a bit of APITA this way, so I swapped for a 1/2" paintbrush. It still took a while, but this way I managed to clean 2 or 3 at a time

Before



During





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Wheels

Next task was the wheels. Dunno why, but I "forgot" to clean these before cleaning the car lol.

Before





The wheels were washed using Surfex HD diuted with water. The guide suggest anywhere between 1:100 or neat. I diluted to approx 5:100 (5% surfex). The wheels and calipers were given a good spray using the Wilkos bottles (which appears ok), and left a couple of minutes. They were then scrubbed with the Megs Gold Class Wheel Brush and a "cheap" microfibre, and then rinsed and dried with another "cheap" microfibre.



After









These were later given a coat of Dodo Juice Banana Armour





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Exhaust

Before





I tried Megs Nxt Generation Metal Polysh on the exhaust due to not being able to find my AutoSol. This was applied again, with a microfibre work towel, and left a minute before removing with another.

After





Not the greatest of results, but I wanted to get a lot done today. Next time I think I shall get some wire wool at at, along with maybe Surfex HD neat.

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Claying

The main areas I wanted to clay were the mirror housings and the front bumper.

Before







Overall, the car wasn't that bad. This is as bad as it got, after the roof:



And this is the worst it got, after the bump strip on bumper:



After



Not sure why, but I didn't take pitures of the above after claying. But let's just say, the stuff was removed.

Polish

Next up was a bit of polish. The polish of joice was Dodo Juice Lime Prime paint cleanser. This was applied using a foam applicator, and then buffed of using a plush buffing towel.



Here's a few reflection shots afterwards





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Wax

The polish was then followed by a nice layer of wax. A was looking forward to this! My first "proper" pot of wax. Dodo Juice Banana Armour. Again, this was applied using a foam applicator, leftto cure for about 15mins (more than suggested, but it had cooled down a fair bit) and then buffed of using a plush buffing towel.



And some reflections:







Up until applying the wax, I had never seen swirl marks on the car, and never seen reflections as deep before. I was really amazed with the wax. I will deffinately get a few more coats on ready for the winter.

More reflections:











By now, I'd had a long day. I didn't seal the car after the wax. I'll do that after some more layers.

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Engine

Not technically the engine, as I was shattered by now, and wasn't up to much detailing on it. I think the engine needs a full day alone! So I just settled for under the bonnet.

Before







This was cleaned with a microfibre and the same dilution of Surfex HD that I had used on the wheels.

After







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Boot/Door Shuts

Here's the boot hinge


And the door hinge


Top of rear light


These were all cleaned using a microfibre and the remaining bit of soapy water I had left over from cleaning the car. (I knew it'd come in handy)

The afters:







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Interior

Finally, it was time for the interior, along with the windows inside and out. I used various things for this. Mark V Windows Sheen, Klenzol and a spraz of Haze air freshener.

Before







After









Oh, and then finally the tyres were dressed using Mark V California Dressing.

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Finished!













Jobs a good en!

I would also like to thank Ben @ Rubbish Boys as I suffered a mental block half way through and had to ring him for advice/confirmation

Thanks for reading!

cheers

I need a bra for this. There are a few stone chips that I'd like to hide

AFAIK, the sealant goes on TOP of the wax? Well, at least the stuff I have can, apparently

see where you're coming from. think it depends what wax/seal you use. as said, I believe the sealant i have (Glisten) would go on top of RB BA Wax. I was thinking of sealing as literally the LSP! Kinda like you'd seal a bit of writing on paper by laminating it It's the last thing.

That's my thoughts anyway