New car new cleaning kit

[Quazzo]

Be honest i am not really in to cleaning cars but reading comments about no sponges and leathers etc thought best get some advice on what I need plain SIMPLE guide using Halfords

My car Belle-ile blue metallic with black roof


Thanks

Quazzo

[joshaspinall]

Feel free to correct me Clive; I did my best!

I'd say the best thing you can do without going too overboard is to get a decent lambswool washmitt, and wash using the 2 bucket method. Prior to this, you at least need a good rinse of the car with a hosepipe to remove loose grit that may be in contact with the paint. When washing, use as little pressure as possible. Get yourself a nice soft microfibre drying towel and pat the car dry, as opposed to rubbing.

Product wise is down to personal preference, but I use Autoglym Car Shampoo for the wash, Super Resin Polish and then finish with the HD Wax, though the Extra Gloss Protection Wax works well too. I'd say these are your minimum products. You may/will also need some window cleaner (I again use Autoglym Fast Glass, and I recommed their tyre and bumper gel for cleaning all the black plastics and trim, along with the tyres. I would also recommend some non-acid wheel cleaner and a sealant, but from your post i'm not sure how far you want to go!

Let me know your thoughts.

[chiefnerd]

Quazzo- I'm not into the whole detailing thing at all (sorry Clive). But I've got the autoglym products for the paintwork- the super resin polish, wax stuff and also the window stuff- Halfords have 3 for 2. They also sell their own heavy duty microfibre dohickies which are about a fiver for 2 of them

Close to me is a decent hand carwash who do a good job and I let them do the cleaning bit, after that, bit of polish and and then wax. Both products are pretty quick to apply and you get lovely results- it really makes a difference, especially the glass cleaner!!

for the interior I just buy the dashboard wipes from Asda and for the highgloss stuff the glass cleaner is supposed to work fantastically but I haven't tried it yet. I also have leather and use the autoglym leather cleaner and put on a cream conditioner afterwards.

The polishing and waxing only happens once every 6 weeks or so, the rest of the time it just goes through the hand carwash.

[Chris_Blue]

Whilst keeoping the DS3 clean is great and bit of a hobby, I dont take it to extremes as the car has to be used
It can get a bit "OMG- Havent cleaned it for 24hrs and its spitting with rain"
The inside is usually a bit more of a priority- dont like driving round in a skip!
CBLUE

[chiefnerd]

Chris, I'd definitely get some of the glass stuff though- it makes 1 hell of a difference to your windscreen!!!

[Chris_Blue]

OK Nerdy
I also use "Rain away" which when it rains is really weird. The rain just rolls off
When u r on the motorway hacking a bit, you dont even need wipers
The rain beads away so quick- its really surreal
Cleans the glass too
CBLUE

[chiefnerd]

This is for the inside and outside- also beads up. I think it was 6.99 and with the amount of glass on a DS3 it's well worth it.

[Heaton]

Yup it depends on how far and how much time you want to spend. Different products can be used to still add protection and shine but take less time to apply. The only down side is they may not offer as much protection and you may apply it more often. A good polish and wax/sealant will last a few months once your doing it right (or so I've read as I'm still learning myself lol).

There are plenty threads on here about cleaning kits and also check http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/ if you are up for spending a bit of time reading up on the subject. I diid this and it is an eye opener and change my attitude to cleaning and caring for my car.

[CliveP]

Gents, I stand very pleased and amazed, you have all advised the poster very well! - Great opening answer Josh! Perhaps my obession has rubbed off and you and it's nice ot know some people do read my rambling car detailing posts! lol

(Chiefnerd, that is exactly how my 'obession' started - I got a local place to do the wet bit, then I enjoyed all the 'dry bits' and dressing, etc......since those days I have never looked back!).....

Last year I offered a 'day' at my friends place on detailing to DS3Club members,,,,,,but there was not enough interest, now I'm wondering if there might be!, but I#d be struggling for time this year, perhaps some time though.....

Great advice gents, superb stuff!

Regards,
Clive.

[Quazzo]

Thank you for all your hints and tips don't think I cleaned any of my cars like you guys do perhaps my DS3 will get a special treatment , If anyone would like to take a little time and give me some website links to them products suggested using Halfords website I know if I go there be shelf's upon shelf's of cleaning kit just want to make sure I buy the right stuff or perhaps Cblue or anyone else down south we could have a meet at Halfords lol

[chiefnerd]

All by AutoGlym in Halfords. Polish has a red label, wax has a gold one and the glass stuff has a blue one- I'm crap with names lol

[fatmcgav]

Should be:

• Red label: SRP - Super Resin Polish
• Gold label: Extra Gloss Protection
• Blue Label: Car Glass Polish

Would also recommend the Bumper & Trim gel, which is a green label, as there's a lot of 'trim' on the DS3...

Gav

[ds3r]

hi all i do most of the above, at the moment i use a spray to dress the tyres but reading what you say about the gel will try that .

[Quazzo]

Thanks for the information off to Halfords I go

[AJ07]

Thanks for the information off to Halfords I go

Halfords are currently doing a 3 for the price of two on all car cleaning products