Advice on cleaning.... for a lazy man!

[Wes79]

Ok, I'll be honest and own up to start with. I have had only a few cars over the years.... but, overall, very rarely cleaned a car. My first car - Fiesta 1.4 sport F reg got a clean, my escort convertable might have had a clean and I think my Pug 106 Ralye got one or two!

So, my DS3... I have had it cleaned over twice but want to do it myself Friday before FCS. I have a few bits, bought a few bits and drawn up a semi-plan based on no more budget, no hoses, pressure washers etc:

Rinse Car over with warm/hot water inc. inside doors and boot.
Clean windows and wipe over dash with damp MF cloth. (For windows, I was thinking the ol' method of little washing up liquid and dry with karsher window dryer?).
Brush down seats and mats with soft brush and vacuum the car out inc. the boot.
Clean car with Turtle Wax shampoo using 2 bucket method (which I have just read about!!).
Dry car with new A/G drying towel.
Rinse alloys and arches and clean alloys with some alloy cleaner that I have somewhere.
Treat tyres and use some back to black stuff on plastic bits and bobs.
Clay Bar the car with new A/G kit that arrived today and use Resin Polish aftewards from the kit.
A/G HD wax the car with new kit hopefullt arriving today!
Check over car, and maybe 2nd light cover of the HD wax?

Any thoughts or obviously missed things or a stupid order? I was thinking 8 hours to get it all done before heading to Swindon overnight before final 30miles to FCS on Sat morning.

Also, any last minute quick things I should do once at FCS? Or just a wipe over with a MF Cloth on arrival?

Thanks and sorry for the ramble

[joeking27]

Snow foam!

[Wes79]

Thanks Joe, can you recoomend one? Demon? This is a very n00b question here, but can you use it without a pressure washer to still get the full foam effect?

[lfcrule1972]

No, snow foam requires a pressure washer for it to work as far as I know....

[Wes79]

Thanks lfc

[robbo51]

Autobrite Foam Lance with Valet Pro pH Neutral Snow Foam

[Wes79]

Unfortunately no pressure washer!

[ds3r]

Hi Wes 79 where abouts in Suffolk saw a Red Edition the other day was not in my racing.

[Wes79]

I'm in Ipswich mate. I always give a little nod to other DS3 drivers. There's a diesel one in town too that the manager from the dealer is using!!

[ds3r]

Hi mate that's good I'm in rendlesham near Woodbridge you can always pop in at hangar111 I'm there on Saturdays

[Wes79]

Ah my father in law works at rendlesham! I'll have to pop over one weekend!

[robbo51]

Unfortunately no pressure washer!

Oh dear!!
They are very cheap if you buy a Nilfisk from Argos:
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...er/7420315.htm

[ds3r]

Hi yes that's fine.

[Wes79]

One for next month I think robbo! Thanks for the link though. Elbow grease this month for me! I guess it's about time....

[Clean Your Ride]

Ok, I'll be honest and own up to start with. I have had only a few cars over the years.... but, overall, very rarely cleaned a car. My first car - Fiesta 1.4 sport F reg got a clean, my escort convertable might have had a clean and I think my Pug 106 Ralye got one or two!

So, my DS3... I have had it cleaned over twice but want to do it myself Friday before FCS. I have a few bits, bought a few bits and drawn up a semi-plan based on no more budget, no hoses, pressure washers etc:

Rinse Car over with warm/hot water inc. inside doors and boot.
Clean windows and wipe over dash with damp MF cloth. (For windows, I was thinking the ol' method of little washing up liquid and dry with karsher window dryer?).
Brush down seats and mats with soft brush and vacuum the car out inc. the boot.
Clean car with Turtle Wax shampoo using 2 bucket method (which I have just read about!!).
Dry car with new A/G drying towel.
Rinse alloys and arches and clean alloys with some alloy cleaner that I have somewhere.
Treat tyres and use some back to black stuff on plastic bits and bobs.
Clay Bar the car with new A/G kit that arrived today and use Resin Polish aftewards from the kit.
A/G HD wax the car with new kit hopefullt arriving today!
Check over car, and maybe 2nd light cover of the HD wax?

Any thoughts or obviously missed things or a stupid order? I was thinking 8 hours to get it all done before heading to Swindon overnight before final 30miles to FCS on Sat morning.

Also, any last minute quick things I should do once at FCS? Or just a wipe over with a MF Cloth on arrival?

Thanks and sorry for the ramble

Good evening

All I would say is don't dry the car before you clay it. Wash, rinse, clay, wash, rinse, dry, polish then wax.

You can always use that polish on the alloys and use the wax as a wheel sealant also.

Being purely economical, I would recommend popping into Morrisons and buying a 500ml bottle of the pink Demon Shine spray; think about £3 last time I looked. This makes a great cheap QD for a quick wipedown with a mf when you get to FCS. Never use a dry mf on your bodywork as this can cause scratches and swirls.

Hope this helps?