OK time to update this thread (or can of worms perhaps as it seems everybody has their own preferences![]()
) as I have now acquired from various sources the products I used, some recommended and some bought no doubt in ignorance as this is the first time I’ve tried any of this “fancy” stuff.
For my first attempt I used my new foam lance and Bilt Hamber snow foam attached to my Karcher, just to see how it worked, then a cold water rinse followed by a wash using a woolen wash mitt and Meguiar’s Gold shampoo with great success. After another rinse I dried it using a special drying towel. EASY!!
A couple of weeks later and spurred on by the results I attempted a more complete clean as follows:-
- Vacuum soft-top
- Wet and then apply AutoGlym Cleaner and agitate using supplied pad.
- Leave for about 10 mins and then rinse off before applying AutoGlym proofer being careful to ovoid overspray.
- Snow foam rest of car.
- Apply Bilt Hamber wheel cleaner and agitate where needed after about 5 mins.
- Rinse car and wheels - looking good already!.
- Repeat wash with Gold shampoo and rinse.
- Dry with towel.
- Use Car Pro Oil and Wax remover with MF cloth a panel at a time.
- Apply Swissvax wax using supplied pad once again a panel at a time and polish off with special MF polishing cloth.
- Ensure wheels are dry and looking clean and shiny then apply AutoGlym Wheel Protector.
- Next clean glass with Autoglym Fast Glass.
- Now RELAX stand back and admire the finish!!!
Really pleased with the results although a little tired with all the effort! Now I KNOW I've missed out at least a couple of steps (glaze and a second waxing for sure) and maybe next time I'll extend the above to include those as well and maybe take further advice from ChrisR and Ninja59 to name a few. My next step is to clean and treat the interior leather ready for our trip around Spain and Portugal later in the year.
A couple of observations before I wrap this up. The water now really beads and runs off both the hood and body very easily. The car still shines even after a couple of weeks and I intend just a brief snow foam and wash for the next few months before repeating the above.
The AutoGlym Wheel Protector has done its job in keeping brake dust to a minimum on the wheels after at least 1,000 miles. Next time though I plan to wax the wheels before applying it. (I just forgot to do this on the day!).
So there you are, my first serious attempt at a “proper” clean. Not show standard I realise but that wasn’t the intention. Thanks for all the advice and knowledge and sorry to have maybe caused a little friction![]()
I’m guessing there’s no right or wrong just his way and my way?
Forgot to ask, what’s the point in applying a glaze coat prior to the wax coat? Just extra protection?
Chris be honest glazes and pre-cleaners is an absolutely perfect mine field of products doing multiple things and is hugely confusing.
If we are being absolutely brutally honest a glaze is just full of oils to produce extra wetness. Meguiars No7 is a traditional honest glaze…(this is where I disagree with the Dr Beasley piece somewhat)
Where are the problems…
Well…
Glazes got complex with many now containing filling components (some are polymer so will sit under sealants) others are still oils which are wax only, whether you want to fill in bits is a question for yourself, but eventually the defects will come back. Lets not get into the latest tech ones which are actually resin based so sit under coatings!
Other crossover points for glazes is pre-wax cleaners which have oxidation removal properties as well as claying agents etc. to help remove dead paint, again to confuse matters some of these contain filling agents as well like the glazes.
Then you also have the crossover with All in One’s or AIO’s which contain all of the above plus some cutting ability and protection elements - Autoglym Super Resin Polish or SRP is an “AIO” technically as it fills, cuts and provides protection,.
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On your detail you made good steps, I think the biggest problem these days is the amount of products and the complexity of them since I started it has become mad.
I would as a first step in future suggest a formal decontamination step - with fallout remover, tar remover and claying.
You may wish getting a better form of wheel protection and some glass sealant as well.
Indeed it is a minefield…and so many people to recommend a host of products too…What’s good for one, isn’t for another …and so it goes on!!
Ive only ever really used two glazes myself…Poorboys Black Hole…didn’t really get on with it and the same White Diamond…I was given…never used
AND
Wet Glaze 2.0 (No longer available…as far as I know) Uniquely…that could be used under or over a wax…I liked that
Great for adding prior to a car meet…but short lived as you would expect
Glazes as I say, I don’t use…I prefer the preparation and the wax or sealant or both, to do the talking, as such