Car cleaning

Whether you're just washing the car, into detailing in a big way or enhancing your 406, collect and share hints and tips here.

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dave406
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Re: Car cleaning

Post by dave406 »

True found 10 new dunks in the last wash
(02) 406 2.0 HDi GTX Estate AUTO AC+SN in Delft Blue aka Rhodes Blue
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lozz
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Re: Car cleaning

Post by lozz »

trem1 wrote:What about the local immigrants ~~? where do they fit in ?? better than a sponge at home or not
they do avery good job up here for 3 quid ..they dont half graft,
and work in the rain or snow,
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Welly
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Re: Car cleaning

Post by Welly »

My Mother takes her car to the local illegal working-and-claiming-and-send-most-of-the-dough-back-home Car Wash and the paintwork is f*cked.

They seem to use aggressive Road Film removers pre-wash and then *attack* the bodywork with the Mitts of a thousand washes.......swirls-a-plenty and a flat looking finish.

AVOID drive-in hand washes.

Strangely the one she uses is mostly frequented by Asian motorists in very expensive Mercs/BM's and the place is rammed 7-days a week; the success of which has led them to turning a run-down old petrol station into a snazzy drive-thru wash and wait area. They've even invested in Trace-Heated water outlets (and I knows what that costs). But this still doesn't stop them ruining your car.
Cars in my care:
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2013 Renner Twingo - donkey work
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lozz
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Re: Car cleaning

Post by lozz »

AVOID drive-in hand washes?

Why?

Theyre alot more gentle than going through the the whirly brush set ups, that spray out stagnent recycled water,
dave406
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Re: Car cleaning

Post by dave406 »

Lozz do you take. Your car there?
(02) 406 2.0 HDi GTX Estate AUTO AC+SN in Delft Blue aka Rhodes Blue
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Welly
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Re: Car cleaning

Post by Welly »

Yes mechanical car washes are bad (worse) but I think hand-wash is supposed to sound gentle and caring when in my experience they aren't. Of course there may well be some that do a fantastic job and if there was one near me of high quality then I'd use them myself. But there isn't.
Cars in my care:
2021 Kia Spottage 1.6 Pez Turbo Dual Clutch Gearbox Trickery
2013 Renner Twingo - donkey work
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lozz
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Re: Car cleaning

Post by lozz »

Depends which one,?
they are not all run by idiots,

a good friend of mine as just bought a car wash. all run off bucket method,
water is continusly changed, brushes are checked, and no expense spared on the cleaning stuff,

Depends where you go iguess,?

But still iwouidnt tar them all with same brush, somepeople take pride in there work, ido anyway.. ihelp out at the car wash somedays
dave406
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Re: Car cleaning

Post by dave406 »

If you wounder why we say avoid is shine a bright light on your paint work. There should be no marks but most cars unless people know.whatvthere doing have swirl marks etc that's whatbpoor wash methods do.

A real detail cots 400 upwards in to the thousands
(02) 406 2.0 HDi GTX Estate AUTO AC+SN in Delft Blue aka Rhodes Blue
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lozz
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Re: Car cleaning

Post by lozz »

No one round here wouid pay 400 notes,

30-40 notes top's.
dave406
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Re: Car cleaning

Post by dave406 »

There's a difference between. Wash and detail done properly
(02) 406 2.0 HDi GTX Estate AUTO AC+SN in Delft Blue aka Rhodes Blue
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lozz
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Re: Car cleaning

Post by lozz »

My mate is a professional
there is no money in this trade anymore, its down to the joe public at end of the day (on what money they want to spend )


iwill take some pictures next time im up there and show you some of there work
dave406
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Re: Car cleaning

Post by dave406 »

Mate youbwanna check detailingworld
(02) 406 2.0 HDi GTX Estate AUTO AC+SN in Delft Blue aka Rhodes Blue
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lozz
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Re: Car cleaning

Post by lozz »

idont bother with cleaning forums, tbh mate,

id sooner just try stuff out, see whats works best,

no marks or swirls on any of my cars, so imust be doing something right,
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Waxman
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Re: Car cleaning

Post by Waxman »

local hand wash places use the same water that they have used on the car before. - For all we know was a filthy muddy commercial etc

There was a test done a few years back where someone took a fully paint corrected car into one of these.

Afterwards it was swirl city.

Same mitt to run under the wheel arches, then they glide it across your paint. - Also bear in mind they use industrial strength TFR - ever seen center of wheel badges start to lacquer peel........

Same reason why a brand new car looks very shiny and cars a few years old look dull. - Incorrect wash methods.

Have a look at dave406 wash method in the other post - that's a pretty safe technique. - We all like our cars to stand out from the rest, these small differences can help :wink:

Jay
The Rubble Shifter: 2.0 HDi 110 GTX 406 Estate, Tuning Box, K&N Filters.
Thunderbird 4: Mercedes AMG E55, Full Decat & Res Delete.
*New Addition* The Roller Skate: VW Polo GTi
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Waxman
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Re: Car cleaning

Post by Waxman »

Welly wrote:My Mother takes her car to the local illegal working-and-claiming-and-send-most-of-the-dough-back-home Car Wash and the paintwork is f*cked.

They seem to use aggressive Road Film removers pre-wash and then *attack* the bodywork with the Mitts of a thousand washes.......swirls-a-plenty and a flat looking finish.

AVOID drive-in hand washes.

Strangely the one she uses is mostly frequented by Asian motorists in very expensive Mercs/BM's and the place is rammed 7-days a week; the success of which has led them to turning a run-down old petrol station into a snazzy drive-thru wash and wait area. They've even invested in Trace-Heated water outlets (and I knows what that costs). But this still doesn't stop them ruining your car.
Welly - crazy but heres a very quick, non analysed math :

working on an average £7.00 per car - ( A lot are more expensive & offer services up to £30/£40 ) - a busy unit doing 50 cars a day - 7 days a week:

£350 a day
£2450 a week
£10535 a month
= £126,420 a year

The place of work is normally on the back of a pub etc where they pay the landlord a small % of turnover for the use of the ground.

And I've spoken to a lot of workers in these places, some of them will earn £10 a day if they are immigrant - which for them £70 a week is good at what they earn considering the circumstances !!!

Shocking I know, but true.
The Rubble Shifter: 2.0 HDi 110 GTX 406 Estate, Tuning Box, K&N Filters.
Thunderbird 4: Mercedes AMG E55, Full Decat & Res Delete.
*New Addition* The Roller Skate: VW Polo GTi
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