I've had my GS a couple of months now and shamefully admit to using the local eastern Europeans to wash my car on a couple of occasions. My only defence is that it's been winter and too wet or cold to get my car cleaning kit out. Today I spent a few hours giving her a thorough clean and inspection so that I know what to do when the warmer weather arrives.
So, start with a car that looks fine from a distance::
Not so good close up:
Get out some old favourites and open the box of goodies recently ordered:
Let it snow:
I left this to sit for a few minutes then agitated all the badges, shut lines and hard to reach areas with one of my new brushes:
The car was then thoroughly rinsed with a power washer before I used a product I'd never tried before - Iron X. I'd read about iron particles sticking to paintwork and doing damage. Airborne particles, brake pad dust etc. all contribute and are often unseen by the naked eye. I liberally applied this over the car and wheels and was surprised by the results. You leave this stuff on for a few minutes and it turns purple/red as it reacts with the tiny iron particles. I thought before doing this that the car was already quite clean, but every single panel was covered in loads of purple marks and runs where the Iron X was working (pics don't show on the paintwork very well, but it was everywhere:
Another heavy snow-foam and rinse again before I washed the car with a microfibre noodle mitt, using the 2 bucket method. If anyone doubts this method have a look at the picture below. I'm half way through washing a car which has already been snow-foamed and rinsed twice. Can you guess which is the rinse bucket?!
All door shuts, boot and bonnet openings etc. were also given the treatment:
I then dried her with microfibre towels and cleaned the glass before standing back to admire the results of my labour:
Finally, a shot from earlier in the day when I cleaned the interior:
The car still needs some work when things warm up. Lots of tar spots (found a new product for that!) then a full clay, polish and wax. I've recently bought a machine polisher, so will be practicing on other cars/panels before improving the paintwork later this year.
I've just been out for a good hour's drive in her, the best feeling after giving her some attention.
So, start with a car that looks fine from a distance::
Not so good close up:
Get out some old favourites and open the box of goodies recently ordered:
Let it snow:
I left this to sit for a few minutes then agitated all the badges, shut lines and hard to reach areas with one of my new brushes:
The car was then thoroughly rinsed with a power washer before I used a product I'd never tried before - Iron X. I'd read about iron particles sticking to paintwork and doing damage. Airborne particles, brake pad dust etc. all contribute and are often unseen by the naked eye. I liberally applied this over the car and wheels and was surprised by the results. You leave this stuff on for a few minutes and it turns purple/red as it reacts with the tiny iron particles. I thought before doing this that the car was already quite clean, but every single panel was covered in loads of purple marks and runs where the Iron X was working (pics don't show on the paintwork very well, but it was everywhere:
Another heavy snow-foam and rinse again before I washed the car with a microfibre noodle mitt, using the 2 bucket method. If anyone doubts this method have a look at the picture below. I'm half way through washing a car which has already been snow-foamed and rinsed twice. Can you guess which is the rinse bucket?!
All door shuts, boot and bonnet openings etc. were also given the treatment:
I then dried her with microfibre towels and cleaned the glass before standing back to admire the results of my labour:
Finally, a shot from earlier in the day when I cleaned the interior:
The car still needs some work when things warm up. Lots of tar spots (found a new product for that!) then a full clay, polish and wax. I've recently bought a machine polisher, so will be practicing on other cars/panels before improving the paintwork later this year.
I've just been out for a good hour's drive in her, the best feeling after giving her some attention.
