Washing your Maser

[conaero]

I know everybody has their own method, heres mine:

First, the all important rinse with the hose. I dont like using the jetwash, its too brutal and should be left for the off roaders.

Second, I get my hot water and a mop. I call it a mop as its like a mop head, lots of stringy strands. I dont use a sponge anymore as this can trap grit in the sponge face, then you can scratch up you paint work. I use the same soap as my valeter, infact he gets it for me, its Auto Smart and its excellent.

Starting from the top and working down and then the wheels last (they are a bugger to do - standard GS alloys)

lastly, go round and do the exhaust tips, door shuts and under the bonnet and boot if I have time.

Out with the hose, and a good rinse off.

Then out with the aqua blade to get 90% of the water of then finish with a natural chamois.

Its time for tea now, and I then decide if I am going the whole hog and giving her some product.

I use Turtle Wax Clear Vue wax, its more of a silicone base, so no white residue. I also have the Auto Smart tyre black which is brilliant, and of course, you know about my penchant for Mr Sheen!

Inside, well, I am usually too sh@gged by this point so it gets a quick wipe with a damp cloth and a hoover out.

...then off out for a blat to make it all dirty again!

The one thing I have never done is the 2 bucked thing, I am just very careful with the grit.

Whats your process, any good tips?

 

[Parisien]

I use the woollen mit...vertical/straight strokes.......only....warm water not really hot........dont bother with 2nd bucket, use hose to more fully dislodge the grit caught in mit.....use separate sponge and wheel cleaner, not allowed to have a break.......

Then go and fill the locals Rozzers rear view mirror............

Cos I use B/C class roads mostly...apart from the fact the black top is just S**T now......with the dry spell am thinking of changing name to Hamilton or Button...such a blast!!!!


P

 

[conaero]

I do the interior leather with Gliptone about twice a year, but give the drivers seat bolsters a quick once over about every month...great product.

I also do the glass on occasion with Auto Smart Crystal glass, again, the best I have found to date.

Frank, I dont use a wheel cleaner, I find them too corrosive, just hot water, used regularly, it stops the build ups that the hard cleans work on.

 

[Parisien]

Frank, I dont use a wheel cleaner, I find them too corrosive, just hot water, used regularly, it stops the build ups that the hard cleans work on.

I only use it irregularly..........plus......couple of the wheels need refurbed anyways!


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[lozcb]

Where do i start ,

I do use a jet wash from about 4 ft away luckily i have a fully adjustable one so you can set the ferocity and width of spray, facility to add car shampoo but i never use that, after a good soak down with clear water Jet wash removing most of the grime, hot water Lambs wool mit and two buckets one purely for rinsing the mit , Suds the top half of the car roof bonnet and boot, then Wash off with the jet wash and carry on doing the sides and the wheels , and rinse off again with the jetwash, take the car for a 70mph drive along the carriage way removes most of the water and cleans the discs .
Chamois off the remaining water removing any streaks , Then a good coating of meguires with added 2million£ a thimble canuba wax hehe and polish up out of the sunlight thats if were lucky enough to have any sun , also doing the wheels , whether i do the inside depends on whether im doing Kaz's car straight afte, that really gets ****** and knackers me out tho she supply me with plenty of tea and hot cross buns to be fair , leather gets done with autoglym at the moment untill its all gone then i;ll get some gliptone, have a neat set of small brushes for cleaning the vents etc Now that will show you how sad i really am hehheh

regards loz

 

[safrane]

Gentle jet wash to shift the dust/dirt. Swizvax car bath one panel at a time then rinse with hose. Use two very large storage boxes for tepid soapy water and one cold to rinse the sheep-mit. Wash wheels/arches first. Chammy using an Absorber then open all door/boot/bonnet etc and let drip dry whilst I start on No 2, then No 3, after that crunaba wax or swisvax nano express/quick detail. Every second week the insides are done too...I dont sleep to good so I start most Sundays at 7.00 and finish at about 10:00 when Sophie gets out of her pit!

 

[markp4200]

Lovely work chaps,
I tend to do mine 'as and when' - which means very often. I now tend to do one or two items at a time to save the huge valeting job which takes hours. Being retired means as oon as the rain stops and the sun comes out, I'm out there doing something.
The hand mitt is essential - one for washing and one for polishing.
Forget the two bucket approach but just be careful with that grit.
Externally I am wary of the old jet-wash so keep to a gentle hose job and get around those wheel arches every time - I don't want any micro-specks visible or invisible.
Chamois leathers are a must!
Caranuba wax polish too; though I have several others to choose from; Turtle Wax, Mer and Auto Glym.
Wheels are washed only and chamoied.
Chromework treated with chrome cleaner.
AutoGlym glass cleaner for glass and lights.
Interior - carpet cleaned regularly after vacuuming.
Leather is now the sole province of Auto Glym; having used several, it's my favourite.

Then it's on to Avril's car which I also like to keep in decent nick.

Shame it's dark now, or I'd be out there now.

 

[nigw]

I'm going to try Gliptone leather care this weekend - I bought some after reading good things about it. I was also keen to get something that smelt right and left a matt finish rather than a glossy one.

 

[MAF260]

I am astounded to see people advising against the 2 bucket method. Have you ever tried it? Once I'd used 2 buckets for the first time I couldn't believe what I saw in the rinsing bucket and would now never go back to 1 bucket. I use a lamb's wool mitt and lamb's wool wheel brush as well, but they alone won't do the job. Using 2 buckets means you only ever put clean water onto the car and helps to avoid swirling marks. If you seriously care about your paintwork then just try it once and see if you go back to 1 bucket and 'being careful'.

 

[ENZ525]

I am astounded to see people advising against the 2 bucket method. Have you ever tried it? Once I'd used 2 buckets for the first time I couldn't believe what I saw in the rinsing bucket and would now never go back to 1 bucket. I use a lamb's wool mitt and lamb's wool wheel brush as well, but they alone won't do the job. Using 2 buckets means you only ever put clean water onto the car and helps to avoid swirling marks. If you seriously care about your paintwork then just try it once and see if you go back to 1 bucket and 'being careful'.

I think you make a really good point,
I will be investing in a second bucket!
Regards,
Enzo.

 

[conaero]

I am astounded to see people advising against the 2 bucket method. Have you ever tried it? Once I'd used 2 buckets for the first time I couldn't believe what I saw in the rinsing bucket and would now never go back to 1 bucket. I use a lamb's wool mitt and lamb's wool wheel brush as well, but they alone won't do the job. Using 2 buckets means you only ever put clean water onto the car and helps to avoid swirling marks. If you seriously care about your paintwork then just try it once and see if you go back to 1 bucket and 'being careful'.

Not against it, just cant be @rsed, but, if its that good, Ill give it ago. I did see Halfrauds do a mesh for the bottom of your bucked that traps the grit, good idea.

 

[conaero]

I'm going to try Gliptone leather care this weekend - I bought some after reading good things about it. I was also keen to get something that smelt right and left a matt finish rather than a glossy one.

Sounds like Gliptone is for you, it smells right and no gloss, get the blue cleaner from woolies that you buy with the conolising kits, you will be amazed how clean it gets it, especially if you have one of the light interiors.

http://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/c-117-leather-renovation.aspx

 

[nfm]

Strongly agree with MAF260 re two bucket: I am a recent convert having read about it on the other site and it is amazing how much grit is in the rinsing bucket; no way would I go back to one bucket, especially with my car being nero carbonio which means every tiny scratch show up.

 

[conaero]

Ok, I am going to try this next wash, I suppose seeing is believing.

Thanks for the tip.

 

[Maser Sod]

For getting rid of streaks and all dirt (post washing), I apply Zymol wax, let it dry solid, and then very gently brush it away.
The dirt seems to adhere to the wax. This is the only way I can get a streak-free finish without hours of effort.

 

[Andyk]

I can recommend Harlys wax......Its a carnauba wax that doesn't cost a fortune and the results are amazing. I've used loads in my time as I'm sure most of us have and when this one came along as a recommendation it thought it was too cheap to be any good but I must say that its brilliant....

 

[safrane]

It's Brilliant...Unless you spead it on your toast! Fatal if swallowed!?

 

[Andyk]

It's Brilliant...Unless you spead it on your toast! Fatal if swallowed!?

So top tip of the day from Safrane there......

 

[Parisien]

Guys off the Ferrari club recommending the Harly Wax too.........

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_nkw=...arParts_SM&_odkw=Bilt+Hamber&_osacat=0&bkBtn=

and........

Bilt hamber

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_nkw=..._CarParts_SM&_odkw=harly+wax&_osacat=0&bkBtn=

Emmmmm....I've heard of "claying"........but can some one go over the practicalities and science....even........?!


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[SimonM]

bought some harley wax off the guy who imports it all to the UK at Auto Italia - he had the De Tomaso with the OUTRAGEOUS shine on it - best turned out car at the event - i'll have to get around to cleaning it now!