First Wash

mwitha · 8th April 2008, 01:20

Hey ***,

Sad as it is.... I'm quite excited about my first wash planned for tomorrow! lol. I only got the car on Friday, but its filthy now due to the snow and my excess driving...

Does anyone have any tips/do's or don'ts.

I have....

Autoglym Shampoo / Conditioner
water/bucket
A nice sponge
Microfibre cloth

I want to avoid 'swirls' on the paint and keep it all looking nice

bucketp · 8th April 2008, 06:21

There is loads of advice on these boards about cleaning but generally use the best products you can buy, Don't use a sponge use a mitt, dry with waffle cloth and polish then wax with a good carnuba based wax. Depends how keen or sad you are really.

robbo51 · 8th April 2008, 07:31

Use this site to get ALL the answers to any question you will EVER need:
Car Care Advice
Good luck..BTW..Please dont use a sponge!!

waran · 9th April 2008, 11:28

I tend to use a halfords cheap valeting cloth for the washing bit. I then use a microfibre cloth to dry it. No problems so far with swirls/ scratches. Also, fairly obvo, start from roof and work down doing rims last.

Waran.

Dimplyred · 9th April 2008, 22:39

Make sure you rinse off the dirt and mud with a hose before you touch it with anything.

cnicolini · 10th April 2008, 14:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dimplyred

Make sure you rinse off the dirt and mud with a hose before you touch it with anything.

Yes this is the golden rule, hose down the entire car first to remove any grit, and then use a quality car shampoo. Don't use washing up liquid as this contains salt and will rot the car!

coolice · 10th April 2008, 22:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnicolini

Don't use washing up liquid as this contains salt and will rot the car!

Hey,

Not sure about the salt part, or rotting the car but washing up liquid contains degreasing/detergent agents which will not benefit us.

Washing up liquid can strip the paint work of it's protective polish/wax layer that you applied very carefully the last time you washed the car, leaving it more open to the elements.
Obviously you can re-wax the car, but if the previous layers are left in place you build up the protection to a certain degree.

Ian

thunt · 11th April 2008, 00:06

As already said - don't use a sponge. I got a nice lambs wool mit from Halfords for £7.99. Much better and kinder to the paint than a sponge.

shieldy2k7 · 19th April 2008, 17:47

Are the "garage" car washes a bad idea to use?

is it best to hand wash it ?

FWH · 19th April 2008, 17:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by shieldy2k7

Are the "garage" car washes a bad idea to use?

is it best to hand wash it ?

Yes and yes.

Robbieee · 19th April 2008, 18:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by shieldy2k7

Are the "garage" car washes a bad idea to use?

is it best to hand wash it ?

Stay away from the garage car washes! They were designed by the devil to either damage your paint or even metalwork! There was a pic on here a while back of a damaged spoiler due to a garage car wash!

steven04 · 25th April 2008, 09:36

someone has ran a key down the side of my car is thier anyway i can restore it back to normal without repainting it?

Robbieee · 25th April 2008, 11:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by steven04

someone has ran a key down the side of my car is thier anyway i can restore it back to normal without repainting it?

Steven I suppose it depends how deep it is really and how long the scratch is...

Robbieee · 25th April 2008, 11:05

and how many panels has the scratch covered?

kojakxx · 28th April 2008, 11:47

Hello All,
Bought my Black ctr on Friday and cos of the rain and parked at the side of the road (and because I really want to) weather permitting, I'm gonna wash it for the first time this Sunday.
I've read alot about how to correctly wash a car, and also an awful lot of information about how poor the paint is. I havent got any protection as I was offered the Diamondbrite product but thought it was a bit of a rip off from the dealer (plus I was skint!). So I was going to do the following...
1. Rinse the grit away.
2. Two bucket method wash with Meguiars Gold Class car wash and Two microfiber wash mitts (both with grit guards).
3. Dry with microfiber drying towel (Meguiars again)
4. Apply Chemical Guys Wet Mirror Finish, as this is supposed to be excellent on Black paint?
5. ...don't know the rest as I haven't read the instructions on the CG's wet mirror finish bottle (ordered it yesterday).
Please feel free to add to this, (ie, 1A, I would do this etc.)
I was gonna post this seperately but then there would be two first wash posts so thought I' hijack mwithas' post (hope you don't mind) Thank-you in advance.

shieldy2k7 · 28th April 2008, 12:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robbieee

Stay away from the garage car washes! They were designed by the devil to either damage your paint or even metalwork! There was a pic on here a while back of a damaged spoiler due to a garage car wash!

took it though one off them "soft wash" ones came out fine, not a scratch on it, so my turtle wax kit is going unused... for now.

robbo51 · 1st May 2008, 07:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by shieldy2k7

took it though one off them "soft wash" ones came out fine, not a scratch on it, so my turtle wax kit is going unused... for now.

Oh dear!!

Please dont do this!!
If you look at the paint under a bright light it will be covered in tiny scratches (swirls)
In time these will appear more obvious and will require polishing out.
Its your car but please note the advise here and protect your investment.

8th April 2008, 01:20	#1 (permalink)
mwitha Valve Cap Join Date: 4th April 2008 Location: London, UK Posts: 41 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	First Wash Hey ***, Sad as it is.... I'm quite excited about my first wash planned for tomorrow! lol. I only got the car on Friday, but its filthy now due to the snow and my excess driving... Does anyone have any tips/do's or don'ts. I have.... Autoglym Shampoo / Conditioner water/bucket A nice sponge Microfibre cloth I want to avoid 'swirls' on the paint and keep it all looking nice

28th April 2008, 11:47	#15 (permalink)
kojakxx Valve Cap Join Date: 27th April 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	First wash too Hello All, Bought my Black ctr on Friday and cos of the rain and parked at the side of the road (and because I really want to) weather permitting, I'm gonna wash it for the first time this Sunday. I've read alot about how to correctly wash a car, and also an awful lot of information about how poor the paint is. I havent got any protection as I was offered the Diamondbrite product but thought it was a bit of a rip off from the dealer (plus I was skint!). So I was going to do the following... 1. Rinse the grit away. 2. Two bucket method wash with Meguiars Gold Class car wash and Two microfiber wash mitts (both with grit guards). 3. Dry with microfiber drying towel (Meguiars again) 4. Apply Chemical Guys Wet Mirror Finish, as this is supposed to be excellent on Black paint? 5. ...don't know the rest as I haven't read the instructions on the CG's wet mirror finish bottle (ordered it yesterday). Please feel free to add to this, (ie, 1A, I would do this etc.) I was gonna post this seperately but then there would be two first wash posts so thought I' hijack mwithas' post (hope you don't mind) Thank-you in advance.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads for: First Wash
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Screen Wash	bucketp	Cleaning	22	3rd October 2008 15:55
wash you car with no water!!!!!	gers	Cleaning	15	27th December 2007 08:17
hand wash or car wash?	Fiddels	Cleaning	18	17th July 2007 23:00
Waterless Wash???	tonyt	Cleaning	14	3rd July 2007 09:11
Quick Wash	Velocity	Cleaning	5	6th September 2006 23:06


This thread is about: First Wash, it's in Cleaning at the Honda Civic forum Civinfo; Hey *, Sad as it is.... I'm quite excited about my first wash planned for tomorrow! lol. I only got the car on Friday, but ...

8th April 2008, 06:21	#2 (permalink)
bucketp Exiled Englishman Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 23rd October 2007 Location: Peebles, Scottish Borders Posts: 389 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts iTrader: (0)	There is loads of advice on these boards about cleaning but generally use the best products you can buy, Don't use a sponge use a mitt, dry with waffle cloth and polish then wax with a good carnuba based wax. Depends how keen or sad you are really.

8th April 2008, 07:31	#3 (permalink)
robbo51 It wasn’t me! Civinfo guru Join Date: 1st July 2007 Location: Bingley, W.Yorks Posts: 3,418 Thanks: 57 Thanked 54 Times in 51 Posts iTrader: (0)	Use this site to get ALL the answers to any question you will EVER need: Car Care Advice Good luck..BTW..Please dont use a sponge!!

9th April 2008, 11:28	#4 (permalink)
waran Supporter Valve Cap Join Date: 9th June 2007 Location: London Posts: 49 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	I tend to use a halfords cheap valeting cloth for the washing bit. I then use a microfibre cloth to dry it. No problems so far with swirls/ scratches. Also, fairly obvo, start from roof and work down doing rims last. Waran.

9th April 2008, 22:39	#5 (permalink)
Dimplyred Super Moderator Civinfo guru Join Date: 24th August 2007 Location: Staffordshire Posts: 4,702 Thanks: 19 Thanked 131 Times in 130 Posts iTrader: (0)	Make sure you rinse off the dirt and mud with a hose before you touch it with anything.

11th April 2008, 00:06	#8 (permalink)
thunt Supporter Locking Wheelnut Join Date: 14th February 2008 Location: Devon, UK Posts: 108 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader: (0)	As already said - don't use a sponge. I got a nice lambs wool mit from Halfords for £7.99. Much better and kinder to the paint than a sponge.

19th April 2008, 17:47	#9 (permalink)
shieldy2k7 Locking Wheelnut Join Date: 3rd March 2008 Location: ENGLAND Posts: 182 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader: (0)	Are the "garage" car washes a bad idea to use? is it best to hand wash it ?

25th April 2008, 09:36	#12 (permalink)
steven04 Valve Cap Join Date: 21st February 2008 Location: Aberdeen Posts: 4 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	someone has ran a key down the side of my car is thier anyway i can restore it back to normal without repainting it?

25th April 2008, 11:05	#14 (permalink)
Robbieee The Talented Mr. Robbieee Rocketship door handle Join Date: 27th September 2007 Location: Glasvegas Posts: 1,132 Thanks: 40 Thanked 27 Times in 26 Posts iTrader: (1)	and how many panels has the scratch covered?