The Perfect Cleaning Regime

[mark_glh]

Ok, i know this has been covered before (in fact that's where i stole most of the ideas from) but i was wondering what you all thought of this regime / product selction, all my previous cars have had the pleasure of visiting the local automatic car wash, but the NHB Civic doesn't take too kindly to that:

• Hoover clean inside / Treat Leather (can anyone recommend any products?)
• Spray with Hose
• Spray with Power Washer
• Spray wheels/arches with power washer
• Clean Alloys using Duragloss 821 All Wheel Cleaner and Brush (Is that too acidic?)
• Wash with Duragloss 901 Car Wash Concentrate using the 'two bucket method' and a 'Duragloss Plush Microfibre Wash Mitt'
• Dry using 'Duragloss Plush Microfibre Drying Towel'
• Apply Poorboys Wheel Sealant to Alloys
• Clay using 'Bilt Hamber Auto-clay Regular' with water
• Apply Scratch X using Duragloss Plush Microfibre Polishing Cloth (or Meguiars Even Coat Microfibre Applicators
  ???)
• Rinse with power washer
• Dry using 'Duragloss Plush Microfibre Drying Towel'
• Clean Windows using Rain X Repellent & Glass Cleaner Twin-Pack
• Finally apply 'Bilt Hamber Auto-Balm' using the same type cloth as above.

I thought about Collinite 915 instead of the auto-balm but wasn't sure.

I was planning on doing this once or twice a month, no more - and the items in red done once every 3ish months.

Please feel free to sugest different products as i've picked these from just reading around, especially the wash/dry/polish/wax cloths as i'm not sure at all about those.

Also can anyone recommend a Tyre/Rubber/Trim product and applicator to keep them looking nice and new?


thanks in advance for any help!

[illegalhunter]

I would use clay bar lube when claying . As for the tyres i would use Chemical Guy new look trim gell . I get a great shin on mine with it.

[mark_glh]

thanks, any ideas about what to use for removing tree sap / tar/ dead bugs?

[Unknownsoldier]

Illegalhunter, you really don't need to, it makes no discernable difference from what I've seen (although I add a smidgen of BH Auto wash to the water just as a precaution).

Tom

[Unknownsoldier]

Cheap spray on (I use Wilko's own brand, 99p a bottle), tar and bug remover, spray on before pre-wash then leave for five minutes and then wash off with a hose, it usually softens most stuff enough to be washed away.

Tom

[mark_glh]

Does anyone know which lasts the longest, Collinite or BH Auto-Balm? Both seem to get pretty good responses here but there's not much that i could find on which is the longest lasting.

[Unknownsoldier]

Both are good and have different properties, tbh when I get the BH AB I'll be applying it over the top of my 7 coats of Collinite (hopefully 10-15 by the end of the week).

Tom

[robbo51]

Originally Posted by illegalhunter

I would use clay bar lube when claying . As for the tyres i would use Chemical Guy new look trim gell . I get a great shin on mine with it.

Bilt-Hamber Clay does not require a lube..Its designed to work with water

[robbo51]

Originally Posted by mark_glh

Does anyone know which lasts the longest, Collinite or BH Auto-Balm? Both seem to get pretty good responses here but there's not much that i could find on which is the longest lasting.

I think they are both on par with each other in terms of longlivity.
I re apply one layer once a month, but thats obsessive with these products
A good test would be to do half the car in Collinite, the other with Bilt-Hamber and see..
You can be our Guinea Pig

[Rich 11]

Tyre dressing is awafull, it tends to spray all over your alloys . No matter which brand I have used they ALL leave a nice mess

[Unknownsoldier]

Try 'Tyre swipe' this only applies to your wheels as it is put on a tyre shaped pad first.....

Tom

[Jethro]

Originally Posted by Rich 11

Tyre dressing is awafull, it tends to spray all over your alloys . No matter which brand I have used they ALL leave a nice mess

Meguiar's Gold Class Endurance High Gloss works very well, because it doesn't spray on. You use a shaped applicator (as Tom suggested) or you can simply use a cloth.

Not only does this mean your alloys and driveway don't get messed up but you also avoid getting any on the tread.

I used Armor All Tire Foam previously and, like you said, it messes up your wheels and attracts dirt to them (unless you clean them after doing the tyres). And the black effect lasted only a few days. The Meguiar's gel lasts for 2-3 weeks at least, in my experience.

[mark_glh]

thanks, is there a standard rubber treatment that i can apply? and maybe use it on the wiper blades and roof seals too - i'm not overly bothered about dying them black, would just like to prevent them cracking etc.
Once thing i was wondering too, if i use the bh auto-clay next time the car gets full of crap, would that remove the previous coatings of auto-balm?

thanks everyone, appreciate your comments.

[Unknownsoldier]

Yes, as it is essentially an abbrasive clay.

Tom

[PJS]

Mark, you're looking for 303 Aerospace Protectant.
US - clay is not an abrasive, quite the opposite. It's designed to pull bonded contaminants from the surface and within the pore structure of the paintwork.

[mark_glh]

Thanks all!

I'll add 303 to my ever increasing list

One last thing, are the microfibre cloths ok for applying the scratchX and auto-balm?

[Dimplyred]

I've not used ScratchX, but the BH Auto Balm comes with an applicator pad. I use a micro-fibre cloth to polish it off though, after Robbo suggested it was better than the polishing cloth that comes with the AB. It is too, much easier.

[Mark Q]

Jeez, you must be young free and single to have all that time on your hands

[Unknownsoldier]

Originally Posted by PJS

US - clay is not an abrasive, quite the opposite. It's designed to pull bonded contaminants from the surface and within the pore structure of the paintwork.

From what I've read it is (www.bilthamber.co.uk):

"Both of the Bilt-Hamber auto-clay bars are formulated with finely divided low hardness minerals so that the abrasive effect is reduced when compared to other brands."

From wikipedia (not the gretaest place for facts I know):

"Clay is a mixture of clay base and various mild abrasives. Clay along with a clay lubricant is used to remove paint contamination. Spray wax, window cleaner or water can work as a clay lubricant. Road grime, tar, bugs, rust, tree sap and even paint overspray can be removed with a clay bar. Clay bars differ in color and density but what is most important is the type and amount of abrasive particles they contain. All clay bars will be labeled from "mild" to "strong" abrasive quality. Claying does not remove the clear coat of the paint but can cause marring or dullness if used incorrectly. When using a clay bar sufficient lubrication must be present to avoid scratching the paint. It takes a few passes of clay to feel the difference on the surface of the paint. To evaluate the effectiveness of claying dry the area and assess the paint and the bar. The paint should become slick to touch. The clay bar used should be turning gray. If the clay bar is dropped it must be discarded. The clay bar should be folded over frequently to expose clean surface. Claying does not replace polishing. It is a process that should be used before polishing compound is used."


Surely therefore it is mildly abrasive???

ATB,
Tom

[illegalhunter]

Before i dry the car is spray on Megs Final touch , helps stop swirls