Ziggy
Member
The bank account has turned a bit red never mind me!!!
Detailing Routine
The bank account has turned a bit red never mind me!!!
I invested in a snow foam lance and have tried various snow foams.
My conclusion is that either they are all a waste of time or my technique is cr*p
My conclusion is that either they are all a waste of time or my technique is cr*p
Right here goes....
This is a BASIC step by step guide.
Essential equipment:
Pressure Washer with snow foam lance (if poss).
Selection of detailing brushes.
At least two buckets (with grit guards if poss) mark one bucket as your wash bucket, doesn't have to be fancy ...even some duct tape on it just so you know which bucket is which.
Couple of wash mitts (don't worry about spending lots on genuine lambs wool, the microfibre ones these days are as good) keep one "for best" by that I mean look after it, keep it clean and use if from the top of the vehicle, down to just above the sill area and the other one for the lower sections (sills, exhaust area etc).
If you have a chamois leather, bin it! go on to eBay and search for "TWIN PACK Car Drying Towel Cloth Microfibre Extra Large 60 x 90cm Trade Quality". £10.90 for 2 towel.
You should be able to do a T6 with 2 towels. also if you can get a 3rd drying towel preferably a different colour, keep that for door shuts only.
Halfords have a good retail range of car cleaning products. Get some shampoo, pack of microfibres and maybe glass cleaner too. Meguiars is very good. Or try www.cleanandshiny.co.uk, www.cleanyourcar.co.uk, www.slimsdetailing.co.uk or www.elitecarcare.co.uk)
Finally if you can push the boat out a little, get some quick detailer spray. Again you should be able to get this from halfords, personally I would go for Sonax Brilliant Shine Detailer spray, Eurocarparts always has this on offer usually around £6-£9 a bottle.
Safe Wash Process/technique:
Pre rinse the vehicle using the pressure washer, this will remove majority of the loose dirt. If heavily soiled, also ope the doors and carefully rinse the door shut area.
Spray an alloy wheel at a time with an iron removal based cleaner, work in with a detailing brush and rinse.
Snow Foam Option 1 (heavily soiled cars)
Snow foam the entire car, leave to dwell for a few minutes and then rinse.
Wash the car using two bucket method.
Snow Foam Option 2 (lightly soiled car/just maintenance wash required only)
Snow Foam the car, then use you your wash mitt and a bucket of clean water to wash the car using the snow foam detergent as a lubricant.
Once you are happy you have washed the vehicle thoroughly, rinse off with the pressure washer.
Maintenance Protection Option 1:
Apply spray on wet protection (such as Gyeon Wet Coat or Carpro Hydrolite)
Rinse and then dry off immediately with microfibre drying towels. The towels have two sides, use the thicker/deeper pile side of the towel to dry the towel. Use the first towel to remove the majority of water from the car and then dry off completely with the second towel.
Maintenance Protection Option 2:
Dry off with the microfibre drying towels. Once dry apply quick detailer spray to the vehicle, again panel at a time and buff off with a separate microfibre towel, this will remove any streaks and also add a layer of protection to the paintwork.
This is a BASIC step by step guide.
Essential equipment:
Pressure Washer with snow foam lance (if poss).
Selection of detailing brushes.
At least two buckets (with grit guards if poss) mark one bucket as your wash bucket, doesn't have to be fancy ...even some duct tape on it just so you know which bucket is which.
Couple of wash mitts (don't worry about spending lots on genuine lambs wool, the microfibre ones these days are as good) keep one "for best" by that I mean look after it, keep it clean and use if from the top of the vehicle, down to just above the sill area and the other one for the lower sections (sills, exhaust area etc).
If you have a chamois leather, bin it! go on to eBay and search for "TWIN PACK Car Drying Towel Cloth Microfibre Extra Large 60 x 90cm Trade Quality". £10.90 for 2 towel.
You should be able to do a T6 with 2 towels. also if you can get a 3rd drying towel preferably a different colour, keep that for door shuts only.
Halfords have a good retail range of car cleaning products. Get some shampoo, pack of microfibres and maybe glass cleaner too. Meguiars is very good. Or try www.cleanandshiny.co.uk, www.cleanyourcar.co.uk, www.slimsdetailing.co.uk or www.elitecarcare.co.uk)
Finally if you can push the boat out a little, get some quick detailer spray. Again you should be able to get this from halfords, personally I would go for Sonax Brilliant Shine Detailer spray, Eurocarparts always has this on offer usually around £6-£9 a bottle.
Safe Wash Process/technique:
Pre rinse the vehicle using the pressure washer, this will remove majority of the loose dirt. If heavily soiled, also ope the doors and carefully rinse the door shut area.
Spray an alloy wheel at a time with an iron removal based cleaner, work in with a detailing brush and rinse.
Snow Foam Option 1 (heavily soiled cars)
Snow foam the entire car, leave to dwell for a few minutes and then rinse.
Wash the car using two bucket method.
Snow Foam Option 2 (lightly soiled car/just maintenance wash required only)
Snow Foam the car, then use you your wash mitt and a bucket of clean water to wash the car using the snow foam detergent as a lubricant.
Once you are happy you have washed the vehicle thoroughly, rinse off with the pressure washer.
Maintenance Protection Option 1:
Apply spray on wet protection (such as Gyeon Wet Coat or Carpro Hydrolite)
Rinse and then dry off immediately with microfibre drying towels. The towels have two sides, use the thicker/deeper pile side of the towel to dry the towel. Use the first towel to remove the majority of water from the car and then dry off completely with the second towel.
Maintenance Protection Option 2:
Dry off with the microfibre drying towels. Once dry apply quick detailer spray to the vehicle, again panel at a time and buff off with a separate microfibre towel, this will remove any streaks and also add a layer of protection to the paintwork.
What foam/detergent are you using and why do you feel its a waste of time??I invested in a snow foam lance and have tried various snow foams.
My conclusion is that either they are all a waste of time or my technique is cr*p
Always pre-rinse, that's a given. But debate relating to snow foam is more about how to use them, rather than whether to use them. The theatre of seeing a car covered in what looks like fire extinguisher foam is fuelled by YouTubers basically, that's what they think people want to see. PH neutral snow foam detergent isn't that aggressive so doesn't pull off much dirt, great for regular maintenance details, where the vehicle has a good layer of existing protection already.
If I'm starting a detail on a car that's in for paint correction and protection etc, I'll hit it with a strong (non ph neutral) snow foam detergent as you need strip any wax off it anyway.
I guess the proof will be in the pudding so to speak, and every situation is different.
It's not something we use in my industry, but I have to wash my van at least every other day, so it won't take long to determine if Snow Foam works for me.
I might give it a go just to satisfy my own curiosity.
It's not something we use in my industry, but I have to wash my van at least every other day, so it won't take long to determine if Snow Foam works for me.
I might give it a go just to satisfy my own curiosity.
Ziggy
Member
Wow thank you so much no excuse for not knowing how to do it right now.
I'm a bit confused as to the purpose of snow foam, if it is designed to lift dirt as a prewash then why rinse the vehicle first to remove dirt?
I have some for the van as it was recommended by the detailer after our van was ceramic coated but I'm struggling to see the advantage over just pressure washing the vehicle first.
I am a novice trying to look after the pennies but am happy to spend on it if there is an advaantage so prepared to be educated.
I have some for the van as it was recommended by the detailer after our van was ceramic coated but I'm struggling to see the advantage over just pressure washing the vehicle first.
I am a novice trying to look after the pennies but am happy to spend on it if there is an advaantage so prepared to be educated.
It is just another step in removing as much scratchy stuff from the paintwork before actually touching it with a mit.
I found better results if I used the snow foam neat in the lance bottle (as opposed to pre-diluting it) spray a good coat on then leave it for as long as possible before rinsing off.
I found better results if I used the snow foam neat in the lance bottle (as opposed to pre-diluting it) spray a good coat on then leave it for as long as possible before rinsing off.
Would have to check what I've currently got in the garage.
Never seem to achieve anything more than I can achieve with my normal pre-rinse.
Check out polish bliss.. awesome company and products IMO. They have a simple yet effective 'how-to-guide' as well as products and user guides..
Car Care Products | Detailing Products | Free UK Delivery
Car Care Products | Detailing Products | Free UK Delivery
I thought I'd share this link as it helps answer some question repeatedly asked on here.
Auto Finesse ® | 12 steps of detailing
Auto Finesse ® | 12 steps of detailing
Now that's a before and after I will be very interested to see.
Sadly I don't have a before but I'm sure you've seen a muddy field before.
Here is the midway through....
It still requires work in the future but she looks good when the sun is shining.
Looking good Ed.
I don't recall seeing the pop top last time I saw your van, or was I just not looking?
No buddy it went in for conversion early Feb and was picked up middle of March. It's ready for the summer now.
