[webwysard]

I need your opinion deciding what product (brands) to choose for detailing. The car is Alpine white if that helps.

1. car shampoo
2. microfibre cloths
3. polish
4. wax
5. clay bar

As most of the stuff would be coming from US so i think there is huge selection to choose from. so please let the suggestions coming in.

I wont be paying for any of this as its gonna be a gift so price is not an issue as long as its reasonable.

thanks for help/suggestions/advice

[briers]

I know this is going to sound like a fanboy statement but i just use autoglym

It all started when i got their Super Resin Polish which is highly regarded and i also bought that Gloss product too. I was very impressed.

Before i used Meg's Gold class shampoo and wax, with the polish and gloss inbetween.

Being so impressed with the Polish and gloss i decided to try the shampoo too. Turned out to be just as good.


I always use a 2 bucket method; 1 bucket for clean, hot water with the shampoo, wipe 1 panel, not pressing on hard and not more than 2 times over the same panel, flip the mitt (which is lambswool) and finish off the panel. Rinse in the fresh bucket of water.

Some people go as far as getting grit guards for the bucket too.


After the shampoo if it's never been done a clay bar can be handy.


I also have a load of Meg's drying waffle cloths and a load of Meg's polishing cloths too. And some, you guessed it, meg's foam waxing pads.

Poorboys do some good products, especially their wheel cleaners : http://www.poorboysworld.com/

As for claybars, some are very expensive but you can get some pretty decent ones; Sonus rings a bell, megs quick clay kit i have used and mothers is quite popular in america.


You will have to organise this to relate to your numbered questions as true to form i just wrote the response as and when things popped into my head.

[AlanQS]

Why do you want the stuff to come from the States? Have you tried cleanyourcar.com or polishedbliss.co.uk

Both have an enormous range of products and in the case of Polished Bliss, items usually have a note from PB stating why they think they are good, and where to use them (PB are also professional detailers).

Having read some threads on the fun and games buying from the U.S. with import tax, V.A.T. and all the other bills, I would have thought it wasn't particularly worth while - and as for returning damaged goods!?

Have a look at DetailingWorld.com. There are sections on products, reviews by the dozen, and you will find that American detailers tend to use some products we have never heard of in this country whilst at the same time, Meguiars, PoorBoy, Menzerna, et. al will come up all the time.

The bottom line is that most of the products are good so it boils down to individual choice. e.g.

For Lube and quicker drying I use Meguiars Last Touch
For interior and exterior plastics I use Aerospace 303
For car shampoo I use SnowFoam
I use Meguiars lambswool wash mitts
Collinite 915 for finishing wax.
Autosol for brightwork.
Sonus mild clay bars
Menzerna polishes for machining.
Gliptone leather cleaner/conditioner
Tardis for tar removal.

Hope this is a start.

[M3-FAST]

Defo don't need to source any of it from the states:

My regime weekly is:

Spray the wheels with Bilberry Wheel Cleaner http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wheels.../prod_504.html Decant this into a trigger spray and mix with water - 5l will last 12 months
Powerwash car and rinse wheels
Snowfoam http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/s...lance-kit.aspx - again when mixed with water 5l will last 12 months
Leave to dwell for 5-10 mins (depending how hot the day is!)
Rinse with power washer
Snowfoam again and agitate/clean with meguiares lambswool mitt http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/m...wash-mitt.aspx
Rinse with power washer
Dry with soft drying towel http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/m...ail-towel.aspx
Quick polish with Megs quick-detailer (use on wheels/paint/glass) - http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/detail.../prod_225.html
Dress tyres with Meg Gel on a cloth (best I have used) http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/m...-tyre-gel.aspx


Periodically (every 6 months or so) I use a clay bar http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/b...clay-soft.aspx and some tar remover http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/engine.../prod_586.html and then a paint cleaner (Lime Prime by DoDo Juice) http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/d...ime-250ml.aspx

Waxes and polishes are quite a personal thing really but I have been using the DoDo Juice stuff on my car - Light Fantastic for white/light coloured cars topped up weekly with the detailing spray.

Always use decent quaility microfibre cloths - they can be washed along with your drying towel and wash mitt in the washing machine - just dont tell the missus

[E92Fan]

Originally Posted by M3-FAST

Defo don't need to source any of it from the states:

My regime weekly is:

Spray the wheels with Bilberry Wheel Cleaner http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wheels.../prod_504.html Decant this into a trigger spray and mix with water - 5l will last 12 months
Powerwash car and rinse wheels
Snowfoam http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/s...lance-kit.aspx - again when mixed with water 5l will last 12 months
Leave to dwell for 5-10 mins (depending how hot the day is!)
Rinse with power washer
Snowfoam again and agitate/clean with meguiares lambswool mitt http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/m...wash-mitt.aspx
Rinse with power washer
Dry with soft drying towel http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/m...ail-towel.aspx
Quick polish with Megs quick-detailer (use on wheels/paint/glass) - http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/detail.../prod_225.html
Dress tyres with Meg Gel on a cloth (best I have used) http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/m...-tyre-gel.aspx


Periodically (every 6 months or so) I use a clay bar http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/b...clay-soft.aspx and some tar remover http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/engine.../prod_586.html and then a paint cleaner (Lime Prime by DoDo Juice) http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/d...ime-250ml.aspx

Waxes and polishes are quite a personal thing really but I have been using the DoDo Juice stuff on my car - Light Fantastic for white/light coloured cars topped up weekly with the detailing spray.

Always use decent quaility microfibre cloths - they can be washed along with your drying towel and wash mitt in the washing machine - just dont tell the missus

Great post

Just a note - try not to wash microfibre cloths in a load with fabric conditioner - the conditioner reduces the ability of the microfibre cloths to absorb water quickly...

[Butch]

I've just ordered a load of products from www.shinearama.co.uk - had a few brands that I couldn't find on other uk sites

[NickP]

I had a Candy White car previously and always had great results with both the Zaino range and also Jeffs Werkstat - great longevity too

[toxicnerve]

OP:

Few threads you might find worth reading (all started by me when I was in the market for some detailing kit etc):

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/foru...d.php?t=156010

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/foru...d.php?t=160998

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/foru...d.php?t=156727

Hope this helps...

[davyk31]

Andrew DTUK is a member on here, runs Juicy Detailing, I bought some things from them this week, good prices and very speedy delivery.

[ss134]

The best microfibre and wash mitt by a country mile. Expensive but worth it.

http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/d...ing-towel.aspx

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/foru...ad.php?t=99456

[cdb]

as per all the above really, last touch is great, bilberry is some of the best wheel stuff i've used

as said earlier detailing world is a great place for tips etc

[m1bjr]

1. car shampoo
Meguires Gold Class


2. microfibre cloths
Wilkinsons 'el cheapos'

3. polish
Meguires crystal (the stage 2 but on its own)

4. wax
Collinite 476s (lasts for ever, just wash and shamois, buff with Quick detailer bweekly)

5. clay bar
Megs, with Quick detailer as a lube (Do yearly)

Megs Hot Wheels looks nice on the rubber too.
For interior I use poorboys for the matte finish, other plastics etc is Autoglym.

If you love the smell of Old English leather, try Gliptone sparingly. Mmmmmm....

[Ham09]

My fortnightly clean is normally

1. House pipe water rinse, and leave for a 5 minutes to losen grit/dirt.
2. Wash (2 buckets method) using lambs wool mit and Meguairs NXT shampoo
3. Microfibre to shamy off.
4. If can be ars*d Meguairs quick detailer to top up wax and tyre gel.

Once every 3 to 4 months, Clay then Meguairs 3 step system. Bought some cheapo foam applicators off eBay to get the wax on thin and even. All done by hand and works for me

[Walesy]

A subject that will have many views.

For me:

I use Chem Guys Citrus wash (very strong dose) to get rid of old wax/sealants that may be present.
Then use CG's maxi suds with some water as a clay lube with a sonus clay bar.
. wash again and dry
. polish using either Auto glym Superglym or Dodo juice lime prime (correction via DA polisher)
. Then I use Zymol HD cleanse and finish off with a good quality wax (dodo juice Super natural, Zymol Concours or Glasure, CG's 5050 wax)
. 2 coats of wax with at least an hour in between

Tyres...Halfords tyre dressing (cheap and very very good) or Meg's tyre gel (again excellent)

Maintain, Chem Guys Glossworkz shampoo and lambswool mit and a spritz of Vic's wax detailer.

Various products out there which you will try and like/dislike. But I love the Chemical guys products personally. The Zymol waxes are expensive but are one of the best in my opinion and defo worth it.

[ace1204]

Ive got the full zaino bro show car kit brand new never used for sale if interested PM me

[m1bjr]

Anyone got an idea how to remove the whit boot marks from my coupe folding door bins?
Still cant get it out, tried all the plastic polishes out there now, no good

I use Poorboys interior, but looking for a similar alternative (neutral non silicon finish) any ideas?