Quick detail on your car

This is what I do for a detail.

Wheels

For the wheels, tyres and arches I use APC(all purpose cleaner) diluted 4:1, in a spray bottle.


I use two separate brushes, (one is for the alloys and the other is for the tyres and arches)

Spray APC onto alloy, tyre and arch.
Get the first brush and clean the alloy:


Then use the second brush to clean the tyre arch:



Rinse thoroughly.

Wash process

To remove the surface dirt, I foam the car using the Gilmour. If you have a foam lance that attaches to the PW then use that.
I have ran out of snow foam so I have used Megs shampoo.
Put a little bit in the bottom of the Gilmour:


Fill it a quarter up:

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Spray onto car, when the solution has gone the car should be looking like this:


While the foam is doing its job, go and fill the buckets up. First bucket is for the Megs shampoo, put a small amount at the bottom:


Second bucket is for water(both together)


Rinse off the foam. Wash half of the roof, then put the lambs wool mitt in the wash bucket before putting it into the solution bucket and rinse the shampoo from the paint. Repeat this process all around the car. When complete the wash bucket should look like this:


Paint prep

Next is to clay the paint work. Nead the clay untill it is easy to fold. (put in a hot container on a cold day)

These pics are from when I clayed the car.

There is no need to dry the car as you can use the water as lube, aswell as speed detailer.


Spray the lube on the paint and lightly run the clay bar across the paint. After:


Do this all over the car. In some places there will be tar spots, use AG tar remover for these bits. (no pics)

Wash the car in the same way as before.

Drying

When drying the car, I use a micro fibre cloth. Place on paint then pull it towards you.


I use about 5/6 micro fibre cloths to do this.
Using seperate ones for;
Top of car.
Around windows and middle of car.
Around the bottom of car.
Bumpers and skits.
Wheels and tyres.

Polishing

You can either do it by hand or by a machine polisher.

Before polishing it is best to clean the paint using a paint cleanser, such as dodo lime prime. Apply it to an applicator pad and rub into paint, buffing off immediately.


By hand

Apply polish onto a terry cloth and work into paint, do a section about 6" by 6" until the polish has broken down. (goes clear) Buff off with a miro fibre cloth, repeat this until all of the car is fully polished.

By machine (UDM-paint correction)

Tape up all plastics, rubber and glass. Or any were that the buffer can touch any thing other than the paint.

When I put the polish on the pad, I put it in a circle then rub it on paint to ensure that there will be no splatter of product.

Set the speed controll to 5/6 and place onto car before turning on. Apply a small amount of pressure and work the polish in, side to side up and down, in an area of 12" by 12" until it breaks down. Buff off with a clean micro fibre cloth. Do this all around the car.

Waxing

To wax I use an applicator pad. Rub into the wax until a light coating is on the pad, place on paint and work it in small circles. Do this around the car and leave for about 10 mins depending on manufactures recommendations. Buff off with a clean micro fibre cloth.

Dressing

I apply dressing to the tyres, bump stips and any other parts that need it.

Tyres

Spray Megs hot tyre shine on to a small sponge, wipe over the tyre until all the tyre is covered. Repeat on all four.

Plastics

Same process as the tyres, but I use AG vynl and rubber care. Ensure that all plastics are treated with this.


I think I have put everything you need to know about doing the outside of car. As i said I will edit this post and put pics where they are needed.