Detailing Products for Beginners

Everything you need to know about cleaning products and general car care
Bizzo
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Detailing Products for Beginners

Post by Bizzo » Mon May 21, 2018 1:01 pm

Hi All,
So my new toy (B8 RS4) is in need of some TLC and having only used a standard car shampoo, sponge, rinse and then leather to dry off, I thought i'd see what people would recommend in terms of products for a novice that won't mean i'm spending hours on the drive cleaning.
So, thoughts on decent shampoo, sponge/mitts and drying apparatus would be really useful. Plus any tips that might help on the way.
Thanks in advance.

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chunky79
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Re: Detailing Products for Beginners

Post by chunky79 » Mon May 21, 2018 3:52 pm

I'm going to ruin your life now. Have a look on Detailing World, it will blow your mind what's out there for cleaning your car.
Good luck!
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Surrey Sam
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Re: Detailing Products for Beginners

Post by Surrey Sam » Mon May 21, 2018 4:39 pm

Very slippery slope, are you sure you want suggestions?

It gets expensive!!!
Sepang Blue B8 RS4, MY14, All option packs, B&O, Adv Key, Adapt Cruise, Pan Roof, Akrapovic Titanium Exhaust, + more.
Previous - Sprint Blue B7 RS4 Avant, Ceramics, Sunroof, SS+, Buckets, FBSW, Bluetooth, 2010+ RNSe
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mikep99
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Re: Detailing Products for Beginners

Post by mikep99 » Mon May 21, 2018 4:51 pm

As above...
It can get v. expensive.
I'd suggest giving yourself a budget and seeing what you can get for that.
Try to be clever and don't buy on a whim or you'll end up wasting a lot.
For info. I use.
Bolt Hamber shampoo ( and snowfoam depending on time etc)
Poorboy's black hole - black car
Bolt hamber auto balm wax (although used sonax bad last time after a mammoth claying/polishing few days)
The core is there though,
Mike

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doodlebug
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Re: Detailing Products for Beginners

Post by doodlebug » Mon May 21, 2018 4:59 pm

I’d start easy.

Get yourself a pressure washer and a snow foam lance.

Two buckets with grit guards. Take your pick of the wool wash mitts.

A stack of drying cloths, ideally seam free.

Go from there and add something to remove fall out/iron/tar deposits. Build it up. Steer clear of machine polishing unless you’re REALLY dedicated and have the time to experiment and a less precious car to experiment on.

mikep99
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Re: Detailing Products for Beginners

Post by mikep99 » Mon May 21, 2018 5:40 pm

Hehe, bought myself a DA a few weeks ago .
I was a bit apprehensive but worked out ok.. just don't use anything too harsh to start with, until you get used to it
Mike

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FaisalJ
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Re: Detailing Products for Beginners

Post by FaisalJ » Mon May 21, 2018 11:04 pm

Once you’ve got your gear, this is what you do with it:

https://www.kdskeltec.co.uk/guides/washing-drying


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Bizzo
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Re: Detailing Products for Beginners

Post by Bizzo » Tue May 22, 2018 8:51 am

Thanks all for the suggestions - do people now favour microfibre cloths rather than the traditional chamois? This thought process has come about because I've not had a car that I've felt deserved to be kept clean before. But this thing is such a beast, I just don't feel I can ignore it!

doodlebug
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Re: Detailing Products for Beginners

Post by doodlebug » Tue May 22, 2018 9:17 am

I think you said chamois. We’ll pretend you didn’t say that.

HYFR
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Re: Detailing Products for Beginners

Post by HYFR » Tue May 22, 2018 9:28 am

It’s like a time machine to 1992


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Bizzo
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Re: Detailing Products for Beginners

Post by Bizzo » Tue May 22, 2018 9:33 am

Was always known as one by my dad - and to me, a leather item used for drying a car will always be known by that name. Chamois. Breathe it in....

doodlebug
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Detailing Products for Beginners

Post by doodlebug » Tue May 22, 2018 9:39 am

I think you said it again.

Drying cloths are generally either microfibre or waffle weave. Take your pick. You’ll need several. I’d get three or four as a minimum.

No leather to be seen, except for Eddie’s crotchless chaps.

Eddie555
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Re: Detailing Products for Beginners

Post by Eddie555 » Tue May 22, 2018 9:57 am

doodlebug wrote:
Tue May 22, 2018 9:39 am
I think you said it again.

Drying cloths are generally either microfibre or waffle weave. Take your pick. You’ll need several. I’d get three or four as a minimum.

No leather to be seen, except for Eddie’s crotchless chaps.
No leather for me. I’m a modern man. Latex FTW
Current ride’s
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Renault Clio 172 Cup. (Babe the track pig)

Previous rides
SQ5 Glacier white( 2016 65reg)
RS6 avant C7 Daytona Grey 2015 facelift. The one I waved goodbye to!!
2013: Q7 3.0 tdi s/line plus ibis white (13reg)
2012: S5 cabriolet glacier white (62 reg)
2011: RS4 saloon B7. Avus (57 reg)

doodlebug
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Re: Detailing Products for Beginners

Post by doodlebug » Tue May 22, 2018 10:05 am

My bad.

Bizzo
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Re: Detailing Products for Beginners

Post by Bizzo » Tue May 22, 2018 10:52 am

I'll keep the old school terminology to myself! Thanks again, looks like I'll be getting the wallet out shortly! Is this a slippery slope to a cleaning obsession?

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