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You definitely get what you pay for with car washing products


Steve-O
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I dont know about you guys but i do enjoy the process of cleaning my cars, i often spend 3/4 hours on one car to a degree that i feel pleased with the level of finish. Recently i have been looking at upping my game and using better products to do a better job in a given timeframe.

 

Traditionally i was a firm Auto Glym fan, but ultimately never been really happy with the low foam shampoo and got me thinking about that and other products in my car washing box. Most of the actual cleaning/finishing products i have are Autoglym but i have made a conscious change and picking other brands to see how i get on with them, including a few of the detailers weapons of choice.

 

So i placed an order on i4 detailing at the weekend and ordered the following :

 

Meguiars Lambswool Mitt (Replaces conventional microfiber sponge)

Meguiar's Last Touch 3.78 Litre (New addition to the box)
Wheel Woolies 3-Piece Wheel Brush Kit (In addition to a wheel detailing brush)
ScratchShield 20L White Wash Bucket (existing grit guard goes in here. I have another 20L for pure water)
Meguiar's LAST TOUCH 32oz Bottle + Spray Head

Meguiar's Endurance Tire Gel (replaces Auto Glym Tyre Dressing Spray)

Tyre Dressing Sponge Applicator (curved variety)
Bottle Dispenser 1oz Hand Pump to go in my 4 litre last touch and shampoo bottles (Aid the dispensing into buckets/bottles with no waste)
ValetPRO Wash Sponge
ODOR-AID Auto Spray 
ValetPRO Bilberry Wheel Cleaner (this doesnt replace the bilt hamber but just testing as its well regarded)

 

I cleaned the Civic yesterday using the bulk of these and i have to say it was a pleasure to use all of the products, the stand out product for me was the last touch detailing spray which i diliuted 1:1 and used to finish off the car and get rid of any blemishes etc. I had to use some tardis to get some white gloss splatters off the roof, then use the last touch spray again to remove the tardis then hit the roof with greased lightning again. The tyre gel was very impressive - i wont ever be getting a spray based one again. So much nicer to use and prefer the better wet look it provides. I am confident it will last a lot longer also.

 

I am a firm fan of having the right gear for the job as it ultimately leads to a more enjoyable experience and a better outcome. I've got a number of proper detailers spray bottles now and begun decanting my various products such as last touch, Auto glym fast glass, bilberry wheel cleaner into these to save digging about. Hard to explain but using these sprays are more satisfying and the spray pattern is more predictable and adjustable.

 

What i am eluding to really is that i have sat on the fence for years and assumed autoglym was the best easily attainable products are a reasonable price and those and a regular sponge would be enough but now i feel its actually its genuinely worth spending a bit more and picking your products for specific jobs more carefully and you'll get a better finish for the same effort.

 

Has anyone else has the same kind of rationalisation or am i perhaps just a geek on a slippery slope into detailing? :lol: The mx5 is sat filthy in the garage paost le mans so looking forward to getting that one out and cleaned!

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A good selection of products there mate, I've used most of them before.

 

I hated lambs wool mitts though, such a PITA to dry and get all the bits out of them. After you've rinsed it put a kitchen towel tube inside to keep it open so it dries properly, it stops them from rotting inside out!

 

I was having a look at some detailing products last week when I was ordering some proofer for the roof and I can't believe how much they have gone up in the last few years. Last Touch is almost £30 now, I paid under £20 when I first used it. It's a great clay lube as well but I have switched to Zaino Z6 for a final wipe down. Quick detailers are much nicer to use with a thick MF cloth as well, do you have any?

 

The endurance gel is good but rather than use an applicator cut a 50p sponge into cubes and bin them afterwards. These curved ones don't last very long IMO and get very messy.

 

If you like the lamb mitt and want some more have a look here, they're much better quality than the Megs ones - http://www.sheepskinshop.co.uk/product-category/sheepskin-wash-polish-mitts/ Again they've increased in price alot but I found the quality was very good.

 

If you want some spray bottles with atomisers and alloy ones for the more corrosive products this website is also very good, I bought loads for a fraction of what some of the branded ones cost!

 

http://www.naturallythinking.com/categories/Bottles-%26-Jars/

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There speaketh a man that has already trodden the detailing path :D

 

Some good tips there! Dont get me wrong i balked at the cost of some of these items but overall i feel like i am getting enough out of them and i am happy to spend on. I bought one proper megs spray bottle and the rest i got on ebay - 5 for £8 and they are supposedly AutoSmart bottles which i think are decent. They are chemically resistant so i am good on that one. no real difference between those and the £5 megs one. I recall what that tardis did to that bottle you gave me :lol: i am still using that sample you gave me Rich so mush be a great product as you dont need much at all!

 

i have a s***load of MF cloths that i got from costco and they have been great. A few of them have seen better days so they now get relgated to door jam and wheel duties :)

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lol, yeah I got into it alot but the last few years it's just been a quick wash and that's it. I still have loads of products to use, I refuse to buy any more until I've got through what I've got already.

 

The LT is good as you dilute it 50:50 so it gives you just over 7 litres, which will last a long time. I did have the APC as well but it's pretty weak and Autosmart G101 is alot better.

 

The Megs spray bottles are good but I found them too big for me so bought loads of Autosmart ones as well, they're also good. Talking of bottles when you've finished using them tip them upside down and press the trigger until nothing comes out, it stops them getting clogged up or makes them last longer if using harsh chemicals. They'll eat the seals if left in the trigger for too long and I flush them with water once the bottle is empty.

 

The Costco MFs are very good I have those as well but I do like a plush one for the final buff! :D

 

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/microfibre-cloths/microfibre-buffing-towels/eurow-plush-buffing-towels-pkg/2/prod_1493.html

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Bloody hells thats nicer than my bath towels! haha

 

Yeah i'll watch the spray guns. I know part of the routine should be to prep them for storage. I am a bit rubbish with that so will make sure i air the mitt and clean the triggers before i put them away. 

 

I think i might get a tap put out the front to make it easier as well :D

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These are the ones I have, 6 of them I think, really nice and soft! :D

 

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/microfibre-cloths/microfibre-buffing-towels/eurow-shag-pile-double-density-towels/prod_436.html

 

That was one of the first things I did when I moved into the house, fit an outside tap - priorities!! :lol:

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I need to update this thread, I have finished using/sold alot of products since I first started buying all this stuff!

 

http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=4998&page=0

 

It also reminds me I really need to meet up with the AS rep, I need some biobrisk and other bits as I've used all those up.

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They look nice. I can't get those as the missus will want a new bunch of towels haha

 

Got a tap out the back but have to run the hose out the gate and down the alley to my drive each time which is a pain when want to do a quick one.

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