Detailing for someone who can't be bothered?

[Ethan1996]

I got into the whole detailing thing with the Clio and bought a DA, polishes etc until I had so many bottles of stuff and spent so long cleaning the car it was getting a bit annoying!

Having just got a new car which is black, I don't particularly want to spend forever cleaning it but don't want it getting scratches, swirls, etc as its just been machine polished at the dealership.

I'm thinking the easiest way to keep it clean that doesn't take too long is:

Snowfoam
Jetwash rinse
2BM Wash with a lambswool mitt and those grit guards
Dry car with a large microfibre drying towel
SRP? Or would UDS be a better option?
EGP or AG wax? Got some Turtle Wax stuff but it's not exactly a detailing product. Not sure if it's any good?

Any changes or recommendations?

 

[ben_r1]

When I can't be arsed I always reach for my trusty bottle of AG Aqua wax, it can be applied whilst the cars still wet eliminating the drying stage and I can do the 265 in about 15 mins from first spray to final buff. Doesn't give terrible results either.

 

[Rob]

I love the oxymoronic nature of your post.

You're looking for car cleaning, not detailing. Paint correcting a car, again, is not detailing. The word 'detailing' and the phrase 'can't be bothered' don't work. Daniel I know you'll love this

 

[Mr Plums]

As above, cant be bothered and detailing do not go together.

 

[Addicted]

If you want to keep it clean, add a nano-sealant, and then just top up with products when you need, if there is a top-up product.

If you can't be bothered to prep it for a nano-sealant, look into Hydro2.

 

[Ethan1996]

Hmm maybe I should have phrased that better, I can tell this is going to resort to one of those bash the OP threads and a 'what is detailing' discussion. I'm looking for as close to the look of a 'detailed car' as possible for a medium to low effort.
Addicted, sounds good I'll take a look!

 

[@Spoonie]

Hmm maybe I should have phrased that better, I can tell this is going to resort to one of those bash the OP threads and a 'what is detailing' discussion. I'm looking for as close to the look of a 'detailed car' as possible for a medium to low effort.
@Addicted, sounds good I'll take a look!

I knew what you meant. It seems our moderator would rather pick fault in threads and invite others to do the same than ask for clarification. Poor show.

 

[Daniel]

What concerns me more is 'the dealership machine polished it'

If they're anything like the dealers round here, that means they paid someone £30 to mop it with some G3.

 

[Ethan1996]

I knew what you meant. It seems our moderator would rather pick fault in threads and invite others to do the same than ask for clarification. Poor show.

Thanks There seems to be alot of hate to anyone who uses the word "detailing" in any way that isn't seen as "correct", I figured detailing just meant keeping it spotless/immaculate in as many areas/details as possible. Hence I used this word as I'd like to keep things clean like the engine bay, door shuts etc, not just the standard painted exterior. I doubt most people who simply "clean" their cars go as far as to use trim blackener etc.

 

[Mr Plums]

What concerns me more is 'the dealership machine polished it'

If they're anything like the dealers round here, that means they paid someone £30 to mop it with some G3.

Is that g3 any good?

I work with a lad that used to work in a bodyshop/panel beaters, he said they used that product a lot.

 

[Daniel]

Personally I wash, decontaminate (tar and iron) then polish with SRP. Then cover it in Hydro2.
Makes the car very easy to clean and is not too over the top.
Of course if the car is swirled and hologram'd thanks to bad machine polishing, you'll effectively be sealing in the damage.

 

[Ethan1996]

What concerns me more is 'the dealership machine polished it'

If they're anything like the dealers round here, that means they paid someone £30 to mop it with some G3.

They actually have a really nice bloke who comes in and does it had a good chat to him at lunch when I went there for the wipers. He seemed to know his stuff, he had alot of polishes in black bottles, 3M IIRC?

 

[Ethan1996]

Personally I wash, decontaminate (tar and iron) then polish with SRP. Then cover it in Hydro2.
Makes the car very easy to clean and is not too over the top.
Of course if the car is swirled and hologram'd thanks to bad machine polishing, you'll effectively be sealing in the damage.

Car seems mirror to me, can't see any holograms etc Like you I thought it'd be a bit dodgey polishing but seems pretty good to me! I have some AG tar remover, shall I get some Iron-X too? Is Hydro2 something you use after the car is polished? So SRP then Hydro-2?

 

[Daniel]

Is that g3 any good?

I work with a lad that used to work in a bodyshop/panel beaters, he said they used that product a lot.

It's very good if used properly. But 99 times out of 100 the paint doesn't need such a heavy compound and you create more damage than you fix.

People in body shops use it because it's such a heavy cut.

 

[Daniel]

Car seems mirror to me, can't see any holograms etc Like you I thought it'd be a bit dodgey polishing but seems pretty good to me! I have some AG tar remover, shall I get some Iron-X too? Is Hydro2 something you use after the car is polished? So SRP then Hydro-2?

You can just wash it then hydro2 it, but I find SRP first leaves an even slicker finish and it lasts ages. Much more than the 3 months they claim!

 

[Ethan1996]

You can just wash it then hydro2 it, but I find SRP first leaves an even slicker finish and it lasts ages. Much more than the 3 months they claim!

Definitely worth a look then You ever use Trafalgar products? They used a Trafalgar lemon scented dash protector, it smells heavenly! When talking to the guy he even gave me a tin for free to keep, can't stop using it!

 

[Daniel]

Definitely worth a look then You ever use Trafalgar products? They used a Trafalgar lemon scented dash protector, it smells heavenly! When talking to the guy he even gave me a tin for free to keep, can't stop using it!

Yeah but only for cleaning stuff. Their finishing products aren't up to much really.

Lemon dash protector (in a liquid form) is good stuff. The aerosol stuff however is the work of the devil. Attracts dust like there's no tomorrow!

 

[Ethan1996]

Yeah but only for cleaning stuff. Their finishing products aren't up to much really.

Lemon dash protector (in a liquid form) is good stuff. The aerosol stuff however is the work of the devil. Attracts dust like there's no tomorrow!

Looks like that's just for smelling then!

 

[Rob]

I knew what you meant. It seems our moderator would rather pick fault in threads and invite others to do the same than ask for clarification. Poor show.

Nothing to do with that. It's the watering down of things I don't like. I'm on my phone on a train now so it's not easy to go into, but the incorrect use of terms always ends up with a f**k up somewhere down the line.

Mechanics become 'tuners', valeters become 'detailers', anyone that wields a machine polisher is suddenly 'a detailer', anyone that owns timing tools becomes a 'Renault specialist' etc etc.

Anyway, the hydro 2 recommendation sounds bang on for what you want.

 

[JD]

I knew what you meant. It seems our moderator would rather pick fault in threads and invite others to do the same than ask for clarification. Poor show.

Hardly. You've also not exactly added to the thread yourself.

OP, may I suggest you pay a local hobbyist to do the work for beer money and then keep on top of it. I no longer have the time to spend hours on my car, but from a joint effort polish with @Scrooge a few months ago, and keeping on top of it when I have the time (wash and top up protection with Reload in under an hour) my car still looks umpteen times better than anything else on the road.

 

[@Spoonie]

Hardly. You've also not exactly added to the thread yourself.

I didn't know the answer.

 

[JD]

I didn't know the answer.

I appreciate that. And take this the right way I.e not argumentative, but surely that means you have nothing productive to add to the thread, chap.

Anyway. Let's move on.

OP, once you've had a minor correction, AF Tripple and a decent spray on/wipe off sealant will produce exceptional results. This is 12 months after correction with a brief Tripple and Reload application.

 

[Ethan1996]

Hardly. You've also not exactly added to the thread yourself.

OP, may I suggest you pay a local hobbyist to do the work for beer money and then keep on top of it. I no longer have the time to spend hours on my car, but from a joint effort polish with @Scrooge a few months ago, and keeping on top of it when I have the time (wash and top up protection with Reload in under an hour) my car still looks umpteen times better than anything else on the road.

Brilliant idea! Never thought of that to be honest. Anyone local to Tunbridge Wells? Big box of beers to anyone who fancies a detail.

 

[Ethan1996]

@JD that looks stunning! Theres a few areas that look a bit dodgey on the car, like water marks or tree sap? Grey areas on the black paint that don't look very nice and feel quite rough. Am I right in saying a fallout remover, then a clay is the way to tackle these? I suppose before a machine polish too.

 

[Cliotoby]

What @JD said.

No matter what you do to it polish wax sealant wise I cant recommend enough you get some QD now you own a black car for application every time you wash. Itll remove anything washing and drying doesn't like watermarks, streaks etc and prevent major frustration. Im a big fan of sonax BSD because it beads really well and is durable as f**k - some QD's look good but have s**t water behavior. Theres also CP Reload and that gtechniq liquid crystal stuff thats worth a look - both great.

I would make an effort to set a day aside once a year in spring and machine polish the car fully then apply something like CQUK which will hide any minor imperfections and protect against swirls and marring. Im sure you know everything stands out like a b*****d on black paintwork. Else Apply SRP or something 2-3 times a year and keep it topped with a spray sealant as above.

I wouldnt ever own or rent a black car without using a QD. Makes washing so much easier and the results are almost perfect every time. Prep is key though!

 

[Ethan1996]

What @JD said.

No matter what you do to it polish wax sealant wise I cant recommend enough you get some QD now you own a black car for application every time you wash. Itll remove anything washing and drying doesn't like watermarks, streaks etc and prevent major frustration. Im a big fan of sonax BSD because it beads really well and is durable as f**k - some QD's look good but have s**t water behavior. Theres also CP Reload and that gtechniq liquid crystal stuff thats worth a look - both great.

I would make an effort to set a day aside once a year in spring and machine polish the car fully then apply something like CQUK which will hide any minor imperfections and protect against swirls and marring. Im sure you know everything stands out like a b*****d on black paintwork. Else Apply SRP or something 2-3 times a year and keep it topped with a spray sealant as above.

I wouldnt ever own or rent a black car without using a QD. Makes washing so much easier and the results are almost perfect every time. Prep is key though!

Very informative I'll look into a QD now! Thanks for that.