How do i clean my paintwork??!

[J50N_Clio]

Sounds simple but its not...

My clios timing belt snapped (28k after changing...) so i found a replacement engine (the engine was a total mess) and fitted that - it has been declared as SORN so cannot move off of the small drive (otherwise i might have moved it before the following...)

Basically, we had builders round doing dusty things and it seems to have settled on my car and it feels like a mild sandpaper!

How the f**k do i get it off!? I'm selling the clio to move on to a faster one but cant untill its clean!

I have spoken to somebody who used to work for a builders merchants and he said that they had a product (can't remember the name!) that they used to used every week on their rep cars as they got like this.

Tried the obvious - Jet wash (distant and point blank!), leaving types of car washing liquid on for hours etc.

Anybody on here help? There are some uber-shiny cars on here so somebody must know!

 

[Rage]

How do i clean my paintwork??!

with a sponge?

...sorry had to be said...


you tried claying it mate?

 

[J50N_Clio]

Claying it? Enlighten me...!

Btw, i expected the sponge jokes and thats just asking to be scratched!

 

[mattjk]

Yep clays the way to go do a search on it loads of topics matey. youl want an aggresive clay, plus youl need to polish up afterwards.

 

[Rage]

Claying it? Enlighten me...!

Btw, i expected the sponge jokes and thats just asking to be scratched!

haha, had to be said. sorry

claying it....halfords or any meguires stockists will sell a kit. think its about £30?

you get 2 claybars and some detialer...

in real simple actions
o wash your car.
o dry your car
o (make sure you get rid of ANY dirt on the paintwork)
o working on a panel/section at a time, spray detailer on the pannel, and rub the clay over...thus picking up all the s**t on your car.

thats a real rough guide, and it takes about 2 hours to do a car fully properly....i did it on myn and it returned my cars paintwork from 14years of s**t back to a glass type finish

 

[Rage]

like i said thats a real rough guide, suggest you do a search for a proper step by step...but that gives you an idea ^

 

[Michael172]

washing it might be a bit of a pain with the amount of dust he has.

Do you have access to a power washer. By the sounds of it i think youll be best off snowfoaming the car and then giving it a good hard s.....pray after. Then id clay the car if its still full of dirt and s**t, sounds pretty far-fetched tbh, i cant see big pieces of dirt will get ingrained into the paintwork, id imagine using the 3 bucket method and a decent sheepskin mitt will do the trick, along with a strong mix of some horrible carwash like Meguirs Nxt gen wash......

Post in detailing section and rich might give you some advice.

 

[Rich]

If washing alone is not removing the stuck on grime claying will be your best bet.

 

[Chris_Cliomk1]

Have a scan on youtube pal theres a few vids made by Meguiars about claying which will help u understand what these folk are going on about. An if that doesnt work then ask ur mate what the stuff is they use and buy some = problem solved.

 

[Rich]

A guide to claying - http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog/guides_clean.html

 

[guysy]

I vote claying too, it gets grime, dust.. really tough stuff off most of the time.

 

[J50N_Clio]

Cheers fo this- I'm going to go buy a claying kit then polish the hell out of it.

Any thoughts on the best kit to get?

 

[ROSS18]

Pressure washer will do it good

 

[J50N_Clio]

Pressure washer has been tried! Won't budge...

 

[Kneel]

before claying you could try tar remover? I used it on my car to get all the caked on crap from roadworks and general abuse over its 3 year life lol.