Flame Red Delight
Before anyone hates, this is going to be a detailing thread, i will be doing the full works on the car. I am waiting for some products to come through the post before i can finish the bodywork.
Well thought i would give my car some love since it was coming into the season for good weather and sunshine (not seen it yet right enough), but i always like to keep a clean car during summer and like to have it looking immaculate.
This process is what i use for all cars that i valet/enhancement detail, and i find it gives me very good results. Although i do normally fit it into one day (got a bit handy with the camera)
As always i am open to constructive criticism and any recommendations for products that would my life easier would be appreciarted.
First Stage
The first stage when valeting any car is always to do the arches and wheels IMO as when cleaning these it can usually dig up dirt etc that can end up on the bodywork. So this is the car before i have done anything to it, hasnt been cleaned in a good few weeks and the bird crap was just there today so not to worry it was cleaned off asap. The products used during this phase were:
Brit wheel cleaning gel (cannot recommend it enough and Gally will agree)
A selection of wheel brushes and a microfiber Kent washmitt that i specifically use only for wheels
In the arches i used Daisy APC which can be bought from any supermarket, great stuff and works well IMO
Before pic:
DSC_2680 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2682 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
During/After:
DSC_2684 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2685 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2686 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
Stage 2
The next stage after the wheels have been throughly rinsed and washed and the arches have been cleaned and rinsed is to clean the bootshuts and door shuts etc. For this i again used my APC and a selection of soft brushes (as to not scrape or scratch the paint) Once this process is done i also ensure to spray water in these areas to ensure that all product has been removed and where possible use another washmitt i have.
Before:
DSC_2688 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2689 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2690 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2692 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
After:
DSC_2698 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2696 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
Stage 3
This is then to snow foam, Product i used was my some valet pro PH neutral i didnt realise i still had in my garage, so i used this quite thick unsure exactly of dilution but due to me going to be waxing again sure i wasnt all that bothered. I ensured that whilst snow foaming i re-done the wheels and re-done the arches to ensure that all dirt had been removed. Snow foam was left to drip off but made sure that it did not dry this was imperative!
During:
Ditch finder tyres i know lol
DSC_2702 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2701 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2700 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2699 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
Afterwards, removed alot of the dust and grime, by this stage i still havent touched the paintwork of the car, i pressure washed the snow foam off to try and remove as much dirt as possible, this can be repeated if the car is particularly dirty:
DSC_2704 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2705 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
Stage 4:
Now onto my favourite part and my favourite product cannot recommend this shampoo enough, i used the 2 bucket method with both bucket with grit guards to ensure there was no marring etc at all. Working from the top downwards and i also leave the bottom of the doors untill last and use clean and fresh water to do these, used my super soft sheepkin mitt, The shampoo is brilliant and dilutes to 1.4000 lol:
DSC_2708 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2710 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
This is my mitt that i used for the arches, be especially careful to ensure that you get right in behind the lip in the rear arches, as this is a common area for clios to build up dirt which eventually in not watched carefully will rust. I then pressue washed again and pressure washed the inside of the arches (be very careful and dont go too close)
DSC_2709 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
After and i have also used the Chemical guys used plush drying towel (again using the patt down method, cannot recommend the towel enough) i also have another specific wheel towel that i use to dry the wheels, look at the gloss that the shampoo gives just by cleaning the car its brilliant stuff and the bottle lasts forever due to dilution rate(no i dont work for chemical guys lol)
DSC_2711 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2712 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2713 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2715 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
Stage 4
I understand why people will ask me why i done this stage before i machine polish and this is purely because i am addicted to trim black stuff, i dont do this when the car is done in one day just to clarify. I just dont like running about in a car with no tyre black or trim black on, product i used was chemical guys again wet look trim gel, very easy to use and i also use it on my tyres, just apply and then wipe down with a microfiber and you receive these results, i will be getting some C4 soon:
DSC_2717 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2718 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2719 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2720 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2722 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
Finally a couple of refection shots, the polishing waxing and glazing will be in part 2, these are purely refections from the stages i done today, no waxes etc applied.
DSC_2724 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2725 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2729 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
I hope this helps someone out and shows people the sort of detail i go into when valeting there car for them, i did also dress the arches but unfortunately the pics didnt really work out well but this was done using the same trim gel. The next thread will follow next week sometime. Hope i dont get too much hate for the amount of detail i went into.
Well thought i would give my car some love since it was coming into the season for good weather and sunshine (not seen it yet right enough), but i always like to keep a clean car during summer and like to have it looking immaculate.
This process is what i use for all cars that i valet/enhancement detail, and i find it gives me very good results. Although i do normally fit it into one day (got a bit handy with the camera)
As always i am open to constructive criticism and any recommendations for products that would my life easier would be appreciarted.
First Stage
The first stage when valeting any car is always to do the arches and wheels IMO as when cleaning these it can usually dig up dirt etc that can end up on the bodywork. So this is the car before i have done anything to it, hasnt been cleaned in a good few weeks and the bird crap was just there today so not to worry it was cleaned off asap. The products used during this phase were:
Brit wheel cleaning gel (cannot recommend it enough and Gally will agree)
A selection of wheel brushes and a microfiber Kent washmitt that i specifically use only for wheels
In the arches i used Daisy APC which can be bought from any supermarket, great stuff and works well IMO
Before pic:
DSC_2680 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2682 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
During/After:
DSC_2684 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2685 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2686 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
Stage 2
The next stage after the wheels have been throughly rinsed and washed and the arches have been cleaned and rinsed is to clean the bootshuts and door shuts etc. For this i again used my APC and a selection of soft brushes (as to not scrape or scratch the paint) Once this process is done i also ensure to spray water in these areas to ensure that all product has been removed and where possible use another washmitt i have.
Before:
DSC_2688 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2689 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2690 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2692 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
After:
DSC_2698 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2696 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
Stage 3
This is then to snow foam, Product i used was my some valet pro PH neutral i didnt realise i still had in my garage, so i used this quite thick unsure exactly of dilution but due to me going to be waxing again sure i wasnt all that bothered. I ensured that whilst snow foaming i re-done the wheels and re-done the arches to ensure that all dirt had been removed. Snow foam was left to drip off but made sure that it did not dry this was imperative!
During:
Ditch finder tyres i know lol
DSC_2702 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2701 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2700 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2699 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
Afterwards, removed alot of the dust and grime, by this stage i still havent touched the paintwork of the car, i pressure washed the snow foam off to try and remove as much dirt as possible, this can be repeated if the car is particularly dirty:
DSC_2704 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2705 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
Stage 4:
Now onto my favourite part and my favourite product cannot recommend this shampoo enough, i used the 2 bucket method with both bucket with grit guards to ensure there was no marring etc at all. Working from the top downwards and i also leave the bottom of the doors untill last and use clean and fresh water to do these, used my super soft sheepkin mitt, The shampoo is brilliant and dilutes to 1.4000 lol:
DSC_2708 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2710 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
This is my mitt that i used for the arches, be especially careful to ensure that you get right in behind the lip in the rear arches, as this is a common area for clios to build up dirt which eventually in not watched carefully will rust. I then pressue washed again and pressure washed the inside of the arches (be very careful and dont go too close)
DSC_2709 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
After and i have also used the Chemical guys used plush drying towel (again using the patt down method, cannot recommend the towel enough) i also have another specific wheel towel that i use to dry the wheels, look at the gloss that the shampoo gives just by cleaning the car its brilliant stuff and the bottle lasts forever due to dilution rate(no i dont work for chemical guys lol)
DSC_2711 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2712 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2713 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2715 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
Stage 4
I understand why people will ask me why i done this stage before i machine polish and this is purely because i am addicted to trim black stuff, i dont do this when the car is done in one day just to clarify. I just dont like running about in a car with no tyre black or trim black on, product i used was chemical guys again wet look trim gel, very easy to use and i also use it on my tyres, just apply and then wipe down with a microfiber and you receive these results, i will be getting some C4 soon:
DSC_2717 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2718 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2719 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2720 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2722 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
Finally a couple of refection shots, the polishing waxing and glazing will be in part 2, these are purely refections from the stages i done today, no waxes etc applied.
DSC_2724 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2725 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
DSC_2729 by Cal.wat, on Flickr
I hope this helps someone out and shows people the sort of detail i go into when valeting there car for them, i did also dress the arches but unfortunately the pics didnt really work out well but this was done using the same trim gel. The next thread will follow next week sometime. Hope i dont get too much hate for the amount of detail i went into.
