Polishing your vehicle

[Pinno718]

Yes, Autoglym !

I was using that but now the dregs are reserved for the bicycles.
For the effort, I prefer a wax sealant and that lasts 6 months. In Jockland, the Rapid ceramic seemed to only last 2 months in winter.

 

[CXRAndy]

Took daughters car to car wash today, access to my external water supply has been cut off temporarily. Looks like new, which it almost is

 

[Fastpedaller]

Now of course, bucket washes are not particually good for the paintwork, I accept that and be as careful as I can.

What you need is a 'washmatic' - sold in the 80's to provide clean water from one bucket without putting the brush into the bucket - I still have one, and I also made a 'replica' which works, but not quite as well.
It's a hose with the brush on one end and a one-way valve on the other end. After 'priming', the end with the valve is clipped to the inside edge of the bucket with the valve low down. Up-and-down movement of the brush pumps water through the brush and onto the car. It works well and does what it says.

 

[Fastpedaller]

The worst thing to do is use a sponge to wash a car - Many a car's paint ruined by grit being swirled around with a sponge!

 

[CXRAndy]

The worst thing to do is use a sponge to wash a car - Many a car's paint ruined by grit being swirled around with a sponge!

Power wash first to remove all the surface dirt. You cannot get around the fine particles on the surface, that only come off with mechanical agitation (sponge).

You can mitigate the scratches by regular cleaning or swapping sponge for a clean one. Lots of soap to act as a lubricant to aid washing.

Finally a fine polish to buff out the micro scratches caused from washing

 

[fossyant]

Power wash first to remove all the surface dirt. You cannot get around the fine particles on the surface, that only come off with mechanical agitation (sponge).

You can mitigate the scratches by regular cleaning or swapping sponge for a clean one. Lots of soap to act as a lubricant to aid washing.

Finally a fine polish to buff out the micro scratches caused from washing

Exactly. My cars are never dirty enough to worry about using a sponge that may hold grit - cause there is no grit on the car.. If dirty, then jet wash off the muck first, then wash. Snow foam if particularly dirty (by my standards).

 

[johnnyb47]

What you need is a 'washmatic' - sold in the 80's to provide clean water from one bucket without putting the brush into the bucket - I still have one, and I also made a 'replica' which works, but not quite as well.
It's a hose with the brush on one end and a one-way valve on the other end. After 'priming', the end with the valve is clipped to the inside edge of the bucket with the valve low down. Up-and-down movement of the brush pumps water through the brush and onto the car. It works well and does what it says.

I got one those years ago from the caravan and camping show at the NEC.
It was really good and it lasted for years.

 

[Pinno718]

...

 

[glasgowcyclist]

What you need is a 'washmatic' - sold in the 80's to provide clean water from one bucket without putting the brush into the bucket -

I had one of those back then too. Great for the windows of the house but, f*ck me, it was brutal on the car paintwork.

I used it once on the car and you'd think Edward Scissorhands had washed it.

Never again.

 

[Fastpedaller]

I had one of those back then too. Great for the windows of the house but, f*ck me, it was brutal on the car paintwork.

I used it once on the car and you'd think Edward Scissorhands had washed it.

Never again.

Never had a problem with it. I've used it on several cars over 30 years (I've replaced the brush a couple of times). I painted my kit car with enamel paint (softer than other paints), and again, no problem.