Cleaning Regime:
I have the previous owner of the car to blame for my wash regime. I used to be happy with a bucket, sponge, car shampoo, and a hose but after watching some youtube videos following his advice I fell into the washing world hard. Below I've copied my list of what works (more as a reminder to myself and keeping the info in one place). As the car has a ceramic coating I don't need to wax and polish it which really helps (and thank god as that would be another massive expense that I'd fall for!
)
Exterior Clean Method:
https://youtu.be/yLiePQRMFc8
Only wash in cloudy conditions/late afternoon to prevent products drying onto car/streaking.
1. Prepare hose / pressure washer / products / microfibre towels / snow foam lance / snow foam / latex gloves.
2. Rinse vehicle with pressure washer (start at top and work way down).
3. Wet paper towels applied locally to bird poo and left for 5 minutes.
4. Spray bug remover (Gyeon Q2M Bug & Grime) locally to bugs on front of car, leave for 2 mins. Rinse off with pressure washer.
5. Apply snow foam (Gyeon Q2M Foam) with snow foam cannon (start at top and work way down, snow foam left on for 5mins).
6. Fill up 1 bucket with warm water & grit guard, 1 bucket with warm water and measured shampoo (25ml Gyeon Q2M Bathe+) and grit guard.
7. Rinse off snow foam.
8. Starting with the back wheels, spray tyre degreaser (Gyeon Q2M Prep) on tyres leaving for 30secs, then spray wheel cleaner with iron remover (Gyeon Q2M Iron) onto wheel face and barrel, brush tyre degreaser off tyre walls with tyre brush.
9. Use pointed wheel brush and 2 bucket method (dip in water bucket to rinse off, rubbing dirt onto guard, then into shampoo bucket) to clean barrel of each wheel, then soft bristle wheel brush to clean face of the wheel.
10. Rinse soap off wheel.
11. Repeat step 8 to 10 for each wheel.
12. Clean and refill water bucket and shampoo bucket (15-20ml Gyeon Q2M Bathe+). Have spare bucket of water waiting for when water gets low.
13. Shampoo car using microfibre mitt and 2 bucket system working top down and back to front.
14. Rinse off shampoo.
15. [Quarterly] For uncoated car, spray ‘wet coat’ onto a wet car then rinse off panel by panel. No towelling needed. Do once every 3 months to top up.
16. Dry roof with microfibre towel, then windows with squeegee, wiping blade clean on microfibre towel.
17. Dry car from top down using large microfibre towel. Use small microfibre towel to dry sills, door jambs, boot jamb, bonnet jamb, wheels, exhaust.
18. [Optional] Use air blaster to blast water away from wing mirrors, sills, window corners, wheels, etc.
19. [Quarterly] Spray silica sealant (Gyeon Q2M Cure) onto small microfibre towel on one side, rub onto car, then flip over towel and buff off; panel by panel. Do once every 3 months to top up/protect ceramic coat.
20. Put tyre dressing onto foam applicator pad, spread around pad with finger, then rub onto tyre walls. Buff off any excess.
21. [Every 6 Months] Apply rubber seal restorer (Sonax Gummipfleger) to all seals throughout the car, leaving to dry for 10 mins before wiping away excess with a clean microfibre towel.
22. [Every 6 Months] Apply non-stick rubber protector (Sonax Gummipfleger Stift] to window seals, wiping away excess.
23. [Every 6 Months] Spray PTFE lubricant into wing mirror gap to prevent plastic on plastic squeaking.
24. Exhaust tips [look up].
25. Wash microfibre towels and cloths at 40degrees using a small amount of washing powder (NO fabric softener!) and allowing to dry naturally.
26. Done!
Any water spots left can be removed with a water spot remover (Gyeon Q2M Water Spot) and wiping away excess immediately with a microfibre towel to prevent spoiling of ceramic coat.
Wax/Polish:
Not required as car has a ceramic coating (Siramik) with 2 year protection, removing the need for wax/polish.
Interior Clean Method:
https://youtu.be/X7z1iFoykEM
Only wash in cloudy conditions/late afternoon to prevent products drying onto car/streaking. Remove all rubbish from inside the car.
Floor mats:
1. Remove and vacuum the mats.
2. Spray carpet and upholstery cleaner (Auto-finesse Total) directly onto mats, then scrub with carpet and upholstery brush.
3. Blot and wipe away excess using a microfibre towel.
4. Can apply fabric protector to carpets. [look up]
5. Leave to dry while doing the rest of the car.
Head liner:
1. For any stains apply upholstery cleaner (Auto-finesse Total) lightly onto detailing brush, apply in swirls onto affected area and the clean and blot away with a clean microfibre towel.
Interior:
1. Dust interior using soft detailing brushes and vacuum cleaner.
2. Screens to be wiped with a clean microfibre cloth.
3. Vacuum interior thoroughly, moving seats back and forward. Vacuum in the folds of the seats.
4. For leather seats use a leather cleaner (Gyeon Q2M Leather Cleaner) directly onto seats and then brush with a leather brush working from top to bottom. Same for steering wheel but spray onto bristles. Wipe away excess with a clean microfibre towel.
5. For fabric seats use a carpet & upholstery cleaner (Auto-finesse Total) directly onto seats and then brush with a carpet & upholstery brush working from top to bottom. Wipe away excess with a clean microfibre towel.
6. [Every 6 Months] For protection of leather seats use a leather protectant (Gyeon Q2 Leather Coat), spray onto microfibre pad and then gently apply to leather surface, leaving to dry for 2 hours.
7. [Every 6 Months] For protection of fabric seats use a fabric protectant [look up].
8. Use all purpose cleaner (Auto-finesse Total) on interior trim by applying to towel and rubbing trim. For scuff marks, spray APC onto a Mr Clean bar and run affected area to get rid of scuffs. Wipe away with microfibre towel.
9. Apply trim dressing to applicator pad and then brush onto trim. Good for plastics, vinyl, and rubber [look up].
10. Use air freshener (Autoglym Autofresh) to spray into cabin. Put air con on full blast and recirculating mode, then spray into footwell to coat vents.
Door jambs:
1. Use all purpose cleaner and microfibre towel to clean door jambs, boot edges.
Glass:
1. Use Mr Clean Magic Eraser and all purpose cleaner (Auto-finesse Total), spray onto pad then wipe interior of glass. Then use isopropyl alcohol mix (Gyeon Q2M Prep) to deep clean glass using pad. Then wipe down with microfibre silk-weave cloth.
3. Then use premium glass cleaner (Gyeon Q2M Glass) onto microfibre waffle-weave towel and apply to window, then buff off using silk-weave cloth.
5. Can use a spray wax [look up].
Glass fog protection:
1. Spray glass with premium glass cleaner (Gyeon Q2M Glass) and clean using waffle-weave microfibre cloth, buffing off with a silk-weave microfibre cloth.
2. Spray glass with Isopropyl alcohol mix (Gyeon Q2M Prep) and clean using microfibre cloth.
3. Spray applicator suede cloth with anti-fog (Gyeon Q2 Fog) and apply in cross hatch pattern, leave for 3-5mins, then buff off with clean microfibre waffle-weave towel.
Engine Bay Clean Method:
https://youtu.be/6LwCbmvLYb0
Work on a cloudy day and cover any electrical or sensitive components with plastic sheeting or a carrier bag (alternator / ECU housing / exposed air filters). Make sure all caps and dipsticks are fully secured. Also wear gloves, degreaser is nasty stuff on your hands.
1. Spray a degreaser (Autoglym Engine & Machine Cleaner) on the underside of the bonnet and let it dwell for a couple of minutes. Use large soft wheel brushes to clean the underside of the bonnet. Do not touch the heat shield.
2. Rinse using a normal hose or a pressure washer on the lowest setting.
3. Rinse the engine bay to remove loose dirt and contaminants.
4. Spray a degreaser (Autoglym Engine & Machine Cleaner) in the engine bay and let it dwell for a couple of minutes.
5. Clean the engine bay with wheel brush, bendy thistle brush, and small detailing brush for hard to reach areas.
6. Rinse.
7. This can be done two ways: 1) Apply a wet dressing (Autoglym Vinyl & Rubber Care) and leave to dry before buffing off. 2) Dry the engine bay using either microfiber drying towels or air dryers/leaf blowers. Make sure it’s completely dry, then using a spray dressing to restore faded plastics.
8. Remove protective plastic bags and start the engine up and leave to run for a few minutes to dry out those last few hidden recesses. Done!
Exterior Equipment:
K’A’rcher K4 Full Control pressure washer
Extended rubber pressure washer cable
Snow foam cannon
Tyre brush
Wheel brush
Gyeon Q2M large wheelbrush
Gyeon Smoothie wash mitt
Water blade squeegee
Microfibre cloths x6
http://amzn.to/2wCENCn
Microfibre towels x3 blue (plush, 16” x 16”, edgeless/labelless, ~490gsm)
Microfibre towels x3 purple (plush, 16” x 16”, edgeless/labelless, 500gsm)
XL Drying Towel x2 - 500gsm Korean Towel
Meguires Tyre Dressing Pad
Wool metal polishing wheel cone x4
Syringe 100ml
Exterior Products:
Bug Cleaner - Gyeon Q2M Bug & Grime
Snow Foam - Gyeon Q2M Foam
Tyre Degreaser - Gyeon Q2M Prep
Wheel Cleaner & Iron Remover - Gyeon Q2M Iron
Wheel Soap - Gyeon Q2M Bathe+
Car Shampoo (ph neutral, ceramic coating safe (I.e no waxes or sealants) - Gyeon Q2M Bathe+
Hydrophobic Coat - Gyeon Q2M Wetcoat
Silica Spray Sealant (tops up ceramic coat) - Gyeon Q2M Cure
Tyre Dressing (water based) - Gyeon Q2M Tire
Water Spot Remover - Gyeon Q2M Water Spot
Rubber Protector - Sonax Gummipfleger
Rubber Frost Protector - Sonax Gummipfleger Stift
Exhaust cleaner - Autosol Metal Polish
Engine Degreaser - Autoglym Engine & Machine Cleaner
Vinyl/Engine Dresser - Autoglym Vinyl & Rubber Care
Evostick Impact Adhesive
GT86 PTFE lubricant
Interior Equipment:
Black & Decker Wet&Dry Vacuum Cleaner 7.2V
Leather brush
Carpet & upholstery brush
Small soft bristle detailing brush - 3x Hoghair Brushes
Microfibre cloths x3
Mr Clean Magic Eraser - Flash Magic Eraser
Waffle weave cloth for glass cleaning
Silk dryer cloth for glass buffing
Baby wipes
Interior Products:
Glass Cleaner - Gyeon Q2M Glass
All Purpose Cleaner - Auto-finesse Total
Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner - Auto-finesse Total
Carpet & Upholstery Protector -
Leather Cleaner - Gyeon Q2M Leather Cleaner
Leather Protector - Gyeon Q2 Leather Coat
Air Freshener / Odour Remover - Autoglym Autofresh
Interior Trim Dressing - Autoglym Vinyl & Rubber Care?
Glass Spray Wax -
Stuff Wanted:
Microfibre cloths
Gyeon Iron
Gyeon Wetcoat
Syringe
Gyeon Q2M Quick Detailer
Painter’s tape
Gyeon Tar
Gyeon Tyre Cleaner
Gyeon Clay Lube
Gyeon Clay
Wheel sealant (alloy safe) - Gyeon Q2 Rim/CarPro Dlux
Carpro Gliss (topcoat preventing water spotting)
Gyeon Q2M Silkdryer
Wash shampoo - Gyeon Q2M Bathe Essence (Once bathe+ is finished). £8.50 polishes bliss.
Microfibre waffle-weave towel
Air blaster (also for dog) [optional] -
Gyeon Q2 Fog