Spring Clean (pic overload)

[Flyingfifer]

Well with it being "Officially" Spring and weirdly the Scottish Weather seemed to agree I decided to give the car a wee spring clean

I tried to keep a photo log but there are some gaps.... like the before picture

Car more or less before, wheel cleaner applied and halfway through a pre rinse. :camera:



Pre wash done, not bad beading tbh


Cherry Snowfoam applied (this was a couple of mins after it went on)



The tailpipes were fairly dirty with carbon deposit so while the snowfoam did its stuff I set to work.

Before




After, vast improvement but not perfect!


Snow foam off and car dried


Always remember to dry the whole car!!




That means all of it


Claybar Time! Kev prepping his clay coin



After getting started we quickly realised that the car has clearly been recently clayed, this was after more or less the whole front bumper


So a quick polish up as a pre wax


Wax on


Wax off




A final high gloss sealant coat


Finally finished!! We were running out of light at this stage (mini in the background was done first)




Well worth it, even though the car had clearly been looked after fastidiously by the previous owners the extra wax and polish still brought back that "gleam" look.

Now to set about getting it dirty again

 

[bluestreak56]

Very nice job, that clay looks far too clean though

 

[mj2k]

Why did you dry it before claying?

I always do mine after a foam, wash & rinse whilst its still wet before then drying it & waxing etc

 

[Nictrix]

Why did you dry it before claying?

I always do mine after a foam, wash & rinse whilst its still wet before then drying it & waxing etc

Me too, wash it and while its still wet clay it then rinse and dry.

 

[mj2k]

Why did you dry it before claying?

I always do mine after a foam, wash & rinse whilst its still wet before then drying it & waxing etc

Me too, wash it and while its still wet clay it then rinse and dry.

Unless steps in this are missing, I would also never clay after just a foam wash

 

[RickRob]

Very nice. Nothing better than a very clean and shiny black Zed!

I have half a very clean and shiny black Zed - rear and offside will have to wait for next weekend.

 

[paulgs1000]

That looks well worth the effort - especially on a black Zed - results look great.

Like you' I'm surprised by the lack of debris on that clay - especially for the front of the Zed.

Looks like you've found a cherished Zed

 

[Misterireland]

That really makes me feel guilty about not cleaning the car today! Tomorrow it is though...

I've never used clay before? Does that take the place of a shammy? Any particular type?

 

[andysat]

Nice!-and no stone chips on the front!

 

[Taz]

good effort

 

[Nictrix]

That really makes me feel guilty about not cleaning the car today! Tomorrow it is though...

I've never used clay before? Does that take the place of a shammy? Any particular type?

Clay picks up all the contamination that gets stuck to your paintwork that washing will not remove.
Run your hand down the side of your door or wing and it will probably feel quite rough.
Claying removes this leaving it silky smooth making it easier to polish and wax.

 

[Misterireland]

I shall keep an eye out for some and give it a go I think. Thanks

 

[Flyingfifer]

Why did you dry it before claying?

I always do mine after a foam, wash & rinse whilst its still wet before then drying it & waxing etc

Me too, wash it and while its still wet clay it then rinse and dry.

Unless steps in this are missing, I would also never clay after just a foam wash

I like to fully rinse then dry the car then use spray bottle to clay bar sections at a time, overzealous? Probably

 

[Swiftly]

Good job, looks great now and well worth the effort

 

[TR4man]

Interesting about cleaning behind the filler cap - I always look there when potentially buying a car as one of the ways to see how meticulous the seller has been with his/her cleaning regime.