Cleaning, polishing, detailing

[chevronb37]

Chaps,

I don't wish to spam your lovely forum with my obvious new owner questions, so I apologise in advance. However, I was wondering whether anyone could help out with suggesting a good routine for keeping my beloved looking beautiful throughout the year, despite daily use. The interior seems mostly wipe-clean but I want to make sure I protect the body and diffuser, etc. well to keep everything looking fresh and staying healthy.

Thanks loads,

Swifty

[Paul H]

Send a PM to Stripey Si for details on the offical NYLOC car cleaning routine

[albutch]

Send a PM to Stripey Si for details on the offical NYLOC car cleaning routine

I too recommend a good coating of road muck to preserve the correct finish, to be re-applied as often as possible.

Whoops, better go now, Dennis will be here soon (and maybe PaulT).

[chevronb37]

I am fully in accordance with that approach. I love my car dearly, but it's a daily driver and there to be driven. I want to maintain it as well as possible, but it's not going to be a garage queen I'm afraid. I've asked some owners on Pistonheads about cleaning and have a list as long as my arm of different products so I'm going to have an expensive trip to the nearest retailer of such things.

Speaking of which, where is the best place in the Yorkshire area to get all these crazy waxes and clays and polishes?

[markmakak]

It's probably best to buy them online - I haven't heard of any shops that go nuts with the detailing products.

Personally if I'm giving it a good going over I go for

Foam lance with foam gunk, and a little shampoo
Wash wheels as they are normally very dirty
2 bucket method to wash the car using a lambswool mitt
Towel dry
Clay bar
Rinse
Dry
Polish with soft towels
Use Black Wow on your black bits
Polish your exhaust tips
Wax & buff off with super soft towels
Wax and buff again

Stand back, admire your work - realise you've just spent far too long cleaning such a small car.

I can give you a run down of the products / towels / clothes and all that other stuff I seem to have bought if you really want to know.

BTW I drive my car quite a lot every weekend, so it's far from a garage queen. I just enjoy keeping a car (that I wanted for a very long time) looking as good as it possibly can. The wife thinks I'm nuts tho.

[stripey_si]

Rainwater the only stuff to use

[chevronb37]

There's a detail demo at Porscheuro in Barnsley on Sunday so I think I'm going to head down to that for some tips and to make a couple of purchases. Be nice to see how clay bars work, etc. I'm afraid I've always been a weekly shampoo and twice annual polish kind of guy with previous cars, but the Elise is a bit more special.

I can completely understand wanting to take great care over detailing your car, no matter how much you use it. I know my other half finds my affection towards the Elise tiresome, but it's better to do this stuff regularly to keep it in great shape. I can't wait to start going nuts on expensive stuff to make it shiny!

[softlips]

Porscheuro - what where is that / time please too

[chevronb37]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topi ... 022nd%2009

This is the thread on Pistonheads about it. I'm going down with arr lass to learn how to properly tend to the new beast. Be good to see some NYLOC chaps down there.

[Dennis]

I can recomend www.cleanyourcar.co.uk.

I have a foam lance and use Valet Pro PH balamced foam (nb it can be a bit hit and miss the first time you use it) Whilst I use it every wash I am not sure this is necessary unless it is realy dirty, also watch the jet wash on the painted plastic (the who body)

Also use the 2 bucket method, and a wool wash mit, make sure you get a wool one the micro fibre ones are pants!

I use aquagleam to rinse to ensure no water marks

Try not to over clay a ar, it can damae the paint. For clayin use the Meguires final finish stuff watered own 1:1

Dodo juice products are very good value.

But remember the best tool for cleaning and polishing (do not say detailing ) is elbow grease and attnetion to detail:D

Just a quick note DO NOT use anything qith a cut in it E.G. Autosol on the ali!

[PaulT]

As a reference, this is how this week's poll is going on car washing over on our www site... (the poll subject changes every Monday)

[albutch]

Looks like I've not voted yet, better put that right.

[softlips]

I can recomend http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk.

I have a foam lance and use Valet Pro PH balamced foam (nb it can be a bit hit and miss the first time you use it) Whilst I use it every wash I am not sure this is necessary unless it is realy dirty, also watch the jet wash on the painted plastic (the who body)

Also use the 2 bucket method, and a wool wash mit, make sure you get a wool one the micro fibre ones are pants!

I use aquagleam to rinse to ensure no water marks

Try not to over clay a ar, it can damae the paint. For clayin use the Meguires final finish stuff watered own 1:1

Dodo juice products are very good value.

But remember the best tool for cleaning and polishing (do not say detailing ) is elbow grease and attnetion to detail:D

Just a quick note DO NOT use anything qith a cut in it E.G. Autosol on the ali!

You lost me after the "Valet Pro PH balamced foam" Dennis!

[stripey_si]

Voted

[softlips]

I'm amazed you've been on this thread once Si never mind twice.

Are you thinking of cleaning, sorry detailing your car?

Looking at your car - is that what Dennis means by clay?

Detailing