Car cleaning and valeting discussion

[RJG6010]

I cleaned my car for the first time in 10 months.
I'm no expert or even really barely competent, but one coat of polish and I'm very impressed the the result(I'm also rubbish taking pictures)
Off for a well earned beer.

[NeilS]

Good job

[Rizmo]

Planned on a car cleaning session this weekend as the Vignale was very dusty. Earlier in the week we had a monsoon type downpour which lasted for thirty minutes or so. All the dust was washed away and the car looked as though it had just been valeted. Never known that happen before. My car has been waxed a few times so maybe this was a factor.

[sinlessUK]

Planned on a car cleaning session this weekend as the Vignale was very dusty. Earlier in the week we had a monsoon type downpour which lasted for thirty minutes or so. All the dust was washed away and the car looked as though it had just been valeted. Never known that happen before. My car has been waxed a few times so maybe this was a factor.

All that hard work has paid off then And the products you have used are serving you well.

[AMS1969]

As the Blood rain is on the way, what’s the best way to clear off all the sand? Last time the Sahara sand storm arrived, I tried hosing first and then applied bucket and sponge but not sure this was the most effective way to do it as left a few micro scratches on the paintwork? Better to go straight in with the sponge?

[NeilS]

No No No

Don’t go straight into the contact wash (and you know my views on sponges) or you’ll end up pushing the sand grains around your clear coat.

If you’re lucky enough, you may be able to rinse it off whilst the car is still wet from the rain and the sand hasn’t had a chance to dry onto the panels.

Otherwise, a hose down before any wash is better than nothing, but it won’t shift all of the sand as you found out. A good pre wash/soak with snow foam will help soften any dirt or sand prior to jet washing it off. I’d even go as far as doing this process twice before the contact wash (or as many times you need to be sure you’ve removed most of it)

If your car has any protection on it, it may offer some resilience to the sand sticking to the panels when the rain hits them.

If you look back at my recent photos, you’ll see some of the sand that I had to contend with and how it had dried on. Took me a few hits with citrus pre wash/APC under a stronger not so ph balanced snow foam dwell before I was happy.

[sinlessUK]

As the Blood rain is on the way, what’s the best way to clear off all the sand? Last time the Sahara sand storm arrived, I tried hosing first and then applied bucket and sponge but not sure this was the most effective way to do it as left a few micro scratches on the paintwork? Better to go straight in with the sponge?

You'll give NeilS palpitations mentioning the word sponge. He has enough merging duplicate threads

[NeilS]

Tell me about it…..at least sponges have their uses

[AMS1969]

Thanks, I think it’s a trip back to Halfords for me! The whole sand storm on the car is becoming more a frequent event these days., I’m sure I don’t remember having to deal with baked on sand when I was younger. Sounds like getting it washed asap is the key. Next car might have to be a sandy beige colour!!

[Jaybee]

Thanks, I think it’s a trip back to Halfords for me! The whole sand storm on the car is becoming more a frequent event these days., I’m sure I don’t remember having to deal with baked on sand when I was younger. Sounds like getting it washed asap is the key. Next car might have to be a sandy beige colour!!

I bought a snow foam lance and use my Karcher with Autoglym Polar Blast, and it works a treat as a pre-wash. Spray on (out of the sun), leave for 10 minutes, spray off. Simples