Hi all,
I've done a quick search through the threads to see what everyone uses to keep their cars clean, but still unsure what to use! I'm going from a silver 182 to an ultra red R26 and know the problem of swirl marks etc will be a bigger problem on the solid colour. I'm therefore looking at what to use and have a couple of questions!

Waterless carwash - as good as a good handwash and polish?

If I was to use a wax (like Maguiars no. 26), if I was to use the waterless stuff a week later, would it strip it all off?

Anyone use an Auto Glym hydroblade to dry the car - any good or liable to scratch? If so, any other towels etc that are quicker than a standard chamois?

Any other top tips? Cheers!

hi buddy. i know its not a meggy, but heres what i used when i did my pre-winter detail: http://meganesport.net/community/showthread.php?t=5344&page=2

if you use a sponge, grit can get trapped between the sponge and your paint, this can etch into the paint leaving swirls and other defects. if you use a washmitt made out of sheep/lambs wool, the dirt will be lifted into the pile and not moved over your paint, thus leaving a lesser chance of making defects.

also if you use a waffleweave towel over the chamois, its kinder to the paint (same princible and the washnmitt) as they are softer.

i wouldnt use a blade, these can leave long sweeping marks in the paint. i'd recommend 'sheeting' the water off with a hose starting from the roof down.

the meguiars #16 i used is a very durable wax. i put two coats on mine when i did the winter detail and only had to top it up 2 weeks ago! it also brings out the colour lovely. note that polishing is the most important way of getting the paint looking nice, waxing is just the icing on the cake. :)

erm i think thats about everything.

oh if you do use microfibres, when you wash them, dont use fabric softener. it pretty much ruins the fibres in them.

cheers ears. any more questions, just ask!

i use something similar to the auto glym blade, very good, saves a bit of time and makes the final leathering off alot easier!!

i use a range of products on mine, but mainly use meguiars and auto glym waxes/washes.

few pics for you... :)

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k19/minnnt/DSCF0238.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k19/minnnt/DSCF0189.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k19/minnnt/DSCF0128.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k19/minnnt/DSCF0121-1.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k19/minnnt/DSCF0108.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k19/minnnt/DSCF0102-1.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k19/minnnt/DSCF0088.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k19/minnnt/DSCF0093-1.jpg

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k19/minnnt/DSCF0081-1.jpg

check out shinyautos for the no wet waterless its excellent

Anything by Chemical guys or Poorboys is a safe bet, Meguiars stuff is pretty good as well.
After one application of Chemical Guys XXX Hardcore Paste Wax:
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c159/asmith225/Megane/DSCF1101.jpg

hi buddy. i know its not a meggy, but heres what i used when i did my pre-winter detail: http://meganesport.net/community/showthread.php?t=5344&page=2

if you use a sponge, grit can get trapped between the sponge and your paint, this can etch into the paint leaving swirls and other defects. if you use a washmitt made out of sheep/lambs wool, the dirt will be lifted into the pile and not moved over your paint, thus leaving a lesser chance of making defects.

also if you use a waffleweave towel over the chamois, its kinder to the paint (same princible and the washnmitt) as they are softer.

i wouldnt use a blade, these can leave long sweeping marks in the paint. i'd recommend 'sheeting' the water off with a hose starting from the roof down.

the meguiars #16 i used is a very durable wax. i put two coats on mine when i did the winter detail and only had to top it up 2 weeks ago! it also brings out the colour lovely. note that polishing is the most important way of getting the paint looking nice, waxing is just the icing on the cake. :)

erm i think thats about everything.

oh if you do use microfibres, when you wash them, dont use fabric softener. it pretty much ruins the fibres in them.

cheers ears. any more questions, just ask!

Pretty much everything you need. Follow Jimbo's advice and it'll look as good as the Cup.

For me by hand would be:

Two bucket method wash
Sonus green clay
Two bucket method wash
AG SRP
AG EGP
Chemical guys 50/50

If by machine same clay and wash but then

Menzerna IP
Menzerna FF
Meguiars #7 or AG EGP
50/50

Selling my Saxo ready for the arrival of the meg. Gave it a good clean but was struggling to find something to remove the grime on the exhaust. Couldn't be arsed to go to the shops so had a look round to see what I already had.

Cif Oven Cleaner. :bonkers: How it shines :D

I don't think I'd recommend it to anyone else though...

On days when it's dry and I want a quick wash and polish I will use the Waterless Car Wash. On other days when perhaps it's going to rain part way through or I have a couple of hours to spend then I will use AutoGlym car shampoo and follow it up with Meguires NXT Wax paste.

Cheers all! You have confirmed my thoughts! However, still don't know if using the waterless stuff strips off any previous polishing/waxing you've done. Any ideas?

Well according to the products webpage it "is formulated to leave only a certain thickness of wax, no matter how many "coats" you apply"

So work out from that whether it strips it off.

For me by hand would be:

Two bucket method wash
Sonus green clay
Two bucket method wash
AG SRP
AG EGP
Chemical guys 50/50

If by machine same clay and wash but then

Menzerna IP
Menzerna FF
Meguiars #7 or AG EGP
50/50

Ado - can you explain your method more? Or point me somewhere else to look? 2 bucket method means... And do you do this everytime you wash? The miles are piling on mine, and it needs washing at least every 2 weeks, I don't want to 'over-wash' it - if that's possible. AG=autogleam? SRP=super resin polish, EGP=...?

Jimbo - got the idea with the wash mit. I did wonder how on earth a sponge could not drag the dirt around! Any particular place to buy one, or a particular brand? Not keen on Halfrauds..

AG = Autoglym
SRP = Super Resin Polish
EGP = Extra Gloss Protection

Two bucket method is simply having the first bucket with your suds in, dip your mitt in that and wash a bit of car. Rinse the mitt in the second bucket that just has clean water in. The idea being that the dirt and grit stays in the second bucket rather than floating around in the the first one ready to get reapplied to the car.

The Megs wash mitts are quite good, either microfibre or lambswool.

Oh yeah and a good wash/polish/wax combination will make it easier to wash the next time. Just use a simple shampoo that doesn't strip the wax and then you'll really only need to polish/wax every 6-8 weeks

I use out waterless wash all year round, and never use anything else, so far i've got no swirls and no marks what so ever, so all good over here.


It also won't lift off any other waxes you've applied to the car as it is canuba wax based and just adds wax to your current finish! ;)

Not as sexy sounding as XXX hardcore wax though

You won't get it as 'Shiny' as this though!


http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/461/53609044mr0.jpg

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/7180/26676863fz2.jpg

http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/4229/84142964cc9.jpg

http://img330.imageshack.us/img330/9944/26128003ms6.jpg

http://img330.imageshack.us/img330/2802/10ti4.jpg

http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/892/11dy0.jpg


The good old GOLD FLECK!

A couple of coats of XXX will beat that :)

And some #7 and CG 50/50 will also beat it.:D

Wanna come and PC my cars Ado ? :)

I would be honoured to. Let me know then we can maybe sort something out.

I'm gonna get a PC probably this month, so you can show me what to do with it if you like

Having washed the 182 yesterday (twice - it was that dirty!), I can't help but think it'd take a lot of cloths if using the waterless stuff! It does however leave one mean shine! Maybe a quick handwash first would be in order?

Adam likes to just use the one cloth I believe, cos of the way it works I don't think it matters if the cloth is filty. I'm sure he said at one point he doesn't even bother washing them.

I'm sure Jimbo will be there to pc his aswell.

^^^ hell yea. need to get some scratches and stone chips blown in and some dents taken out first!


MrT, tbh the halfrauds ones arent too bad. ive got a sheeps wool, brothers got a lambs wool one. i prefer the lambswool to mine as its got a deeper pile to it. ill have a look at getting some links up in a bit with some products i use, just for pricing etc.

Jimbo - could you create a step by step guide to cleaning, maybe two, one for the interim weekly/bi-weekly wash, and one for the 6-8 week polish wax?

Then we can look at doing the same for PC/detailing..

My idea (I passed on to Jon), is to create a thread like that for the FAQ section, then lock/stick that thread. If people do not agree with what you write, debate it in another thread so that the original 'how to clean your car' thread is kept clean (excuse the pun..).

Or, I can create the thread and start the debate going by what I've picked up here?

Having washed the 182 yesterday (twice - it was that dirty!), I can't help but think it'd take a lot of cloths if using the waterless stuff! It does however leave one mean shine! Maybe a quick handwash first would be in order?



Hi matey,


I normally use two cloths per car when washing it, one microfibre to clean the dirt off, and then another to buff it to a shine.


As the cloth gets wetter with the product it removes the dirt even better, then when you've finished the car, use the dirtier cloth to clean the wheels, and buff with the cleaner one.

SHINY!:headbang:

Thanks all! I think that's a bit clearer now! Having had a silver car, I've never bothered before - used a sponge and just polished with AutoGlym and it's always very shiny, but will now take on the advice for the new car.

Like your idea MrTurner!

Not as sexy sounding as XXX hardcore wax though
Gotta love a bit of Hardcore action with the car mate :D

Gives a great result

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c159/asmith225/Megane/Megane74.jpg

what do you guys think of pressure washers?

I do 100 miles a day for work so i tend to wash my car down twice a week, normally do a good sunday wash and then give it a quick spray down on a Wednesday.

At my work we have a big karcher pressure wash, with my previous cars i've never got into waxing and polishing and i've just blasted the car down with suds.

I'm worried now about damaging the finish and if a pressure wash will spoil any waxing i am likely to do.

What do you guys do?

Pressure washing will be fine mate as long as you don't hold it too close to the bodywork.