Hi All,
Here I will be posting a in depth guide on how best to wash your Abarth, plus the best products I recommend. I am not associated in any way with any of the product companies I suggest, it is just my personal recommendation. Feel free to ask if there are any substitute products!
What You Will NeedAuto Finesse Products -
www.shop.autofinesse.co.ukUltimate Car Wash Kit - £34.95
Wheel Maintenance Kit - £36.95
Finale (Detailing Spray) - ££9.95
Revive (Trim Dressing) - £12.95
Crystal (Glass Cleaner) - £9.95
Mercury (Metal Polish) - £9.95
Avalanche (Snow Foam) - £12.95
Primo Plush (Microfiber Towel) - £4.95
Duo Edgeless x3 Pack (2 Sided Microfiber) - £10.67
Tyre & Trim Applicator - £1.95
Ultimate Washing Kit Includes;Lather (Shampoo)
Citrus Power (Pre Wash Spray)
Luxury Lambs Wool Mitt
Drying Towel
Wheel Maintenance Kit Includes;Imperial (Wheel Cleaner)
Satin (Tyre Gel)
Mint Rims (Wheel Wax)
Foam Applicator Pad
Tyre & Trim Applicator
Microfiber Cloth
Total - £145.21Polished Bliss Products -
www.polishedbliss.co.ukFoam Lance + Required Fitting - £48.00
Luxury Wheel Woolies (Brushes) - £38.00
Total - £86.00Grand Total - £231.21OptionalMetro Vac Air Force Blaster (Car Dryer) - £199.99
This may seem very expensive, yet these are top quality products that will give the best possible results, they also last a very long time.
You will also need2 Buckets filled with warm water
Pressure Washer
Lots of spare time!
Washing Steps
1. Pressure wash your car to remove as much loose dirt as possible, start from the roof and work downwards, and give the wheels a good blast too. (This should take at least 10 minutes if done correctly).
2.(Not always required) This is for the winter months or if your car is covered in bug spots; Auto Finesse Citrus power is a pre-wash cleaner I use, you spray it on and let it sit, it will dissolve bug spots and some tar, as well as break down and road salt and general road grime on your car. If you use this; just apply, let it sit then pressure wash it off. This might not always be a necessary step if you always maintain a clean car!
3. Apply Auto Finesse Avalanche using a snow lance - available from polished bliss - and let it sit for 5-10 minutes, depending on how dirty the car is, as well as the weather (don't let the sun dry it on).
4. Depending on the condition of your wheels, apply Auto Finesse Iron out if they are really dirty and have iron spots, if not use their Imperial wheel cleaner, and let it sit with the foam.
5. Fully rinse the whole car using the pressure washer, making sure you remove all traces of the snow foam and wheel cleaner. The wheels should now be much much cleaner, and easier to clean when it comes to actually touching them!
6. Now you want 2 buckets, each with a grit guard. Fill them both to the top with warm water, add some lather to 1 bucket, leave the other. Agitate the solution using your hand, or using the pressure washer. Build up a thick foamy head.
7. Using a lambswool mitt, gently wash the car starting with the roof using long straight lines, apply very little pressure. I say about 4-6 strokes along the current panel before rinsing in your plain warm water, before dipping back into the shampoo bucket. I like to remove the lance from my pressure washer, and then flood off each panel with water, to reduce any shampoo solution drying into the paint. The lower down the panels you go, the more you should rinse the mitt as there is a greater chance of picking up any grit or dirt that could damage the paint.
8. Once the whole car is washed, I again give it another going over with the pressure washer to remove any last soapy residue or now loose dirt.
9. Wheels - by this stage they should now be pretty clean anyway, and only need some light agitation to finish the cleaning process. I use polished bliss Wheel Woolies, along with another very light spray of Imperial wheel cleaner. I give them a good scrub, and use the remaining shampoo mixture just to provide some water on the brushes.
Drying
I personally use a car drier for this. Its a Air Force Master Blaster, and gives me a totally touch less drying regime. If you really like cleaning your car its a worth wile investment, it saves you time and gives a much better finish than using a drying towel.
However, if using a towel, fold it into quarters, and use long slow sweeping motions starting from the roof and work downwards, changing to a new side for each quarter of the car - front, back , left side & right side. Then another drying towel should be used to dry off the wheels, but don't confuse this with the car towel!
Detailing Steps
1. Treat the plastic around the windows, for this I use AF Revive trim dressing. Gives them a nice glossy black finish, and helps protect them from UV damage etc.
2. Detailing spray on any water spots on the car, again I use AF Finale, along with a microfiber cloth, just a nice spray and gentle wipe, gives the car a nice glossy shine too
3. Wheels - I apply a wheel wax (AF Mint Rims) every 3 or 4 washes, it keeps them protected and also makes cleaning them a lot easier! Apply it with a microfiber pad, once applied to all 4 wheels I go back to the first and start to buff it off using another microfiber cloth.
4. Tyres - Apply Satin using the tyre & trim applicator, to give a nice shine to your tyre. This also helps protect the rubber.
5. Exhaust Tips - Apply Mercury using an old rag and give it a good buffing, comes up nice and shiny! Will also work great on the standard exhaust.
6. Glass - Do the glass last, Duo Edgeless and some glass cleaner, try not to spray any onto your paintwork. If you do just go over with it some detailing spray.
FinishedPlease feel free to post any questions or advice tips.
I have always been very interested in washing cars properly, and over many years Ive used all different brands of product, and I find Auto Finesse to be the best. All their wash products also work with each other, so if you have any of their waxes or sealants applied, the pre-wash cleaner, snow foam and shampoo wont strip it.
Soon to follow will be a detailed interior cleaning guide.
Bertie
Topic: In Depth Car Washing Guide (Read 16551 times)