Valet school
This page contains some
useful hints, tips, and key advice which will serve you well before getting
stuck into those soap suds. If you're inexperienced when it comes to
cleaning cars then I'd recommend you read on. Alternatively if you're just
itching to get stuck in then you can simply jump to the relevant pages using the
links above.
Hand job
Woohoo, but jokes aside... unless there's an urgency to have your car cleaned at an automated car wash, always clean your car by hand (or
at least get an experienced valet
company to do it for you). Although convenient, automotive car washes
(the ones with the big rollers) won't get your car perfectly clean and those big
brushes trap dirt and grit which can scratch paintwork.
It's also been known for the rollers to catch on loose trim. Centres which
specialise in manual car cleaning are certainly worth considering if you don't
mind paying, and are considerably cheaper than a professional valet.
NOTE: Quite often
you'll spot car cleaning services operating in Pay & Display and supermarket car
parks. Whilst these eager beavers can be cheap and convenient, sometimes
their methods and products can be questioned -- and best avoided to be honest.
Cost of success
With a vast array of
cleaning products on the market and each focussing on their specific target
area, it's quite easy and sometimes costly to build up a substantial collection.
This can mean a hefty initial outlay for anyone starting from scratch or an
expensive collection built up over time for those like me. It's therefore
important to maintain perspective on the cost of products and their relative
results.
It's a harsh opinion I
have but I think it's ridiculous that some folk will spend £120 on a tub of wax.
If that wasn't bad enough I know of similar products which retail for £300 and
even
£1300!
My philosophy is that
there's no value in spending double, three times, or just silly money on a
product if a similar one is just as good or comes a close second. Maybe
wax that sells for £300 lasts twice as long before needing to be reapplied but I'd
rather spend £10-20 and need to reapply it a bit more often. When the
results are just as good, you know it makes sense.
Gloves
Not necessary if you're treating the car to
nothing but a wash but if you plan to give your car a good
pampering then I encourage the use of disposable gloves. The ingredients
of some cleaning products can not only dry out your skin but also cause irritation and even
stain if they're coloured. Small packets of gloves are available at places like
Halfords but a much more cost-effective
method is to pick up a box from your local pharmacy (where you'd be looking at
around 50 pairs for £5).
Weather permitting
Unless you have ties with
God and/or Mother Nature, it's very difficult to book the right weather
conditions. The most suitable is a cool or warm and slightly overcast day.
Obviously a rainy day would be silly but a scorching summer's day isn't ideal
either. In the baking sun, paintwork can get so hot that it's painful to
touch and any products you apply to it will just cook and be ruined (including
your results).
Tooled up
Picture someone cleaning their car on a Sunday
morning and they'll probably just be using a bucket and sponge. There's
nothing wrong with tradition but if this is all you have available then the job
of washing a car becomes a bit more laborious and the end result not quite so
impressive.
If you want to clean your car thoroughly,
easily, and pamper it afterwards then consider having the following in your
arsenal; 2 or 3 buckets for less trips to the tap, a hosepipe for quick and easy
soaking and rinsing, small selection of sponges, a chamois leather, selection of
clean soft cloths, and of course your favoured cleaning
products.
NOTE: The use of a
hosepipe may be prohibited if there is a water shortage or hosepipe ban in your
area.
When it's necessary to
apply waxes, polishes, and other solutions, you need something suitable to apply
them with. Machine washable valet cloths are extremely cost-effective and
with a large quantity at your disposal, your pampering rhythm need not be
interrupted by the need for a washing machine visit. My collection of
valet cloths was purchased from
Halfords.
Surface preparation
Ever looked at the
condition of your paintwork and thought it looked awful..? Unfortunately
vehicles have to put up with a number of horrible elements; hot and cold
climates, bugs and insects, tree sap, tar, bird droppings, stones, acidic rain,
and other chemicals floating around the atmosphere. If left for a
considerable amount of time, paintwork can end up with layers of grime which are
hard to shift and surface defects which may need particular attention.
Where some serious rescue
is needed, consider treating your paintwork with a surface preparation solution
-- something which will take off layers of stubborn dirt, remove surface
scratches, and attempt to restore your car's paintwork to a nearly new state.
NOTE: Such products should only be used as and when required
and not as a frequent step when cleaning a car.
Wax or polish?
Grasping the concepts of
wax and polishes can be difficult, especially when manufacturers market a
number of products as polishing waxes and waxes with polishing attributes.
It's sad that the terms have become almost interchangeable but the two products
are in fact quite different.
A polish is primarily used
to remove fine scratches and other minute surface blemishes from paintwork
whilst also leaving behind a glossy finish. A wax is added to provide a
protective barrier, ideally after a polish has been used. Polish
conditions paintwork. Wax adds a sacrificial barrier.
For the optimum paintwork
finish consider waxing after using a polish. Depending on the condition of
the paintwork following a clean (and the amount of time you have), you may find
the use of either alone will suffice (some polishes also have an element of wax
in their ingredients). Also consider waxing 3-4 times a year.
Bird sh!t
Unfortunately our
feathered friends don't do a vehicle's paintwork any favours when they decide to
leave a deposit behind. Bird poo is very acidic and should be removed as
soon as possible. If left unattended it will simply corrode your car's
paintwork in no time. A no-nonsense method to remove bird poo (especially
if it's dried on) is to soak some kitchen towel in warm water, position on top
of the dropping(s), and after 10 minutes the mess will easily wipe away.
Afterwards you might want to apply some wax to put a protective barrier back.
