A deserved clean!!

[drzeus]

Originally Posted by no-jag

How long did it take, I love a good day on the car I do.

LOL glad I am not the only one! They just get so grubby so quick out here, despite being covered when 'asleep'. I thought our white Micra was bad for showing the dust and grime, but oh how my Abyss Blue baby shows it. Also the Micra only ever showed other people's paint on it as they had scraped past ... never remember being able to see scratches. But on the new Cee'd ... instantly visible with the light undercoat.

Real beauty you've got there Drakey. When the rain comes and I can clean in a less dusty environment I must take some more photos of mine.

[gary.mellor]

I'm going to plead ignorance - what's wrong with using a sponge? I clean mine most weeks. I have two sponges: one for the 'visible' bodywork and one for things like under the arches and under the sills. I don't cross contaminate the water and sponges so I don't get gritty sponge syndrome. I had the DiamondBrite JewelUltra paint treatment (well worth it IMHO). I don't wax it - I just use all the DiamondBrite products and it comes up a treat. I'll have to post some pictures when I next clean her. She's only ever been cared for with DiamondBrite products since I bought her a year ago. It takes me about three and half hours to clean her inside and out.

[gary.mellor]

Found some pictures. Admittedly this is an overcast day and doesn't show the sheen off in its best light but it's still a very clean balck car

[Bunker]

Originally Posted by gary.mellor

I'm going to plead ignorance - what's wrong with using a sponge?

Make yourself a cup of coffee or grab a beer from the fridge, then sit down and read this

[no-jag]

Originally Posted by Bunker

Make yourself a cup of coffee or grab a beer from the fridge, then sit down and read this

That's me, and I generaly use a quick wax spray to keep the wax topped up, that can go onto the wet car as you dry it.

And that's only the wash... we not got onto clay bars and the like

[drzeus]

Originally Posted by gary.mellor

I'm going to plead ignorance - what's wrong with using a sponge? I clean mine most weeks. I have two sponges: one for the 'visible' bodywork and one for things like under the arches and under the sills. I don't cross contaminate the water and sponges so I don't get gritty sponge syndrome. I had the DiamondBrite JewelUltra paint treatment (well worth it IMHO). I don't wax it - I just use all the DiamondBrite products and it comes up a treat. I'll have to post some pictures when I next clean her. She's only ever been cared for with DiamondBrite products since I bought her a year ago. It takes me about three and half hours to clean her inside and out.

Also using 2 buckets 2 sponges (very large holed sponges) as I haven't yet found a sheep version here! Can't wait for my next UK trip to get some decently priced good cleaning gear.
I have to say I can understand the logic behind not using a flat-faced microholed sponge (OK, I'll admit I am hoping that grit doesn't actually stick to my very holey sponge and falls through into the holes then into the bucket on rinse!!) but I really can't see why gritty stuff should drive its way more into a sheep mitt--doesn't that suggest it will be more likely to remain there thus loading up the mitt with time? (I guess the proof is in the pudding.)
Trouble where I live is that we have very low humidity and lots of airborne dust all year round, with frequent additions of African sand. I don't want to take my pride and joy to a washer and I am not allowed to wash it as often as I please (common water bill) so I keep it covered up when not in use, much to everone's amusement and the local cats delight (not cold to the touch, great to pee on, slide down - with claws out of course!). Cleaning routine is alo badly hampered by hot to very hot weather from May to October. Waxing?? Only on a cool moonlit night after April! I have lovingly cared for all my cars and pushbikes prior to that with Dads car gear and I really want to look after this beauty too - but blue is hard work!

[Drakey]

Very clean Gary.
I totally agree with everyones comments & tips, but at the end of the day this is my family/shopping car (wife & kids 14-12 & 3yr old) and my commuting car 100 miles/day.
Just keeping it slightly clean is a full on mission!!!