Car Valeting - your go to products

[fossyant]

OK, I know some folk wash their cars once a year when it get's a service, but those of us who do a bit more what's your go-to products ?

General wash and Wax - I get 20l containers of Turtlewax Wash and Wax - works out very cheap - ebay direct from TuttleWax Europe
Snow Foam - usually something in a 20-25l container - again a fraction of the cost of stuff in Halfords - ebay
Wheel Cleaner and TFR - Jenny Chem products 5l - diluted and it lasts for ages.

Polishes - got to be AutoGlym super resin, extra gloss and I'm about to try out the spray on ceramic stuff.
Leather care - Meguires Detailer (cleaner/conditioner)
Tyre gel - Meguires
Plastic Restorer - Vista Concept (as recommended by @Drago - it's magic on tired plastics and lasts, unlike some other products that wash off in the rain.

 

[Drago]

Nice and simple these days.

Normal shampoo - Simoniz Gold.

Wheel cleaner- I don't ever let them get bad enough to need it.

Every 3rd or 4th wash I use Carplan Super Gloss,it's water repellent properties are astonishing and it's sooo easy.

Armor all tyre foam.

Concept Vista plastic restorer.

Autogylm leather cleaner/conditioner.

K2 dashboard cleaner.

 

[mistyoptic]

I spent years using washing up liquid and never had a problem. Nowadays I use Meguires shampoo. Car ends up clean either way. Have had some kind of paint protection for years so not polished a car since about 1989

(Hides)

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

I have a bagful, that my father gave me

I do, however, probably need something a bit better for the alloys (l clean those, to try & prevent brake-dust corrosion), so might try some ‘Car Plan Demon Wheels’, as l need to nip to the local B&M for some 2032 batteries

This is the best wheel, at the moment (possibly last cleaned in November?)

 

[potsy]

Work's jet wash

 

[MichaelW2]

I'll ask my valet.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Meguair’s gold class shampoo. Six years ago I bought a 2-ltr bottle and I’ve not yet used half of it, despite regular washing.

Autoglym tyre dressing.
Autoglym tar remover.

someone recently bought me Autoglym rapid aqua wax but I’ve not tried that yet.

I use Screwfix’s super degreaser for the alloy wheels.

 

[fossyant]

Screwfix degreaser is magic at cleaning up oily bits.

 

[wafter]

At this point it seems more appropriate to feed the glorious arrangement of mosses and lichens that have taken hold over the past few years than it does to try and clean owt up... as OCD as I was about keeping past cars sparkling (when facilities allowed)..

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Head and shoulders

 

[fossyant]

At this point it seems more appropriate to feed the glorious arrangement of mosses and lichens that have taken hold over the past few years than it does to try and clean owt up... as OCD as I was about keeping past cars sparkling (when facilities allowed)..

I'm a bit OCD about the car/bike - ask skolly !

 

[Drago]

I'm OCD too.

Over the years I've tried all the magical potions and ungents, but the products I use now give 98% of the same result, for 50% of the effort and 30% of the cost.

 

[fossyant]

I'm OCD too.

Over the years I've tried all the magical potions and ungents, but the products I use now give 98% of the same result, for 50% of the effort and 30% of the cost.

Some of the new stuff is pretty magic (i.e. low effort). Remember when waxes were really hard to buff off. My latest gadget is an under body spray attachment for the Karcher, especially now I'm knackered ! Saves bending.

 

[Electric_Andy]

I pressure wash off first, and then use Simoniz snow foam, then Carplan Demon Shine. I'm not too fussed about the car but it does a good job of cleaning and as I don't rub it off completey, seems to leave an oily layer on it which probably adds to the protection (or wrecks the paint, I don't know).

 

[fossyant]

Demon Shine is good for a quick shine after a wash !