Hi all,

I recently bought a 2005 Mini Cooper Automatic in Purple which has probably never been garaged. It has alot of swirls and light scratches and I am quite new to washing a car. (I admit to using 1 bucket and a sponge and rinse it off if i drop it) :aargh:

I have done alot of research and learnt the correct techniques. Im gonna list the stuff I just bought from Halfords please let me know if I am missing something or I should use something else.

Washing the Car: - Autoglym Shampoo and Conditioner, Turtle wax micro fibre wash mitt, Autoglym synthetic chamois.

Claying the Car: - Meguiars replacement clay bar, Autoglym rapid detailer.

Polishing the car: - Autoglym Super resin polish, Autoglym perfect polishing cloth.

Waxing the Car: - Autoglym Aqua wax kit.

Alloys: - Sponge.

Interior and exterior plastic: -Autoglym Vinyl & rubber care.

I hope I got all I need as I dont want to make more trips to halfords after I start washing the car. I havent selected any seacial glass or alloy cleaners because I though I would just clean glass with normal water and a squigee. And for alloys just use shampoo and sponge.

So couple of qns: After I use my washing mitt, chamois, cotton cloth (thats used for polish), microfibre cloth (for waxing) how do I clean them for my next wash?

If I clay, polish and wax when next should I repeat the process or lets say how long can I delay the process? (its not my car so I dont want to make this a weekly thing)

Polishing/ claying scare me because if done incorrectly can mess up the paint any suggestions for a newbie.

The shoulders that hold the mini roof (painted black) is that plastic or metal I cant tell, but even that has scratches on so should I polish that bit too?

I have seen pics of some cars getting masking tape around the plastic bits or chrome, is that neccessary? and where do you get the blue colored tape from?

This is going to be my routine I use when I clean the car,

a) hose it down or may borrow neighbours pressure washer use on light strenght.
b) use two bucket system and shampoo the car.
c)hose down the car
d)Use chamois to dry car
e)use detailer and clay to get cotaminants

f)qns-do I re-wash with shampoo or hose it down and dry it or skip this all together.

g)Polish the car avoiding the plastic and chrome, use light pressure - do circular movements and horizontal.
h)Wax the car using microfibre cloth in horizontal or verticle movements.
i) clean the exterior plastic trim with vinyl and rubber care and use it on the interior.

And all done I hope. Does that sound right, have I got any thing wrong here?

Oh and before I forget most videos I have seen doing the claying, polishing and waxing are done inside garages obviously to avoid air contaminants but my garage is only big enough to fit a car so i cant move in there, is it alright if i did this outside. Plus Friday is supposed to be a dry day but if their is light showers and I just finished claying or polishing can i move the car inside garage and do the rest after the rain stops or will it create any problems.

Thanks guys sorry for being too long.

I've gotten in the habit of masking the plastic wheel arches with painter's (blue) tape before waxing. It's a lot easier than dealing with wax residue on the trim.

I wax and polish my Sidewalk Convertible then blacken the bumpers, so gets rid of any wax. Final fix, spritz up those wheels with Autoglym makes the alloys and tyres look really good. :-) Happy polishing, he is worth all the effort.

thanks guys keep the tips coming in

If you got some spare time have a look at this site www.detailingworld.co.uk

Absolutely everything you need to know about detailing :wink:

Re: cleaning your microfibre cloths...use non bio washing liquid, otherwise the fibres will clog up & not be as effective.

The windscreen pillars are plastic, I've used the Super resin polish to good effect on them.

First stage done! Shampoo'ed the car twice, my mistake washed it first then realised the rubber around the panoramic roof was filthy used a toothbrush to rub that and absolute dirt brown stuff came off so then did a re-wash from scartch again.
Now just debating whether to go out again and do the claying seems like I might have a spell of rain coming down might do the claying and polishing, waxing 2moro.

Hi guys, Things went well today with the clean. Just need some advice about the polishing - i did the polishing used nearly half a bottle is that normal? But my main concern was it did not get the light scratches off. It may have got some off, not sure my eyes might be playing tricks on me. I havent waxed yet until i get some further advice from you all. Overall, I am quite happy with the result but I guess I may have been expecting more from the polish, I was under the impression it would get all the light scratches off. So should I just go ahead and wax the car.

Oh the autoglym polishing cloths are terrible they leave alot of cotton residue behind.

remember to take pics!