[G17RDY]

Hello,

I thought i'd start a thread of Helpful Hints and tips when washing and polishing our Minis.

I thought i knew it all, as i am a cleaning fanatic, but recently i've learnt a few new tricks, and i thought we could all share.

I'll Start off......
My hints and tips would be.

After a pre rinse, the first wash should always be with very soapy water
Reason: With all the grit and muck that builds up on a car The soap suds act as a barrier between the sponge and the bodywork, hence less grit scratching

If you are a regular polisher, always wash your car with cold to room temp water.
Reason: Hot water will remove the last coat of polish you have applied

Never use a sponge dropped on the ground, throw it away, and after use always keep sponges in a clean bucket or plastic bag
Reason: the last thing you want to do, is rub grit or debris caught on the sponge into your paintwork

When using a sponge, Or applying polish, go in straight lines
Reason: To avoid those nasty swirl marks in paintwork

Never cross use sponges, ie, dont clean your bodywork and your wheels with the same sponge.
Reason: you'd be amazed how many people i know do this, There is nothing worse than catching all the grit from your wheels on your sponge and then washing your bodywork with it, owch!!!!

Well i've got lots more, but lets see what we can all learn from each other.

[Rakey]

never use a sponge, always use a wash mitt on paint work, the natural lambs wool fibres don't allow grit to stick to them like a sponge. But never use one of this on a convertible roof as it will shed hairs all over the roof

[ButtonIt]

I find it's best to avoid hot temperatures and direct sunlight as it dries the water too quickly and leaves evaporation marks and smears I always wash and wax my car in the shade for this reason.

Start with the wheels, hose them down first then wash them with soapy water and sponge.

Rinse the body of the car, starting from the top and working down, make sure as much loose dirt and debris is removed as possible.

Using lukewarm water and plenty of shampoo wash the car using a lambswool mitt, again from the top down.

Rinse the soapy water off the vehicle, make sure it's all removed.

Dry the vehicle using a chamois or microfibre towel.

[Olly.]

I read this somewhere so I won't take credit for it...... Never wash your bodywork with the same water you have just cleaned your wheels with, becuase brake dust is corrosive.

I will take credit for this one though, while chamoising your MINI hit your rear number plate 3 or 4 times, this gets all the water out from behind the plate and stops it dripping down the back of your nice clean MINI when you drive off.

[umberto]

also, is helpful to have a separate bucket of just clean water to rinse the sponge each time before you put it back in to the soapy bucket...to keep the soap bucket from getting grit into it

[G17RDY]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rakey

never use a sponge, always use a wash mitt on paint work, the natural lambs wool fibres don't allow grit to stick to them like a sponge. But never use one of this on a convertible roof as it will shed hairs all over the roof

Superb, i never thought of that one, and heres me using sponges like a tool.

Just going to check out ebay for some mitts !!!!!

[bimini]

leggy & busty girlfriends must wear small denim shorts and tight tops when washing cars because baggy clothing could get trapped.

[randap]

I always use the Flash car wash system. Gives a great spot free finish in 15mins wash time even on my black MC.

[Wul]

Have to concur with the washing wheels first, lambswool mitt and two-bucket wash methods. Also for the final rinse of the bodywork, take the nozzle off the hose or the rose off the watering can and let the water "sheet" off the paintwork leaving only a few drops to be dried off.

For the just waxed look - spray the bodywork with quick detailer and wipe with a microfibre towel as you dry up the remaining water.

[Mini_Blake]

Park on a hill when washing so that the water runs off and less drying is required

Buy a clay bar and get rid of all the contaminents in the paint, and then wax. When the clay is too dirty to use it on paint just use it to get brake dust off your wheels.

[Tomasz]

Quote: Originally Posted by bimini

leggy & busty girlfriends must wear small denim shorts and tight tops when washing cars because baggy clothing could get trapped.

Tight tops must be white, as colours could run onto the paintwork.

[Restyle]

Remove ALL Jewellry & Watches etc before going near the Car


Errrr ...as demonstrated

[bimini]

DO make sure yourself and your clothing are free from any contamination such as any oil, mud, baked beans etc



DONT use denim as a wash cloth, the studs may scratch

Note : for demonstration purposes another make of car was used to avoid the distress of seeing a mini possibly damaged

[Restyle]

Ummm...



A good soapy mix will also help alleviate femine itching

[ButtonIt]

pmsl keep the tips coming

[cooper-minx]

My tips on cleaning would be:
1st get a drop-dead gorgeous male
2nd make sure he is at least 6ft tall to reach the roof adequately
3rd make sure he is dressed appropriately .... infact perhaps just a pair of shorts in case of water marks or brake fluid spoiling his clothes
4th make sure that none of his tools do not touch the ground
5th - if he is that tasty forget the steps 1 - 4 above and just wash the car yourself at a later date ....

[Richard22b]

Quote: Originally Posted by cooper-minx

My tips on cleaning would be:
1st get a drop-dead gorgeous male
2nd make sure he is at least 6ft tall to reach the roof adequately
3rd make sure he is dressed appropriately .... infact perhaps just a pair of shorts in case of water marks or brake fluid spoiling his clothes
4th make sure that none of his tools do not touch the ground
5th - if he is that tasty forget the steps 1 - 4 above and just wash the car yourself at a later date ....

Were you just describing me there?

[Ebrian_x2]

After washing and drying the car, open car doors and boot and clean and dry the inside edges.
Helps prevent rust and looks fab when getting into your car.

Oh and dont use your moms good bath towels to dry the car and wheels. Apparently
alittle brake dust is "hard to get out".....Blah blah

[cooper-minx]

Quote: Originally Posted by Richard22b

Were you just describing me there?

[Richard22b]

Quote: Originally Posted by cooper-minx

Well you know. I'm 6'4. Dark hair. tanned and big hands.