Something also to consider is vacuum cleaner hoses on the doors, move the vacuum cleaner closest to where you are cleaning, use a long old towel so the hose doesn't scratch the paint or use The Rag Company suede fender defender, it can also be used when detailing engine bays so you don't scratch or marr the painted panel when we lay our bodies against the fenders while cleaning the entire engine bay.
Some excellent tips here, I have done most of these things in the past and still do one or two at times! Completely agree about doing the wheel barrels after the faces, it has always seemed to be the logical approach to me.
@@AutoCareHQ Faces first is how I've always done my wheels. Seems the more logical approach to me! I've just stumbled across your channel Heather, and have subscribed. Looking forward to more content!
Really great video. I just purchased an Audi Q3 and have been researching proper procedures for its care and protection. Your video has been truly educational since you discussed some critical issues that I had not considered previously or that I had never heard discussed, even by other "professional" detailers on TH-cam. Also, if I may add, I love your accent.
It's slightly pricey, but well worth the long term investment, to buy a pack of three wheel woolies. The large one is perfect for the wheel face, and gets behind the spokes really well. The tiny one gets between the spokes, and then the middle size one with a long handle gets right to the back of the barrels. You are then using a different one for each part of the wheel, a quick rinse in a bucket of water and on to the next wheel. They seem to last for a LONG time too, really durable, had mine 2 years and they are good for at least another 2 yet, and I wash my car every week !
i got into this alkaline + acidic wash when i watched a koch chemie reactivation shampoo ads, immediately it make sense to me, because we need alkaline cleaner to get rid off organic dirt, and acidic cleaner for inorganic dirt. i believe general population will need more time to accept this strong combo, but im glad to see u r ahead of the game! again , brilliant content! tahnks a bunch!
Best thing I changed about routine was to totally ditch 2BM method. A back injury made carrying 2 heavy buckets a strain. Now I use 1 bucket and 6 mitts for entire car. A mitt is only used once on each side per panel, then put in an empty bucket. That way they never return to your wash bucket, minimizing grit transfer. It’s also quicker not rinsing mitt. Try it. 5-6 mitts. One bucket wash. Uses less water too.
THIS ^ After a few years of the two bucket method, I came to the conclusion that unless you are doing a vehicle which is really REALLY dirty, then two bucket method is completely pointless and a waste of water. Most of us into detailing will basically be cleaning a pretty clean car anyway, and the majority of us have some topping to protect the paint making the dirt come off even easier. So, once you have citrus (if needed), snow foamed, and rinsed, there should be nothing abrasive left on the paint to cause any swirling or marring, provided you have a good soft mitt, decent shampoo, and good technique. Provided you have used a good foam, and/or citrus pre wash, and a good power water jet rinse, those alone should have got the paint 98% clean anyway. The contact wash is basically to just remove those final little missed areas of slight grime, or stubborn birdshyte remains, and isn't really intended for heavy dirt removal because if your car is still dirty visibly after citrus and foam, then you are using crap products or crap technique ! One bucket, a good mitt, a good shampoo, and you shouldn't really even need a grit guard, although for the money it's advisable to use one as an extra precaution.
Cleaning the wheels face makes much more sense, I shall adopt this procedure from now on 😎 love your channel and love how many different products you use 👍👍👍👍
Awesome info ,I started with a BM demon shine box and took on the learning curve from there😮,4 year later I finally found by base chemicals and products and equipment I’m happy with but always willing to learn and take advice. The gloves look good thanks for the link 👍
That thing about shampoos with gloss enhancers - wash n wax type things - is really interesting. Some of the newer ones, like Turtle Wax Ceramic Wash and Wax, really do leave some serious protective qualities behind. The water behaviour can be insane. Epic Car Detailing has just done a video on a new one. Makes me wonder if they are more suited to a person who does like to wash their car regularly but is time poor and doesn't want to do anything else. Another great video that's going to be so useful.
Yeah they're are some good options which can leave great protection behind, usually these are the ceramic-type ones like you mentioned. Bilt Hamber Touch-On is another good option in this category. I recommended that to a friend who just to wash their car as quickly as possible and couldn't be bothered adding the protection in a separate step!
Yet another great video! One thing I will add in case there are any relative newbies who try it. Glass polishing. Especially if using Ceriglass. It can be bloody messy as hell, so be fully prepared to wash your car afterwards if you're not going to sheet and tape off.
Two Things for Washing Towels: Many Towels hate high RPM, some, especially Twisted Loop towels can even degrade at 800 RPM, so setting the RPM to 400-600 is good practice. For drying I found that airdrying them to 95% and then a quick go in the dryer gives the dryer fluffiness without much of the stress. Great video, lots of good tips, mirrors what I learned in all my years of detailing
Thanks for producing a video with a collection of lesser known mistakes. I’ve watched so many videos normally titled “ top 10 detailing mistakes “ that I normally avoid them because they are all the same.
Hi Heather, Yes we’ve all done those things! Totally agree about the wheels, always prewash the whole car including the wheels before any contact. Also when doing the contact on wheels it’s faces then barrels - why would you clean the dirtiest (and mostly hidden) bit first then rub it onto the cleanest and most visible bit? 🤨 Keep up the thought provoking and informative work! 👍
Mistake 3 i see alot across TH-cam. I always pre wash the wheels with TFR/Citrus and snowfoam, before the contact wash of the wheels. Even more so on wheels like my BMW that are black, can be marked so easily. Tip number 6 is my car as a product tester 😂 not the best idea like you say, more isnt always better. Tip number 7 is a very good one, i like the idea and actually makes sense. Great video yet again, thanks for sharing Heather 🙌
Cheers Jason! Yeah it's quite rare to see the wheels getting a pre-wash but well worth doing in my opinion especially on delicate finishes like on your BMW. Haha I reckon a lot of TH-camrs are guilty of layering a load of products on their own cars!
Great advice! I've never thought about cleaning the wheel face first (I've always done the barrels first out of habit) and I'm also guilty of layering too many products😅
Great video Heather 👍 For the wheels I'm a barrels first guy 😊. But rinse the wheels before making contact with the faces. This also includes rinsing the barrel brush, before putting back in my wash solution.
Great deal of knowledge I also clean the barrel of the wheel first I have to rethink the next time cleaning my wheels love your videos can’t wait for the next one
I've just cleaned my car. Doing the wheel barrel before the face and dragged some gunky stuff on to the face..... then just carried on😂. However, my thinking is if I clean the face and spokes I may go too far and drag some dirt from the barrel onto my mitt and do way more damage. Maybe I should do barrel, rinse, face, rinse! Great video, thanks for sharing
Really good video and many good advices. As a detailer myself I found that working with the right products and methodes saves a lot of time. 1. I found that a dedicated wheel cleaner such as Alu Devil Spezial from Tuga Chemie works very vell and saves me from to much scrubbing on the wheels that can potensially damage the paint. I love that you start with a dry surface btw. 2. When "rinsing off" your snowfoam you should try to work from the bottom to the top, that way you will not miss a spot since you see where the soap is left and you actually cleen better this way.3 I would use a little bit stronger snowfoam with a higher PH that actually does something while it`s on the car. Thanks for a great video:
I do the same with the brush work nowadays, it’s a much better practice and it’s surprising to see how many well known folks go straight in with brushes after foaming a dry vehicle. I used to do the brush work before the contact wash, during the foam stage, but that was always after a pressure rinse before applying the foam. I completely agree about washing the wheel barrels after the rims, faces and spokes, I would go as far to say it’s not controversial at all, I think it’s entirely logical when you think about it. Great tip on pre washing the wheels, something I am guilty of not doing. My wheels tend to be coated so I usually think a pre pressure rinse is often enough, but I will definitely try the pre wash too 👍
Thank you Heather for this list of detailing mistakes to avoid. I am guilty of using detailing brushes to clean the badges etc with just snow foam on the paint. Since watching your videos I am trying to use iron fall out, tar removers rather than a clay bar to stop marring etc. I wash the wheel barrels first then the faces. But I understand your method so will give it a try next time I clean my car. I use marrigold gloves for the wash process 😅😂
Thanks for watching! It's all about working out what works best for you to be honest! I'm sure there will be plenty of things I change about my approach over the next few years as there has been over the last few too
Great video, I foam the wheels using GT wheel shampoo V2 in an ik foamer. I clean the barrels, rinse, foam up again and then do the faces. Fully agree with what you say, doesn’t make sense to rub that dirt in!
I'm a bugger for layering products ...... I do the same as you with the wheels thinking about it ......towels is do em yourself as you know parents / partners will add softener etc in thinking they are helping make things softer 😮......gloves I go through loads at work as the key store works off finger prints which isn't ideal. If you remember back I burnt my hands filling a bottle with iron remover caused by splash back so I wear them now for refilling bottles as well
Great video- wheel cleaning I do barrels first but that’s mainly to give the chemicals longer to work on the face of the wheel. As it’s what the customer will see. Definitely going to check out the gloves. Look forward to future content from you.
Great video, as always. I've posted previously about how claying was becoming just another stage in a detail, newcomers had seen it mentioned, but not the risks it posed or that it should really be a precursor to a correction/enhancement.
Thanks for watching 😊 Yeah I was very guilty in the past of just claying because I felt like I was supposed to rather than really considering the paint condition!
@@AutoCareHQ I think we're all guilty of just passing by when we see videos or read posts about things we think we already know, but I still watch, as "Every day is a school day" and being reminded of good practice (like pre-washing wheels) is invaluable so, thank you.
Hi Heather, brilliant video, i never though about wheel face first then barrels i normally do what most do. But after listening to why you do face first, I'm going to change, thsnks
Hi Heather, thanks for some useful tips. I actually wash my wheels in the same way cleaning the barrel second, but to be honest I hadn't put much thought into the reasoning behind it.
Hi Heather. Been watching your videos for 3 years and just recognized i forgott to subscribe. So i did it now with pleasure! I like your vids a lot, no nonsense straight to the point and good advice...thank you for your work and greetings from Slovenia.
Very good tips well im guilty of a few of them as for cleaning the wheels i always do the barrel first then rinse off and re apply the wheel cleaner to the faces right or wrong its the way i do it dont think either way is wrong to be honest just do what works best for you another great video as always 👍 keep up the good work
Really excellent advice! Some very handy tips here and some a lot wouldn't even consider. Your knowledge on exactly what products do and what effects they can have when not used as intended or on top of/with other products is really quite amazing and has obviously come from many hours of work and trialling many different products......really appreciate you sharing this with us as it can save potential damage and help save money wasted on unnecessary steps and unneeded products. Not polishing and claying too often is the best one here for me. Thank you Heather!! (you are soooo pretty too) 🥰
Excellent video. I use a synthetic "clay" towel for decontamination. Doesn't mar the paint like real clay. I haven't touched my clay bars in a couple of years.
Nice one! I've had it mentioned before that a water spot remover would be a good idea but haven't ever grabbed one but, I think this may be worth looking into now, 1, because I live in a hard water area and 2, because I had an issue with a dead light ceramic that an acidic shampoo and fall out remover, didn't revive. I also like the idea of washing the face of the wheels first. Lastly, I'm probably guilty of layering too many products, so thanks, a good bit learned here. All the best. 👍
I recently bought a dehumidifier that I’m using for drying interiors and noticed it has a dry clothes function so I’m going try it next time I’m washing my micro fibres to dry them. Great video 👍
Id say it will be excellent during the winter months to keep interiors dry in daily drivers and should reduce the windows fogging up. I had a bad water leak in one my cars and I put in the dehumidifier while I was working in the garage for 7 or 8 hours a day for 3 days and i got just under 5 litres of water from it . I also use the water it gathers for mixing products instead of buying distilled water.
Morning Heather 👋. Excellent advice from the voice of a very experienced car detailer. I have personally found your website to be a first class place & reference point ( not forgetting any discount codes 👌). The best piece of advice I have received from you Heather was the suggestion of the GT Shampoo. A top rate product indeed. Have a great week ahead !
@AutoCareHQ Hi Heather, I'm just 'speaking' as I find. Your website is a gem. It's clear there's been a lot of work gone into its making. There's going to be a makeover in my garage set up in time for next spring, so I'm looking forward to investing a few £ towards a new washer ( kranzle auto stop) a new collection of products and accessories, so there will be a good number of auto HQ re-runs over Xmas !
Good tips. On the DA polish advice, on my own 20 year old garaged Mazda RX8 with similar paint depth as your Mazda, I prefer to hide any minor swirls with BH cleanser polish hand applied, then put some Dodo Juice purple haze on top. It wouldn't last so long if I did that with my daily driver but for a garaged dry use car it's great and only do bi annual at most. I save my DA polisher for my Mondeo daily driver, correct once a year to 18 months.
Brilliant detailed video heather. Definitely going to take some of these steps into my cleans. 👍😎 I'm a barrel first wheel cleaner, but for me I'm down to try a different approach to see if it works for me any better. I brought gloves aswell. After many years of washing without they definitely are a must.
Thank you for the video Heather. I'm somewhat relieved my jumbo sponge and Fairy liquid didn't make the hit list. Joking aside, great advice you've given there. I will definitely try your method of wheel cleaning the next time I wash my car 👍.
I enjoyed your video and tips. I had some problems understanding your heavy accent tho. I’m glad you showed on video what you were speaking about at the same time!! ❤
Excellent video Heather! For PPE protection I'm guilty of not wearing my cloth face masks or googles when spraying wheel cleaners or drying aid sprays, both of which I have specifically for those jobs, I must do better! I'm also on/off but do my best to read Safety Data Sheets and choose my regular detailing chemicals not only based on what works but what's safe. Just yesterday I discovered a newer rinseless wash I like contains Butoxyethanol, a surfactant ingredient also used in antifreezes, so no wonder it cleans well but I've decided I'll retire that chemical. Additional mistakes I make: -Irregularly cleaning the window felt stripes that can build up with dirt and start scratching the glass when the windows are rolled up and down -Irregularly conditioning those exposed exterior rubber weatherstripping, including sunroofs; I used to be better about it but so important to clean them with a simple mild cleaner and then use some rubber conditioner to keep them pliable -Irregularly cleaning the inner wheel well fender lips and behind the rear wheels. Dedicating a long handle wheel and body brush to the job, I would spray with APC and clean the underneath sills behind the front wheels under the door where the wheels will kick up lots of nasty, flush with water and then use a spray/rinse product to protect. I trashed this brush and I didn't buy a new one all year, and I still have a bottle of Sonnax SprayNSeal that I was using up on this job I need to get through. Also important is the rear wheel arch often has an inner lip that we don't clean regularly but getting in there with a brush or mitt will often dislodge a pile of yuck, then come back in with a utility towel with some spray ceramic sealer to protect the area.
Hi really appreciate and enjoy your content. As a detailing enthusiast rather than a professional I have learned so much from your videos 👍🏻. I hope you don't mind me asking but could you maybe at some time do a video on engine bay detailing, methods and techniques, products you would use and any tips. I have looked and couldn't see one specific to the engine bay. Sorry if I've maybe missed it. Thanks again. 👍🏻😊
Thanks very much for watching the videos :) I've got a quick engine bay cleaning video using a waterless method but I made it quite a while ago so not surprised you couldn't find it! Here's the link: th-cam.com/video/b06HWSaaidc/w-d-xo.htmlsi=CEml9abWAfar3P6N
Great video (and a new subscriber). I actually wash wheels the same way as you. My big takeaway I think is to do the intricate details after the wash as I have been doing it while the snow foam dwells.
I can identify with a lot of these, I really like the idea of cleaning the face of the wheel before the barrel, I thought I was the only one that did this.
Oh god, i hope there isn't more than ten else my hobby could be a disaster in the making. My personal one was the first time i used a pressure washer i got right in on the wheels and gave it a ruddy good squirt to watch the plate which covers the brake disc at the back fall out onto the drive. (as it was very rusty anyway). Im very careful with calipers and pressure washers as well. Just a gentle rinse from a distance is plenty. let the products do the work. this was from a time way back when i didn't watch your channel and was yet to amass a garage full of products and wheel cleaners, most of which I'm still yet to use - yes Im looking at you for my full range of barely used Mile Deep products - haha! Their time will come!) Some good tips in here, and great video as usual, The Heather. One I'd add is if you are wheels off and ceramic coating them do the barrel first. then you can turn it over and do the face - you won't ruin the face as it dries by doing it the other way around. I have skin issues anyway so it reacts to jsut about anything so i use big yellow rubber gloves for most things (nitrile if not a bucket of liquid) as I've realised i'm too old to care about what a wally i look. I also use a full 3m facemask for anything that stinks (last thing I want is wheel cleaner in my eye) and is obviously bad to be breathed in or if im blowing out hte interior and bits are going everywhere. Again i look like Bane in rubber gloves but my lungs will thank me one day i'm sure.
Thanks for watching :) You need to get on it and use the Mile Deep products, they're really good! Great tip about coating the barrel first so you don't rub the coating off the wheel face. Masks are definitely a good idea too!
Another thought provoking watch and it makes me think of my process which is obviously similar to yourself due to the time I have followed your channel. With regards the wheels that makes sense. From now on I am going back to my old way of detailing by citrus and snow foam overlaid and rinsed then do the wheels face first then the barrels. I have a bottle of Gyeon Restart that I have not used but that is supposed to be very good and I presume is the type of product you were thinking of. I still to this day use your glass deep clean method with clay bar, water spot remover and panel wipe. With regards the wearing of gloves I dropped a frying ban of boiling oil over my hand during the early part of Covid which healed remarkably well but due to my hand having thinner new skin I have ever since then always worn gloves but it is good practice in general. It is really important even when waxing etc because I read up on Gyeon Wax which contains fluorine which is carcinogenic and clearly states protective measures must be taken when used and many other products state the same if I read the bottles.
Thanks very much for watching John. Gyeon Restart looks like a great option to try. That's really true about all the chemicals, it's not just acidic wheels cleaners etc. that can be nasty, it's just best to wear gloves when handling anything!
Hi heather I hope you are well just come from Usa for work so yes I agree with you in all points and I hope in the future no more mistakes, excellent explanation you car look gorgeous i leave my like for you. Best🇨🇦.
Hi Heather. Great info as always. Please can you start to do an outro of some description. I get so engrossed in the chat/content and before I have a chance to give a massive thumbs up 👍 the video has ended. Ps I always go back and thumbs up. But would be good to have a 5-10 second time to make sure at the end. Please keep up the great work and dedication to pleasing us all. Much respect as always.
Thanks Harry! Cheers for going back and liking the video! I did used to have outros but I honestly thought it was harming things as most people drop off instantly at that point and then the percentage watch time drops on TH-cam so they potentially not push it as much. It’s tough to know what’s best 😂
@@AutoCareHQ I get that completely. TH-cam is a minefield of what's good and bad for your own channel. But rest assured I will always go back and like. Would not want my recommendations to harm your chances of growth in any way. Just had a thought... If it's possible and won't affect the length of the videos.. maybe add the like and subscribe icon in bottom corner 10 secs from the end 🤔 as that wouldn't alter things that much. But it's ultimately your channel and yours to put out what you like. Either way I'm a lifelong subscriber and will smash the like button every time. 👌
Its always a good idea when preparing a car for a coating that one uses both a high PH and a low PH shampoo in addition to a tar and Iron remover. prior to any paint correction. Typically I start with an alkali wash (removes road Grime) then an acidic wash (removes hard mineral spots) then a iron remover then a tar remover. Be sure to then do a final wash with a PH neutral shampoo.
Those are great tips Heather, did you say 70+% clean the barrels first? 😮 I do the faces first too as its just the logical way of doing it lol. Super intuitive Vlog 👌👏👏👏
I've just discovered your channel. Loads of brilliant advice. I've just got a new car which has had Autoglyms Lifeline coating applied before I collected the car. What should my cleaning routine be? 1) PH neutral snow foam pre-wash 2) rinse 3) reapply same snowfoam and clean with microfiber mitts 4) dry As I have LifeShine on the car do I need to do anything more? Or should I add any more protection? Can I use something to make it shine even more or is that just piling stuff on as you say in your video?
Thank you! I'd make one tweak to that method. Instead of reapplying the same snow foam in step 3, use a shampoo instead. You can still apply it using a foam cannon, but it will provide a lot more lubrication and really reduce the risk of marring/ swirl marks. Snow foams aren't very good at lubricating the panels and are much better when just used in step 1. Some good shampoos to look at are: - Garage Therapy /One: Car Shampoo - Turtle Wax Pro Pure Wash Try and steer clear of any shampoos which contain waxes or gloss-enhancers, as these often clog the coating. If you don't go with one of the options above, keep an eye for ones that are described as "pure shampoos" as these work best for coated cars. I'd keep an eye on the how well the water is beading/ sheeting on the panel. If the car is being driven frequently the you may need to use an iron remover and mineral/ water spot remover to help unclog it (don't use a clay bar). Here's an article I've written to explain it: autocarehq.com/how-to-wash-and-maintain-a-ceramic-coated-car/ You don't necessarily need to add any top up protection but it can help to keep the coating from getting clogged as quickly with contaminants which reduce the performance. I haven't tried it myself but if you wanted to stick with an Autoglym product then I think their "Rapid Ceramic Spray" is probably the best option to go with Hope that helps!
No problem 😊 I just use cold for everything. If it’s a cold day I sometimes use lukewarm water in the bucket to save my hands from freezing haha but never anything very warm/ hot
I like to do the face before the barrel, too for precisely the same reason. When I started out it was completely different but you learn over time and this is the what and the why for me. Also-also, it's totally ok to wash MF towels on hot but when you dry it's imperative to do so on low or extra-low temps. Just ask me how I know...
One of the important things on protecting yourself is remembering we are dealing with chemicals and must wear appropriately PPE such as long sleeve shirts so they don't contact our skin, gloves, eyewear since we don't want to be spraying and wind all of the sudden blows and sometimes by accident some get in our eyes, mask up especially when cleaning interiors. Always on interiors checking under seats with a mirror and in between seats so nothing cuts or pokes us since there could be lancets or syringes besides other nasty materials and have Narcan available in case there's powder that might be drug or when poked by syringes that we didn't notice, but that's the importance of inspection and avoiding emergencies since we always have customers of any walks of life. One thing I always recommend other Detailing partners is using a tennis wrist band because when we are applying coatings and having sweating on our hands, the sweat will escape and end on the surface we are coating, so the tennis wrist band absorbs the sweat and you avoid the problem.
@Auto Care HQ. Helpful straighforward video. I do have a genuine question about environmental impact though and washing these cleaning chemicals down storm drains where they can make their way into the water system / rivers etc.
Thanks for watching :) With regards to the environmental impacts I do believe some brands have started to be more conscious of this with their formulations now and I'm seeing a lot more biodegradable snow foams etc on the market
I noticed that you seem to do all your detailing outside in the elements, and being English we sometimes (I'm not one of these people that claims it always rains in the UK because it simply isn't true) have to deal with inclement weather. How do you cope with rainy days? Do you carry on regardless, or do you reajust your schedule around the weather? Thank you for your great content.
Thanks very much for watching :) It depends on what I'm doing to be honest. If it's only light rain that's on/off and I'm just doing standard washes (no polishing or coatings) then I usually just carry on. I have a gazebo that I can use to make things a bit easier too. If it's torrential though I'll just reschedule. On the videos it's very rare that I'll be spotted out in the rain just as I'm worried about getting the camera wet!
Something also to consider is vacuum cleaner hoses on the doors, move the vacuum cleaner closest to where you are cleaning, use a long old towel so the hose doesn't scratch the paint or use The Rag Company suede fender defender, it can also be used when detailing engine bays so you don't scratch or marr the painted panel when we lay our bodies against the fenders while cleaning the entire engine bay.
Vac Wrap as seen on Paul Dolden.
Shout out Humberto 👀🫡. He’s everywhere
@@davidboyce6427 👋👍🏼Hey David! We serve onto others with our years of experience and knowledge.
Some excellent tips here, I have done most of these things in the past and still do one or two at times! Completely agree about doing the wheel barrels after the faces, it has always seemed to be the logical approach to me.
Thanks very much for watching! Seems like our approach isn't as popular but I definitely prefer it :)
@@AutoCareHQ Faces first is how I've always done my wheels. Seems the more logical approach to me! I've just stumbled across your channel Heather, and have subscribed. Looking forward to more content!
Thanks very much, hope you enjoy the future vids!@@richardkay1587
@@AutoCareHQ
Hello, have you tried using
Red 7 iron remover on your alloys?
A great deal of knowledge on such a young head. I'm sure there are many much older detailers still making mistakes, Heather.
Thanks Paul!
Excellent points. New product technology is REALLY advancing quickly and making detailers adjust how they do things.
Really great video. I just purchased an Audi Q3 and have been researching proper procedures for its care and protection. Your video has been truly educational since you discussed some critical issues that I had not considered previously or that I had never heard discussed, even by other "professional" detailers on TH-cam. Also, if I may add, I love your accent.
Thanks for watching and congratulations on your new Q3!
I am guilty of washing the barrel of the wheels first then the face. I never really thought about it. Thank you for bringing that up.
Thanks for watching 😊
It's slightly pricey, but well worth the long term investment, to buy a pack of three wheel woolies.
The large one is perfect for the wheel face, and gets behind the spokes really well. The tiny one gets between the spokes, and then the middle size one with a long handle gets right to the back of the barrels.
You are then using a different one for each part of the wheel, a quick rinse in a bucket of water and on to the next wheel.
They seem to last for a LONG time too, really durable, had mine 2 years and they are good for at least another 2 yet, and I wash my car every week !
I think that your idea of cleaning the face of the wheel first is spot on. I am going to to adopt this method with my car from now on.
i got into this alkaline + acidic wash when i watched a koch chemie reactivation shampoo ads, immediately it make sense to me, because we need alkaline cleaner to get rid off organic dirt, and acidic cleaner for inorganic dirt. i believe general population will need more time to accept this strong combo, but im glad to see u r ahead of the game! again , brilliant content! tahnks a bunch!
Thanks very much! I've only really discovered it over the last year to be honest too!
Best thing I changed about routine was to totally ditch 2BM method. A back injury made carrying 2 heavy buckets a strain. Now I use 1 bucket and 6 mitts for entire car. A mitt is only used once on each side per panel, then put in an empty bucket. That way they never return to your wash bucket, minimizing grit transfer. It’s also quicker not rinsing mitt.
Try it. 5-6 mitts. One bucket wash. Uses less water too.
THIS ^
After a few years of the two bucket method, I came to the conclusion that unless you are doing a vehicle which is really REALLY dirty, then two bucket method is completely pointless and a waste of water.
Most of us into detailing will basically be cleaning a pretty clean car anyway, and the majority of us have some topping to protect the paint making the dirt come off even easier.
So, once you have citrus (if needed), snow foamed, and rinsed, there should be nothing abrasive left on the paint to cause any swirling or marring, provided you have a good soft mitt, decent shampoo, and good technique.
Provided you have used a good foam, and/or citrus pre wash, and a good power water jet rinse, those alone should have got the paint 98% clean anyway. The contact wash is basically to just remove those final little missed areas of slight grime, or stubborn birdshyte remains, and isn't really intended for heavy dirt removal because if your car is still dirty visibly after citrus and foam, then you are using crap products or crap technique !
One bucket, a good mitt, a good shampoo, and you shouldn't really even need a grit guard, although for the money it's advisable to use one as an extra precaution.
Wow, are you writing a novel here? 😢Or you're making a car wash career? 😮
Cleaning the wheels face makes much more sense, I shall adopt this procedure from now on 😎 love your channel and love how many different products you use 👍👍👍👍
Awesome info ,I started with a BM demon shine box and took on the learning curve from there😮,4 year later I finally found by base chemicals and products and equipment I’m happy with but always willing to learn and take advice. The gloves look good thanks for the link 👍
That thing about shampoos with gloss enhancers - wash n wax type things - is really interesting. Some of the newer ones, like Turtle Wax Ceramic Wash and Wax, really do leave some serious protective qualities behind. The water behaviour can be insane. Epic Car Detailing has just done a video on a new one. Makes me wonder if they are more suited to a person who does like to wash their car regularly but is time poor and doesn't want to do anything else.
Another great video that's going to be so useful.
Yeah they're are some good options which can leave great protection behind, usually these are the ceramic-type ones like you mentioned. Bilt Hamber Touch-On is another good option in this category. I recommended that to a friend who just to wash their car as quickly as possible and couldn't be bothered adding the protection in a separate step!
Yet another great video!
One thing I will add in case there are any relative newbies who try it.
Glass polishing. Especially if using Ceriglass.
It can be bloody messy as hell, so be fully prepared to wash your car afterwards if you're not going to sheet and tape off.
Thank you! That’s very true, glass polishes can be really messy!
Two Things for Washing Towels: Many Towels hate high RPM, some, especially Twisted Loop towels can even degrade at 800 RPM, so setting the RPM to 400-600 is good practice. For drying I found that airdrying them to 95% and then a quick go in the dryer gives the dryer fluffiness without much of the stress.
Great video, lots of good tips, mirrors what I learned in all my years of detailing
Great tip! Thank you for watching :)
Thank you for making this and more awesome content! @@AutoCareHQ
Thanks for producing a video with a collection of lesser known mistakes. I’ve watched so many videos normally titled “ top 10 detailing mistakes “ that I normally avoid them because they are all the same.
Thanks very much for watching! Thought it’d be better for my regular viewers to go through these kinds of tips 😊
another great video,i look forward to every video you produce, your wisdom expertise and enthusiasm is priceless!!! keep up the great work!!!
Thanks so much, really appreciate the support :)
Hi Heather, Yes we’ve all done those things! Totally agree about the wheels, always prewash the whole car including the wheels before any contact. Also when doing the contact on wheels it’s faces then barrels - why would you clean the dirtiest (and mostly hidden) bit first then rub it onto the cleanest and most visible bit? 🤨 Keep up the thought provoking and informative work! 👍
Thanks very much for watching!
Totally guilty of the layering, it's addictive 🤣
Nice one Heather 👍
Haha I totally get that, there's not any harm in it though if you just enjoy doing it!
Nice points and nice initial disclaimer at the beginning to say that if you have a different experience then that's okay too!
Thank you! Definitely thought it was worth saying, it's important for everyone to figure out what works for them I think!
I'm taking good care of my cars. There's always something to pick up in videos like this.
Thanks for watching :)
Mistake 3 i see alot across TH-cam. I always pre wash the wheels with TFR/Citrus and snowfoam, before the contact wash of the wheels. Even more so on wheels like my BMW that are black, can be marked so easily. Tip number 6 is my car as a product tester 😂 not the best idea like you say, more isnt always better. Tip number 7 is a very good one, i like the idea and actually makes sense. Great video yet again, thanks for sharing Heather 🙌
Cheers Jason! Yeah it's quite rare to see the wheels getting a pre-wash but well worth doing in my opinion especially on delicate finishes like on your BMW. Haha I reckon a lot of TH-camrs are guilty of layering a load of products on their own cars!
@@AutoCareHQ definitely 👌
Brilliant advice Heather and well presented. Thanks for the tip on the Dexshell gloves.
Thanks very much and no problem!
Great advice! I've never thought about cleaning the wheel face first (I've always done the barrels first out of habit) and I'm also guilty of layering too many products😅
Thanks for watching!
Great video Heather 👍
For the wheels I'm a barrels first guy 😊. But rinse the wheels before making contact with the faces.
This also includes rinsing the barrel brush, before putting back in my wash solution.
Thanks Simon 😊 That sounds like a well thought out routine!
Great deal of knowledge I also clean the barrel of the wheel first I have to rethink the next time cleaning my wheels love your videos can’t wait for the next one
I've just cleaned my car. Doing the wheel barrel before the face and dragged some gunky stuff on to the face..... then just carried on😂. However, my thinking is if I clean the face and spokes I may go too far and drag some dirt from the barrel onto my mitt and do way more damage. Maybe I should do barrel, rinse, face, rinse!
Great video, thanks for sharing
Thanks for watching! Haha that'd definitely be the safest option and I have done that a few times but it takes ages!
I always clean the face of the wheels first. There are many ways of detailing but you pointed out some good common errors.
Thanks for watching 😊
Really good video and many good advices. As a detailer myself I found that working with the right products and methodes saves a lot of time. 1. I found that a dedicated wheel cleaner such as Alu Devil Spezial from Tuga Chemie works very vell and saves me from to much scrubbing on the wheels that can potensially damage the paint. I love that you start with a dry surface btw. 2. When "rinsing off" your snowfoam you should try to work from the bottom to the top, that way you will not miss a spot since you see where the soap is left and you actually cleen better this way.3 I would use a little bit stronger snowfoam with a higher PH that actually does something while it`s on the car. Thanks for a great video:
Thanks very much for watching :) Great tips too thanks for sharing!
I do the same with the brush work nowadays, it’s a much better practice and it’s surprising to see how many well known folks go straight in with brushes after foaming a dry vehicle.
I used to do the brush work before the contact wash, during the foam stage, but that was always after a pressure rinse before applying the foam.
I completely agree about washing the wheel barrels after the rims, faces and spokes, I would go as far to say it’s not controversial at all, I think it’s entirely logical when you think about it.
Great tip on pre washing the wheels, something I am guilty of not doing. My wheels tend to be coated so I usually think a pre pressure rinse is often enough, but I will definitely try the pre wash too 👍
Once again another fantastic and informative video Heather
Thanks Mark!
Great advice thank you so much for sharing enjoyed watching
Thanks very much!
Great tip on the water spotting potentially clogging up ceramic coating, subbed 👍
Thanks very much!
Well reasoned approach to issues presented in video. Thank you.
Thank you for watching!
Thank you Heather for this list of detailing mistakes to avoid. I am guilty of using detailing brushes to clean the badges etc with just snow foam on the paint. Since watching your videos I am trying to use iron fall out, tar removers rather than a clay bar to stop marring etc. I wash the wheel barrels first then the faces. But I understand your method so will give it a try next time I clean my car. I use marrigold gloves for the wash process 😅😂
Thanks for watching! It's all about working out what works best for you to be honest! I'm sure there will be plenty of things I change about my approach over the next few years as there has been over the last few too
Great video, I foam the wheels using GT wheel shampoo V2 in an ik foamer. I clean the barrels, rinse, foam up again and then do the faces. Fully agree with what you say, doesn’t make sense to rub that dirt in!
Sounds like a great routine! GT Wheel Shampoo in an IK Foamer really helps reduce the risk of marring as well it's a cracking product
Some really good advice there Heather, especially the water spot remover on mineral deposits 👍- Perry
Thanks very much for watching Perry!
Fabulous tips and especially the wheel washing as this does make perfect sense!! Thank you for the video
I'm a bugger for layering products ...... I do the same as you with the wheels thinking about it ......towels is do em yourself as you know parents / partners will add softener etc in thinking they are helping make things softer 😮......gloves I go through loads at work as the key store works off finger prints which isn't ideal. If you remember back I burnt my hands filling a bottle with iron remover caused by splash back so I wear them now for refilling bottles as well
I still get carried away layering products too sometimes 😂 Yep it’s definitely worth wearing gloves for everything just to be on the safe side!
Great video- wheel cleaning I do barrels first but that’s mainly to give the chemicals longer to work on the face of the wheel. As it’s what the customer will see. Definitely going to check out the gloves. Look forward to future content from you.
Thanks very much for watching!
Some really good tips Heather. A couple of which I've never considered, but logically make complete sense! Thanks for the video 👍
Thanks very much for watching Steve!
Great video, as always. I've posted previously about how claying was becoming just another stage in a detail, newcomers had seen it mentioned, but not the risks it posed or that it should really be a precursor to a correction/enhancement.
Thanks for watching 😊 Yeah I was very guilty in the past of just claying because I felt like I was supposed to rather than really considering the paint condition!
@@AutoCareHQ I think we're all guilty of just passing by when we see videos or read posts about things we think we already know, but I still watch, as "Every day is a school day" and being reminded of good practice (like pre-washing wheels) is invaluable so, thank you.
Hi Heather, brilliant video, i never though about wheel face first then barrels i normally do what most do. But after listening to why you do face first, I'm going to change, thsnks
Thank you! Give it a try and see what you think 😊
Yes wheel face before barrel, I've allways done it that way apart from when I first started I changed it for the same reasonn you mentioned
Hi Heather, thanks for some useful tips. I actually wash my wheels in the same way cleaning the barrel second, but to be honest I hadn't put much thought into the reasoning behind it.
Great video Heather, ive been guilty of a few of them also 😁😁
Thanks for watching!
Hi Heather. Been watching your videos for 3 years and just recognized i forgott to subscribe. So i did it now with pleasure!
I like your vids a lot, no nonsense straight to the point and good advice...thank you for your work and greetings from Slovenia.
Haha thanks very much for subscribing!
Hello Caretakers. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. Inspiring content.
Thanks for watching!
That blew my mind! Another great video. Are we all nerds? 😂 I'm actually going to watch this again later on tonight.
Thanks for watching! Haha I am definitely guilty of being a nerd!
Very good tips well im guilty of a few of them as for cleaning the wheels i always do the barrel first then rinse off and re apply the wheel cleaner to the faces right or wrong its the way i do it dont think either way is wrong to be honest just do what works best for you another great video as always 👍 keep up the good work
Really excellent advice! Some very handy tips here and some a lot wouldn't even consider. Your knowledge on exactly what products do and what effects they can have when not used as intended or on top of/with other products is really quite amazing and has obviously come from many hours of work and trialling many different products......really appreciate you sharing this with us as it can save potential damage and help save money wasted on unnecessary steps and unneeded products. Not polishing and claying too often is the best one here for me. Thank you Heather!! (you are soooo pretty too) 🥰
Excellent video very informative very comprehensive well done Heather and thank you
Once again another down to earth video with some brilliant advice 👌
Thanks very much for watching! 😊
More wise words of wisdom, 💥 such a lot to learn. Well done young lady 👍🏾
Thank you for sharing.. Excellent advice.
Have a great week ahead, stay safe.
Kevin
Thanks very much Kevin, have a great week 😊
Excellent video. I use a synthetic "clay" towel for decontamination. Doesn't mar the paint like real clay. I haven't touched my clay bars in a couple of years.
Thanks! Very good point, synthetic clay is definitely less aggressive
Nice one! I've had it mentioned before that a water spot remover would be a good idea but haven't ever grabbed one but, I think this may be worth looking into now, 1, because I live in a hard water area and 2, because I had an issue with a dead light ceramic that an acidic shampoo and fall out remover, didn't revive. I also like the idea of washing the face of the wheels first. Lastly, I'm probably guilty of layering too many products, so thanks, a good bit learned here. All the best. 👍
Thanks for watching! It’s definitely worth giving the water spot remover a try 😊
I recently bought a dehumidifier that I’m using for drying interiors and noticed it has a dry clothes function so I’m going try it next time I’m washing my micro fibres to dry them.
Great video 👍
I’ve got a dehumidifier too for drying washing and it’s brill, never thought about using it on interiors but that’s a great idea!
Id say it will be excellent during the winter months to keep interiors dry in daily drivers and should reduce the windows fogging up. I had a bad water leak in one my cars and I put in the dehumidifier while I was working in the garage for 7 or 8 hours a day for 3 days and i got just under 5 litres of water from it . I also use the water it gathers for mixing products instead of buying distilled water.
Great opening disclaimer. It's right.
Morning Heather 👋. Excellent advice from the voice of a very experienced car detailer. I have personally found your website to be a first class place & reference point ( not forgetting any discount codes 👌). The best piece of advice I have received from you Heather was the suggestion of the GT Shampoo. A top rate product indeed. Have a great week ahead !
Thanks Graham! I appreciate you checking out the website too, and I’m glad you’re also a fan of GT Shampoo! Have a great week 😊
@AutoCareHQ Hi Heather, I'm just 'speaking' as I find. Your website is a gem. It's clear there's been a lot of work gone into its making. There's going to be a makeover in my garage set up in time for next spring, so I'm looking forward to investing a few £ towards a new washer ( kranzle auto stop) a new collection of products and accessories, so there will be a good number of auto HQ re-runs over Xmas !
Good tips. On the DA polish advice, on my own 20 year old garaged Mazda RX8 with similar paint depth as your Mazda, I prefer to hide any minor swirls with BH cleanser polish hand applied, then put some Dodo Juice purple haze on top. It wouldn't last so long if I did that with my daily driver but for a garaged dry use car it's great and only do bi annual at most. I save my DA polisher for my Mondeo daily driver, correct once a year to 18 months.
Thanks for watching :) I think that's a really sensible approach. Glazes are a bit of an underated product-type in my opinion!
Brilliant detailed video heather. Definitely going to take some of these steps into my cleans. 👍😎
I'm a barrel first wheel cleaner, but for me I'm down to try a different approach to see if it works for me any better.
I brought gloves aswell. After many years of washing without they definitely are a must.
Thanks very much! Let me know what you think of the approach when you give it a try, even if you’re not a fan 😂
Usefull & safe detailing tweaks as always.
Thank you!
Thank you for the video Heather. I'm somewhat relieved my jumbo sponge and Fairy liquid didn't make the hit list. Joking aside, great advice you've given there. I will definitely try your method of wheel cleaning the next time I wash my car 👍.
Haha the only thing that could make it worse is a nice gritty broom instead of the sponge! Thanks very much for watching :)
Great video, and great advice from someone who really thinks about what she's doing!
Thanks very much!
Great video Heather, I am guilty of layering 😂 have a great week 👍
Thanks Stephen! Haha I think we all are 😂
I enjoyed your video and tips. I had some problems understanding your heavy accent tho. I’m glad you showed on video what you were speaking about at the same time!! ❤
Excellent video Heather! For PPE protection I'm guilty of not wearing my cloth face masks or googles when spraying wheel cleaners or drying aid sprays, both of which I have specifically for those jobs, I must do better!
I'm also on/off but do my best to read Safety Data Sheets and choose my regular detailing chemicals not only based on what works but what's safe. Just yesterday I discovered a newer rinseless wash I like contains Butoxyethanol, a surfactant ingredient also used in antifreezes, so no wonder it cleans well but I've decided I'll retire that chemical.
Additional mistakes I make:
-Irregularly cleaning the window felt stripes that can build up with dirt and start scratching the glass when the windows are rolled up and down
-Irregularly conditioning those exposed exterior rubber weatherstripping, including sunroofs; I used to be better about it but so important to clean them with a simple mild cleaner and then use some rubber conditioner to keep them pliable
-Irregularly cleaning the inner wheel well fender lips and behind the rear wheels. Dedicating a long handle wheel and body brush to the job, I would spray with APC and clean the underneath sills behind the front wheels under the door where the wheels will kick up lots of nasty, flush with water and then use a spray/rinse product to protect. I trashed this brush and I didn't buy a new one all year, and I still have a bottle of Sonnax SprayNSeal that I was using up on this job I need to get through. Also important is the rear wheel arch often has an inner lip that we don't clean regularly but getting in there with a brush or mitt will often dislodge a pile of yuck, then come back in with a utility towel with some spray ceramic sealer to protect the area.
Thank you! Plenty of great points there too, thanks for sharing!
Hello Heather,some things in this video I don't do myself,but they learned a few things from watching.
Thanks for watching :)
loved watching your advice on detailing , thanks i dont wear gloves too my microfibre clothes are bit dirty i try what you said how to wash them x
Thanks for watching :)
Hi really appreciate and enjoy your content. As a detailing enthusiast rather than a professional I have learned so much from your videos 👍🏻. I hope you don't mind me asking but could you maybe at some time do a video on engine bay detailing, methods and techniques, products you would use and any tips. I have looked and couldn't see one specific to the engine bay. Sorry if I've maybe missed it. Thanks again. 👍🏻😊
Thanks very much for watching the videos :) I've got a quick engine bay cleaning video using a waterless method but I made it quite a while ago so not surprised you couldn't find it! Here's the link: th-cam.com/video/b06HWSaaidc/w-d-xo.htmlsi=CEml9abWAfar3P6N
@@AutoCareHQ thanks for the link really appreciate it 👍🏻
Thank you. These are helpful!
Thanks for watching, I’m glad you found it helpful!
Brilliant as usual heather ❤
Thank you!
Some great info there mate, I'm sure alot of people will take some of this on board 👍🏽
Thank you! Hope you’re doing good 😊
Great video (and a new subscriber). I actually wash wheels the same way as you. My big takeaway I think is to do the intricate details after the wash as I have been doing it while the snow foam dwells.
Thank you for watching and subscribing! 😊
I agree that there are many ways to detail and clean a vehicle.👍
Nice video! Talking about Mistake #9 and reviving protections take a look at the 3ph wash of Labocosmetica. It's amazing how well it works!
Thanks I’ll have a look at that!
I can identify with a lot of these, I really like the idea of cleaning the face of the wheel before the barrel, I thought I was the only one that did this.
Oh god, i hope there isn't more than ten else my hobby could be a disaster in the making. My personal one was the first time i used a pressure washer i got right in on the wheels and gave it a ruddy good squirt to watch the plate which covers the brake disc at the back fall out onto the drive. (as it was very rusty anyway). Im very careful with calipers and pressure washers as well. Just a gentle rinse from a distance is plenty. let the products do the work. this was from a time way back when i didn't watch your channel and was yet to amass a garage full of products and wheel cleaners, most of which I'm still yet to use - yes Im looking at you for my full range of barely used Mile Deep products - haha! Their time will come!) Some good tips in here, and great video as usual, The Heather. One I'd add is if you are wheels off and ceramic coating them do the barrel first. then you can turn it over and do the face - you won't ruin the face as it dries by doing it the other way around. I have skin issues anyway so it reacts to jsut about anything so i use big yellow rubber gloves for most things (nitrile if not a bucket of liquid) as I've realised i'm too old to care about what a wally i look. I also use a full 3m facemask for anything that stinks (last thing I want is wheel cleaner in my eye) and is obviously bad to be breathed in or if im blowing out hte interior and bits are going everywhere. Again i look like Bane in rubber gloves but my lungs will thank me one day i'm sure.
Thanks for watching :) You need to get on it and use the Mile Deep products, they're really good! Great tip about coating the barrel first so you don't rub the coating off the wheel face. Masks are definitely a good idea too!
Always great videos..... and excellent work ✌🏾💪🏾
Thank you!
Great video Heather some good advice there thanks
Thanks Dave!
Another thought provoking watch and it makes me think of my process which is obviously similar to yourself due to the time I have followed your channel. With regards the wheels that makes sense. From now on I am going back to my old way of detailing by citrus and snow foam overlaid and rinsed then do the wheels face first then the barrels. I have a bottle of Gyeon Restart that I have not used but that is supposed to be very good and I presume is the type of product you were thinking of. I still to this day use your glass deep clean method with clay bar, water spot remover and panel wipe. With regards the wearing of gloves I dropped a frying ban of boiling oil over my hand during the early part of Covid which healed remarkably well but due to my hand having thinner new skin I have ever since then always worn gloves but it is good practice in general. It is really important even when waxing etc because I read up on Gyeon Wax which contains fluorine which is carcinogenic and clearly states protective measures must be taken when used and many other products state the same if I read the bottles.
Thanks very much for watching John. Gyeon Restart looks like a great option to try. That's really true about all the chemicals, it's not just acidic wheels cleaners etc. that can be nasty, it's just best to wear gloves when handling anything!
I agree totally.@@AutoCareHQ
Very interesting and informative thanks Heather
Washing microfiber over 40c is a good advice. They usually show 60c on the label but it starts hardening the material after few washes
Hi heather I hope you are well just come from Usa for work so yes I agree with you in all points and I hope in the future no more mistakes, excellent explanation you car look gorgeous i leave my like for you. Best🇨🇦.
Hi Jorge, hope you are well too, thanks very much for watching 😊
@@AutoCareHQ 👍
Hi Heather. Great info as always. Please can you start to do an outro of some description. I get so engrossed in the chat/content and before I have a chance to give a massive thumbs up 👍 the video has ended. Ps I always go back and thumbs up. But would be good to have a 5-10 second time to make sure at the end. Please keep up the great work and dedication to pleasing us all. Much respect as always.
Thanks Harry! Cheers for going back and liking the video! I did used to have outros but I honestly thought it was harming things as most people drop off instantly at that point and then the percentage watch time drops on TH-cam so they potentially not push it as much. It’s tough to know what’s best 😂
@@AutoCareHQ I get that completely. TH-cam is a minefield of what's good and bad for your own channel. But rest assured I will always go back and like. Would not want my recommendations to harm your chances of growth in any way. Just had a thought... If it's possible and won't affect the length of the videos.. maybe add the like and subscribe icon in bottom corner 10 secs from the end 🤔 as that wouldn't alter things that much. But it's ultimately your channel and yours to put out what you like. Either way I'm a lifelong subscriber and will smash the like button every time. 👌
Its always a good idea when preparing a car for a coating that one uses both a high PH and a low PH shampoo in addition to a tar and Iron remover. prior to any paint correction. Typically I start with an alkali wash (removes road Grime) then an acidic wash (removes hard mineral spots) then a iron remover then a tar remover. Be sure to then do a final wash with a PH neutral shampoo.
That’s a good process to follow!
Excellent as always
Thank you!
Excellent video. Well done.
Thanks for watching 😊
Beautiful as always :)
Those are great tips Heather, did you say 70+% clean the barrels first? 😮 I do the faces first too as its just the logical way of doing it lol.
Super intuitive Vlog 👌👏👏👏
I've just discovered your channel. Loads of brilliant advice.
I've just got a new car which has had Autoglyms Lifeline coating applied before I collected the car.
What should my cleaning routine be?
1) PH neutral snow foam pre-wash
2) rinse
3) reapply same snowfoam and clean with microfiber mitts
4) dry
As I have LifeShine on the car do I need to do anything more? Or should I add any more protection?
Can I use something to make it shine even more or is that just piling stuff on as you say in your video?
Thank you!
I'd make one tweak to that method. Instead of reapplying the same snow foam in step 3, use a shampoo instead. You can still apply it using a foam cannon, but it will provide a lot more lubrication and really reduce the risk of marring/ swirl marks. Snow foams aren't very good at lubricating the panels and are much better when just used in step 1. Some good shampoos to look at are:
- Garage Therapy /One: Car Shampoo
- Turtle Wax Pro Pure Wash
Try and steer clear of any shampoos which contain waxes or gloss-enhancers, as these often clog the coating. If you don't go with one of the options above, keep an eye for ones that are described as "pure shampoos" as these work best for coated cars.
I'd keep an eye on the how well the water is beading/ sheeting on the panel. If the car is being driven frequently the you may need to use an iron remover and mineral/ water spot remover to help unclog it (don't use a clay bar). Here's an article I've written to explain it: autocarehq.com/how-to-wash-and-maintain-a-ceramic-coated-car/
You don't necessarily need to add any top up protection but it can help to keep the coating from getting clogged as quickly with contaminants which reduce the performance. I haven't tried it myself but if you wanted to stick with an Autoglym product then I think their "Rapid Ceramic Spray" is probably the best option to go with
Hope that helps!
@AutoCareHQ brilliant thanks for the advice.
One last thing, do you use, Hot, warm or cold water for all stages?
No problem 😊 I just use cold for everything. If it’s a cold day I sometimes use lukewarm water in the bucket to save my hands from freezing haha but never anything very warm/ hot
I like to do the face before the barrel, too for precisely the same reason. When I started out it was completely different but you learn over time and this is the what and the why for me. Also-also, it's totally ok to wash MF towels on hot but when you dry it's imperative to do so on low or extra-low temps. Just ask me how I know...
Hmm ... right, I've learnt one thing .... bring my car to you 😂 .... fab video .... your knowledge is first class 😊
Haha thanks very much! 😂
Appreciate the recommendations 🤗🤗
Thanks for watching 😊
Top notch tips 💪🧼
Cheers Jamie!
One of the important things on protecting yourself is remembering we are dealing with chemicals and must wear appropriately PPE such as long sleeve shirts so they don't contact our skin, gloves, eyewear since we don't want to be spraying and wind all of the sudden blows and sometimes by accident some get in our eyes, mask up especially when cleaning interiors. Always on interiors checking under seats with a mirror and in between seats so nothing cuts or pokes us since there could be lancets or syringes besides other nasty materials and have Narcan available in case there's powder that might be drug or when poked by syringes that we didn't notice, but that's the importance of inspection and avoiding emergencies since we always have customers of any walks of life.
One thing I always recommend other Detailing partners is using a tennis wrist band because when we are applying coatings and having sweating on our hands, the sweat will escape and end on the surface we are coating, so the tennis wrist band absorbs the sweat and you avoid the problem.
Great tips!
Humberto!
@kimnewling5728 hello Kim 👋👍🏼💐
@@1stfrompuertorico568 You must live in a rough country Rico looking for all that drug paraphernalia
Under seats.
@Auto Care HQ. Helpful straighforward video. I do have a genuine question about environmental impact though and washing these cleaning chemicals down storm drains where they can make their way into the water system / rivers etc.
Thanks for watching :) With regards to the environmental impacts I do believe some brands have started to be more conscious of this with their formulations now and I'm seeing a lot more biodegradable snow foams etc on the market
Great vid. Thank you!
I noticed that you seem to do all your detailing outside in the elements, and being English we sometimes (I'm not one of these people that claims it always rains in the UK because it simply isn't true) have to deal with inclement weather. How do you cope with rainy days? Do you carry on regardless, or do you reajust your schedule around the weather?
Thank you for your great content.
Thanks very much for watching :)
It depends on what I'm doing to be honest. If it's only light rain that's on/off and I'm just doing standard washes (no polishing or coatings) then I usually just carry on. I have a gazebo that I can use to make things a bit easier too. If it's torrential though I'll just reschedule. On the videos it's very rare that I'll be spotted out in the rain just as I'm worried about getting the camera wet!
Surely you do a great job , wish you a successful career!
Thank you!
At least you're 💯 honest