Washing our cars is something petrol heads really enjoy, it’s nearly considered therapeutic to some. However, a lot of the time car owners get the process wrong when they are attempting to do more than giving the car a quick wash at the local petrol station. In this piece, we are going to take you through a step by step guide on how to detail your car exterior from start to finish. While it can be time-consuming, it really is a great way of saving money by doing it yourself, along with it being incredibly satisfying and rewarding. We have recently added a whole host of Autoglym products to our site so we are going to take you through a walkthrough on how you can detail your car yourself
Step 1: Rinse
First things first, let's remove the excess dirt and grime on the car using a pressure washer. Using a pressure makes sure you get a clean base to begin your detailing, saving you time when it comes to scrubbing the car with a sponge. If you are looking to buy a pressure washer, we have a full range of products available over on our site.
Step 2: Pre Wash
Once you have rinsed the car off we can now move onto our pre wash products. These are great for removing any dead bugs or tough dirt that has become embedded on the alloys or bumpers. Autoglym Magma is the marquee product in this range, its formula reacts with any iron particles that have attached themselves to the car. Simply apply to the paintwork let it sit for 5/10 minutes then agitate with a washing mitt. You’ll notice that the surface turns red, this is the formula reacting with the iron, after agitating you can rinse the product off.
Step 3: Washing
Once the prewash has settled on the bodywork, releasing the tough stains, you can now move onto washing the car with product. We have a selection of Autoglym Shampoo’s available. The Ultra HD Shampoo is a high foaming product which creates a snow white coat over the paintwork. Once you have the car completely covered, you can then begin to rinse the shampoo off with the pressure washer. Along with the paintwork using an appropriate cleaner for alloys is vital if you are looking for a perfect finish. Autoglyms, Tyre Mousse is a powerful cleaning solution that lifts dirt off the surface of the alloy. Let the product sit for a minute then work it in with alloy brush to activate the formula, after doing so simple wash off and move onto the next one!
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Autoglym Tyre Mousse in action!
Step 4: Drying
Let the car drip dry for a few minutes then begin drying the car with one of the Autoglym microfibre cloth. You can either pat it dry or wipe the car down it really depends on personal preference.
Step 5: Clay Bar
After drying the car completely we move onto an important step in the detailing process, clay barring. A clay bar is used to remove any decontaminants that have lodged themselves on the paintwork. If you are looking for a solid invest, buying the Autoglym kit would be our recommendation. This brilliant clay bar set comes with the Autoglym Rapid Detailer which you spray on the paintwork, this allows the bar to glide across the paint picking up any dirt and grime. Once you have completed one panel, remove any excess liquid with a microfibre cloth.
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Step 6: Polishing
This step can be completed either by hand or with a machine polisher. If this is your first attempt at detailing your car we recommend polishing by hand to get a proper feel for. You can always upgrade to a machine polisher further down the line. Let's walk before you can run! From the Autoglym range, the Ultra Deep Shine Polish is great for dark colour cars, where swirl marks and scratches are prominent. If you have a lighter coloured car we recommend using Autoglym Super Resin Polish, this polish has been voted the detailings polish of the year 4 time already! Application is quite easy simply apply your polish to one panel at a time, working the product into the paintwork. After several minutes you can buff off the residue with your microfibre cloth, where you are left with a swirl free car!
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Step 7: Sealant
The final step of the process is to use a sealant wax to lock in the polish. Autoglyms Extra Gloss Protection sealant creates an amazing finish on the car. Similar to the polish, apply sparingly to each panel letting it get to work. Allow it to dry in for 25/30 minutes, then buff off with a microfibre cloth. The finish you get from this product has to be seen to be believed, creating a water repellent surface allowing rain to bead off easily.
Finishing touches:
After you have completed all these steps your car should look like it has just rolled off the assembly line. If you are looking to go the extra mile, you can apply a tyre dressing such as High Performance Tyre Gel, this will bring your tyres back to black, a simple product that finishes the car off nicely!
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High performance Tyre Gel applied to sponge
We hope this has helped you get a better understanding of what is required to thoroughly clean your pride and joy. Stay tuned till next week where we take you to the interior of your car. In the meantime if you having questions regarding any of the Autoglym products, car parts, car accessories or tools, simply send us an email at info@micksgarage.com and our team will help you get the best price every time!
Until next time,
MicksGarage.com the Car Parts Experts.
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