First detail of the year...

[DNS]

Got all my kit together today to make a start on my Vec (poor thing's been left to the elements since last summer!)

Here's my sequence of events...

1. Quick wash
2. Clayed bonnet
3. Ultimate Compound on bonnet (brilliant stuff, thanks for the recommendation guys!)
4. Megs step 1 on bonnet
5. Megs step 2 on bonnet
6. Same again for wings
7. Wax on bonnet and wings
8. Torrential rain comes down before I can wax off!




On a serious note, what order do people clean their cars? Panel by panel (ie: wash, polish, wax, then on to the next one) or do you wash the whole thing, polish the whole thing, wax etc?

Been doing the first, but conscious of the fact that the Megs Step 1 paint cleaner will take the wax off the adjacent panels if it gets on by mistake...

[Ginge7289]

I do it all in one go, wash all, clay all, polish panel by panel. Wax all, by the time I get back to the start it is ready to wipe off.

UC and any polish should not be left to cure, It is a wipe on wipe off product... So I apply, then wipe off with a microfibre once I have covered the area I am doing.

[Derek Mc]

I try to follow

1. Low pressure rinse
2. High pressure pre-wash with water.
3. APC or Bilberry on wheels and wash and rinse them first plus the exhaust tip.
4. Two bucket method and sheepskin mitt, I wash roof and windows, rinse then two panels to rubbing strip at a time, then below the rubbing strip, bumpers, grilles and the sills etc.
5. Pressure wash rinse (and my new item after of Demon Shine pour on hosed over the car.
5A. (optional) Clay as appropriate either wet using fresh car shampoo solution or dry using a spray QD
6. Blade off bulk water bead's
7. Polish start with two panels, then treat the wheels then do two panels.
8. Wipe buff with a fresh cotton the two initial panels, and apply to the next two panels.
9. after completing the entire car I then buff each panel with a new clean microfibre
10 repeat 7>10 with the regime of glaze sealent and wax with an LSP to finish.
11. dress plastic's tyres and engine parts

1>11 Not exhaustive but to me a joyful 5 to 6 hours