First go at detailing - Advice required Please

[alcutler]

Hi, Apologise as I am sure that this question has been asked a thousand times – but I have done my homework and read as much on this forum as I can including the excellent Detailing Guide by Stevel. I am about to give it a go on my 2004 silver lightning estate. I have taken advantage of the Halfords Bogoff offer over the weekend and bought some Autoglym stuff to do the job.
My plan is to :-
· Wash and rinse the car thoroughly
· Dry it off
· Clean under wheel arches
· Clean and polish wheels and treat tyres
· Wash and rinse whole car again
· Clay all bodywork (AG Clay Kit)
· Wash, rinse and dry again
· Polish (AG Ultra deep shine) Buff up
· Polish / treat (AG Extra Gloss Protection) Buff Up
· Treat all external plastics/rubber (AG Bumper Care)
I also got some AG glass polish to clean up my smearing windscreen which I have already used with excellent results and will do all other glass inside and out.

Am I doing this in the right order – do I need to apply a wax polish on top of this and if so what can you recommend some that will work with Autoglym products.
Thanks in anticipation

[sristeven1]

would not bother with the first dry off also leave treating tyres till the very end also you washing and rinsing the car 3 times i would not bother with the second one mate

[sristeven1]

also clean alloys but dont polish till end as its a waste of time if you washing the car down after clay hope that helps a little

[Das]

Always do the dirtiest jobs first. So that wheel arches first(and door shuts too), then wash the car thoroughly. Go straight to clay from here, don't worry about drying it first as you will need to wash it again after you have finished claying.

[alcutler]

Cheers guys! Thought I was overdoing the washes a bit - any ideas on the wax after doing all this and regarding cloths to polish/buff do I need to get the proper stuff or would good clean T shirt material do the job.

[alcutler]

Forget my last - I've just had a look on the Detailing Post again and the info re waxing is there - Thanks again for the advice (can't wait for it to stop raining )

[ben_3.0v6]

· Clean under wheel arches
Add Tea Break Here
· Wash and rinse the car thoroughly
Add Tea Break Here
· Clay all bodywork (AG Clay Kit)
Add Tea Break Here
· Wash and rinse whole car again
Add Tea Break Here
· Dry it off
Add Tea Break Here
· Polish (AG Ultra deep shine) Buff up
Add Tea Break Here
· Polish / treat (AG Extra Gloss Protection) Buff Up
Add Tea Break Here
· Treat all external plastics/rubber (AG Bumper Care)
Add Tea Break Here
· Clean and polish wheels and treat tyres


Thought i'd take the time to re-arrange your check list

[alcutler]

Why should I have to cut down on my tea breaks just cause I'm cleaning the car?

[ben_3.0v6]

Exactly and it gives you time to stand back and think blimey this is coming along nicely.

[alcutler]

Or Christ what have I started