Help needed in using a chamois (yes, really!!!)

dub envy · Post by **dub envy** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 7:09 pm

I have heard that cleaning glass with newspaper is meant to be really good!!!

Not too sure about this tho one though....

KarlM · Post by **KarlM** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 7:26 pm

No, that one does work. something to do with the chemicals in the ink.

But you hands end up filthy cause all the ink gets on your hands

Speedlaw · Post by **Speedlaw** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 8:22 pm

I've tried newspapers, but the ink gets wet and smears my windows. I'll stick to 100% cotton or kitchen towels.

polo2k · Post by **polo2k** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 8:30 pm

also some vinegar in the water stops streaks but smells `orrible

simon pope · Post by **simon pope** » Mon Jun 23, 2003 10:11 am

a FLUNKY is a man made chamois, i have a real chamoi aswell but i found the flunky took less time to dry the car!!! for the windows try using Auto glym glass polish that pretty good aswell!!!

leonsmith · Post by **leonsmith** » Mon Jun 23, 2003 10:38 am

Speedlaw wrote:I've used the Autoglym aquablade as well, it actually does the job. Saves some serious time too, but it has one drawback-

No matter what anyone says- it does leave tiny scratches on my paint.

I got one of these silicon blades a few weeks before I swapped my GTi for a TDi. They do an excellent job of getting rid of water, but I noticed a few scratches too - nothing a bit of Mer couldn't get rid of, but worrying nevertheless. I can only assume that my washing wasn't up to much and a few bits of grit got through the net and ended up being dragged across bits of bodywork

Of course, my GTi was metallic black and showed every mark depressingly clearly!

Use with caution I think.

dxg · Post by **dxg** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 3:34 pm

Well, I followed everyone's advice on here and chamiosed my first car ever last night.

I used a real leather chamios which I'd left soaking in warm water for a couple of hours beforehand.

Everything went perfectly!! I can't believe how straight-forward it was. I think my mistakes before were not having a damp enough chamios and using too much pressure.

However, I'm now stuck with a new problem.

Sap and dead flys.

My zymol starter pack arrived this morning, but I can't use it until I've tracked down some Imperial Hand glaze from somewhere to fix the multiple sratches I've got.

In the meantime, is there somthing you guys would recommend to remove sap, dull spots left by removed flys, and actual, encrusted and won't shift for anything fly carcasses??

I'm guessing the zymol hd cleanse stuff will do that, but I can't use that until I've glazed it. I think??

My plan is:

1.
Sort out flys and sap (I guess whatever's used for this will also strip any polish in that area)

2.
Hand glaze to fix scratches and "polish" (sorta)

3. Full Zymol treatment (but won't the HD cleanese stuff just stip the glaze? It sounds as if it does pretty much everything a clay bar would.)

In that case, would a better appraoch be:

1. HD Cleanese

2. Glaze (would doing this at this stage screw the paint up??)

3. Wax.

Thoughts very much welcomed!!! (You've been so helpfull before and think of all the people reading those who are too embrassed to admit their shortcomings!!)

What's your routine / exepriences??

Deek.

dub envy · Post by **dub envy** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 5:41 pm

take two bottles into the shower??.... hehehe

ok, so I ain't no car valeter, but I normally wash, then de-bug, then polish. (if there is alot of bugs, then i will de-bug, wash, then polish)

des_pd_ tdi · Post by **des_pd_ tdi** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 5:43 pm

Wash the car down then hd clense the car, DO NOT use a circular motion, keep the towel dry and wipe down the bodywork in straight lines, keeps possible scratches to a minimum, then polish the car.

For hd clense, removal, polish and removal you're looking at 4 towels, the Zymol one's are excellent, after use wash them in washing machine but do not use fabric softener.

You may not even need to use the glaze, see what you think!

I've been using Zymol for two years now and would not recommend anything else, let me know if you need any tips.

Des

Post by **Josh_PoloGTi** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 5:49 pm

Right, I'll tell you my FULL routine (which I'm going to do tomorrow!)

* WAKE UP AND APPLY OLD CLOTHING, EAT SOME WHEATABIX

EXTERIOR:
* Wash with Zymol Clear and a decent sponge
* Clean the alloys with sponge and soap first, then Comma Acid and a horsehair brush
* Blade then Dry the car using a chamois
* DRINK SOME WATER
* If there are any REALLY stubborn tar/sap/fly spots, use Autoglym Intesive Tar Remover to remove them
* Clay with 3M Clay and soapy water spray (lube)
* DRINK SOME WATER
* Treat any major scratches to some 3M Perfect It III Rubbing Compound
* Go over the whole car (in sections - 1 at a time) with either 3M Imperial Hand Glaze or HD Clense then buff off
* DRINK SOME WATER
* Go over the whole car (in sections - 1 at a time) with Zymol Titanium then buff off.
* DRINK SOME WATER
* Clean the windows (external) with Autoglym Window Polish
* Apply Rain Wizard to all the external glass.
* 4 hours after applying the wax and buffing off, buff again after very lightly misting with clean water

* DRINK SOME WATER, HAVE SOME LUNCH AND GO FOR A SIT DOWN!

INTERIOR:
* Dyson the interior
* Use Autoglym Hi-Foam Interior Shampoo on the seats and any spots on the celing
* DRINK SOME WATER
* Use Zymol Vinyl on the dash, door cards, etc etc...
Use a very slightly damp kitchen towel (bounty) on the windows inside then finish with a soft terry towel.
* Spray some Autoglym Interior Freshener Stuff on the seats and carpet (not too much)

* Use Turtle Wax Extreme Tyre Gell on the tyres

* DRINK SOME WATER THEN GO TO BED!

Easy huh? Should "only" take about 6-8 hours!

Speedlaw · Post by **Speedlaw** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 6:22 pm

Damn.

That's one helluva routine you've got there. You must have Hulk-sized shoulders from all that polishing...!

dub envy · Post by **dub envy** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 6:45 pm

Josh_PoloGTi wrote:* WAKE UP AND APPLY OLD CLOTHING, EAT SOME WHEATABIX

lol

Josh_PoloGTi wrote:* If there are any REALLY stubborn tar/sap/fly spots, use Autoglym Intesive Tar Remover to remove them

Yup, that stuff works wonders!

Josh_PoloGTi wrote:* Clean the windows (external) with Autoglym Window Polish

I only ever do the front screen... I put it on my rear window once and it was horrible. Water wouldnt run off it as there was no wind pushing it (but that was on a mk2 Golf which have no airflow over the rear 'screen...)

Josh_PoloGTi wrote:* DRINK SOME WATER, HAVE SOME LUNCH AND GO FOR A SIT DOWN!

... dont forget to roll a big fat one too (or have a beer!!)

Josh_PoloGTi wrote:Use a very slightly damp kitchen towel

hehehe, very or slightly?? slightly or very!! haha.....

Ok, so you don't have any plastic trim then?? bastid!

For plastic trim I find Halfords trye black does the trick very nicely!

Speedlaw · Post by **Speedlaw** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 9:08 pm

dub envy wrote: For plastic trim I find Halfords trye black does the trick very nicely!

Try Autoglym bumper care. It's snot, but it works wonders.

Petrified · Post by **Petrified** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 9:15 pm

After reading this I've just gone out and bought some real moo cow chamois and bug remover. And that green snot is good stuff even took out a scuff mark after I reversed into a parked car. Don't worry it was a saxo!

James.

Post by **Josh_PoloGTi** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 11:03 pm

Well, I decided to start this afternoon, so here's what I actually did:

EXTERIOR:
* Wash with Zymol Clear and a decent sponge
* Clean the alloys with sponge and soap first, then Comma Acid and a horsehair brush
* Blade then Dry the car using a chamois
* Clay with 3M Clay and soapy water spray (lube)
* Go over the whole car (in sections - 1 at a time) with Zymol Titanium then buff off.
* Clean the windows (external) with Autoglym Window Polish
* Apply Rain Wizard to all the external glass.
* Use Turtle Wax Extreme Tyre Gell on the tyres

I couldn't be bothered to HD Clense/Glaze... It's not long since I did it, so the car is still pretty shiney.

I'll do the interior tomorrow.

It looks lovelly by the way!!