Cleanliness & Order

andyglym

Shiny Dust Caps Make Your Zed Go Faster.
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Feb 20, 2015
Points
231
Location
Moresby, West Cumbria, England
Model of Z
2.8 Roadster
Hi Cliff
When you say don't use a sponge,what's the best thing to use ?
Regards
Steve
@Bozzy you should use a Fibre Mitt like below, you should always use two buckets, one to rinse and one to wash. The second bucket should be clean water and refresh to ensure any and all grit is washed out before the next bit is washed. Plenty of options about. Wash top down doing the windows first after a good rinse of the whole car.

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t-tony

Zorg Expert (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
#ZedShed
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
@Bozzy, I think @Andy McDonnell should come over to the Z shed midlands and demo on a few cars. What do you think?;)=))=)):beer:beer:beer:beer:beer:beer

Tony.
 

andyglym

Shiny Dust Caps Make Your Zed Go Faster.
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Feb 20, 2015
Points
231
Location
Moresby, West Cumbria, England
Model of Z
2.8 Roadster
@Bozzy, I think @Andy McDonnell should come over to the Z shed midlands and demo on a few cars. What do you think?;)=))=)):beer:beer:beer:beer:beer:beer

Tony.
Next time I'm down that way, time permitting, I'd be on it like a car bonnet =))

Green Tea or Black Coffee is the fee ;)
 

Bozzy

Zorg Guru (V)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
May 21, 2015
Points
191
Location
Long Eaton.
Model of Z
3 2.8
@Bozzy you should use a Fibre Mitt like below, you should always use two buckets, one to rinse and one to wash. The second bucket should be clean water and refresh to ensure any and all grit is washed out before the next bit is washed. Plenty of options about. Wash top down doing the windows first after a good rinse of the whole car.

View attachment 25670
well every day is a school day :)
I use a micro fibre covered sponge type thing.
Never thought to use a second bucket of water to keep rinsing the sponge clean.
Thank you :)
Steve
 

andyglym

Shiny Dust Caps Make Your Zed Go Faster.
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Feb 20, 2015
Points
231
Location
Moresby, West Cumbria, England
Model of Z
2.8 Roadster
Absolutely Tony :D
Andy you can perfect your cleaning and polishing skills on my zed any time...and Sara's car....and my van....=))

Steve
If I didn't have a day job mate, happy too. My fee is you look after the kids for the weekend so me and Yvonne can go Zeding.

;)
 

Redline

Zorg Expert (I)
British Zeds
Joined
Mar 10, 2015
Points
208
Location
Nuneaton
Model of Z
E89 20i msport
well every day is a school day :)
I use a micro fibre covered sponge type thing.
Never thought to use a second bucket of water to keep rinsing the sponge clean.
Thank you :)
Steve
Only ever use a single bucket to rinse the sponge.
All done with hose and (now) power washer but never on high pressure.

Its not rocket science is it?
Wash wheels first. Hardest part! Normally do two cars in tandem for this bit.

Then, rinse off as much muck as possible, snow-foam using attachment (ace - whole car covered in seconds), leave a couple of minutes, wash down with microfibre sponge rinsing it out every panel start at the top (well, as high as you can get on a Zed) and work down the panels, rinse and then dry with microfibre cloths, then, if there's time, wax and polish with superfine microfibre cloth. Next car...

All done in 40 minutes each tops. Takes an hour to get all the equipment out and put it away again though =))
All cloths etc get washed afterwards - never left or re-used.
Am sure theres more refined and probably better ways, but it works for me.
 

Bozzy

Zorg Guru (V)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
May 21, 2015
Points
191
Location
Long Eaton.
Model of Z
3 2.8
If I didn't have a day job mate, happy too. My fee is you look after the kids for the weekend so me and Yvonne can go Zeding.

;)
I don't know if I could manage that Andy.....I've hardly got any hair left as it is ! :rolleyes::mad:;)

Steve
 

Bozzy

Zorg Guru (V)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
May 21, 2015
Points
191
Location
Long Eaton.
Model of Z
3 2.8
Only ever use a single bucket to rinse the sponge.
All done with hose and (now) power washer but never on high pressure.

Its not rocket science is it?
Wash wheels first. Hardest part! Normally do two cars in tandem for this bit.

Then, rinse off as much muck as possible, snow-foam using attachment (ace - whole car covered in seconds), leave a couple of minutes, wash down with microfibre sponge rinsing it out every panel start at the top (well, as high as you can get on a Zed) and work down the panels, rinse and then dry with microfibre cloths, then, if there's time, wax and polish with superfine microfibre cloth. Next car...

All done in 40 minutes each tops. Takes an hour to get all the equipment out and put it away again though =))
All cloths etc get washed afterwards - never left or re-used.
Am sure theres more refined and probably better ways, but it works for me.
Cheers Ian
I have started cleaning any vehicle from the roof downward after rinsing off the worst of it first,followed by a wash down with car wash solution doing the wheels last as they always seem the dirtiest part,then a rinse off and dried with a shammie leather .
Tried the power washer method and I find it a job in it's self tbh,power cables,hoses etc all end up a tangled mess...but I guess we all have our own ways of doing the same job.:)

Steve
 

Redline

Zorg Expert (I)
British Zeds
Joined
Mar 10, 2015
Points
208
Location
Nuneaton
Model of Z
E89 20i msport
Cheers Ian
I have started cleaning any vehicle from the roof downward after rinsing off the worst of it first,followed by a wash down with car wash solution doing the wheels last as they always seem the dirtiest part,then a rinse off and dried with a shammie leather .
Tried the power washer method and I find it a job in it's self tbh,power cables,hoses etc all end up a tangled mess...but I guess we all have our own ways of doing the same job.:)

Steve
The power washer gets used when there's more than one car to do. It reduces the amount of time it takes to do each, especially the wheels. If I don't do the wheels first I'd give up before I got to them. Once they're done the rest is easy.

How you doing? Hope you're keeping well.
 

Bozzy

Zorg Guru (V)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
May 21, 2015
Points
191
Location
Long Eaton.
Model of Z
3 2.8
The power washer gets used when there's more than one car to do. It reduces the amount of time it takes to do each, especially the wheels. If I don't do the wheels first I'd give up before I got to them. Once they're done the rest is easy.

How you doing? Hope you're keeping well.
Yeah I know what you mean with the wheels Ian but lucky for me mine are easy to clean five spoke :).
I'm ok thanks,passed my gas safe inspection today...phew one less worry. They usually put you through the grinder but this time it was an older chap and much easier going,thankfully :D. How's things with you ?

Steve
 

Tracy Dee

Zorg Guru (III)
The M44 Massive
Joined
Aug 3, 2015
Points
145
Location
Hertfordshire
Either a lambs wool mitt or micro fibre mitt always keep them clean after use .
When cleaning don't use fabric conditioners just soap.
Hope that helps.
Cliff.
 

Mac Romans

Zorg Guru (IV)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
May 13, 2015
Points
157
Location
Ilkeston, Derbyshire
Model of Z
My s***'s custom!
Before a meet my ritual is:

Rinse,
Snowfoam/rinse then snowfoam/wash OR 2 bucket wash.
Clay bar with hydrophobic detailer as lube,
Polish,
Wax x 2 (leaving 4 hours between coats).

+ all of the above on wheels too and Autosol on the exhaust.


........Then it's interior and engine bay but they've got their own stories!
 

Redline

Zorg Expert (I)
British Zeds
Joined
Mar 10, 2015
Points
208
Location
Nuneaton
Model of Z
E89 20i msport
Before a meet my ritual is:

Rinse,
Snowfoam/rinse then snowfoam/wash OR 2 bucket wash.
Clay bar with hydrophobic detailer as lube,
Polish,
Wax x 2 (leaving 4 hours between coats).

+ all of the above on wheels too and Autosol on the exhaust.


........Then it's interior and engine bay but they've got their own stories!
I admire your dedication. Each car gets a more intense clean a couple of times a year. Keeping three at that standard is just too much :whistle:
I clay bar a couple of times a year. Makes a big difference.
Wouldn't polish too often though. Each time takes a layer off :eek:
 

Shelly

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
East Anglian Crew
Joined
Jul 9, 2013
Points
201
Location
Norfolk
Model of Z
Z4 2.0 20i M Sport sDrive
Yes we use ........ :p
Well Alan uses a micro fibre cloth ;)
Lots of them too ;)
 

Antm72

Zorg Expert (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
May 4, 2015
Points
246
Location
South Yorkshire
Model of Z
2.8
I'm forever buying new micro fibre clothes but the local home stores does 10 for 99p and they are ok in quality to so alls good.Every time the wife goes in the garage she mentions the amount of bottles on the shelf , saying that she brought me a full bmw cleaning kit in its own bag for christmas may be she thinks i don't have enough=))
Brought a low powered jet wash yesterday cleaned it last night and it came out great .
Wet it over snow foamed and washed of it was a god send the wheels cleaned with ease and after a micro fibre dry it left a great shine was chuffed with the gumtree bargain.
 
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Tracy Dee

Zorg Guru (III)
The M44 Massive
Joined
Aug 3, 2015
Points
145
Location
Hertfordshire
Whilst on the wash method because that's where most paint damage is done.
Don't forget to use a grit guard in your bucket when you dip your chosen mitt strike it across the grit guard you will be surprised the amount of debris in bottom of bucket.
Rather than buying a complete bucket and guard which is expensive you can buy an adjustable guard from eBay or a good car detailing shop.
Anyone who would like free advice more than happy to help.
Regards.
Cliff
 
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