Complete Newbie Car Care and Detailing Guide PDF

SierraTango

Active Member
Sep 11, 2018
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Edinburgh
I'm completely new (aka absolute noob :blink:) to proper car care and detailing, but after scouring the web, Detailing World and YouTube, I came across this PDF which I thought was super useful at explaining different steps and when/why you should do them:

https://www.detailedimage.com/guide/AutoDetailingGuide.pdf

Posting this just in case there is the odd person who is in the same boat.
...I didn't understand the benefits of applying sealant + wax vs only wax, but now I do!

(I didn't see this PDF come up in the search bar, but apologies if this has indeed been put up)

My current (basic) setup is as follows...

Full Clean

Bodywork


Water rinse
Autobrite Citrus Pre Wash
Water Rinse
Auto Finesse Avalanche snow foam
Water rinse
Autoglym Shampoo and Conditioner
Water rinse
Autobrite Purple Rain
Water Rinse
Dry using 1200gsm Microfibre towel
Autobrite Wax off
Water Rinse
Autoglym Clay Bar with Autoglym Rapid Detailer
Auto Finesse Ultra Glaze
Auto Finesse Triple B
Meguires Liquid Wax

Autoglym Fast glass
Autoglym Rubber care
Meguires Ultimate Black (Scuttle)

Wheels

Water Rinse
Autoglym Shampoo and conditioner
Water rinse
Autobrite Purple Rain
Water rinse
Poor boys sealant x3 coats

Interior

Autoglym Leather care balm
Autoglym Leather cleaner
Autoglym rubber care
Meguires Ultimate black
Autoglym Fast Glass

Pads/Towels

Meguires microfibre buffing pads
eBay applicator pads
Meguires microfibre towel
Autoglym microfibre towel
Random 40x microfibre cloths (800gsm)
1200gsm mini reaper towel
1200gsm monkey towel
1200gsm drying towel x2

Quick Clean

Water rinse
Auto Finesse Avalanche snow foam
Water rinse
Autoglym Shampoo and Conditioner
Water rinse
Dry using 1200gsm microfibre
Either Meguires Detailer or Autoglym Rapid detailer
Maybe Wax top up

Autoglym Fast Glass
Autoglym Rubber Care
Meguires Ultimate Black

Wheels

Water rinse

Interior

Autoglym Fast Glass

Coupled with @Jimbobcook's 'basic' setup, reckon I'll get addicted to car detailing pretty quickly!
 

Maypack

Ambassador for Cumberland Sausage
Apr 20, 2014
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Some good reading for anyone wanting to look after their car and make it look it’s best.

1c777a84e0635e62161c9e895592fb75.jpg


Results from my attempt yesterday. Lots of beading this morning and I love driving past shop fronts and watching my own reflection...poser lol
 
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Legojon

I only wanted a remap
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Results from my attempt yesterday. Lots of beading this morning and I love driving past shop fronts and watching my own reflection...poser

Looking good. :thumbup:. Well, as good as you can get for red :harhar:.

How does the saying go "you don't love your car unless you look back over your shoulder as you walk away from it"?
 

Jimbobcook

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https://www.detailedimage.com/guide/AutoDetailingGuide.pdf

Coupled with @Jimbobcook's 'basic' setup, reckon I'll get addicted to car detailing pretty quickly!

That's a good PDF, good find!

That list has some more stuff to add to it now... I should really stop buying stuff lol

Results from my attempt yesterday. Lots of beading this morning and I love driving past shop fronts and watching my own reflection...poser lol

Good work! What did you use?

How does the saying go "you don't love your car unless you look back over your shoulder as you walk away from it"?

I always look at the car in reflections, but these days it's how far can I see behind me whilst looking into the paintwork lol
 

Maypack

Ambassador for Cumberland Sausage
Apr 20, 2014
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Gods Country - West Cumbria
Looking good. :thumbup:. Well, as good as you can get for red :harhar:.

How does the saying go "you don't love your car unless you look back over your shoulder as you walk away from it"?

Desire Red to give it’s full colour name is way way way better than Alor Blue

Looked over my shoulder once or twice.
 

Jimbobcook

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Meguiars Gold Class Car Wash, Adam’s Polishes Revive Hand Polish followed by Adam’s Polishes Buttery Wax.

ab1ec136c89e6930aa73bbd6debab109.jpg


Leaves a great finish imo

ec5c38790f638c3df3b70f18c8a962f0.jpg
Not used any of that before... It does indeed make her nice and shiny!
 

Maypack

Ambassador for Cumberland Sausage
Apr 20, 2014
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Not used any of that before... It does indeed make her nice and shiny!

I was advised to use it by a friend of mine who is very big into detailing. He once spent 27hours on a car of mine while I was away for a few days!!

I trust his advice as he is very OCD about his car and the way it look (Audi RS6) and he always uses products that do not harm the car I.e non-acidic etc.

Might be an addition for you in the future.
 

Jimbobcook

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I was advised to use it by a friend of mine who is very big into detailing. He once spent 27hours on a car of mine while I was away for a few days!!

I trust his advice as he is very OCD about his car and the way it look (Audi RS6) and he always uses products that do not harm the car I.e non-acidic etc.

Might be an addition for you in the future.
You're not helping my bank balance lol
 

Legojon

I only wanted a remap
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:censored: Now I'm going to have to get some Adams stuff!! I've seen some good reviews of the Revive hand polish... I'll have to give it a try!
 

Maypack

Ambassador for Cumberland Sausage
Apr 20, 2014
3,175
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Gods Country - West Cumbria
:censored: Now I'm going to have to get some Adams stuff!! I've seen some good reviews of the Revive hand polish... I'll have to give it a try!

Well worth a try. You can see from my pictures the results. But... if you’re going for the Revuve hand polish you need the Butter Wax too.

Car feels silky as glass and the beading...mmmn
 

Jimbobcook

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Well worth a try. You can see from my pictures the results. But... if you’re going for the Revuve hand polish you need the Butter Wax too.

Car feels silky as glass and the beading...mmmn
Smells like Strawberry Banana!

I'm out lol anything that's even remotely smelling like banana makes me dry heave lol that's for the buttery wax...
 

paddy6789

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Aug 31, 2016
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I *may* have too much stuff...

b46a8025166a50cf5ce26c549d434bac.jpg


70a3942a92190aba1ee30a905aa065be.jpg


And I’ve bought more since! Including snow foam, additional wheel cleaners and brushes - I need another meguairs bag to store the additional products...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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Legojon

I only wanted a remap
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Yes. I got a blue one for the polish and a yellow one for the wax. They were comfortable to grip and easy to use.

Go spend your hard earned money.

Oh :censored:ing hell, there's a yellow one as well!? I haven't even had time to try the Gyeon glass cleaner yet. :D
 
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