The DetailingUK Wiki!

Hello, I have washed a bunch of cars for free to build my portfolio. I want to get some paying customers now. Any tips?

I usually keep a bucket with 2 gallon water and rinseless wash with microfiber soaking in them. I take it for all sorts of random jobs and toss it for washing. Other rinseleas washes I had stayed fresh for up to a week. But with ONR (regular blue v5) I noticed the Rancid smell after 3 days. Has anyone faced similar issues?

Need help understanding whether this is marring caused by me washing the car, i use the two bucket method and do a very thorough pre wash, and dry with a ultra soft microfibre towel.
I noticed this hologram look to my paint, mainly on my side panels and the roof under a flashlight and the sun. For context i recently got it back from a bodyshop after spending £180 for a full car polish and have not noticed this before.

Hello,

I am looking to upgrade my set up. looking to get a quick release stubby lance ideally with a swivel to avoid wires getting tangeled and a good foam cannok. i have the karcher k3

What do you guys recommend?

Also should I buy this and then keep on top of my car or should I not buy this and buy all the stuff I need to clean it. The old owner left the car outside of a bit so it’s a bit dirty and the wheels are coated in brake dust and other dirts

Goes away once I start driving for a while, seems like airflow/wind clears it.

It's on the outside, using wipers improves it for 2-3 seconds but then goes hazy again.

Really bad when sun hits it, can't see out of the window.

I've tried cleaning windscreen with 100% IPA and Bilt Hamber window cleaner but it made no difference.

The goal: To stop my windscreen always seeming grubby and oily and smeary whenever the sun hits it. No matter how much I clean it with generic or car glass cleaners, it always seems to be just as grub.

The challenge: Despite being a 35-year-old man, I have the physicality of someone twice my age who has just fallen down some rather large stairs. My left shoulder dislocates if I sneeze too aggressively, and a recent failed surgery to fix RSI on my right arm has left it mostly useless. As such, I'm incredibly limited on the physical tasks I can do. For example, reaching out and firmly scrubbing and wiping is really quite challenging and painful for me.

I thought it'd be sensible to pop in and ask if anyone had any advice on good products that just seem to strip oils and grub off both sides of the windscreen, and also if there are any great tools similar to how you can get electric rotary scrubbing brushes for inside the house, etc.

Any tips on products or method or tools?

Thanks for your time!

Hello my UK friends! I’m posting this here in the UK group because Bilt Hamber is GOATed and I know you guys use these products far more than my USA counterparts. Can you guys help chime in on this? I’m trying to decide whether or not I want to buy Adams wheel and tire cleaner or Surfex hd to clean wheels and tires. Currently on sale on Amazon for only $30USD.

Thanks a ton! I’m just an auto detailing enthusiast who loves cleaning his own vehicles - not a pro 🙂

So I have recently brought an Abarth and the person who I brought off did know much about it and just kinda left out it side for a bit. So I need to clean and polish it, but what products should I buy/use? What tools do it need E.G pressure washer,polisher and towels etc. It has some nice white wheels but the problem with that is brake dust so how do I clean that? The wheels are currently grey and black because of the shit on them. So I need to clean them and then get them refurbished because he Kerbed them. Also the headlights have yellow what do I do there? As you can I see haven’t got a clue, I don’t might spend a bit on some nice stuff as this car is my pride and joy

Another type of product hits the detailing market.

Thoughts? I mean Ive lived in a hard water area for decades and water spotting hasn't been an issue for me yet, hence never bought a water spot remover.

Rain? It always bloody rains lol, and its annoying. Im pretty sure rain water by nature is low ppm im minerals ( almost pure) but as it falls it collects contaminants ,hence those dried on marks. But ive either used a rinsless or a qd and it works. No swirls marks.

If its that dessert rain then its always been a proper wash routine.

Trying to figure this one out.

Thoughts?

For those detailing professionally and maintaining coated cars regularly, what shampoo have you settled on?

I’m looking for a shampoo for my ceramic-coated car. My priorities are cleaning performance, lubrication, clean rinsing and cost per wash. I don’t need/want added wax or protection, and I’m happy to pay more upfront for a concentrate that goes a long way.

I’m particularly interested in what holds up across lots of washes in daily professional use. What do you use, at what dose, and why has it stayed in your kit over products you’ve tried before?

Any popular shampoos you’ve stopped using, and the reason would be useful too.

My PCP is nearly up and I’ll be getting a new vehicle. Annoyingly noticed these 2 scratches in the plastic on my back passenger door.

The vehicle is in great condition otherwise - will this be OK do you think as general wear & tear / is easy for them to fix? Really worrying!

I got my car washed but forgot to ask to use no wax, I want to wax with turtle wax hard shell but I am wondering if it already has a layer of el cheapo wax if it is a waste of time as it won't stick to the car panels itself. Should I wait until next car wash or just wax it as it is? TIa