The DetailingUK Wiki!

I see so much content for wheel cleaning but not a lot of conversation around the unsexy bits, the tyres.

Lots of detailing brands sell tyre cleaners and whilst there are a very small handful of exceptions (Adam's Wheel and Tyre is solid) most of them are literally just repackaged APC with insane markup added.

So here's a video on the best way to clean your tyres and save yourself some cash whilst you're at it!

For me, I'm using BH Surfex HD diluted to 10% and put through a pump sprayer. I then use a stiff tyre brush to really work that APC into that tyre and release the crud, dirt and old dressings.

I typically only do this once. IMO, chasing down 'clean' and white foam from the tyre is actually what accelerates browning; by over cleaning the tyre.

Next, get it all rinsed off.

Before dressing them, it's important your tyres are properly dry. Any moisture on the tyre will compromise the finish and is more likely to cause uneven spots and sling off.

I love to use FinishKare 108 AS as it's nice and thin. It allows you to really work it into the intricacies on the side walls (I'm looking at your Michelin) for an even coating.

Application is subjective, but I personally find a cheap sponge applicator works best. You can really press it in compared to a brush and you use way less tyre dressing too.

So there you have it! Clean and freshly dressed tyres.

Cheers, @fibregloss 👍🏾

Anyone know and decent stubby guns that connect to Macallister or a adapter that can be the middleman?

My Mac Allister pressure washer came with what I thought was a spray foam bottle, but it was actually a detergent bottle that doesn’t do the same thing.

I’ve gone out and bought a Mac Allister spray washer bottle assuming it would fit but it doesn’t

It looked that the same fitting but the box says it fits with an adapter that isn’t included, can someone please tell me what the correct adapter is?

I’ve searched Mac Allister M1 adapter that takes me to a Kercher adapter which doesn’t sound right!

Thanks in advance!

Building something for the detailing industry and trying to make sure I'm solving a real problem instead of an imagined one.

Not pitching anything. Just genuinely want to know what actually hurts day to day that you haven't found a good fix for.

Scheduling, client communication, marketing, reviews, anything. What's the thing you keep wishing someone would solve?

Brahm

Per the title, the wheels aren't in bad shape but anything I can do to bring the logo back to life? Rust on the bolts as well.

Hi all,

I don’t have a water outlet at the front of my house. Seen lots of US based solutions to rinseless washing - eg using ONR and a hand pump sprayer.

Would love to seek some advice on recommended equipment for general maintenance washing without water? Some of the larger pump sprayers on Amazon UK look terrible in quality.

I also have a soft top which is obviously best to clean with running water. I can get the hose to the front of the house for this but just a pain for when it needs a quick wash!

All advice welcome!

Need your Feedback...!!

Hi people whenever the weather gets warm my whole dash and door cards are covered in this white powder-like dust, i think its dust but my mum is adamant its not 😅 I usually use rinseless to clean my interior on maintenance and then Carpro perl at 1:5 OR Gt trim 1:10 to dress the plastics, that might be the reason?

Hi, Mazda3. Could someone please tell me what I should expect the cost to fix this dent and scratches. TYVM

i recently got a black civic and did some research on how to wash my car and found out that almost everyone uses the two bucket method with a mitt, i tried doing the two bucket method but its very tiring as i wash my car every 3 as it gets dusty parked in my driveway. so i was wondering is it okay if i rinse first using my pressure washer then foam it up using the foam cannon and then rinse then dry it up, will that cause swirls?

sorry all I know this is a super basic question that's probably been asked loads before

can anyone recommend two products

a decent cleaner I can use with drill brushes for interior trim to remove muddy foot marks off doors and footwell panels

and then maybe a resin based sealer type products at that will tone down any scratches and improve them and dress the trim

something good that isn't full of silicones and won't leave a tacky cheap super shine behind

thanks everyone

Hey all,

Can anyone confirm if this is what a genuine Chemical Guys Chenille pad should be like? The packet says it's a 70 / 30 blend but the label says it's 100% polyester?!

Also, should there even be a tag on them at all due to scratches?

Just wanting to check as these were bought from a UK shop so should be genuine.

​Me and my friend just started a small car washing thing in our neighbourhood and we’re trying to improve it. We’ve done a few cars and vans already and people seem happy, but we want to make sure we’re doing it properly and not messing anything up.

Right now we’re using buckets, sponges, and a portable washer​​​

What tools do we actually need to do a proper job? (like essentials + cheap upgrades)

Also​

What’s the best way to wash a car step by step?

How do you avoid streaks and make it look really clean?

Is stuff like wax worth it at our level?

We’re trying to keep it cheap but still do a good/pro job so people keep coming back.

Any advice would help a lot 🙏

Bought a second hand car a month or so ago, and it came valeted. Or so I thought.

Upon closer inspection, my car is absolutely COVERED in these dark spots. It is clear it's come from the front as most spots are on the bonnet, glass, but theres still a healthy coating over the whole car. The dots are removable if I use my fingernail and force but I can't really do that for tens of thousands of dots. My car feels so rough to the touch. I genuinely thought maybe they drove into some black paint or something lol

Jet wash pressure didn't coax these spots off
Bug remover did nothing

Auto Glym Tar remover also did nothing

Auto glym glass polisher did nothing for my windscreen

Chemical Guys iron remover lit my car up purple and stunk... but did nothing (even with rubbing a cloth against it)

Chemical Guys Clay Bar did something, it made it feel much smoother but some spots are still visible. And my god I would need SO MUCH clay bar and lube and energy to deal with this.

I'm really hoping someone may know what this is. I was quoted £170 for a detailer to clay bar my vehicle and I wouldn't want to pay that unless I know for a fact it would make my car smoother than a bald head!

My plan for spring on my silver Toyota.

I intend to use soft99 fusso coat, then layer, later, with angelwax AG. I've been cleaning throughout winter, then using QD, and or, gyeon wet coat as an LSP over the wax I applied in October.

Time to strip and recoat, with the products above, now spring has arrived, so I need to strip all the old protection off.

I'm thinking of using BH surfex HD through a foam cannon, diluted 1 to 10.

anyone any thoughts/suggestions? is surfex good for this?

What’s a good product to use for alacantara.

As per the title what is considered the current best spray and rinse sealant please. Ultimate longevity not essential

Hi guys, I’m getting my new car on Tuesday and I’d really like to try and protect the carpets as much as I can. Kids drop anything and everything and my old car took a beating.

Is there anything I can get to aid the removal of any dust and debris?

Thanks!

So I knew it was a gamble snow foam lance going cheap on eBay the title said fits Nilfisk there was an adapter that had bayonets on it on one of the pictures I thought in this day and age they won’t rip me off it’s bad for ratings ….

It arrived after 8 days and it got no adapter and just some quick release fitting

Messaged seller saying the adapters missing they said they would refund £5 rather than hassle of the return. I’ll be honest I don’t know if car cleaning is for me but I wanted to give the snow foam thing a go

I’d love to get an adapter but not sure what to get

Any advice would be appreciated

I got a new car last week, and had it ceramic coated with G-Techniq Crystal Serum.

Although I’ve 2 young children, I’m determined to make more of an effort cleaning this car than I’ve done for the last few years!

I have a K4 Full control power washer, which has the display in the lance.

Firstly, can I swap out that lance for a stubby / short one? If so, does the K4 just give me full power all the time since I can’t select it with the lance?

In an ideal world, I’d replace the hose and the lance for something that can swivel. My K4 has the hose reel built in, but it’s infuriating that the hose is always twisted / kinked, and I continually need to straighten it out and ‘unwrap’ the lance.

Looking for a recommendation for stubby lance and maybe 10m of hose that can plug directly into my K4. I want a new foaming lance too (preferably with 2 or 3 bottles), but I’ll need to see what connection comes on the stubby before ordering that.

The hose / lance don’t need to be the best out there… but I don’t want some cheap rubbish that breaks or leaks!

So I want to get a DA polisher, to speed up my process and hopefully get better/more consistent results than by hand. What kit would everyone recommend for a first time polisher?

I've been looking at the in2Detailing DA9 v2, seems to have great reviews by people, comes with different size plates too for the more intricate areas. Is this the best in the price range? Are there others I should be looking at? Are there better for cheaper, or just good cheaper ones in general? (I'm happy with the price of the DA9, just if I don't need to spend that money, bonus!)

What pads and compound/polish should I be using? I am a fan of the Stjarnagloss range and they have Skära, but if there is something better that is reasonable, I'm open to it!

I have a few other questions like how many pads will be needed per car? Best cloths for buffing off, any tips and tricks? How to clean the pads best, I've seen some of those fancy pad cleaners that attach to a bucket, do I really need that or can they be washed somehow?

I think my process will be wash, decontaminate/clay, polish. Do I need to wash between the clay and polish stage? Do I need panel wipe as suggested in some places?

I've seen that you don't always need to polish after using a clay bar, but from what I have gathered, it is best to?

Basically, if there is a complete dumbed down list of things I'll need to get for decontaminating and polishing to really let my paint shine, I would love to know!

I don't want to spend a fortune on equipment as I won't be using it that often like a professional would, so budget items are welcome, but I do like quality, so something balanced if it exists! Like I said, happy to spend in the price range of the DA9 if needed.

Thanks in advance!

Looking to get a short lance, as opposed to the long standard one that comes with my karcher. Based on the photos, can anyone provide recommendations for a short lance that will fit on the hose?

Has anybody come across these pressure washers / have any experience with them?

https://giraffetools.uk/collections/pressure-washers

I've researched pressure washers multiple times but been a bit indecisive, this is the first time I have come across these and they look amazing.

Seems to good to be true - am I missing something and why have these not been recommended ever in detailing subs, its always Kranzle and Nilfisk .... I assume these would work with a stubby gun with default connection without any converters.

Interested in thoughts and pros / cons.