Automotive Academy

Once you have finished washing your car the next step is to complete a wax. And even if the vehicle has been corrected with a swirl remover it is still recommended to apply a pre wax as part of the entire system.

Pre-wax is just as the name implies, to get the surface ready for wax to be applied. Tar spots, some tree saps and various other surface contaminates are usually not taken off by a product that is termed wax only.

The wax/cleaners with high solvent content in them need to be avoided, as they will eventually deteriorate the surface to which they are applied. Pre Wax Cleanser is especially formulated to be used prior to applying Car Wax. If you’re trying to get a really incredible deep, vibrant shine from your wax, you need to use a pre wax cleanser to properly prepare the surface prior to use Car Wax.

The benefit of Pre Wax Cleanser is that is prepares the surface after you wash it, so that the paint surface doesn’t get contaminated by dirt or anything else that may keep you from getting the ultimate protection.

The application of the car wax is the final stage, again we like to apply the wax by hand and remove by hand using a super flush Micro fiber towel. With a good car wax you don’t need multiple products to accomplish astonishing results, it doesn’t get any easier.

Tire Dressing is best to be applied as a tire gel using an applicator with a very thin layer of tire gel to the tire sidewall if more shine is desired a second coat can be applied, most of the time one coat is enough, it’s a nice finishing touch after all your hard work!

1.) Clean your rims before you wash the rest of the car. At first, do one rim at a time. After some practice, you will learn how long each step takes and can work on multiple wheels at once.

2.) Spray the dry rim with wheel cleaner, which will get rid of any brake dust etc. Let the chemical sit on the wheel for a while. This chemical will eat through the brake dust that has built up on the wheels and make the hand-cleaning easier.

3.) Rinse off the wheel cleaner and as you rinse, direct the spray toward the ground to keep the potentially abrasive wheel grime from splattering on to the rest of your car. High-pressure is not recommended due to splattering. 

4.) Mix a soap-and-water solution in the bucket, then soak the sponge and use it to clean away any remaining visible grime. When it’s time to re-wet the sponge, first rinse it with the hose outside the bucket. This will cut down on the grime that gets into your water/soap solution.

5.) Rinse the soap off the wheel use the soft-bristle toothbrush and soap and water solution to clean any areas you weren’t able to reach with the sponge. 

6.) Rinse the soap off the wheel and when you wash the rest of the car and it’s time to dry the rims, use an old cotton towel to dry the rims. The towel will pick up any remaining bits of grime and help you avoid water spots.

A good way to remove insects from the front of your car when cleaning is to use Active Insect Remover which is a concentrated foam designed to rapidly dissolve squashed insect remains from vehicle bodywork, windscreens and headlights, insects are always the hardest part when it comes to cleaning a car and this is especially the case in summertime. 

The product can be used at the roadside as a quick fix or as part of the full car cleaning process; all you have to do is spray onto the surface to be cleaned and allow approximately 30 seconds whilst the product works and the insect remains to soften.

Wipe off surface with a soft cloth and clean the surface with dry paper towel or hose off if used prior to normal washing of the car. Stubborn insect remains may require a second application. If the product ‘dries on’, then wipe off is improved if the cloth is dampened or sprayed with Active Insect Remover. This product can be used on cars, vans, trucks, motorcycles, caravans and boats.

NOTE: Before you start you should always test your chrome polish on a small area of the car before you polish all of the chrome areas, this is because some chrome polishes have been known to scratch the chrome.

If you are unsure which polish to get you can always ask the store you are purchasing it from to see if they can recommend any that will not scratch your car.

1) Apply the polish as you would a normal car wax, it will be slightly harder than applying normal car wax if you want the best results. You can still polish the chrome if it has been tarnished – it will just be a little more difficult to apply.

2) Simply use a different towel and wipe of the wax, you are best wiping down a small section first to ensure that you have the results that you want. If so, continue to wipe down the rest of the chrome area you have applied the wax.

3) If the results are not as desired you can apply more polish to the chrome and repeat steps 1 and 2 until you are satisfied.

This is a process that you will get better the more you do it, don’t be disheartened if you cannot get the perfect results right away.

People often miss out on cleaning the engine bay when detailing their car, this not only will make it harder to do so in the future and could impose problems if left too long. It’s not that difficult if you know how to do it correctly, so let’s get to it.

1) Be careful when using water in the engine bay, on certain makes and models of cars too much water can result in problems. Not to mention any electronics you may have in the engine compartment – damaging these could result in having to have to pay to repair them.

You want to begin by spraying the engine bay down with water

2) Next you need spray the area with degreaser, be careful around some of the components because if too much is applied it could leave marks on certain surfaces. Note: avoid having direct sun light on the degreaser once applied as it will speed up the process.

If you have any excess on certain areas just wipe them off and continue covering the whole engine bay, don’t forget the underside of the bonnet.

3) Use a paint brush to wipe around the area to ensure you have got degreaser everywhere that you wanted, this will also agitate the degreaser making the outcome much better.

4) After degreaser has been applied, simply wash down the area with your hosepipe, be careful again about getting too much water near the engine and other components. Some makes and models are known for having problems when you use too much water.

5) Next you need to dry it, if possible you are best using an air compressor to get most of the water out of the engine bay. Then go round the area with a towel to make sure that it’s all dry. If you don’t have an air compressor you can use a couple of towels to dry the area.