Car Cleaning: microfibre cloths

[VolvoFan]

What is the general consensus about using microfibre cloths for washing & drying the car, compared to sponge & chamois leather?

Any recommendations regarding any particular product which gives the best results in the fastest time?

All replies awaited with interest.

[Sid60ish]

Advice from another thread link to professional valeters is below :

Lambswool mitt for washing, using two buckets of water; one soay solution and the other plain water. Rinse the mitt in plain water before every dip into the soap stuff. Sponges trap grit etc. Dry with a good microfibre. Chamois' can micro-scratch also, apparently.

www.britishvaleters.org/forum/index.php

[Amazonites]

Many thanks for that link!
The valeters on there willl be happy to answer any valeting questions you have.
Personally we use lambs wool mitts (or any mitt with a long pile) for washing, waffle weave drying towels (for drying!) and good quality microfibres for bodywork (we use pakshak from Hawaii)
Cheaper microfibres are fine when they don't come into contact with the paintwork ie for interiors and dirty jobs

[jezza5986]

I'd also suggest having a look at www.detailingworld.co.uk

Next time you see one, pop into Home Bargains or InStore and see if they've got any of the Flash car wash kits in. The shampoo and wash is useless, but the AutoDry spray is really worthwhile... And cheap as chips too as well

The idea is that the water is filtered and you rinse the car off, then just leave it and when it dries, you don't get any water marks as you would do normally if you left your car to drip-dry.

My routine wash is as follows if it helps...

Snow-Foam the car using the foam gun, clean the wheels and arches whilst the snowfoam and shampoo is dwelling, then wash the car using the two bucket method with AutoGlym shampoo and a noodle microfiber wash mitt (utter bargain, 99p from Morrisons and works just as well as the more expensive options IMHO).

Rinse using the spray gun, then give it a blast with the Flash Auto Dry filtered water. When it's nearly dry, then I'll give it a once over with a good quality Microfibre towel, (Forgot the name, but PM me if you want the link to where i bought it from)

Works a treat and the car looks amazing

[m0bzy]

My noodle wash thing is starting to moult and I could not for the life of me remember from where it was purchased,Morrisons,thanks Jezza .

Mike

[JIM C]

I wash the car with shampoo and a sponge, then rise and dry off with a

[malcolmk]

boy, do i feel guilty !

[ovlov25]

Think everyone has there on preferred method. I do the following with the MX-5

1. Thorough pre rinse with hose, wheel arches cleaned with low pressure washer. I'll have to invest in a hose foam gun

2. Wash with Meguairs and a lambswool mitt. I use the infamous 2 bucket method

3. Thorough rinse with garden hose, second pass with lambswool mitt in case i've missed any spots

4. At this second pass i'll tackle the alloys. I use an old but clean sponge for this and also have a little electric brush for stubborn spots. I don't use any type of wheel cleaner. I also clean in around the sills and door bottoms

5. Thorough and final rinse, dry off with autoglym aqua dry. Quick detail of the tyres with turtle wax tyre shine and clean the windows with Autoglym glass cleaner.

Swirls and scratches very hard to avoid so usually twice a year i'll do a full detail. I'll start with de-tar with autoglym tar remover, claybar the paint and then attack the paint with a Porter cable polisher and various polishes, waxes etc.

The Volvo is my workhorse, it gets a weekly scrub with turtlewax and a sponge. I'll chamois it too if i'm feeling kind!! It'll get the full treatment when i've a little more time.