Its time to clean my car for the first time, so just wondering what brands/products everyone uses to clean both the interior and exterior? Would anyone recommend Armor All products (armorall.com.au)? They seem to have a pretty impressive range of products...
Armor All
- Thread starter luvduvs
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Armor All
armor all used to make a white liquid you could use to shine your car really easily and quickly, but they stopped making it in 1999. my life has never been the same since. 
i've used lots of their stuff and its all good. i prefer autoglym but armor all is usually a bit cheaper.
for your first wash use some fairy liquid or other kitchen washing up liquid. then use some carnauba based wax. once waxed do not use fairly liquid to wash the car, instead use a wash&wax, any cheap stuff will do. if you use other types of cleaners you will remove the wax.
on the inside i like to use back to black on the plastics. it makes them a bit slimy at first but it also makes small scratches dissappear and makes the plastic look a darker shade. it needs doing often so if you do it be prepared to keep it up, otherwise it ends up looking patchy.
on glass i like to use carnauba wax on the outside. it makes the rain fall off the glass without even using the wipers. on the inside of the glass i use a household glass cleaner, but dont squirt it onto the glass, squirt it ont a duster and apply it o tthe glass, then use a towel to wipe it off.
i've used lots of their stuff and its all good. i prefer autoglym but armor all is usually a bit cheaper.
for your first wash use some fairy liquid or other kitchen washing up liquid. then use some carnauba based wax. once waxed do not use fairly liquid to wash the car, instead use a wash&wax, any cheap stuff will do. if you use other types of cleaners you will remove the wax.
on the inside i like to use back to black on the plastics. it makes them a bit slimy at first but it also makes small scratches dissappear and makes the plastic look a darker shade. it needs doing often so if you do it be prepared to keep it up, otherwise it ends up looking patchy.
on glass i like to use carnauba wax on the outside. it makes the rain fall off the glass without even using the wipers. on the inside of the glass i use a household glass cleaner, but dont squirt it onto the glass, squirt it ont a duster and apply it o tthe glass, then use a towel to wipe it off.
personally i use meguiers or autoglym stuff religiously
i use autoglym religiously too! got a collection of bottles thats getting bigger and bigger!
only other one i use is meguirs (sp) plastic and vinyl cleaner (purple bottle) brilliant for getting any plastic, in and out the car, back to original colour no matter how old!
only other one i use is meguirs (sp) plastic and vinyl cleaner (purple bottle) brilliant for getting any plastic, in and out the car, back to original colour no matter how old!
jug said:armor all used to make a white liquid you could use to shine your car really easily and quickly, but they stopped making it in 1999. my life has never been the same since.
Did you move to Mars in 1999?
Liam
Autoglym, but for everyday I use Comma from local Autofactors, hot wax wash £10 for 5 litres, lasts for years!
don't forget to use a wash mitt rather than a sponge!!!!
I've been using a sponge for years, and my car has slowly gone from total mintage, to a car that has more swirls than paint. It makes the car look like its tarnish'd
I've been using a sponge for years, and my car has slowly gone from total mintage, to a car that has more swirls than paint. It makes the car look like its tarnish'd
Liam said:
no, to the uk actually.
luvduvs said:any advice on cleaning seats?
if you clean a seat you will get water marks unless youn clean the whole thing at the same time. soapy water and a sponge does a good job or cleaning it, dont go overboard with getting it wet, but make sure you get every square inch damp so it dries leaving no marks. i clean my seats twice a year, its amazing how much crap you can get out of them.
The best product I've used for cleaning seats in Autoglyms Interior Shampoo. Although it's not cheap it does a surprisingly good job of removing ground in muck. I've tried a cheap astonish product from Wilkos and it left me anything but astonished. You can also use normal, cheap, home upholstery cleaners just watch out they don't contain bleech, don't want to leave any funny marks on your seats
jug said:
You can still buy this liquid you speak of!
Liam
Liam said:
WHAT!!
you're telling me i've gone 7 years without my favorite time saving fluid and the whole time i could have been using it! just think of all the hours and pounds i've wasted using autoglym finishing fluid instead!
can you please post a pic or name or link for it? i think it must be repackaged for uk markets
Fill your boots
http://www.armorall.co.uk/armorallproducts/news1.html
Always get mines at Halfords.
Liam
http://www.armorall.co.uk/armorallproducts/news1.html
Always get mines at Halfords.
Liam
top banana
maybe i havent seen it because i refuse to go to halfords?
i'll have to pay someone to go in for me.
maybe i havent seen it because i refuse to go to halfords?
i'll have to pay someone to go in for me.
no it isnt there
i searched the whole website.
i think they did stop making it.
i searched the whole website.
i think they did stop making it.
correction it does exist. it is now called "Spray On Shine"
Fidgit
New member
Back to OP question re cleaning seats:
I just got a MK2 Punto that has been in a right old mess. The sweaty git who hadit before me must of had a right greasy mop (and his missus) as there were greasy head stains all over the headrests of my sexy dark red upholstery!
So, £30 later I aquired a steam cleaner from Argos. It's just like a glorified wallpaper stripper just has many different attachments.
It has done a grand job of cleaning and disinfecting the car seats. All the stains are gone. They look almost new. There is still a bit of a musty smell in the car but I think that is just deep deep dirt coming out now. I've noticed old fag ash starting to appear in the joins of the seats so the trusty steam cleaner will be coming out again.
It's much much easier than scrubbing upholstery cleaner into the fabric for hours and it kills germs and bacteria aswell. And it got all the nicotine staining out of the ceiling fabric too
If it can clean up the pig sh*t hole state my car was in, it will do a grand job on yours!
I just got a MK2 Punto that has been in a right old mess. The sweaty git who hadit before me must of had a right greasy mop (and his missus) as there were greasy head stains all over the headrests of my sexy dark red upholstery!
So, £30 later I aquired a steam cleaner from Argos. It's just like a glorified wallpaper stripper just has many different attachments.
It has done a grand job of cleaning and disinfecting the car seats. All the stains are gone. They look almost new. There is still a bit of a musty smell in the car but I think that is just deep deep dirt coming out now. I've noticed old fag ash starting to appear in the joins of the seats so the trusty steam cleaner will be coming out again.
It's much much easier than scrubbing upholstery cleaner into the fabric for hours and it kills germs and bacteria aswell. And it got all the nicotine staining out of the ceiling fabric too
If it can clean up the pig sh*t hole state my car was in, it will do a grand job on yours!
Barton chemicals. car wash comes in 200litre drums and the interior detergent comes in 25 litre barrels. 1 soap to 20 parts water and 1 part detergent to 10 parts water. It last ages!
Although its not all good the glass polish, body polish, plastic and tyre dressing only comes in 5 litre containers!
Although its not all good the glass polish, body polish, plastic and tyre dressing only comes in 5 litre containers!
