[Grumps]

I copied this thread over from another forum.

So you have your Antara but how easy is it to wash and polish and keep clean.

Well I think it's one of the easiest cars I have owned to was and polish. Apart from needing a set of set of steps to was the roof that is.

The 19" alloys are pretty easy to clean although because they are so open you need to clean the inside of the alloys which is fairly easy to sponge.

After two weeks without a wash the weather and and the dirty roads have left my Antara the dirtiest it has been. The mud flaps help but even with them the back wash really bad.



So out with the snow foam





After the snow foam has done its job it's a power wash clean and then hand wash with lambs wool wash mitt. Alloys are then sprayed and cleaned outside and in.

So this is how it looked after its was washed and towel dried.





But I'm not finished there I have started to get it prepped for winter so it was out with the clay bar and then a polish and wax. Dress the plastic trim and tyres polish the class inside and out.

I'm still working on it but will post a couple of pics tomorrow when I'm finished. The paint work is surprisingly after 7 months is still perfect except for a couple of very small stone chips which I'm touching up at the same time.
Edited by: Grumps

 

[Dilligaf]

Some people have tooo much time on their hands.

 

[Grumps]

For anyone who doesn't know what Claying is about when I said I used clay on my Antara its exactly what it is you use a bar of clay and rub it over the paintwork to remove all the crap. It's amazing what it does.

On a 7 month old car that's kept pretty clean here is what the clay be looked like after doing the bonnet of the Antara



Other things I use on a regular basis are iron x. If you haven't used it get some its fantastic. Spray on dry alloys leave and power wash off. Beware it smells terrible but its fantastic.

http://www.detailedclean.co.uk/wheels-and-tyres/carpro-iron-x-500ml-473

Then its on with the snow foam and leave for 10-15mins then rinse off the snow foam and iron x.

Time to handwash using a meguires wash mit then rinse.

Into the garage to tiwel dry off, Hoover and clean the interior.

I use car pro perl to clean and shine the interior trim. I also use it for the external black trim and the tyres.

Again brilliant stuf if you haven't tried it. It's similar to autoglym vinyl and rubber care but it is cheaper and better you can dilute it to your needs.

http://www.detailedclean.co.uk/wheels-and-tyres/carpro-perl-500ml-482

I then clean the glass inside and out using autoglym fast glass and glass polish for the outside of the windscreen.

The last thing I did was give the leather seats a clean and then condition using these

http://www.detailedclean.co.uk/interior/leather-care/auto-finesse-hide-leather-cleaner-500ml-345

http://www.detailedclean.co.uk/interior/leather-care/auto-finesse-hide-leather-conditioner-250ml-346

Btw it might sound like I Was all day doing the above but it took less less than 2 hours.
Edited by: Grumps

 

[Grumps]

One other tip given to me for all you new Antara owners

if you want your engine bay to still look still looking like new. 6-12 months on




Thanks to a tip from a mate who's obsessed about cleaning his car. When I got my Antara he told me to spray the engine plastic parts and paintwork with this http://www.autoglym.com/enGB/product-proddetail.asp?v06VQ=HE&Range=1. The trick is to do it when the engine is slightly warm. When you do it it will look milky white but when it drys it looks great.
Edited by: Grumps

 

[bronze]

what is this snow foam you use and where do you get it and do you use your power washer to apply
sorry not seen this before . i,ve had a sheltered live lol.

 

[Grumps]

what is this snow foam you use and where do you get it and do you use your power washer to apply
sorry not seen this before . i,ve had a sheltered live lol.

It's same thing as those hand wash car washes that are all over the place these days usually run by some nice Eastern Europe guys.

It's done via a power washers using a special spray bottle. Kinda The same as the ones you get with your power washer but specially designed for snow foam because you can adjust how thick the foam is.

I use this one but you have plenty to pick from

http://www.detailedclean.co.uk/wash...wash/valet-pro-ph-neutral-snow-foam-5-litre-3

And this is the the spray bottle. It's expansive but good

http://www.detailedclean.co.uk/wash...utobrite-snow-foam-lance-various-fittings-131

If you look on YouTube you will find loads of videos on snow foam.

If you have anymore qustions just ask

 

[Antarius]

My God Grumps.....you really are a walking talking encyclopedia of cleaning products

To be fair, I have followed your example and purchased a couple of items that you suggested and they have proved to be as good as you first suggested.


Unfortunately, being a "poor" pensioner

I need to watch my pennies and need to save up to buy your other items.

 

[Pondpaul]

Some people have tooo much time on their hands.

I was thinking exactly the same thing

 

[redmarcus999]

Grumps, your bloc drive looks nice and clean as well

Are you sure your not just trying to out do your Kia driving neighbour

 

[Grumps]

Grumps, your bloc drive looks nice and clean as well

 

Are you sure your not just trying to out do your Kia driving neighbour

Power washers are a wonderful thing.

And my neighbour never never washes their car.

 

[JFDM]

Grumps - which snow foam nozzle do you use with your Karcher - and do you dilute the snow foam or just put it in the nozzle and set let the washer do the mixing?


**Have you ever used the Karcher foam nozzle?
Edited by: JFDM

 

[Grumps]

Grumps - which snow foam nozzle do you use with your Karcher - and do you dilute the snow foam or just put it in the nozzle and set let the washer do the mixing?


<span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.4;">**Have you ever used the Karcher foam nozzle? </span>

I use This foam lance. It's expensive but it great. You can adjust the snow foam from foamy water to a whipped cream consistency which is perfect for using snow foam. I wouldn't use it unless you can adjust the mix.

I usually dilute my snow foam in the bottle. Depending how dirty the car is. At this time if year I go 1/3 snow foam to 2/3 water and in winter 1/2 and 1/2.

 

[JFDM]

Grumps - which snow foam nozzle do you use with your Karcher - and do you dilute the snow foam or just put it in the nozzle and set let the washer do the mixing?


<span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.4;">**Have you ever used the Karcher foam nozzle?</span>

I use This foam lance. It's expensive but it great. You can adjust the snow foam from foamy water to a whipped cream consistency which is perfect for using snow foam. I wouldn't use it unless you can adjust the mix.

I usually dilute my snow foam in the bottle. Depending how dirty the car is. At this time if year I go 1/3 snow foam to 2/3 water and in winter 1/2 and 1/2.

Yeah - I have looked at that and seen a couple of vids on Youtube that show it at it's best - one may be winging it's way to my house when I get back from Holiday.


Just washed mine for the first time - nothing serious as it's only a week old but it's surprising how many flies get caught on the lights and bonnet just going up and down the A68/A69 to Edinburgh from Durham. Gave it a quick gentle wash with detergent through the Karcher then used the pressure setting to clear it all off. Then wiped it all down with micro-cloth and cleaned the alloys of a weeks work of dirt and brake dust.


If I can keep on top of it (Easy during summer - a little more demanding during the winter) I'll keep it looking like new. Very pleased with the colour as well - the Placid grey seems to take on a different colour depending on the weather and sunlight, from a darkish grey to an airforce blue.

 

[Greg]

Hi All

I guess I should stop using my Halfords shampoo then. Feeling out shined and impress

 

[JR123]

For proper snow foam you need a lance like what Grumps has - the others that come with Karcher and Nilfisk machines are not snow foam lances just help mix the detergent with the water.

 

[Isaac Hunt]

I have my car hand washed at a local car wash, then go over it with this stuff when it`s dried off ; - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LUCAS-SLI...ssories_Car_Care_Cleaning&hash=item1e72dddd8f Dead easy on & off, and it looks the dogs when its finished.

 

[Inchindown]

I have my car hand washed at a local car wash, then go over it with this stuff when it`s dried off ; - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LUCAS-SLI...ssories_Car_Care_Cleaning&hash=item1e72dddd8f Dead easy on & off, and it looks the dogs when its finished.

I'm afraid my cleaning regime starts and stops at the local drive through car wash.

 

[Greg]

Hi all

Since joining the forum I have been inspired by detailing and accessories i didn't know i wanted and my wallet is in pain - To date


- Auto Glym products £45
- Running Boards £ 289 from Direct 4x4 (Great Service) being fitted tomorrow
- Mud Flaps £40


Will post before and after pics but feel I have a long way to go to match the above,


Probably bringing this up in the wrong place - whats all this talk about chips and performance / economy - if I am on a spending spree ?


Newbie - Antara SE Nav - think its the smaller engine

 

[JIMEVERETT]

Cant beat showroom shine whole car done in 15 mins one polish does the lot from plastic to glass an body .
Once on cleaning is simple there after dreaded flyes just wipe away

 

[Grumps]

Well the weather was dry for a change so I thought it was time to give the Antara a wash. Since its been 3 weeks since it was washed and it was really dirty so it was out with the snow foam today.