Autoglym official reply -)
Dear Paul
Thank you for your enquiry
If you are after the ultimate finish then preparation is the key to achieving this. I will give you the long answer and then explain maintenance of the finish at the end.
First start with a thorough wash of the wheels using either Autoglym Clean Wheels or Autoglym Custom Wheel Cleaner. If you have ‘normal’ alloy wheels I would steer you to wards Clean Wheels, if you have chrome or another specialist finish use the Custom Wheel Cleaner. Check the back of the pack for details. You may also require Intensive Tar Remover to remove any tar spots from the wheels too.
Next wash the car with Bodywork Shampoo Conditioner, then remove any road tar from the lower half of the vehicle using Autoglym Intensive Tar Remover.
Now we move onto more paint work preparation, using the Autoglym Surface Detailing Clay Kit remove all traces of bonded contaminants from the exterior painted surfaces. Unless your car is brand new it will have accumulated quite a lot of contamination that bonds to the paint and can’t just be washed away with the shampoo. The clay safely removes these from the paint leaving a perfectly smooth surface. If you rub your fingers over the car after washing and then again after claying you will notice a huge difference. You will also be able to see the contamination being transferred from the paint to the clay which will turn from white to a brown. Very full and comprehensive instructions are on the back of the pack.
Following claying you can now decide whether you want to fully remove all previously applied polishes, coatings, waxes etc from the paintwork. This is a good idea as by applying new polish and wax to completely bare paint will give you increased durability as you aren’t applying it over a decaying layer. To do this use Autoglym High Definition Cleanser as directed. This is a simple rub on rub off product that also further deep cleans the paint allowing for a more even application of subsequent products. This step can be omitted though as you see fit.
Following this we move onto polishing with Super Resin Polish. This will remove any hazing or fine scratches and impart a glossy finish to the surface. If there are marks still present following a firm application of the polish to the area then apply Autoglym Paint Renovator to the area as directed. After using Paint Renovator re polish over the area with Super Resin.
After this we move onto the final step of sealing and protecting your now fully cleaned, prepared and polished paintwork. For the ultimate finish apply Autoglym High Definition Wax as thinly and as evenly as possible to all of the exterior painted surfaces allow to dry (about 15 mins depending on the weather) and then buff off using the specially selected microfibre included. This will not only increase the gloss and depth of shine but now acts as a barrier to new dirt and contaminants and a sacrificial layer that will offer real protection for up to 6 months. Dirt and contaminants find it harder to stick to a waxed surface so washing and cleaning becomes even easier. You can also polish and wax your alloy wheels that will make it harder for brake dust to stick to them .
So now your car is fully prepared and looking fantastic the only thing to do now is maintain the finish. Little and often is the key here, wash with the shampoo weekly or fortnightly is all that is generally required, keep this up for 4 – 6 months (depending on the weather conditions and the number of miles you cover) until the beading of the wax starts to fail, or an improvement in appearance is desired. Then simply repeat the process above, leaving out steps that you don’t need. You don’t need to clay or use the HD Cleanser any more than twice a year, although if you want you can re polish and re wax as you like. If you carry out the paint preparation, polishing and sealing and then wash regularly you should only need 2 – 3 ‘big’ sessions a year.
Kindest Regards
