I have always had a passion for cars. Driving, owning, drawing and even repairing. My secret passion however has always been to clean them. A well looked after car makes all the difference both mechanically and visually. I take extreme but necessary precautions to make sure the cars are clean but remain scratch and swirl mark free. Scratches are caused by knocks and bumps and are sometimes unavoidable but swirl marks are caused by bad washing and poor maintenence.
I was also a passionate funeral director for 13 years and I always made sure the smaller details remained as important as the big ones. If the families I looked after knew that even the car that takes them and their loved one on their final journey is as immaculate as possible, they knew I genuinely wanted to make eveything perfect.
I have always made sure each car is washed thoroughly after every outing. Even a local trip out on a dry day causes a coat of dusty road film and this cannot be simply wiped off. After continual practice of this, swirl marks appear causing a dull finish in normal light and awful swirly circles on sunny days. I make sure the paintwork and all other visible surfaces, including the wheels and tyres, are kept protected and washed correctly. Some might say it is obsessive but although my cars may not be the newest, they are as immaculate as is possible, for what are still working vehicles.
All my cars have been fully detailed by myself with clay bar prep, ascetone clense and full two stage compound and polish. A mix of ceramic coatings and waxes are continually reapplied.
General washing consists of a good hose down, full shampoo using the two bucket method, both with grit guards eliminating the risk of any transfer of debris back onto the paint surface. One bucket for soapy water and the other of clean water to rinse the mit in before reapplying into the soap, dirt and grit free. I also choose to use multiple wash mits, one for the roof and bonnet, one for glass and upper door line, one for the lower doors and front bumper, one for the sill and rear bumper and a final one for the wheels and tyres. A rinse of the shampoo and then a final gentle hose. This allows the majority of the water to run off, due to surface tension of water and the waxed coatings, minimising the amout of drying with a towel on the surfaces and minimising the potential for scratches. I also use a blower to force out any remaining water from the door jams and door handles etc, a car can look amazingly clean and shiny but half a mile down the road all the excess water runs down the side from the door mirrors looking terrible.
On a rainy day the water beads off the surface leaving no trace of water or dirt and they still look immaculately shiny.
