Correct wash method - if you're an obsessive nutter like me!!!
Rinse Alloy wheels, tyres, and into the wheel arches, thenspray with non acidic brake dust remover (i use P&S Brake dust remover). Leave to dwell for a couple minutes, then use wheel shampoo mixed in separate bucket with water, with a long SOFT brush (a wheel wooly) clean the inside of the wheels, then using a soft brush clean round the wheel bolts, then using a soft mit clean the face of the wheels, and if possible try to go behind the spokes.
Move on to cleaning the tyre walls with the same mit. Using long handled brush, and your mit to clean the wheel arch liners. Then thoroughly spray clean the wheel, tyre liner etc being sure to remove all detergent
Repeat with all four wheels - this process depending on how thorough you are could take 45 mins to an hour.
Rinse whole body of car with hose/pressure washer, being sure to go under the car as best you can.
Spray the whole car with a pre wash product. (I use Labocosmetica PRIMUS, diluted to the correct ratio with a spray bottle), leave for a minute and then thoroughly rinse car ensuring all product has been removed. Using the same product, again diluted to the recommended ratio in a snow foam cannon, spray over entire car. Once again leave, this time for maybe five minutes at most, then rinse off all snow foam.
Get two buckets, one filled with water, the other with a grit guard and your chosen shampoo mix with water to correct ratio (i have started to use a Chemical Guys product - Hydro suds Ceramic).
Using, preferably a lambs wool mit, dip into shampoo and starting with the roof, wipe over with little or no pressure the panel, say half the roof, rinse mit in clean water bucket dip back into shampoo bucket wiping the mit over the grit guard and repeat the above. Be sure always to rinse the mit in the clean water, and wipe over the guard.
Carry out this process working your way from the roof down the windows/windscreen, then over bonnet/boot, and the sides and front and back. Pay attention to cleaning the bumper mouldings thoroughly, getting into all the curves and grills etc. Finally clean the lower door sills, going right under the car with your mit, and do the same with under the bumpers.
Rinse the whole car thoroughly, and then use a rinse aid product, being sure to correctly follow the instructions fir mixing etc (i use Labocosmetica Perfecta mixed in spray bottle, and used sparingly, or Gyeon wet coat). Spray over entire car whilst still wet, and then IMMEDIATELY, rinse again with clean water.
Start drying process be carefully removing water with a large drying towel, starting with the roof and then following the same pattern as for shampooing the car. Any detailing retailer will have a large choice of towels to choose from.
You can, if you want to invest the money, get an airdryer- effectively a leaf blower, but with a software nozzle so as to not scratch the paint, to help w8th drying. However in warm weather this method won't be quick enough to stop water spotting, so its better for blowing water of the wheels grills etc.
When the body is dry, thoroughly dry round all the door openings and doors, under the bonnet and boot, and the fuel filler/charging port.
Depending on how long this has taken, if you still, have the time and energy (!), start going round the car with a detailer products and soft cloth removing water spots etc etc.
This whole process could take me most of a day, in fact including the detailing portion, could run into a couple of days!!!!
I haven't mentioned the cabin, that's a whole other process in itself.
As i said, I am an obsessive who has to go to the absolute extremes, and this process has lengthened and got progressively more involved over the years.
There is a whole industry of retailers that have sprung up for those like me! I use a shop in Aldershot called Clean n Shiny, and they just sell thousands of different products for those like me to get hooked on!!!
BTW, particularly during summer months, the Sun is your biggest enemy, never wash a car in direct sunlight, always make sure the car is in the shade!!
