Detailing Routine -- what's yours?

[dbs427]

Have had my new A7 Prestige in Phantom Pearl for a week now -- love this car! Any car in black will show dirt and water spots a little more readily than other colors, especially so in the rainy Northwest. Also noted a fair amount of dirt/brake dust in the rims already. All I've done so far is wipe some dust from the dash with a microfiber cloth, and rubbed the exterior down with a soft microfiber cloth to get rid of some of the collected/visible pollen and water spots. When I do wash the car, will look for a brushless car wash, or better yet, do it myself by hand -- my experience is that regular car washes can leave whorls and tiny buffscratches all over that are quite visible in sunlight on dark vehicles. Wanted to know what others' detailing routines are -- what do you to your car, and how often? What products do you think/have found work best in your A7 -- interior and exterior? What kinds of cloths/sponges/applicators do you use, what do you use to dry, wax, and more. Does your routine change over time as the materials age or season? Are there things or products you don't/won't use? What do you do differently in the winter as opposed to the summer or spring? Basically, how do you approach keeping your car looking tremendous year round?

[chicagoA6]

I live in Chicago and have a Phantom Black also. I'm pretty **** about the car being clean and don't take it to any car wash businesses (brushless, by hand or otherwise). I use Griot's Garage products and very happy with them, but others are also great.

Weekly process is simply wash with a high lubricity soap, microfiber mitts (one for top 1/2 of car and other for lower half) and dry with microfiber towel. Interior cleaning with a cleaner designed for cars. Also vacuum out the seats and floor.

For waxing since its my daily driver I use a paint sealant that last about 9-12 months. That's applied in Fall and then a few time a year top that with a good carnauba wax for extra pop.

With Black cars your going to get swirl marks no matter what so once a year before the sealant is applied I'll use a fine polish to get rid of the swirl marks.

Most importantly is just determine how much time you want to spend cleaning the car weekly, monthly or annually and buy the products that fit that goal. Last thing you want to do is rush it and not allow the products to work as designed.

Griots, Mequiars, Mothers, etc.. all have great car care kits that have everything in one package. Checkout Autogeek,net or the detailing forum on this board.

Good luck

[carljones11]

What do you do in the winter?

[raslam77]

Ibis white... Touchless carwash, and dry w/ a micro fiber towel - Always looks new!

[chicagoA6]

Fortunately this year in Chicago it was a very mild Winter and I washed my car outside all through the Winter. However, for the couple weeks when it was too cold I took the car to an underground garage in the downtown loop area and give the attendant $20 to use their hose and wash it myself.

[dbs427]

Thanks for all the info, ChicagoA6 -- actually had no idea that this board even had a detailing forum (I found this site through my search on discussions about A7s, and really didn't take a good look around the site to see other boards besides the ones about specific models.

I admit I haven't ever been super diligent in detailing -- or even washing regularly -- my old cars. That's part of the reason -- they were old cars (1999 Ford Explorer, 2000 Camry) that I really didn't care how spiffy they looked on a day to day basis. I just took my cars to a car wash, and was done with it.

Now, with this car, not only do I want to be super diligent with protecting it's paint and materials, but I want to get into the routine of making it look great on a regular basis.

Will start diving into the suggested resources, but any continuous tips to a newbie detailer like me on exactly what you do, how you do it and with what, when/how often to do it, and what products you use that you find work best on the A7, would definitely be appreciated!

[ACHiPo289]

Originally Posted by dbs427

Thanks for all the info, ChicagoA6 -- actually had no idea that this board even had a detailing forum (I found this site through my search on discussions about A7s, and really didn't take a good look around the site to see other boards besides the ones about specific models.

I admit I haven't ever been super diligent in detailing -- or even washing regularly -- my old cars. That's part of the reason -- they were old cars (1999 Ford Explorer, 2000 Camry) that I really didn't care how spiffy they looked on a day to day basis. I just took my cars to a car wash, and was done with it.

Now, with this car, not only do I want to be super diligent with protecting it's paint and materials, but I want to get into the routine of making it look great on a regular basis.

Will start diving into the suggested resources, but any continuous tips to a newbie detailer like me on exactly what you do, how you do it and with what, when/how often to do it, and what products you use that you find work best on the A7, would definitely be appreciated!

The folks from this and the detailing forum have dragged me kicking and screaming to realize that I need to hand wash my new baby. Living in the rainy northwest, I picked up two buckets with Grit Guards along with microfiber towels, rinseless car wash (for chilly garage washing), and waterless car wash (for really cold washing). I've yet to try either, as the weather's been nice enough I can wash outside.

[caesar2011]

Originally Posted by chicagoA6

For waxing since its my daily driver I use a paint sealant that last about 9-12 months. That's applied in Fall and then a few time a year top that with a good carnauba wax for extra pop.

Good luck

Hi ChicagoA6,

Is there a difference between the products, or will anything from a major manufacturer pretty much work identically?

What paint sealant do you use and what exactly does the paint sealant do? And also, which wax do you use?

Thanks

[chicagoA6]

dbs427

The most important thing is to have fun. The minute it becomes a chore you will stop doing it or try and take shortcuts that result in a poor end result. Pick the products that fit into the time you want to spend. After a long week spending a few hours in the garage with my car and couple beers is very relaxing.


ACHiPo289

Great point on the 2 bucket approach and grit guard. I do the same. With a Black car swirl marks are the enemy.


caesar2011

Any quality sealant product will work. I use Griots, but Blackfire, Wolfgang, Meguiars, etc... are all well known and quality products. A sealant is a synthetic product that is easy to apply and last for a long time. I get about 9 months out of my sealant. Contrast this with a carnauba wax that is natural, but lasts only ~3 months. The downside of a Sealant is that it doesn't provide to depth of the color that a carnauba wax does. For the most part you never see the difference, but in the right light a quality carnauba wax makes the car look like the paint is endless. What I do is apply the sealant for protection then do a layer of carnauba wax on top for the depth.

Good luck all!

[Scuderiamotor]

I had mine for almost 2 months and I cleaned once per week sometimes 2, I recommend that you wax-it once a month with a wax made by WOLFGANG, you can find them online they have everything to keep your Audi looking new including the best leather treatment.