Car cleaning is huge and can be a steep learning curve. No sooner have you found out that using a sponge is viewed with a hatred usually reserved for fly-tippers than you’re being bombarded with clay bars, carnauba and something called ceramic. It’s enough to have most people running to the sanctuary of their local car wash (don’t, it’ll ruin your paint).
There is something on hand to break this all down now however, a book from the same people who print Pro Detailer Magazine. Written to remove the jargon from detailing, the book breaks down the basics into easy, followable guides designed to turn a total novice into an expert in no time.
To put it to the ultimate test, we’re giving this book and a range of car cleaning products to Georgia Scott, a journalist with no previous car washing experience and setting her the task of cleaning her white Fiat 500 with no help from us whatsoever.
An upgrade over washing-up liquid
The first chapter breaks down exactly what equipment would be needed, but as Georgia had no idea what half the bottles did, this chapter proved useful in breaking down what each item would be used for. From shampoo to wheel brushes, everything was quickly identified with help from the book, a strong start.
With everything accounted for, it was time for the best part of any car cleaning experience, the snow foam pre-wash. The pages dedicated to pre-wash contained an equal mix of science and technique, a balance that explains why as well as how without being too heavy or dull. With the foam lance filled with diluted snow foam, Georgia had the car covered in foam in no time, ensuring to start at the bottom and work up as per the book's instructions.
Called the 'contact wash' in the book, the shampooing stage of the shampooing process was again neatly explained, pointing out the essential equipment and techniques required to get the best results possible for the bodywork and wheels. There's a little extra theory discussing the best type of wash mitt too, handy for a beginner wondering why they should ditch the sponge.
With the information digested and two buckets filled with water, Georgia was able to work top to bottom washing the car, making sure to use the second bucket to rinse the wash mitt before dunking it back in the shampoo bucket. All this will result in less risk of scratches while ensuring the car is properly cleaned. This was followed by a drying process, using a proper drying towel and patting technique to get the bodywork dry, all explained clearly in the book.
Polishing the car wouldn’t be an option simply because I forgot to bring batteries for the machine. A quick flick through those pages did cover all the basics of paint correction, covering the different compounds and common paint defects and how they can be fixed. Some of it was a little technical for a total beginner, but an understanding of different paint types, paint thickness and lighting would at least give a good overview of the technical side of machine polishing. If it's your first-time machine polishing and you're worried about ruining the paintwork, this chapter could be your bible.
The protection
With the car cleaned and polishing out of the question, the protection stage would provide the next test for Georgia. Loaded with a paste wax (technically a polymer sealant) and using both the instructions and book, she applied the wax into a light haze, left it to cure and buffed it using the correct microfibre, very impressive from just the book. Beyond this, the book breaks down the different types of paint protection and the application process for each type, all a newbie could need.
Moving on inside
A fairly chunky chapter is dedicated to cleaning the interior. Included was everything from vacuuming techniques to steam cleaning stains out of the headlining. Loaded with the information Georgia was able to vacuum, clean and protect the Fiat's checkered interior and make it look better than new. It's true that cleaning a headlining won't be something the average car owner would consider doing, but the knowledge to do so would certainly come in handy when there's a rogue stain to tackle.
Verdict
With one clean and protected car at the end of the session, we can conclude that the book does exactly what you want it to do so. Someone with no prior knowledge of car care can flick through it and clean a car to a good standard in no time at all.
Beyond this, the book is well-designed and easy to follow. I’ll maintain that I have a fairly expansive knowledge of car care and yet I was still able to learn new tips and information. What's so nice about the book is that it doesn't overcomplicate the car washing process. There is a crazy amount of knowledge neatly laid out in this book, all without resorting to jargon or a needlessly long word count.
The only thing that book doesn't do is point out the best products to use for car cleaning, not possible I presume thanks to the permanency of a book. Now, if only I could laminate the book to avoid it getting wet during the wash process.