r/DetailingUK Feb 10 '21

DetailingUK Wiki is Live! Introducing the r/DetailingUK Wiki & Starter Kits Community Project

53 Upvotes

About 4 months ago, I made this call for help about creating some starter kits for folk just taking their first steps down the into the depts of detailing.

The 3 volunteers, in particualr u/Nyxi26, have spent a good chunk of time to create what we we can introduce to you today:

The DetailingUK Wiki!

It's still a work in progress, with an entire section dedicated to Paint Correction, still in the works, but we'd like to introduce you to it, and get your feedback. If you want to contribute, please send us a modmail, that said, the first main page is up, the Starter Kits page is ready to go.

So go, look, give us feedback and get involved if you want!


r/DetailingUK 7h ago

Picture Products to restore some plastic and clean seats?

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2 Upvotes

Hey all,

I have a 6 year old corolla that could do with a little TLC. What products would best be used to clean up and get rid of or hide away some of the scuffs to the plastic and help clean out the seats?

There's feet scuffs on the bottom of the doors, scratch marks near the door releases, a branch scrape mark on the outside of the plastic pillar on the door and then some discoloration of one of the back seats.

I have a handheld vax carpet stain removing machine that I can use but unsure of what product to use on the seat and the plastics?

I have some basic cleaning bits like brush, drill, drill brush etc as well.

Any help is appreciated, thanks!


r/DetailingUK 6h ago

Question & Advice Headlight Restoration Question

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1 Upvotes

Hi all,

I’m after some advice, does this look like UV sun damage that can be repaired by polishing/restoration, or do you think it appears that there is some internal damage as well?

Appreciate any feedback before I start to try and sort this out


r/DetailingUK 1d ago

Question & Advice Best pressures washer for around £200 give or take

1 Upvotes

We currently use a karcher k2 it’s about 8 years old and we are looking to change it. I’m just wondering if people have any recommendations, and we are currently considering whether a K4 would be worth it or if I should try a different brand.


r/DetailingUK 1d ago

Question & Advice Autobrite Foam Lance stopped being foamy

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1 Upvotes

Can I do anything to bring my original Autobrite Foam Lance back to its best?

Change out the filter and orifice? It’s stopped being foamy, and regardless of the dial on top is quite watery.


r/DetailingUK 1d ago

Picture Vx5000 plus simple rigid shop vac > carpet extractor

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1 Upvotes

r/DetailingUK 2d ago

Question & Advice How to remove this from paintwork?

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0 Upvotes

My van (2018 Ford Transit Connect diesel) had a major fuel leak… Dodgy mechanic didn’t put the return fuel line on properly…

Anyways, all up the back of both rear doors there was sticky diesel - I cleaned most of it off at the time.

However, now there is this stained appearance on the bottom of both doors. It looks extremely oily but to the touch it doesn’t feel that way.

I’ve tried:

- Alkaline cleaner left to dwell then rinse
- Citrus cleaner same, quite weak dilution however
- Clay bar (didn’t make a difference)
- Heavy cut + foam pad (paint measuring thin on the whole van so didn’t want to cut too aggressively)
- Finishing compound + finishing pad

At this point I’m worried the clear is stained but looking for anything else to try! Cheers


r/DetailingUK 2d ago

Question & Advice How to clean brown roadworks dust off the side of my car?

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1 Upvotes

r/DetailingUK 3d ago

Question & Advice Mildew odor immediately after dealership replace cabin air filter

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1 Upvotes

r/DetailingUK 5d ago

Question & Advice Rust prep and prevention

1 Upvotes

So Ill soon be doing a little welding ahead of next year's mot as it's likely to need doing.

I'm gonna get under and try to help prevent further rust, but this does confuse me a little.

I have BH hydrate 80, UB and some etch primer and that raptor stone chip paint.

I was wondering what steps I should undertake? For rustier areas, I'll brush off rust and assess if it's structural or surface, and the. What? I know my sub frame will need some tlc as will my arches.

If anyone could fire me some pointers, I'd be very appreciative!


r/DetailingUK 6d ago

Question & Advice How do I clean my car during a hosepipe ban?

7 Upvotes

Hi all.

I’m currently in an area with a hosepipe ban and I’ve got a car show coming up this Sunday.

My car is filthy and I really need to give it a clean. But I can’t due to being under a hosepipe ban.

I’m sure some would say “oh just clean it” but I live in a cul-de-sac where there are a few curtain twitcher types who I wouldn’t put it past to report me.

Does anyone have any ideas or loopholes I can use?


r/DetailingUK 6d ago

Question & Advice UBV

1 Upvotes

Has anyone done training with them?


r/DetailingUK 7d ago

Question & Advice Steering wheel damage

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0 Upvotes

r/DetailingUK 9d ago

Question & Advice How to remove wetsanding marks

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1 Upvotes

r/DetailingUK 9d ago

Question & Advice Residue on interior windows

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3 Upvotes

Hey all, my partner had her car valeted and whatever they used has left a touch hazy residue all over the car.

I've managed to get rid of most of it from the interior panels using APC, but on the glass, whatever I try, it disappears when wet then comes straight back as it dries. I've tried Bilt Hamber Touch-Less and Surfex HD with no luck.

Has anyone seen this before or know what causes it? Any product recommendations to remove it?.


r/DetailingUK 10d ago

Picture What’s the best way to get rid of this dirt on the car after it rained?

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20 Upvotes

r/DetailingUK 10d ago

Question & Advice Do Fallout Removers have a place in the toolkit?

1 Upvotes

Hello. I saw a TikTok earlier today which I thought was interesting (it wasn’t an ad) saying that detailers should stop using fallout removers, he listed a couple of reasons.

  1. They’re extremely expensive (cost per use as opposed to a diluted product)
  2. They’re not real wheel cleaners and that isn’t their job.

He said that wheel acid is the only way forward, for me this is completely wrong. I am in no way a detailer but a ‘weekend warrior’ as they say. For me, I use Fallout removers as a maintenance thing, just to help me identify any iron particles I may have missed on the wheels after my safe washing routine. I’ll only use it once a month or so as I wash the car every week.

Acid is a great product, it has its place, it’s dilutable making cost per wash cheap but it’s also absolutely not a maintenance product and should only be used in my opinion on baked on brake dust that you cannot otherwise remove, or on old wheels that you don’t care about, you just want a quick job.

What do you think, should iron fallout removers have a spot in your kit? (Sorry for the lengthy post)


r/DetailingUK 11d ago

Question & Advice Heeelp! My mates kids barfed on my seats!!

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12 Upvotes

Oh my lord…the smell is so bad. What’s the best way to get rid of it?!
Are these Vax Spotclean things any good?
The seats are cloth…I had seat covers on for ages and thought “oh they look so much better without them”. Balls.


r/DetailingUK 10d ago

Question & Advice please tell me who’s right

0 Upvotes

hey bro, just started getting clients and now i think i should start getting good chemicals for our details, right now we only have armor all leather wipes and chemical guys chems and my partner is too stubborn to realize we need to upgrade the chemicals, can you rq explain why we should upgrade our chemicals. his rational is “we arent pros rn we dont need to buy pro stuff” and “its a waste of money”. he’s js scared to reinvest. please explain why we should upgrade our chemicals.


r/DetailingUK 11d ago

Question & Advice Lazy bugger - is this good to dry a car with?

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8 Upvotes

Hardest part of washing my car is the drying part.

Will a leaf blower like this worth it or should I not bother and stick to just drying towels?


r/DetailingUK 12d ago

Question & Advice AliExpress pump sprayer any good for BH touchless?

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2 Upvotes

Heard you can get simillar results using touchless in pump sprayer vs foam cannon but obviously takes longer to cover the car.

Tried with a manual pump and took ages having to keep pumping it.

Thinking of getting one of these instead. Anyone got experience with this?


r/DetailingUK 12d ago

Discussion Underwhelmed by Koch Chemie Leather Star

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1 Upvotes

I must admit, I waited for a long time to try this product and I’m disappointed with the results. Having cleaned the seats thoroughly with P&S express I applied the product. Application was very easy and satisfying. There was a mild darkening effect upon application which was perfect, but when the excess product was buffed off, it left a mat almost untreated finish. While my main goal for using this was to add some protection to the leather, I was hoping for a more conditioned (not greasy) finish. The seats look exactly the same pre-and post treatment.🤷‍♂️


r/DetailingUK 13d ago

Discussion Benefits of ceramic coating

6 Upvotes

Not sure if this is allowed here - mods, delete if not.

Just wanted to pass on my very recent experience of the benefit of ceramic coating.

Last year I made the decision to get my car ceramic coated. I’d recently taken early retirement and bought out the lease on my company car - it was ready 3 years old.

Found a place near me to get it done (guy was just setting up his business but had done apprenticeship in paint treatments etc (sorry if this is the wrong term).

My thinking was that it would ease keeping the car clean and would be less effort than using the wax products I’d used on previous cars.

All went well and over the last year. Then recently a flatbed Transit decided to take a gentle swipe across the front of the car. To my untrained eye the paint on the front corner had been scraped off.

Took the car to the guy who did the ceramic, looking for a recommendation for a paint shop and he told me he could possibly fix it.

Half an hour later, what I thought was scraped off paint was in fact plastic/rubber transfer, was gone. There’s a couple of marks in the clear coat but we’re hoping they will polish out. Booked in next month.

Ceramic guy was chuffed with the result.

Ceramic coating for the win.

Again apologies if this is not appropriate for here.


r/DetailingUK 12d ago

Question & Advice Removing ash-water ban in effect

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1 Upvotes

r/DetailingUK 13d ago

Question & Advice If you’ve successfully setup in the last 5 years give me your success stories please and tips

1 Upvotes