There are many ways to wash a car & some true detailers will criticise my below method but this method is for those who either don't have a controlled envioroment, all day to wash a car etc. In other words the real world!!

A Pressure Washer is fine. To keep a good shine on a car you need to use proper car shampoo in a normal bucket, Some do a 2 bucket method as in one with clean water to rinse out the wash implement.
The wash implement ideally needs to be a microfiber wash pad or a decent mitt. Traditional sponges are old hat now & will scratch

Blast off as much loose dirt & grit with the pressure washer then go ahead with your washing technique. I would start at the top & work down as there is less dirt at the top to contaminate the pad though the Autoglym Trained way is bottom up.
Using a proper shampoo will instill a light layer of wax on the car.
I would use a different pad for wheels & door shuts or use a desireable brush. You can use the TFR (traffic Film Remover) on areas like wheels & shuts but not on hot wheels. TFR WILL remove all waxes etc. Dry in your usual way but the less contact with the car the better.


Those nasty cheap drive in places will greet you as you pull on their forecourt with a large container full of cheap TFR or worse. Attatched to that container is a wand spray spraying it all over your wheels & paint. You should not put this on dry paint as it will/can stain/bleach the paint. You should not apply to those hot wheels either for the same reason. In fact TFR should only really be used on main body to remove all film/wax/polish etc prior to polishing the car. It has been known that some of these places use brick acid so you can imagine what that does to painted etc wheels & rubbers.

The soap these places have in their big vats is often a TFR mix. Then there is the method in which they use as in grat big mits that get chucked into the wash vat if you are lucky, if not it lands on the dirty ground. It may well have also just been used to get loads of dirt of the previous car so full of grit etc. I need not say more as I am sure you see where I am coming from. (Past) Freelander 2 HSE 2010 MY In Rimini Red.
(Past) RR Evoque Dynamic Lux Si4 In Firenze Red.
(Past) RR Evouque Pure Tech in Barollo Black with bespoke Firenze Red colour coding.
(Present) Freelander Metropolis 2015 MY In Santorini Black with Ivory Premium Leather.

Is the life shine a liquid they rub on the paintwork a bit like wax/polish? In lay mans terms an additional layer of wax or having the effect, but considered to be a bit more permanent. Hippo's videos - Honorary Tratterer

The Valeter wrote:

There are many ways to wash a car & some true detailers will criticise my below method but this method is for those who either don't have a controlled envioroment, all day to wash a car etc. In other words the real world!!

A Pressure Washer is fine. To keep a good shine on a car you need to use proper car shampoo in a normal bucket, Some do a 2 bucket method as in one with clean water to rinse out the wash implement.
The wash implement ideally needs to be a microfiber wash pad or a decent mitt. Traditional sponges are old hat now & will scratch

Blast off as much loose dirt & grit with the pressure washer then go ahead with your washing technique. I would start at the top & work down as there is less dirt at the top to contaminate the pad though the Autoglym Trained way is bottom up.
Using a proper shampoo will instill a light layer of wax on the car.
I would use a different pad for wheels & door shuts or use a desireable brush. You can use the TFR (traffic Film Remover) on areas like wheels & shuts but not on hot wheels. TFR WILL remove all waxes etc. Dry in your usual way but the less contact with the car the better.


Those nasty cheap drive in places will greet you as you pull on their forecourt with a large container full of cheap TFR or worse. Attatched to that container is a wand spray spraying it all over your wheels & paint. You should not put this on dry paint as it will/can stain/bleach the paint. You should not apply to those hot wheels either for the same reason. In fact TFR should only really be used on main body to remove all film/wax/polish etc prior to polishing the car. It has been known that some of these places use brick acid so you can imagine what that does to painted etc wheels & rubbers.

The soap these places have in their big vats is often a TFR mix. Then there is the method in which they use as in grat big mits that get chucked into the wash vat if you are lucky, if not it lands on the dirty ground. It may well have also just been used to get loads of dirt of the previous car so full of grit etc. I need not say more as I am sure you see where I am coming from.

Hippo wrote:

Is the life shine a liquid they rub on the paintwork a bit like wax/polish? In lay mans terms an additional layer of wax or having the effect, but considered to be a bit more permanent.

Pretty much yes but I do know the NEW Lifeshine is completely re formulated so I am not sure of the way this is applied as it could be one panel at a time. (Past) Freelander 2 HSE 2010 MY In Rimini Red.
(Past) RR Evoque Dynamic Lux Si4 In Firenze Red.
(Past) RR Evouque Pure Tech in Barollo Black with bespoke Firenze Red colour coding.
(Present) Freelander Metropolis 2015 MY In Santorini Black with Ivory Premium Leather.

The Valeter wrote:

I would start at the top & work down as there is less dirt at the top to contaminate the pad though the Autoglym Trained way is bottom up.

The Valeter wrote:

There are many ways to wash a car & some true detailers will criticise my below method but this method is for those who either don't have a controlled envioroment, all day to wash a car etc. In other words the real world!!

A Pressure Washer is fine. To keep a good shine on a car you need to use proper car shampoo in a normal bucket, Some do a 2 bucket method as in one with clean water to rinse out the wash implement.
The wash implement ideally needs to be a microfiber wash pad or a decent mitt. Traditional sponges are old hat now & will scratch

Blast off as much loose dirt & grit with the pressure washer then go ahead with your washing technique. I would start at the top & work down as there is less dirt at the top to contaminate the pad though the Autoglym Trained way is bottom up.
Using a proper shampoo will instill a light layer of wax on the car.
I would use a different pad for wheels & door shuts or use a desireable brush. You can use the TFR (traffic Film Remover) on areas like wheels & shuts but not on hot wheels. TFR WILL remove all waxes etc. Dry in your usual way but the less contact with the car the better.


Those nasty cheap drive in places will greet you as you pull on their forecourt with a large container full of cheap TFR or worse. Attatched to that container is a wand spray spraying it all over your wheels & paint. You should not put this on dry paint as it will/can stain/bleach the paint. You should not apply to those hot wheels either for the same reason. In fact TFR should only really be used on main body to remove all film/wax/polish etc prior to polishing the car. It has been known that some of these places use brick acid so you can imagine what that does to painted etc wheels & rubbers.

The soap these places have in their big vats is often a TFR mix. Then there is the method in which they use as in grat big mits that get chucked into the wash vat if you are lucky, if not it lands on the dirty ground. It may well have also just been used to get loads of dirt of the previous car so full of grit etc. I need not say more as I am sure you see where I am coming from.

I would listen to the above, I have seen some of his cars, and they look amazing.