Car cleaning - cleaning the hood

[juliany27]

I used those magic words earlier today, 'wash the car' and 'barbecue' - absolutely fatal as seems to be the case so often nowadays.

Washed the car with [Autoglym] shampoo - it rained. Cleaned the wheels with [Turtlewax] wheel cleaner - it rained. Then used [Autoglym] polish over the whole car [except the roof] and it rained again! After the rain-interrupted barbecue I discovered that the hood had lots of those little fibres from the soft cloth I had used for polishing the car. I suppose that I should have used a special cloth of some sort.

The question is - how on earth do I remove the fibres and also get the hood back to a/its 'pure' black colour again? The hood also seems to have picked up some of the usual everyday dirt and grime and I really do not want to damage the protective coatings in any way by making an avoidable mistake. I do not know what I am doing when washing/cleaning the car in any technical sense; I am just using branded and recommended products and following the instructions on the sides of the bottles.

Is there an expert out there who can help? I know that 'jac in a box' is writing on the subject of car cleaning but he has not reached the soft top of a Porsche yet!

Help please.

 

[Black80XSA]

buy one of those sticky lint roller things, used for picking up fluff from clothes. about £1.50 each in Asda, up to £4 elsewhere.

Each roller has about 20 sheets on it, so don't throw it away after one use - just peel off the used layer to reveal another one for use []

 

[juliany27]

Thanks for the suggestion - looks like a trip to Asda is called for.

Now what do you think I should use to 'restore' the black hood to a relatively pristine condition? I did get a letter from my OPC offering a full machine polish/clean, touch in of any stone chips and complete valet for £235 - but this seems a lot of money when i can get a clean etc. for about £45 from a company which comes to the door. He does not do the stone chips, however - and I have neither the expertise nor the ability to deal with stone chips properly.

 

[millisland]

Have you tried vacuuming the hood? I am sure your domestic vacuum cleaner has attachments that would do the job. This is what we use.
Harriet

 

[KPNut]

Try this link: http://www.chipsaway.co.uk/repair/index.asp

I've used them myself and so have some of my mates. Very good especially for scrunched alloys and paint chips. And I'm nothing to do with them in any way, just an idiot with a slightly dinged car!

KP

 

[JCB..]

Now what do you think I should use to 'restore' the black hood to a relatively pristine condition? I did get a letter from my OPC offering a full machine polish/clean, touch in of any stone chips and complete valet for £235 - but this seems a lot of money when i can get a clean etc. for about £45 from a company which comes to the door. He does not do the stone chips, however - and I have neither the expertise nor the ability to deal with stone chips properly.

Julian

Is that a fixed price for "touch in of any stone chips" - it would be a bargain on my car?

JCB..

 

[jac in a box]

Patience Julian - I'll get there!

You've got the hint on using the lint roller - or use a length of "Duck Tape" wrapped around your hand in reverse, if you get my drift.

Washing use a normal strength mix of shampoo (avoid shampoo's containing wax) Apply shampoo mix and gently brush front to rear with a soft bristled hand brush. Rinse with a free flow of water from a hose (no nozzle) and allow to dry naturally.

For restoring the colour to the hood have a look at www.renovointernational.com they make soft top hood care kits that have a good reputation. Contains a cleaner, dye and waterproofer.

As an alternative to Renovo for re-proofing the hood, try Scotchguard Heavy duty waterproofer - available from B&Q for around £7. In an aerosol, apply light coats to a clean and dry hood.
Bit of a pain, you'll have to choose a wind free day and mask off the glass and surrounding paint etc. Very effective though.
Fabsil is another good product available from camping type stores, I think you may be able to get it in a brushable liquid which is perhaps quicker and easier to use.

I'd suggest avoiding the Autoglym hood kit...expensive and not that effective.

Finally bird poo; carry a bottle of carbonated plain water and some kitchen towel. Wipe of as much of the mess as possible ans slowly pour the fizzy water over the affected area - the bubbles will lift the muck out of the hood fabric.

That's it in a nutshell...now what am I going write about in the hood upkeep article?[]

Dave

 

[juliany27]

John,

Yes, it appears to be for all stone chips. Try ringing OPC at cambridge and see if it would apply to your car or just to a relaively new car.

Good luck.

 

[Richard Savage]

ORIGINAL: juliany27
Now what do you think I should use to 'restore' the black hood to a relatively pristine condition?

Julian - I used the Autoglym Cabriolet Fabric Hood Maintenabce Kit. It took me a while but I was well pleased with the results.

http://www.autoglym.com[/i]

R.[/i]

 

[juliany27]

Dave,

You have been more than kind.
Don't worry, you will be able to expand your article quite easily.

I am so glad that they cater for people like me; unable to do anything except the easiest tasks unless they are explained in words of one syllable.

 

[juliany27]

You see, I cannot even get the computer to type without a disaster; lucky I am not an engineer!