There’s a popular meme doing the rounds “What I wash my car with vs what I wash myself with” – we all know it is bang-on the truth 🤣
My car always looks good, but don’t be fooled, my Cerbera cleaning routine is not what you might think.
Some people love cleaning their car. I love the result, but the task itself to me is a chore.
My routine I have honed over the years to be what it is today, and the bottom line is, I only actually wash it once a year (“Wash” as in get the hosepipe out).
My routine involves a blitz once a year, that takes no less than 16 products.
Roughly every 6-8 weeks with 4 products.
Then after driving it, just 1 product.
The annual blitz
My annual service & MOT occurs around February. More often than not, the car has got quite mucky on the journey there/back, so it’s on the return from that, that I blitz the car.
I probably space the task over 2 or 3 days.
| Exterior | |
| 1 | pH Neutral shampoo for a wash |
| 2 | Meguiars Compound to remove any paint swirls etc |
| 15 | Auto Glym Scratch remover for swirls etc that above hasn't removed |
| 16 | G3 Tougher scratch remover if above hasn't removed |
| 3 | Meguiars Polish |
| 4 | Meguiars Wax |
| 5 | Bilt Hamber to clean the wheels |
| 9 | Collinite 845 wax for the wheels |
| 7 | Armorall Brake dust shield for the wheels |
| 11 | Autosol metal polish for exhaust tips |
| 12 | Sonax for the black exterior rubber trim |
| 13 | Simoniz tyre shine |
| Interior | |
| 6 | Auto Glym engine cleaner for engine-bay |
| 8 | Armorall Leather wipes for upholstery |
| 14 | Furniture Clinic Leather Ultra Clean |
| 10 | Carpet cleaner foam for car mats |
Every 6-8 weeks
I’ll re clean the wheels, and give the interior a quick wipe down.
Then use the Double Black as a quick-detailer.
I’ll probably spend 90mins doing this.
| 1 | Double Black beadmaker paint protectant |
| 3 | Bilt Hamber to clean the wheels |
| 2 | Armorall Brake dust shield for the wheels |
| 4 | Armorall Leather wipes for upholstery |
Usually after every drive
The Double Black, really is a game changer. I’ll spend maybe 30mins spraying on the car, then wiping off.
This assumes the car has just a layer of road dust on it.
There is no need to wash the car throughout the year. The annual waxing protects the paint from picking up any swirls, and you have a perpetually just-waxed look throughout the year.