Brand spankin' new member (to the forum and to intensive detailing) with a few questions regarding my MKV GTI. I'll begin first by asking how most of you clean all debris from your carpet. I use a large 3.25 HP shop vac then for smaller areas I use a smaller 2.75 HP Shop vac. Problem is, no matter how long I try, the dirt doesn't seem to want to lift and just bonces around. Could this possibly be due to my technique or are their other applications used when vacuuming? Next, it seems that my clear coat or paint is chipping or etching away in small circles on my roof. Could I solve this with a rough polishing compound or is professional paint correction necessary? Lastly I have some light scratches on the plastic in my car, are there any corrective procedures for removing these? Thanks in advance guys!
Welcome to DB and welcome to "intensive detailing". Lets start off by asking where you are located? Maybe someone from the forum lives close and could help you on a more personal level. When you are using your shop vac, are you using any special adapters or just the end of the hose? I have had good results using a crevice end or for my larger vacuum the end that just concentrates the suction area. Do you dry brush the carpet while vacuuming?? If not, START! You can use any type of brush really to loosen up the fibers to allow more debris to come to the surface. I would need to see a picture of the clear coat problems, but from what you describe it sounds like a repaint. When we polish or compound all we are really wanting to do is soften the sharp edges of a "scratch" or "swirls" so the light cannot reflect off at an angle that we can easily see. The light scratches on the plastic can be polished out, you just need to be very careful with heat in those areas from the friction your machine makes. Others will chime in for sure, but that is a start in the right direction I hope.
I know what you mean about the carpet being a pain to vacuum, as I too have a MKV GTI. Mrgolfrider pretty much covered it though--use a crevice tool to concentrate the force of your vacuum, and also use a brush to loosen up the fibers
The carpet in VWs is a giant PITA to vacuum once it gets dirty. Follow the instructions above and also use a air line / blow tool to loosen the debris.
My Mk6 GTI sounds very similar. Compressed air helps to loosen a lot and get things into an area more easily vacuumed. I think i'll be grabbing a brush soon as well. I also just picked up a Bissell Green Machine. Works awesome carpeted mats
VAG carpet is horrible. It takes me nearly double the time to vacuum my GTI because the material is so cheap and doesn't release the dirt easily.
Welcome to the forum . I have a MKV GTI to the best way to deal with the VW carpet is just to vacuum once a week and that will make it easy to deal with. I agree with everyone above on how to clean the carpet. which plastic on the inside can you post a pic?
Wow, thanks for all the great responses guys! I'll have to pick up a brush from the store sometime soon and see what results I get from that. I'll hopefully be able to find some free time next week to take my car into a few paint shops, and I'm located in Kansas City, Missouri so if anyone can chime in with a reputable paint shop in this area I'd really appreciate it. I currently have a full schedule this week but hopefully I'll be able to snap some photos and get them uploaded by Sunday.
