A Starter's Guide to our Car Cleaning Range
Are you looking for car care that truly works? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Bowden's Own has been a trusted name in car care across Australia for over two decades. Now, we're excited to bring our premium products to New Zealand – yep, the new kids on the block! We’ve got the gear, the experience, and the know-how to help you keep your car looking mint, inside and out.
Not sure where to start with our large range of products? No stress, mate – we've got you covered. We’ve put together our Starters Guide so you can easily get started with washing, drying, and protecting your ride. Let’s break it down!
Your Go-To for Car Care
We’ve kept it simple, so you can get your car clean safely without the hassle. Here's a quick look at the car cleaning products you'll need to get started.
- Nanolicious Wash – The best car wash for modern vehicles.
- Shagtastic Wash Pad – A top microfibre pad for safe, swirl-free washing.
- The Big Green Sucker – Our famous drying towel, trusted by Aussies (and now Kiwis too) for its ease and speed.
- Boss Gloss – A spray-on detailing aid that makes drying even easier.
- Wash & Rinse Buckets with Great Barrier Thingys – To keep your wash process safe and grime-free.
- Wet Dreams – A hydrophobic spray-on, rinse-off sealant that provides serious protection and shine.
- A Big Softie Microfibre Cloth – For buffing and finishing off your Wet Dreams.
- Microfibre Wash – The secret to keeping your microfibre towels working like new.
Step 1: Wash Your Car with Care
The goal here is to avoid swirl marks and scratches, and we’ve designed our system to do just that.
- Set up your buckets: Add the Great Barrier Thingys to the bottom of your Wash and Rinse buckets. This keeps dirt from going back into your wash tools. Fill the Rinse bucket with water, and the Wash bucket with 30mL of Nanolicious Wash and suds it up.
- Rinse your car: If it’s a bit grubby, give it a quick rinse with the hose, especially around the lower sections where dirt likes to cling.
- Wash using the Shagtastic Wash Pad: Start from the top and work your way down. Use straight lines (no circles!) to avoid scratching. After each section, rinse out your pad in the clean Rinse bucket.
Tip: Be gentle around badges and sharp corners. The Shagtastic pad is a little shagadelic—it might catch on sharp edges!
Wash in the cool of the day: Avoid the direct sun, and try washing in the morning or late afternoon to prevent the water and suds from drying too fast (which can cause water spots).
Step 2: Protection & Shine
Once your car is clean and still wet, it’s time to add protection and that shiny finish. Here's where Wet Dreams comes in—our easy spray-on, rinse-off hydrophobic sealant that makes your car look like it’s just been detailed.
- Mist Wet Dreams onto the wet panels: Use sweeping motions to cover each area.
- Buff with the Big Softie: Wipe down the sprayed areas in a back-and-forth motion for an even finish.
- Rinse thoroughly: Use a strong jet of water to rinse off the product. Watch the beads of water form—this is the magic happening!
It’ll keep your car looking fresh and protect it from the elements for up to two months, longer if you're looking after it really well.
Step 3: Dry with Ease
Now that you've added Wet Dreams, drying your car becomes a breeze. Instead of scrubbing, use the Big Green Sucker (or Twisted Pro Sucker, if you’re feeling fancy) to gently dry the car, while spraying a little Boss Gloss on the towel to help things along.
- Use Boss Gloss: Spray 4–6 spritzes on each side of the drying towel. It acts as a drying aid, without affecting the Wet Dreams coating.
- Don’t air dry!: For best results, always use a towel to dry your car, especially after applying Wet Dreams.
Pro Tip: If you’ve got any hard-to-reach areas (think mirrors, panel gaps, grills), a small blower will do the trick. Just don’t blow dry the paint!
Step 4: Caring for Your Microfibre
To keep your microfibre gear in top condition, make sure to wash it after every use.
- Pre-rinse your towels: Don’t let Wet Dreams dry on them! Rinse out your Big Softie towel before it becomes hydrophobic.
- Machine wash: Use our Microfibre Wash with your microfibre products to keep them in prime condition.
- Dry correctly: Either machine dry or air dry indoors to keep the fibres in top shape. Store your towels in a sealed tub for easy access next time.
More Guides and Questions?
This is just a quick rundown of our Car Care System to get you started. If you're keen to learn more, check out our other guides, including:
- Your New Car Detailing Guide – For the best results on a brand-new or well-maintained car.
- Exterior & Interior Guides – A deeper dive into caring for your car inside and out.
You’ll find all the products we mentioned at stockists throughout New Zealand. Click here to find your nearest store.
And if you’ve got any questions, we’re always here to help! You can drop us an email at info@bowdensown.co.nz or give us a call on 0800 351 308.
Thanks for supporting an Aussie owned family business—now trusted by Kiwis too!
Dan Bowden