So ClaytonL mentioned starting a thread about this.
What products/methods/routines do you guys use to wash your cars? Any special tricks for minimizing swirl marks? What products do you NOT recommend? Interior or Exterior things.
I use:
Wash:
Chemical Guys Citrus Wash
Blue Grout Sponge
Stoner's Invisible Glass
Waffle Weave microfiber drying towel
Meguiar's #105 and #205 with Orange and White polishing pads (Lake Country) respectively. Only use the cut if you really need it (first detail ever, buffing out a scratch).
Trick:
The only thing I do that most don't seem to use using a rinse bucket and a soap bucket.
Never use a dropped sponge or towel until it has been thoroughly cleaned.
Also, drying and buffing after washing is important for it to look its best.
I used "black wow" on my plastic black exterior mirror trim and black rear bumper "insert" and it worked as advertised. Went from faded/weather beaten to like new.
Mango, on that interior pic I thought you had an auto??
To be honest, I don't do a whole lot special. Use microfiber towels, don't ever let them hit the ground, use a rinse bucket, common sense stuff.
Outside I use meguires NXT wax to protect it(about once a month or so), and bi-annually I will wash with dawn dish soap, clay bar, use some mother's(or meguire's, label has almost all the way worn off) polish that I still have from 8 years ago, and then wax. I use aerospace 303 on the outside trim.
Inside: Aerospace 303 and lexol leather treatment.
I get constant compliments on the car and I must admit it looks damn good for being 11 years old with 150k....
Mango, on that interior pic I thought you had an auto??
To be honest, I don't do a whole lot special. Use microfiber towels, don't ever let them hit the ground, use a rinse bucket, common sense stuff.
Outside I use meguires NXT wax to protect it(about once a month or so), and bi-annually I will wash with dawn dish soap, clay bar, use some mother's(or meguire's, label has almost all the way worn off) polish that I still have from 8 years ago, and then wax. I use aerospace 303 on the outside trim.
Inside: Aerospace 303 and lexol leather treatment.
I get constant compliments on the car and I must admit it looks damn good for being 11 years old with 150k....
this is awesome! makes me feel honored! I was going to start one once I got to my laptop but yours is well written and better than I could have started it.
I'll update on my ways once I get home tonight from work.
Exterior:
-2 bucket method
-Any decent car wash concentrate with wax in it
-Collonite 845 on paint and wheels
-Poorboy's Natty's Paste Wax and EX on paint
-Gummi pflege on window and door seals
Interior:
-Gliptone on the leather once or twice a year
-Einszett Cockpit Premium on the plastics whenever it needs it
-Also use Aero 303 from time to time on plastics
-Bissell little Green proheat with straight water on the carpets once a year. Use small amount of the Bissell detergent on a brush for any stains. Though, there are no beverages allowed in my car outside of water, and I have Weathertech floor liners. So this hasn't been an issue since I got the car.
I do Dawn > clay > car wash > Collonite 845 > Poorboys EX > Natty's paste wax once a year in the spring and follow up with Natty's paste wax throughout the season.
Then in the fall it's Collonite 845. I layer that on to get it through the winter.
Meguiars Gold Class car wash
100% lambswool wash mitt
Two bucket method
Always start with the wheels first and have a separate wash mitt for that
Microfiber towel for drying
Usually protect my car with Chemical Guys v7 hybrid wax every time.
Waxes:
Meguiars NXT for touch-ups every other wash.
Chemical Guys Black Light, Klasse AIO, and Collinite 845 usually twice a year.
About to buy the 3-step Wolfgang waxes and do a full detail with a DA buffer come Spring.
Tires
I usually just clay bar and wax these twice a year when I do my car.
About every month the tires will come off and I'll clean the inside rim and inner fender. (This gives me a time to inspect my car)
Dress my tires with BMW tire shine
Inside
Clean with steam and a wet towel. BMW interior cleaner for real dirty areas.
Second cleaning with Einszett Cockpit Premium.
Protect everything with BMW vinyl care. This includes my seats. Got a bottle of 303 for christmas and have been trying that but only problem is it seems to make a shine. :thumbdwn:
Do the inside every 2 weeks.
Gummi twice a year.
For the glass, I just use a glass towel and water.
Engine
Simple green on engine block
Garden hose wash
Protect with a 60/40 mix of Sonus Trim/Motor Kote and 303.
TRICKS
Always, always, always wash the mitt after every panel.
90% of the time I wash my car at night.
Sonus Trim and Motor Kote or 303 is great for the outside trim that's black, including wiper arms. All cars in Texas heat have faded black plastics so I prevent this with mine.
Water shed with the hose so I do not have to dry the car as much.
My main tip I tell people when washing is, "The devil is in the details." The more time you take washing the nooks and crannies, the better it will look. I've been guilty of spending a good 15 minutes on just the kidney grills.
Friends and family think I'm going crazy when they watch me wash my car.
I wish I had some quality photos but I do not. Just my iPhone ones that I have posted before. One day this month I will take some.
My main tip I tell people when washing is, "The devil is in the details." The more time you take washing the nooks and crannies, the better it will look. I've been guilty of spending a good 15 minutes on just the kidney grills.
Friends and family think I'm going crazy when they watch me wash my car.
I don't understand this about other people who have nice cars. I know plenty that just soap it up, rinse it off, and they think they're done. They don't clean out crevices and all that. I don't get how you can own a nice car and not go down to the small details like wheel grooves and grills. Some people are just plain bad at cleaning too. ELBOW GREASE!
anyone have suggestions on a good wheel cleaner and protectant. i recall there was a good wheel type of wax out (not WheelWax) that was better than most.
only reason i ask is i'm ready to buy some more wheel cleaner and figured i'd give another besides Meguiar's a shot.
Outside:
Chemical Guys Ctirus Wash and Gloss
Chemical Guys Glossworks
Chemical Guys Honey Dew Snow Foam Cleanser
100% lambswool wash mitt
Two bucket method
Waffleweave Microfiber towel for drying
Chemical Guys Synthetic Quick Detailer
Tires / Wheels:
Chemical Guys Diablo Gel
Sonax
Several Wheel cleaning brushes
Microfiber wheel mitt
Chemical Guys VRP
PoorBoy's World Wheel Sealant
Inside:
303 Aerospace Protectant
PoorBoy's World Leather Stuff
Chemical Guys Fabric Clean
Stoner Invisible Glass
** Leatherique once a year **
Engine:
Chemical Guys Grime Reaper APC
Chemical Guys Bare Bones
* * * Major Detail Products * * *
Dodo Juice Supernatural Paste Wax
Menzerna 4000/4500 Polish
Menzerna Power Lock Sealant
NanoSkin AutoScrub
Does anyone have advice on wheel cleaner that actually works? They all advertise "Spray on, Spray off" type of action. I find that I always have to scrub. Any brand that actually lives up to their ads?
I remember seeing one on Bimmerfest California section once but i remember it being stupid expensive. I think in the end you always have to end up touching the wheels.
My favorite wheel cleaner is Griots heavy duty wheel cleaner, spray it on, let sit for 4 mins. Or so, agitate gently, then spray off. It has ingredients that bond to the brake dust and makes it come off very easily. Plus it smells sensational!
Best wheel protectants are the coatings on the market (Opticoat, GTechniq, CarPro, etc) but costwise most waxes only last so long. Wheels get darn hot, try using collinite or a strong sealant. ArmorAll's wheel protectant isnt bad but its expensive for the usage overtime.
-Turtle Wax Ice Interior Cleaner. (absolutely great - no residue, no shine).
-Lexol Leather Cleaner with moistened brush to agitate, followed by Lexol Conditioner.
-Invisible Glass and blue shop towel.
-Lint roller to clean the rear deck and pillars/headliner.
-Carpet brush out followed by vacuum.
Exterior
-Turtle Wax Car Wash Plus Wax and microfiber mitt with 2-bucket .
-Microfiber drying towel - laundered after every wash.
-Turtle Wax Ice Synthetic Polish (works great on the trim too)
-I've not clayed or buffed , but I'm wanting to try it out this summer.
-Touch up with Turtle Wax Ice Spray Detailer.
Wheels
-Car wash soap with a water change before washing car.
-Baby bottle brush for spokes.
-Foam sponge for the wheel face and bead.
-Armor All Wheel Protectant (now being discontinued).
I know exactly how you feel! Too busy shoveling snow and making sure my car actually runs before even thinking about detailing it. I'm surely looking forward to spring weather!
I've been trying to minimize my effort & # of products I keep on hand. Products:
ONR Wash & Wax: Wash, sealant, rims, clay lube, quick detailer.
303 Aerospace Protectant: Trim, wheel wells, tires, engine bay.
303 Fabric & Vinyl Cleaner: Carpet, interior, leather cleaner, vert top (Aerospace 303 Protectant too shiny for me for interior)
303 High Tech Fabric Guard: Vert top protection.
Meg's APC+: Wheel wells, engine bay.
Stoner IG: Glass.
Meg's 105, 205, Menzerna PO85RD: Polishing.
Zaino Z10: Leather treatment (probably not any better than anything else, I just like the smell)
Old wax, glaze, etc.: Detar.
On Deck: CarPro HydrO5 for rims, and Mango is tempting me with the Gliptone idea.
PoorBoy's World Polish w/ Sealant: Wife's CRV. She likes her automated carwashes, this allows me to somewhat keep the finish up and give it some protection.
Use the steel wool method to get the water marks off. Then use Invisible Glass to clean it afterwards.
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