The detailing and washing thread

[HOODFIELD]

I just bought my car, and instead of paying the thousand dollars or so at the dealership for their "paint protection" thing, I figured I'd just use a good wax or something to help keep the paintwork from being damaged. What do you all recommend I use, since I have no experience with this? Note that everything has to be applicable by hand, since I don't have a buffer.

I've been using the same bottle of Klasse All-In-One for about 5 years now. Nice easy wax to work with, you can wax just about everything on your car including plastic parts that normal paste wax usually gets stuck in. It's recommened for airplanes so you know it's serious stuff.

 

[Richardrfo]

Providing that you cover the car totally and evenly, either technique will do. The general consensus is that circles are more likely to give you full even coverage. As far as I'm aware that's the only real difference between the two!

In regards to this, I've been told in the past that circles are better not only for even coverage but also because it's more difficult for the eye to catch any minute imperfections/scratches etc when they're in a circular motion rather than straight, it's a form of optical illusion, giving off a better finish.

 

[CMvan46]

I just bought my car, and instead of paying the thousand dollars or so at the dealership for their "paint protection" thing, I figured I'd just use a good wax or something to help keep the paintwork from being damaged. What do you all recommend I use, since I have no experience with this? Note that everything has to be applicable by hand, since I don't have a buffer.

Good choice, "paint protection" is just a rub on stuff at our dealership anyway and I highly doubt it does any better job protecting paint than a car that is maintained, washed, and waxed routinely. Bit of a scam if you ask me and don't forget 2 people are making commission off you saying yes to that...

 

[Joey D]

I have been wondering what to use for my car's dash. I hate armorall since it makes it shiny but I want to clean and protect the dash/trim, any suggestions?

Don't use Armorall for anything, it's so bad for your dash.

I use Meguiars Ultimate Protectant Dash and Trim Restorer and it works really well and the shine lasts a long time. It also smells pretty good too.

I just bought my car, and instead of paying the thousand dollars or so at the dealership for their "paint protection" thing, I figured I'd just use a good wax or something to help keep the paintwork from being damaged. What do you all recommend I use, since I have no experience with this? Note that everything has to be applicable by hand, since I don't have a buffer.

Mother's Reflection Wax and Top Coat, you can get it on Amazon fairly inexpensive. It's like $20 a bottle in the store but I've found it for $8.

You can get the whole reflections kit for $41 though, which isn't too bad.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001U3LZU0/?tag=gtplanet-20

 

[Joey D]

It took two days but here's my results:

I clay barred the whole car which took about 3 and a half hours to do, then I waxed it using Mother's Reflections Car Wax and followed up with Mother's Reflections Top Coat to polish it. I can't believe how much more the metallic flake came out in the process, the car actually looks better than the day I brought it home.

 

[gt5user1684]

It took two days but here's my results:

I clay barred the whole car which took about 3 and a half hours to do, then I waxed it using Mother's Reflections Car Wax and followed up with Mother's Reflections Top Coat to polish it. I can't believe how much more the metallic flake came out in the process, the car actually looks better than the day I brought it home.

I always wanted to clay bar the whole car but can never find the time unfortunately. When I run my hands over the paint after a wash, it just doesn't feel smooth and it's not as shiny, when I look up close, i see very fine specs on the paint. Blah, but on a brighter note.

Spring is finally here, time to break out the foam cannon and have some fun..! yay.!!

 

[Moglet]

It took two days but here's my results:

I clay barred the whole car which took about 3 and a half hours to do, then I waxed it using Mother's Reflections Car Wax and followed up with Mother's Reflections Top Coat to polish it. I can't believe how much more the metallic flake came out in the process, the car actually looks better than the day I brought it home.

It looks good! Top Coat isn't really a polish though It's a finishing product (Known as an 'LSP' (Last Stage Product)) designed to go over wax, like it has on your car. It might be listed as a polish in some places but it wouldn't work as one!

 

[ND4SPD]

Washed the car last night and quickly waxed it with turtle wax ice spray on wax. Came out pretty good for a spray on wax. Mind you this is a car with about 350,000Km's on it's original paint!

 

[gt5user1684]

 

[HELLAFLUSH240SX]

What soap is that?

Also, I use tire shine when Im rolling stockers, having my wheels on the tire shine does no good, the stretch causes it to be gone in a few drives.

 

[eiriksmil]

Foam gun/cannon I guess..

I've claying my white Mk3 before wax and waxing the daily, spring TLC. I don't understand how people find the time to do this every week

 

[TheCracker]

I don't understand how people find the time to do this every week

I don't know how people find the time, or can be bothered to, do it even biannually!

I went to wash my car last weekend, only to realize my Autoglym kit was damaged in the house fire - that was last July

 

[eiriksmil]

Haha
I wax the daily say four-five times a year.. Then the most dirt will go off by spraying it with water, that takes me four minutes and that I can afford to do once a week or so. Because I don't let it get dirty, I don't spend that much time cleaning it..

When I drive a car on coilovers and dope wheels etc I want to wash it a little more often, I like it looking good. But going all anal all week? I really can't be assed with that.

 

[Ibonibo]

Don't start me on this.

For a real clean car, int and ext. I need hours. Generally do it in two days.
But for a quick one, 1-2 hour.

 

[TheCracker]

Don't get me wrong, i'll spend 2 or 3 hours on it when i do do it - wash - polish - glass cleaner (inside and out) - bumper blacker - wheel cleaner etc, etc. And it looks as good as new, or at least as new as any 11/12 year old car can look, but i could never have the motivation to do all that on a weekly basis.

I had a neighbour at my previous house who had a nice Alfa 155. Without fail he would spend hours cleaning his car every Saturday. I can only imagine that he just really hated his wife and kids.

 

[hawkeye122]

Give the man $20, come back 20 minutes later. Wax Badges. Done.

 

[gt5user1684]

What soap is that?

Detailer’s Pro Series Xtreme Foam Formula Auto Shampoo.

But to get the thick coat of foam, you need to use a foam cannon and a pressure washers.

it saves you so much time when using it because you can coat your whole car at once with a thick lather of soap, so you won't have to go back and forth with the bucket.

 

[hawkeye122]

Mr Clean Magic Eraser= Window cleaner. That bit where your windshield wipers dont touch is no match for it.

 

[Thatman]

This the way it should be?

 

[Kent]

I don't even feel right doing touchless anymore because of the hood scoop. Now I only do my own work or have a detailer do it if Im too busy with work.
Had a great wash a day or so back as I went to the wash to do my own quick spray and some guy was renting the place for the day doing detail work. I paid him and went across the street, had a couple drinks while I waited and then came back to get the car. Looked good but not as nice as when I do it right.

I mean, for a detailers price I know making the wheels look good is big but whats the point if the brembos are still obviously covered in brake dust? I gotta have the white letters pop off those black calipers!

 

[Thatman]

Nobody can tell me if that's the way the wax should be? I have never used that kind of wax before so I just wanted to know if I need to take it back.

 

[Moglet]

Now that the summer is here again it's the best time of year to get your car looking great, so I'm becoming more active in this thread again. 👍 Since getting the RX8 I've been re-learning my old detailing tricks to keep the black paint looking as good as possible, but it's tough living so close to the coast and parking underneath a tree.

@Thatman, I know the reply is late but that wax looked like it had just dried out a little. Underneath the surface it might have been fine but it's worth keeping the wax somewhere else in the future if you find it drying out a lot.

 

[CAMAROBOY69]

I just recently purchased a BLUE Subaru Impreza WRX and the paint is just incredible on this car. The nicest paint I have had on ANY car I have previously owned. So I have been very careful while trying to wash this car. Also spent some time buffing here and there. Havent waxed it yet but will in the near future. I have quite a few products I will experiement with to keep this paint as nice as possible during the summer. During the winter there really isn't much I can do beside to go the local car wash that also sprays the underbody. I usually avoid car washes but their machines do a pretty dang good job.

When I am finished washing by hand, I usually use 2 sham wows. 1 to remove most of the moisture. The 2nd sham wow to remove any of the streaks. Its been working very well. I will experiment with some of the wax I have in stock then after that consider some other sealing alternatives. A friend recommended using a good polymer sealant. I will look into that after my wax has run out.

When it comes to the tires I HIGHLY recommend this product! The foam pad works excellent and the shine is just insane!

Armoral all tire shine gel extreme

 

[Moglet]

Those foam pads are really really useful for applying products, I had one similar but I've since lost it.

 

[Pupik]

Wow, I forgot how much time I used to have for car washing...now, once every other month, if I'm lucky. I'll usually clean out the insides of my wife's van more often, because: The Kids. And there's no way for me to wash rental cars, while on the road anymore!

I have a three-day weekend coming up, and a car driven on a few dirt roads, so I'll handle that this weekend...

 

[Doog]

I have a question about something that's been bothering me for a while now: the carpets. They're not stained or anything, they're just...dirty. Do any of you have recommendations about what to use to remedy this?

 

[CAMAROBOY69]

I have a question about something that's been bothering me for a while now: the carpets. They're not stained or anything, they're just...dirty. Do any of you have recommendations about what to use to remedy this?

I just purchased a recent spray foam carpet cleaner that works amazing. (after a bird pooped in my WRX). It sprays out an insane amount of foam. Then after you spray the foam, wipe it with a clean rag. Looks something like this. Or you could even rent a steam cleaner.

Turtle Wax carpet cleaner.

 

[TheBook]

It's about time for me to go through my car really well. I should do a dish-soap wash, claybar, sealant, and wax on the exterior but I don't have the time at the moment, especially since I don't have a machine polisher. One of these days I'll do it though.

 

[WrxScooby]

7$ touch free car wash. The conditions here are so horrible that a pro detail wouldnt be worth it as it would be ruined the next day. I detail the interior like a pro and keep my wheels as grime/dust free as possible with certain wheel care products. Wish I lived some where nice haha, makes me want to ditch the street build and go rally.

 

[Moglet]

I just purchased a recent spray foam carpet cleaner that works amazing. (after a bird pooped in my WRX). It sprays out an insane amount of foam. Then after you spray the foam, wipe it with a clean rag. Looks something like this. Or you could even rent a steam cleaner.

Turtle Wax carpet cleaner.

I use this sort of stuff for day to day cleaning but for a deep clean I found the only thing that would shift the dirt is a carpet cleaning machine. You can usually rent them for a fairly cheap price. Failing that a good steam cleaner will lift off grime easily.