the "quick" (less than 2 hours) detail
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,113
Likes: 4
From: manhattan beach, calif
the "quick" (less than 2 hours) detail
after several emails & pms asking for detail tips i decided to give this a try...
first there are 2 different types of "quick details"- the first one using a california duster and detailers spray (which takes about 15 minutes) and the one that i get the most questions about, that this post will focus on.
i often am asked how to detail the car without spending half the day doing it-
imo, the secret is a quick wax product.
i can wash my car, detail the interior (vacuum carpets- including the one behind the seats- treat all vinyl and leather), wash the wheels and black them and wax the car in less than 2 hours, and put everything away too.
this is not a complete detail (i skip any polishing step, and this process does not allow for any cure time), and i think works best (but not required) if you have at least one layer of synthetic on the car.
the secret is p21s carnuba, cause it should be applied and removed almost immediately- thus cutting the detail time.
the steps:
1. assemble all products, rags, etc. (i also throw the car cover in the washing machine at this point).
2. i detail the interior first with the top down- wash the interior of the windows, then do the vinyl, leather and vacuuming.
3. then put the top up, and wash the car- i start with the wheels and for the quick process use a non-acid wheel spray cleaner (with wet wheels, spray it on and brush it a bit then rinse). then wash the car (keeping the top dry- the top is not washed in a quick detail).
4. dry the entire car with your choice of drying tool, and use a "crummy but swirl-safe" rag to wipe out the inside doors, gas filler area, inside trunk, under hood and then use that rag to wipe off the tires, then all under-surface areas-
5. dry wheels
6. apply tire "black" - whichever product you use to make the tires look new-
7. apply the p21s in small sections to all painted surfaces, and remove promptly.
8. put everything away
9. take the car for a short drive to dry off anything that you didnt get above and to dry the brakes (apply several times). wipe off any final water from the car.
10. observe your work!
i did this yesterday in just over an hour and a half-
i probably forgot something in the above...
and would love to have others comments.
first there are 2 different types of "quick details"- the first one using a california duster and detailers spray (which takes about 15 minutes) and the one that i get the most questions about, that this post will focus on.
i often am asked how to detail the car without spending half the day doing it-
imo, the secret is a quick wax product.
i can wash my car, detail the interior (vacuum carpets- including the one behind the seats- treat all vinyl and leather), wash the wheels and black them and wax the car in less than 2 hours, and put everything away too.
this is not a complete detail (i skip any polishing step, and this process does not allow for any cure time), and i think works best (but not required) if you have at least one layer of synthetic on the car.
the secret is p21s carnuba, cause it should be applied and removed almost immediately- thus cutting the detail time.
the steps:
1. assemble all products, rags, etc. (i also throw the car cover in the washing machine at this point).
2. i detail the interior first with the top down- wash the interior of the windows, then do the vinyl, leather and vacuuming.
3. then put the top up, and wash the car- i start with the wheels and for the quick process use a non-acid wheel spray cleaner (with wet wheels, spray it on and brush it a bit then rinse). then wash the car (keeping the top dry- the top is not washed in a quick detail).
4. dry the entire car with your choice of drying tool, and use a "crummy but swirl-safe" rag to wipe out the inside doors, gas filler area, inside trunk, under hood and then use that rag to wipe off the tires, then all under-surface areas-
5. dry wheels
6. apply tire "black" - whichever product you use to make the tires look new-
7. apply the p21s in small sections to all painted surfaces, and remove promptly.
8. put everything away
9. take the car for a short drive to dry off anything that you didnt get above and to dry the brakes (apply several times). wipe off any final water from the car.
10. observe your work!
i did this yesterday in just over an hour and a half-
i probably forgot something in the above...
and would love to have others comments.
is amazing...
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,113
Likes: 4
From: manhattan beach, calif
o.k.- just checking to see if anyone caught this!
another secret is that in a quick detail, and when you already have plenty of product on the car (such as all of us zaino nuts)- the only parts that you really need to apply the p21s to are those that you would see if you were looking down on the car (top and edge surfaces)...
you can leave the doors and sides as well as the front lip for the full detail- although i always do the rear bumper and back of the trunk.
bigpurp- give it a try... bet you can do it in less than 2 hours!
superdyu- i know the urge, but i fight it so i can avoid the water marks (actually i have a hill near the house that is perfect for a quick vtec and drying!).
another secret is that in a quick detail, and when you already have plenty of product on the car (such as all of us zaino nuts)- the only parts that you really need to apply the p21s to are those that you would see if you were looking down on the car (top and edge surfaces)...
you can leave the doors and sides as well as the front lip for the full detail- although i always do the rear bumper and back of the trunk.
bigpurp- give it a try... bet you can do it in less than 2 hours!
superdyu- i know the urge, but i fight it so i can avoid the water marks (actually i have a hill near the house that is perfect for a quick vtec and drying!).
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,113
Likes: 4
From: manhattan beach, calif
Originally posted by William
I would NEVER drive my car (unless you have a clean indoor track) and then wipe the surface. When you drive you pick up road contaminants (especially on the rear and any wet spots) and then wiping into you surface is asking for swirl marks.
I would NEVER drive my car (unless you have a clean indoor track) and then wipe the surface. When you drive you pick up road contaminants (especially on the rear and any wet spots) and then wiping into you surface is asking for swirl marks.
pretty funny... i have only been doing this for about ten years now!!
i do respect your opinion, and it sounds like i need to clarify- this is only after completely detailing the car. so the only water that i am wiping off is very minimal (that stuck in cracks that blows out).
my car has much fewer swirls than normal. i agree that you do want to be careful.
btw, for the quick detail, i dust the car and then wipe it down with a detailers spray. imo, that is much more likely to cause swirls- but it doesnt seem to cause them because i guess the sprays give good lubrication.
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Registered User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 533
Likes: 0
From: Stockton
Wanabe,
I need your expert advice. I recently started to used compressed air to blow the excess water off my wheels, around the mirrors, door handles, gas tank door etc. prior to drying. I did this to eliminate the water that seems to reappear in these areas after I have dried the car. Is this method OK, or is there some hidden danger to using the compressed air?
Thanks for your help!
I need your expert advice. I recently started to used compressed air to blow the excess water off my wheels, around the mirrors, door handles, gas tank door etc. prior to drying. I did this to eliminate the water that seems to reappear in these areas after I have dried the car. Is this method OK, or is there some hidden danger to using the compressed air?
Thanks for your help!
Registered User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
From: Warwick
30 minute cleaning.
Vacuum trunk, then passenger compartment. (Unless you're a pig this should take you about 10 minutes for this car.)
Wipe down interior with a damp towel.
303 a towel and wipe plastic parts.
Apply some leather protectorant to an old sock and rub on the leather portions of the car.
And the best and easiest part:
Squirt about a capfull of Zymol into a bucket of warm/hot water. Hose down the car. (top up.) Wash the whole car starting with the top, then glass. (Use a soft towel)
Work your way top on down, rinsing as you go. Finish with the wheels/tires. Chamois dry and your done!
Vacuum trunk, then passenger compartment. (Unless you're a pig this should take you about 10 minutes for this car.)
Wipe down interior with a damp towel.
303 a towel and wipe plastic parts.
Apply some leather protectorant to an old sock and rub on the leather portions of the car.
And the best and easiest part:
Squirt about a capfull of Zymol into a bucket of warm/hot water. Hose down the car. (top up.) Wash the whole car starting with the top, then glass. (Use a soft towel)
Work your way top on down, rinsing as you go. Finish with the wheels/tires. Chamois dry and your done!