What are the biggest mistakes you
Former Moderator
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 10,796
Likes: 2
From: Columbus
1. Stay out of automatic car washes.
2. Don't use the brush at the spray-n-wash.
3. Leave the Dawn for your dishes not your paint.
4. Never let a dealer detail your car
5. Armor All should never leave a store's shelf.
2. Don't use the brush at the spray-n-wash.
3. Leave the Dawn for your dishes not your paint.
4. Never let a dealer detail your car
5. Armor All should never leave a store's shelf.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
From: Vacaville
Bath towels are for drying off after a shower not for your car. Purchase a couple of good quality micro fiber towels and wash mits. I use Griot's stuff and love it. I have read that "Big Blues" are also good. Keep in mind, you get what you pay for. Also I prefer not to use the term "detailing" but rather "bonding" with your car.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: North Dallas area
Great posts guys, keep em coming!
xviper - I had to go run some detail spray and mf over my car after seeing those pics of your beauty!
I can honestly say this is the first car that I've owned that I am such an incredible enthusiast about. It's almost to the point that I may need to see a pshrink!
Bonding is right. I do that a lot with Gerty.
Do you find orbital polishers are worth the investment?? I mean, I've got her looking pretty much spotless, with a mirror finish most of the time without one - will a powered polisher make that much of a difference?
xviper - I had to go run some detail spray and mf over my car after seeing those pics of your beauty!
I can honestly say this is the first car that I've owned that I am such an incredible enthusiast about. It's almost to the point that I may need to see a pshrink!
Bonding is right. I do that a lot with Gerty.
Do you find orbital polishers are worth the investment?? I mean, I've got her looking pretty much spotless, with a mirror finish most of the time without one - will a powered polisher make that much of a difference?
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 37,305
Likes: 19
Catfish, those pics of mine are VERY disgusting indeed and I can say that each winter, the car looks like this maybe 3-4 times when we are in the middle of "chinook" type weather. It's nearly impossible to keep the car clean for long. It's a testament to how well a Zainoed car holds up.
I bond with my car too but more from a "mechanical" standpoint.
I see you have S. Blue. It is light enough of a color that you needn't be using a buffer on a regular basis. However, even with a light color such as yours, after several washes and polishings, you will begin to notice the little swirls and scratches which a buffer will be instrumental in helping to remove. Be very careful as to which type and kind of buffer to get. Make sure it's one designed for a car's paint or you will risk "buffer burn".
It sounds to me that you will be a very dedicated owner, so I believe your car has found itself a great home.
I bond with my car too but more from a "mechanical" standpoint.
I see you have S. Blue. It is light enough of a color that you needn't be using a buffer on a regular basis. However, even with a light color such as yours, after several washes and polishings, you will begin to notice the little swirls and scratches which a buffer will be instrumental in helping to remove. Be very careful as to which type and kind of buffer to get. Make sure it's one designed for a car's paint or you will risk "buffer burn".
It sounds to me that you will be a very dedicated owner, so I believe your car has found itself a great home.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 475
Likes: 0
From: Mobile, AL
-Don't ever just wipe off your car when it's dry, you will drag all those tiny particles of dirt through your paint and scratch the hell out of it.
-Those spray on wheel cleaners are the devil, soap and water is all you should ever need.
-Don't forget to wipe your door jambs & engine compartment after each wash, and clean your wheel linings while cleaning your wheels.
-a Bounce dryer softener sheet will do AMAZING WONDERS on bugs in the summer time (doesn't scratch and wipes them right off)
-Clear window cleaner and today's newspaper is the best way to get your windows completely streak free and clean.
-Some use a seperate product on vinyl vs. leather, it's preference, you will determine over time what you like, same goes for choice of wax, tire dressing, etc....Some products are better than others, I have ton's of partially used bottles, don't be afraid to try something.
-a brush attachment for your vacuum is a must, covertibles collect more dust and dirt in the cracks than you will ever believe, if not cleaned out regularly they may begin to degrade your leather (not to mention looks like crap)
(been mentioned above, but worth restating...)
You need at least 2 sponges, I use a wool mit for the body of the car, my worst oldest sponge for washing the tires and wheel wells, and the middle one for washing the wheels and muffler tips. These should be considered disposable items, when they get ratty throw them out (you probably spent around $30k for your wonderful toy, don't be afraid to spend $10 every 6 months for washing)
Dawn is a BAD idea for regular washing (good idea before a fresh wax job or clay bar job) That commercial "Dawn takes grease out of your way"....what do you figure wax is. (It took my friend/partner as teenagers detailing cars on the weekends a couple of years to figure out why our wax jobs never lasted very long ) Car shampoo is what you need.
Don't use the old "borrowed" hotel towels for removing wax, they are too harsh and will leave scratches, invest in a nice microfiber towel.
__________________
Lastly, enjoy it, bonding is EXACTLY what detailing your car can be, I love spending a whole Saturday morning just cleaning the cars, it's cathardic!
Travis
-Those spray on wheel cleaners are the devil, soap and water is all you should ever need.
-Don't forget to wipe your door jambs & engine compartment after each wash, and clean your wheel linings while cleaning your wheels.
-a Bounce dryer softener sheet will do AMAZING WONDERS on bugs in the summer time (doesn't scratch and wipes them right off)
-Clear window cleaner and today's newspaper is the best way to get your windows completely streak free and clean.
-Some use a seperate product on vinyl vs. leather, it's preference, you will determine over time what you like, same goes for choice of wax, tire dressing, etc....Some products are better than others, I have ton's of partially used bottles, don't be afraid to try something.
-a brush attachment for your vacuum is a must, covertibles collect more dust and dirt in the cracks than you will ever believe, if not cleaned out regularly they may begin to degrade your leather (not to mention looks like crap)
(been mentioned above, but worth restating...)
You need at least 2 sponges, I use a wool mit for the body of the car, my worst oldest sponge for washing the tires and wheel wells, and the middle one for washing the wheels and muffler tips. These should be considered disposable items, when they get ratty throw them out (you probably spent around $30k for your wonderful toy, don't be afraid to spend $10 every 6 months for washing)
Dawn is a BAD idea for regular washing (good idea before a fresh wax job or clay bar job) That commercial "Dawn takes grease out of your way"....what do you figure wax is
. (It took my friend/partner as teenagers detailing cars on the weekends a couple of years to figure out why our wax jobs never lasted very long ) Car shampoo is what you need.Don't use the old "borrowed" hotel towels for removing wax, they are too harsh and will leave scratches, invest in a nice microfiber towel.
__________________
Lastly, enjoy it, bonding is EXACTLY what detailing your car can be, I love spending a whole Saturday morning just cleaning the cars, it's cathardic!
Travis
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,171
Likes: 121
From: Boston
Good Ideas above and:
Use lots of water and soap- less friction on the paint surface, the better.
Rinse your sponge before putting it back in the water.
Wash your wheels and rocker panels first, rinse the bucket and sponges throughly, and then wash the rest of the car. T
The top should take two buckets, the wheels one bucket of soap.
Go very lightly over the headlights and taillights. The plastic scratches ever-so-easily. That should be the first surface your sponge touches when it comes out of the soap bucket.
Use lots of water and soap- less friction on the paint surface, the better.
Rinse your sponge before putting it back in the water.
Wash your wheels and rocker panels first, rinse the bucket and sponges throughly, and then wash the rest of the car. T
The top should take two buckets, the wheels one bucket of soap.
Go very lightly over the headlights and taillights. The plastic scratches ever-so-easily. That should be the first surface your sponge touches when it comes out of the soap bucket.
