Detailing 101

[Redteg]

Due to popular demand I've started this thread to give us a place to post up hints and tips, as well as questions related to keeping our cars clean.

I'm sure there's plenty of us who have a favourite way of cleaning our cars or a favourite product we always use.

[bigteethygrin]

actually i suck at any sort of detailing.. its a sad sad case of everytime i end up trying to do anything beyond washing the car i end up with some horrific swirl and run away in a panic. (well not as bad as run away but you know)

[Geek]

I usually take my car to the manual spray booth at carlover it takes 5minutes to clean

[XXpl0Sive]

Everyone should learn from RedTeg. His car is the cleanest and shiniest I have ever seen. He never fails to blind us whenever we meet :)

So Manuel, what brands/products do you use?

[eknine]

Manny, tell us how to clean the engine bay, esp with all the electrical wires going around:)and maybe recommend the product use to do that job:)

[Dxs]

how about how to get minor scratches out from metallic silver paint
:x

[A'PEXi]

usually just a water/cloth wipe down does the job...

a bit of meguiars wax when the paint starts to look dull....

[Redteg]

Thanks for the nice words guys, its postitive comments which make us all feel warm and fuzzy inside :) In actual fact, I find much to fault in my car, and if I could, I'd respray it immediately. Keeing it clean hides many paint faults, which I guess is an art in itself.

bigteethygrin: Don't use too harsh a polish or cleaner wax, use clean towels, and rub the paint as little as necessary.

Geek: I clean the bottom of my car at carlovers, cause I like the high pressure hose and sudsing brush thing; I can clean all the hard to reach areas. Remember that the next time you rub your paint with that very same brush :) I'm a fan of carlovers, I'm just not big on the recycled water thing, nor the soap they use. Too harsh a soap and all your effort goes to buggery. I have washed there many a time though, cause its fun.

XXpl05ive: Ben, its not that shiney, although it does have a high reflectivity factor. I'll list the products below. Everyone remember that I am a nobody when it comes to detailing so thats just that I use, not whats the best.

eknine: I take my time and use degreaser, be it applied from a spray can, on a brush, or on a piece of cloth. Then I clean the degreased portions with soapy water so the paint doesnt deteriorate. If you're fussy, you can then polish and wax all reachable areas. I've never put the hose in there, so its easy to keep away from electrics. Try to cover your alternator with a plastic bag if you can, as well as your distributor, but It shouldn't be needed if you are careful. The best tip is take your time; devote half an hour to an hour every day on it for a fortnight, and attack it bit by bit. I did this around 2 years ago and now all I have to do is wipe it all down. Also change your cam seal plug if you have a B-series. Make the black bits shiny, either by repainting or using protectant, whatever is necessary. Shiny black can make the rest of the parts look clean too. Remember the two R's; Repair and Replace. If you can't repair it, replace it. I just made that up.

Dxs: What I would do is start from the gentlest polish you can find, and work your way up. People go straight for the cut and polish and stuff it all. Meguiars have a 3 Stage detailing thing, or just borrow polish off some mates and see what does the trick. Remember, you're taking layers off your clear and colour, so be as gentle as you can.

A'PEXi: Thats what I'm up to now, with the maintenance of my paint. Put in the hard yards once or twice and the rest is easy. Sounds alot like life. I re-wax whenever it is difficult to wipe Quik Detailer or water off the paint.

Ok, Product List:
Well, I use Meguiars, for no better reason than there being a few products in their range which I really like, and wanting to keep all my products 'in the family' so to speak. Also, each of their products smell like a different fruit! (I'm addicted to the smell of Quik Detailer, mmm, cherries...)

So, im my tub of cleaning things, I currently have:

Meguiars Quik Clay - Used this once, what it does is remove contaminants from the paint; sap, tar, overspray, and even little bits of metal embedded into the paintwork. Leaves the paint feeling very very smooth.

Meguiars Hi-Tech Yellow Wax (#26; beige bottle) - Smells like bananas, very gently, leaves the paint feeling slippery as, whilst slightly deepening the colour. Using this has meant that washing the car for me is a simple 2-minute job with some water. Pour it on, and it all slides off. Is also meant to protect your paint from contaminants.

Meguiars Hi-Tech Wash (#00; beige bottle) - Lots of suds, gentle enough to not remove wax, and keeps my hands supple. Its the suds that carry dirt and other garbage off your paint when you wash it, preventing any scratching which may occur. I have also found that it prevents water spots from occuring if you leave the car to air dry.

Meguiars Soft Wash Gel - Lots of suds too, smells like cherries, what's there not to love! Cheaper than the #00 wash.

Meguiars Quik Detailer!!! - Yay! Cherries! I use this after washing the car to get rid of the odd water spot, serves as a lubricant to protect your paint while you clean it quickly. for some reason, this, along with the wax has made my paint look darker, which is great when you have a car that often looks orange in the sun. I have like 3 bottles of this, I keep one in the car for emergency sticker application at meets, as well as removing bird bombs, and cleaning stuff when I go away (yes, being on holidays does not mean you don't have to clean your car).

Meguiars Quik Wax - Liquid wax, I use this once a month to maintain my good wax coat. Easy to use. Not sure what fruit it smells like, but its nice.

Meguiars Natural Shine - Vinyl and Rubber protectant, Use it on rubber and plastics, in the car, in the engine bay and also on mudflaps and such. Tried it on tyres, works well but isnt as glossy as I like.

Meguiars Glass Cleaner - Doesn't smear, smells like shit.

Eagle One Wet Tyre Shine - Looks like baby oil, keeps my tyres shiney, but is hard to apply to low profiles, im yet to find a tyre protectant that I'm happy with. Still experimenting.

I have no polish as such as I don't need it, but I will be getting some (maybe today) to redo my other car.

I also have a Corona box full of Meguiars Cotton Towels, which are soft as. Its useless to have good products and then use bad towels, as your paint will just go to buggery. there's a roll of Meguiars polishing cloth in there too that a top mate got for me, along with other things.

I keep old baby diapers (the cotton kind) for cleaning the engine bay and applying stuff to the tyres and other plastics.

Try using a watering can instead of a bucket. Its alot easier to use and does a better job, whilst wasting less water.

Also air dry your car, lots of nuts in the States use leaf blowers to dry their cars so that they do not risk scratching their paint.

Thats all I know, my brain is empty and my fingers are worn to the bone.

[phils_herre]

fark thats alot of car detailing info... which forum did i read where u said u should be a detailer... lol, id say go for it... in stead of car lovers, u should call it teg lovers or sumthing

[joneblaze]

CHeers for the writeup Manuel! good insight as to where to start :)
maybe u could outline briefly the steps you take when you perform you weekly (or however often u wash) wash/polish/or shine... and which products you use?

eg. wash with water
soap down with Meguairs XXXXX
wash down with water, etc etc :)

[eknine]

Thx Manny, very good info- i will have a go :thumbsup: :nod:

[bigteethygrin]

hopefully the good ppl at meguairs will see this and offer you kick backs for the thorough endorsements.. but seriously nice work. very thorough

[billyho_35]

That's a sweet write-up Manny. I just checked out the pics of ur car for the first time and I love that 'reflection' photo.
What type of rims is she sporting there?

[Redteg]

Ok I'll write this up as briefly as I can. If you wash it well once or twice a year you should be set with just quick cleanups. Only recently have I had to wash the car alot and thats because every second day I've taken it to the National Park or The Entrance where it gets bugs, dirt, sand and salt spray all over it.

Total wash/clean (once or twice a year)
1) Wet car, wash with Dawn or some other strong cleaner to remove old wax and grime, and rinse
2) Use clay bar and Quik Detailer to remove stubborn contaminants
3) Soft wash using a car shampoo (thats what its called, dont laugh)
3) Polish (if needed)
4) Wax well
Total wash involves removing wheels and getting into every little spot!

Dirty wash (when its dirty, derr, or once a month)
1) Wet car
2) Car shampoo
3) Rinse & Dry
4) Quik Wax if needed

Regular wash (once a week, or when going out)
1) Wet car, drive around and dry (works perfectly if your car's been waxed well)
2) Quik detail or Quik wax

Detail all trimmings as required

Tell me if more detail is needed, I guess you can use any product you like, I try to stay away from the cheaper ones which have a "CAUTION: FLAMMABLE" warning on them, may as well clean your car with a bit of petrol on a rag. Remember, you want your paint oily so it doesn't dry up, not squeaky clean.

Jon, I read that white paint is the hardest paint that exists, so its hard to 'work' with. I'll find the link for you.

I want a Meguiars T-shirt!

billyho_35: rims are 17" Pilot Rozza's, which look similar to the lovely Work Meisters

[mickey_matrix]

Heya Manuel!

Reading and seeing the pics are an inspiration! You're car looks brand new! I feel like cleaning my car interior + exterior properly now. I just wish it would stop raining!!!!! I'm going to Repco tomorrow to see what products I can get to help clean my car.

Thanks for the lift home ages ago. I was reading one of your posts about when people close the door of your car without caring ... that made me think twice ... did I do anything to your car? I hope not :( I'm sorry if I did. However seeing the interior of your car made me clean mine and now it's immaculate :)

I bought a new Wilson Hammer tennis raquet, Wilson tennis raquet bag, Wilson string savers, Dunlop tennis balls and Wilson raquet savers at work today all for the measly sum of $117.01. It was mad stuff, the raquet itself would have cost me $179.99 normally! James helped me choose the correct raquet and everything. Now I have to go and play some tennis ...

See you at work soon, take care :)

[VTEC16]

Found an informative website (http://www.web-cars.com/detail/) on detailing....it cleared a few things up for me....

[mercury]

nice write up

[Banana]

never use the brush at car lovers guys. best thing is to put a dollar in, then dab the whole car with the soap from the brush, then use a sponge to clean the car. saves u from getting scratch's from that dirty brush

[Paul1985]

what about a chamois?
surely thats better than air drying.

Also, be sure to do all the wax/polising in the shade!!

i use the meguires NXT Car wash and meguires NXT wax. I also got a meguires polish (cant remember which one, its part of the 3 step process). Meguires chamois polishing towels and application pads.

I have the meguires tyre shine (the spray on in a black can. This stuff was great IMO). Did have the wheel cleaner until it run out (at $22 its not worth it IMO, just get in there and clean them with soapy water after there wet from washing the car. I had an old brush thing i used to use to help).

I also got a few interior cleaners by meguires and a Kitten Carpet cleaner which smells really nice! doesnt work too great, but my carpets werent too bad.

I rarely clean my car now as its my DD beater.. got real lazy. lol

but this is how i used to do mine:
1. wash
2. clean wheels
3. clean exhaust pipe
4 chamois
5. polish
6. wax
7. clean interior trims, dash etc (meguires interior foam cleaner thing)
8. clean all door jams, hinges in boot and bonnet etc.. all the little things
9. vacuum
10. carpet cleaner
11. polish up all the black exterior trims, lips, etc.
12. clean windows with newspaper and water <- yes its the best for it! Works wonders
13. add tyre shine to wheels.

I think thats about everything i used to do. I should have clayed the car aswell. I used to spend around 5-10 hours on detailing my car, lol.. prob why i dont do it much anymore.

Thats just how i do mine, probably not the greatest way. My car used to come up real nice and shiney for a white car.

[aaronng]

I would bring my own shampoo if I could. I've heard stories of some Car Lovers outlets not letting you use your own car soap.
I've change my routine to use watering cans instead of hoses. With a lambswool mitt, I get fewer swirls than using a sponge with a hose.

[Paul1985]

i use a meguires lambswool mitt also :D

[wkdteg]

woah... didnt know that keepin a car clean was so complicated (i just started washing my car recently... since i bought the teg). great write ups guys, fantastic work :thumbsup:

any1 have any tips on how 2 make the bump strips on the side of the car black again? mine have started 2 go a charcoal colour?

[aaronng]

Try Mothers Back to Black (comes in a red bottle at BigW or KMart). It lasts about 2 months on the outside with the car being parked outside as well. All the other stuff dissolves in the rain and causes streaking on your paint as it runs down.

[wkdteg]

thanx dude
ill b sure to give it a shot

[aaronng]

Oh, and apply it with a sponge, because it is very watery!

[Paul1985]

woah... didnt know that keepin a car clean was so complicated (i just started washing my car recently... since i bought the teg). great write ups guys, fantastic work :thumbsup:

any1 have any tips on how 2 make the bump strips on the side of the car black again? mine have started 2 go a charcoal colour?

not really all that complicated. Just very time consuming and expensive.

I have over $200 worth of cleaning products!!

Ive had a couple of cars and i only manage to get the motivation to clean my car if im happy with it. If i got a car with nice wheels, lowered etc.. i will keep it real clean. If my cars stock and not all that great looking, im not too keen on cleaning it. Ill let it get really dirty and clean it only when it badly needs a clean and i will only wash it, not polish/wax.

I enjoy getting involved with my car though. ATM im not all that mechanically minded and there isnt much for me to do to my car mechanically anyway, so i spend my time cleaning it :D lol

A great tip for cleaning windows is to use just plain water (soapy is ok too) on the windows and to wipe them clean with newspaper. None of my window cleaners have ever cleaned them up as good as the water + newspaper. It leaves absolutely no streaks!
A good idea is to get a water spray bottle (like hairdressers use) and use it to spray water on the windows.

[wkdteg]

LoL windex mayb?
arronng u think it would b a good idea 2 tape off under the strips, so it doesnt get on2 the paintwork?

[aaronng]

The sponge is easy to control. Because you are using the sponge, there are no drips. And you can just first squeeze the sponge so that the width is the same as the width of the trim. Then you can go at it. If you are doing it after a wash, you can just use a clean microfibre to clean the excess in case the sponge touches the paint.

[wkdteg]

sweet... ill b sure to give it a shot next time i do the car
thanx for the help dude :thumbsup:

[aaronng]

No problem! :) Glad to be able to help.

[Euro Ricko]

http://home.exetel.com.au/rick/sv8

In order to get my SV8 looking like this i would always layer a good quality wax over an acrylic. You need to ensure the acrylic is given time to harden (over nite), and that the wax is of a good quality so it does not strip the acrylic straight off.

Waxes like Meguiars and Mothers are just average, as the carnauba content in their waxes is low in % and quality, so they use harsh petroleums to make them easier to apply.

Some good combos are P21S or Swissol wax over Klasse All In One.

P21S or Swissol wax over Meguiars NXT wax (not a wax at all)

Autoglym Extra Gloss over Autoglym Super Resin Polish (non abrasive polish).

Just remember that its easy to apply too much product, especially with acrylics. Make sure you apply in long strokes where possible (NO circles) running in the direction the wind passes over your car.

Acrylics can be layered for a deeper shine.

Do your research on your products, many "waxes" have abrasive polishes in them, there are non abrasive polishes that wont get rid of fine scratches.

Spend a bit extra, as the better products are generally easier to apply and remove, and go further as you dont use as much.

Good waxes / polishes also dont make your plastics and rubbers chalky.

A great place for info is http://www.autopia-carcare.com/

and an Australian place to buy http://www.eclipsedetailing.com.au/

i have no affiliation with either of these sites.

[shebangs]

I just wanted to say a big thanks to this thread!!

On friday after work I went to Autobarn, bought ~$130 worth of Megiuars stuff, they had a bucket which had almost everything. Had the Wash, Liquid Wax, Window Cleaner, than I bought a nice chamois, glass cleaning cloth (no streak, makes a BIG difference) and a buffing cloth.

my cars black, and after I was done (2 hour workout) I could have used it as a mirror to get ready that night.

Looks way HOT :) Interesting hot keeping your windows spotless makes your tint look even better. :cool:

[tanalasta]

1. Does anybody know of a store that stocks 303 aerospace protectant in Perth? And is there anyway of removing the Meguair's dash foam?
2. What products do you use to clean the chairs in an Euro Sport? As well as the inside trimming...

[aaronng]

1. Does anybody know of a store that stocks 303 aerospace protectant in Perth? And is there anyway of removing the Meguair's dash foam?
2. What products do you use to clean the chairs in an Euro Sport? As well as the inside trimming...
Do you have Autobarn there? Autobarn was the only place I could find it. To remove the dash foam, I use diluted wool detergent. Diluted 1:20. I wet a sponge with it and squeeze out the excess. Wipe the dash and then clean off with a clean cloth. Repeat until it is clean enough, making sure you don't have excess waster/detergent on the dash because it will seep into the gaps.

I just vacuum my seats and use a lint remover to get the stubborn dust off. For the leather part, use 303 on a sponge, leave to dry for 2 minutes and then buff off with a clean dry cloth so that it goes back to matte.