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Summer Is In Full Swing And It's Time To Get Your Car Looking Great!

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Originally posted by: Farbio
great write up SVT, thanks for the work!

unfortunately, those of us in the northeast are supposed to get 2-4" of that white stuff tonite, which means more salt and killer to our finishes yet to endure🙁
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Ahh that sucks. I cannot wait for summer.
 
Very nice guide, I like to throw a coat of wax on the wheels as well, makes the brake dust
come off quickly during the next wash. Question: I have a few hard-water spots I'd like to get rid of,
and some light swirls(black), what would be best to get them both out???
 
I am dying to clean up my civic. Great guide, I'll probably even print it out. Too bad the weather in NYC is too unpredictable right now. 🙁 I also need to patch up my stereo a bit too. 🙁
 
Originally posted by: BUTCH1
Very nice guide, I like to throw a coat of wax on the wheels as well, makes the brake dust
come off quickly during the next wash. Question: I have a few hard-water spots I'd like to get rid of,
and some light swirls(black), what would be best to get them both out???
Click to expand...

For swirls try Meguairs Scratch X and then a coat of wax over it, and for the hard water spots try some mineral sprits and a toothbrush.
 
Thanks for the explicit details.

Do you know what dealers use to get that leather smell in the car? Whenever I get a loaner from the Infinti dealer, the car seats has this really nice leather smell to it. I have the zaino 'leather in a bottle' but it doesn't really smell the same.
 
i really want to detail my car but it is pointless in the southeast right now. every morning there is a new layer of green pollen.
 
Originally posted by: zoiks
Thanks for the explicit details.

Do you know what dealers use to get that leather smell in the car? Whenever I get a loaner from the Infinti dealer, the car seats has this really nice leather smell to it. I have the zaino 'leather in a bottle' but it doesn't really smell the same.
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Hmmm I do know what you are talking about, but it could be due to an insense they use, the actual way the leather in an infiniti reacts with a cleaner, or more likely an industrial leather cleaner most dealerships use. I can hook you up with some, but there are a lot out there. Try calling the dealership and let me know the product.
 
Wow, I read this thread and now I almost feel ambitious enough to clean my wife's van.

On second thought...
Do places that clean cars like that charge a flat rate? Or do they charge more when cars are dirtier? 😛
 
Originally posted by: SVT Cobra
Originally posted by: zoiks
Thanks for the explicit details.

Do you know what dealers use to get that leather smell in the car? Whenever I get a loaner from the Infinti dealer, the car seats has this really nice leather smell to it. I have the zaino 'leather in a bottle' but it doesn't really smell the same.
Click to expand...

Hmmm I do know what you are talking about, but it could be due to an insense they use, the actual way the leather in an infiniti reacts with a cleaner, or more likely an industrial leather cleaner most dealerships use. I can hook you up with some, but there are a lot out there. Try calling the dealership and let me know the product.
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Thanks for the offer. I'll try again. Last time I asked they said that its a closely guarded secret that only the detailer knows.
 
Hmm... What if I use dawn on purpose to get the dealer wax off the car to apply my own? From your experience, is it just the painted areas, or does it help rust start on other places like metal parts under the car too?

I also think you should talk about the two bucket method in your walkthrough, instead of mentioning not touching the bottom, since personally I think they get swirled up when you put the sponge/mitt/cloth in there anyway.
 
Originally posted by: DrPizza
Wow, I read this thread and now I almost feel ambitious enough to clean my wife's van.

On second thought...
Do places that clean cars like that charge a flat rate? Or do they charge more when cars are dirtier? 😛
Click to expand...

I would think they charge by the size of the vehicle. Compact/Large car, Van/SUV, etc.
 
Originally posted by: Kelvrick
Hmm... What if I use dawn on purpose to get the dealer wax off the car to apply my own? From your experience, is it just the painted areas, or does it help rust start on other places like metal parts under the car too?

I also think you should talk about the two bucket method in your walkthrough, instead of mentioning not touching the bottom, since personally I think they get swirled up when you put the sponge/mitt/cloth in there anyway.
Click to expand...

Grit Guard FTW
 
I just detailed my truck last month... luckily I have a garage so I can do such things in the winter months. I'm a huge fan of claybars. I just want to add that depending on where you live, it could be very necessary to claybar the sides of your car. In Alaska for example, during spring thaw, after 3/4 mile of driving, you've kicked up a thick layer of mud onto the side of your car (like I did last week... truck was clean before that short drive). Even if you wash that crap off every day or two, after a couple weeks your side panels will feel like 80 grit sandpaper. I usually have to claybar my sides 3-4 times a year while only hitting the top-facing surfaces once a year. Ultimately.. let your hands tell you when you need to use the claybar... any surface that feels rough after a wash, would benefit from it.
 
I think I made mention of this last year when you originally posted your thread but...

Bath Towel for drying? You give out all this wealth of information and then you say to go ahead and use a bath towel?

I'm surprised that you don't know how poor bath towels are for drying.

For one, they're much more abrasive than using other drying methods. If you (or others) don't believe me, take a bath towel and rub it against the burned-side of a CD. Now do this with a Microfiber cloth....I bet the first one leaves light scratches in the CD.

Also, bath towels have a much greater likleyhood of trapping, and keeping, dirt locked into their fibers. Granted, a vehicle should be 100% clean while drying but IF there's a small speck or two of dirt on the vehicle while drying a microfiber drying towel will release it from it's fibers...a bath towel will simply trap it in.

General-purpose towels are bad man...

 
IT does depend what quality of bath towel you use. If you use cheap Kmart towels that were made in bangladesh or wherever, you'll have problems. But I like good quality towels from, say, Cannon or Fieldcrest. With those companies, when they say 100% cotton, they mean it. Not like the others who say 100% cotton... except for where we've also used polyester and other crap that is not as soft. A true, 100% cotton towel works very well, and is quickly discounted because a lot of people use inferior towels and then proclaim all towels to be equally as bad.

 
I read the interior section and was wondering if you could give tips on these two sections. What's the best way to clean the inside of your mirror? And how do you get rid of bad smells in your car? It's usually not noticeable, but it if rains or a lot of moisture gets into the car, it strengthens the smell.
 
Originally posted by: txrandom
I read the interior section and was wondering if you could give tips on these two sections. What's the best way to clean the inside of your mirror? And how do you get rid of bad smells in your car? It's usually not noticeable, but it if rains or a lot of moisture gets into the car, it strengthens the smell.
Click to expand...

What do you mean by the inside of the mirror? All I can think of is perhaps that gap between the mirror and the housing on the side view mirrors, for which I use q-tips. As far as bad smells, you need to remove the source (such as spilled food, etc) but if it's just a general ambient smell you don't like, try shooting some Febreze underneat the seats or leave one of those deodorant stones under your seat (or under each seat). You can also buy scented sprays at the auto parts stores but they don't work as well as Febreze, plus I find the flavors to be crappy. I don't want a vanilla or cherry flavored car... just a good, clean fragrance.
 
Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
Originally posted by: txrandom
I read the interior section and was wondering if you could give tips on these two sections. What's the best way to clean the inside of your mirror? And how do you get rid of bad smells in your car? It's usually not noticeable, but it if rains or a lot of moisture gets into the car, it strengthens the smell.
Click to expand...

What do you mean by the inside of the mirror? All I can think of is perhaps that gap between the mirror and the housing on the side view mirrors, for which I use q-tips. As far as bad smells, you need to remove the source (such as spilled food, etc) but if it's just a general ambient smell you don't like, try shooting some Febreze underneat the seats or leave one of those deodorant stones under your seat (or under each seat). You can also buy scented sprays at the auto parts stores but they don't work as well as Febreze, plus I find the flavors to be crappy. I don't want a vanilla or cherry flavored car... just a good, clean fragrance.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I have no idea why I said mirror. I meant the inside of the windshield. My parents said windex isn't good, and cleaning it in general is not worth it. But there are smudge marks that I want to get rid of.
 
I need to do this to my '06 Civic. We've had it since the fall and it's depressingly dirty on the exterior and already has a stain or two inside. Those gas station no-contact (just high pressure water and soap) car washes don't really do a lot on the lower parts of the car. Beige cloth interior looks nice but it really shows the dirt.
 
Originally posted by: mariok2006
Originally posted by: DrPizza
Wow, I read this thread and now I almost feel ambitious enough to clean my wife's van.

On second thought...
Do places that clean cars like that charge a flat rate? Or do they charge more when cars are dirtier? 😛
Click to expand...

I would think they charge by the size of the vehicle. Compact/Large car, Van/SUV, etc.
Click to expand...

Dodge Grand Caravan... I think they'd faint if they saw inside and had to clean it for the same price as other grand caravans... (It's used as a farm vehicle - hauling hay, etc. Yesterday and today, I hauled 70 landscape timbers from home depot in it.
 
Originally posted by: txrandom
Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
Originally posted by: txrandom
I read the interior section and was wondering if you could give tips on these two sections. What's the best way to clean the inside of your mirror? And how do you get rid of bad smells in your car? It's usually not noticeable, but it if rains or a lot of moisture gets into the car, it strengthens the smell.
Click to expand...

What do you mean by the inside of the mirror? All I can think of is perhaps that gap between the mirror and the housing on the side view mirrors, for which I use q-tips. As far as bad smells, you need to remove the source (such as spilled food, etc) but if it's just a general ambient smell you don't like, try shooting some Febreze underneat the seats or leave one of those deodorant stones under your seat (or under each seat). You can also buy scented sprays at the auto parts stores but they don't work as well as Febreze, plus I find the flavors to be crappy. I don't want a vanilla or cherry flavored car... just a good, clean fragrance.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I have no idea why I said mirror. I meant the inside of the windshield. My parents said windex isn't good, and cleaning it in general is not worth it. But there are smudge marks that I want to get rid of.
Click to expand...

IIRC it has a lot to do with the different chemicals you use on the inside of your car when you clear it (also defroster and general buildup). I always clean mine when I am cleaning my car and then again a week or two later (I generally only give it a good cleaning every three months or so).
 
Originally posted by: txrandom
Thanks, I have no idea why I said mirror. I meant the inside of the windshield. My parents said windex isn't good, and cleaning it in general is not worth it. But there are smudge marks that I want to get rid of.
Click to expand...

I use Stoner's Invisible Glass and a microfiber towel to clean all the windows on my car. It's an aerosol-type glass cleaner; works extremely well and leaves no streaks or smudges. I think Wal-mart has it, as well as stores like Autozone.
 
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