Detailing a Car

Usually I just wash my cars, nothing special and occasionally I wax them.  My question is, what products are the best to use on my cars - I want to give them a good cleaning this weekend.  Two are black so what wax would be the best?  What is a quick detailer?  Should and can wax be used on the rims?  What is the best tire shine product?  What gets out very minor scratches?  

My wife doesn\'t really take care of her car so this weekend I am going to go all out and clean it up.  Any advice from the car guru\'s Core, Ace, Vid... and anyone else who has knowledge on this topic.

[GmanJoe]

Detailing? That\'s a bit more than just washing and waxing. But anyway, McGuires has some great products. The fancy detailing shops have these lights that also help detect excess wax build up, something we don\'t see until it rains. Then the wax looks like a swirl mark on your nice car.

Also, get tar remover.

Already have the Bug and Tar Remover:grin:

[GmanJoe]

Originally posted by GigaShadow
Already have the Bug and Tar Remover:grin:

I think the most important thing about waxing is the buffing part. If that catches even one tiny grain of sand, it\'s all over for ya.

I use Zaino Bros car polish products.  http://www.zainostore.com/  They are a little more expensive, and inconvenient because you can\'t buy them in stores, but I\'ve had excellent results.  I use Z-1, Z-2 for polish, and Z-7 to wash the car in the weeks after the polish has been applied.  I\'ve found that Z-6 is a nice, (very mild) cleaning product that can be used to remove little dirty water spots and stuff as needed, without endangering the finish.  They sell a lot of other stuff I haven\'t tried yet.  You might want to consider their Z-16 as a tire gloss.  I\'ve tried a couple other off-the-shelf products for that, and haven\'t been very happy with them.  I hate it when they fly off and spatter the fenders and wheels.

I use 303 Protectant for vinyl surfaces, primarily my convertible top.  They have a kit that includes the protectant and the cleaner, which are both very good.  http://www.premiumautocare.com/303vincontop.html  The cleaner works good on plastic surfaces inside the car also.  I\'m still looking for a good leather cleaner.

I use Stoner Invisible Glass for the windows and mirrors.  http://www.premiumautocare.com/st.html  It is really awesome, and so much better than Windex, etc.  I use a microfiber towel to wipe it off, but I\'ve heard people have good results from using Newsprint.

That\'s about all I\'ve invested in so far, but I\'m planning to try some other products.  I keep my car under a cover, and still wash it myself about once every 2 weeks, so I don\'t have a huge problem keeping it clean.

How did I know you were going to say Zaino... I just got finished  reading 7 pages about that stuff on VW Vortex and that sucks it isn\'t carried in local stores.  I am going to order some, but for now I will have to get an off the shelf brand... any suggestions?

Zaino is a polish correct?  The method is to wash with Dawn then apply the Zaino products and then use a wax to seal it?  Is this correct?

I also hate when tire gloss sprays up onto the car.  I usually put that on in the evening when we won\'t be driving so it can dry overnight.

Zaino replaces wax entirely.  It\'s synthetic, so it\'s clear and doesn\'t alter the car\'s color.  It also does not break down as rapidly as wax.  

I use Dawn to wash the car when there\'s no Zaino on it, or to remove the Zaino that is left over from last time.  Then once you have applied the Z-2, you need to use Zaino\'s own car wash solution from then on.  It\'s very mild so it removes dirt but not the Zaino.

If you\'re going to to buy Zaino products, be sure to get some high quality applicators.  Like GMan said, if the applicator synthetic threads that could scratch, or grains of dirt in it, you\'ll just create more problems.  I keep mine sealed in plastic bags to avoid dust.

Basically something microfiber right?

[videoholic]

A micro fiber cloth for polishing is a must.  Makes a huge difference.

I have been using Zymol lately.  Or however you spell it.  I\'ve had great results.  They sell it anywhere.

I also use dishwashing detergent to strip all wax and then use car wash soap to wash the car regularly.  You can buy any car wash soap.  It doesn\'t make a bit of difference.  They are all mild.

Originally posted by GigaShadow
Basically something microfiber right?

Microfiber is good because it doesn\'t shed lint.  They are synthetic, but the fibers are so tiny they don\'t have any potential for scratching.  The bad thing is I\'ve only seen microfiber fabric fashioned into towels, which are inconvenient for applying polish.  I use the applicators sold by Zaino, which are basically cotton towels stitched around small sponges.  Once they get full of polish, they don\'t shed anymore, so that\'s not a big deal.  You just have to keep them free of dirt and other particles.

If someone sold an applicator that was a sponge wrapped with a microfiber towel, that would be great.  I haven\'t seen one.

I have never used Zaino but it is all the rage. Never really felt like ordering it but if it ever shows up in a store I\'ll try it.

I have been using Mother\'s Reflections for awhile now and it\'s fantastic. It really brings out the shine and it is very easy to use. I also recommend the Absorber towel. Sucks up water like crazy and you don\'t have a ton of towels to clean when you\'re done.

I don\'t know about you guys but when I decide to do an all out detailing job I am out there all day. If you see me cleaning my car stand back because I get really cranky about three hours into the job.

I can\'t wait for detailing weather. Tomorrow morning is going to be -12 degrees.

Hey Core, ever clay a car? Lot\'s of fun and smooth as a baby\'s ass when done.

I did buy a few clay bars but I haven\'t used them yet.  My car is still new enough that it hasn\'t picked up all the normal surface imperfections yet.  My older car could have used it, but I didn\'t want to waste the clay on such a POS.  Man you should see how cars get in LA when you leave them exposed to the air all the time.  The body of my 1995 Saturn felt like sandpaper after it had been sitting out for 7 years.

When you do use one you will be amazed at the difference. Just remember to keep a good grip because once it falls on the ground you have to toss it unless you put down a sheet or something.

well for body work, this is how i do it... use turtle wax car shampoo use a soft sponge (so as not to scratch the body work) and clean the entire car, then use some chamois leather to dry up the car.
next is waxing, recently i started using "Mothers calfornia wax"  it really has iven some great reults  an nise smooth and shiny finish, much better than the old products i used.

for tires, first clean up the whole thing, the rubber part with one of those plastic brushes (the soft ones and not thwe ones with the hard bristels) for the rims its best to use another sponge,  all this i usually do with the same solution i used for cleaning the body.
after the wheels dry up its either use those tire foam sprays or do what i do, i use tutle wax tire wax really gives a nice finish on the tires it does take longer to apply but the finish is well worth it.
for the rims i\'ve tried wax once but i found it quite troublsome so for now i use those liquid rim cleaners, but their are many products u can use depending on the type of rim like chrome, polished alluminium etc... i havent tried them coz they are extremely over priced here.

also i cant stress how important it is to vaccum inside a car .