Canadians: New stuff at Canadian Tire and OZIUM found(!)

4DSC · 02-16-03, 01:22

I meant to post this yesterday, but got busy and didn't have the chance to. The other day I went to Canadian Tire to buy something. As always when I go there, I do my routine cruise through the detailing aisle. This time I notice the shelves look a bit different. I soon realized there were a few new products on the shelves. First, the less interesting stuff.

At the store I went to they had a new Meguiar's tire dressing. It was a large (450ish) spray can of tire dressing with an adjustable spray pattern. Pretty pricey at $11 though. Meguiar's PlastX, a new plastic polish. Prestone is making a comeback with a new wax, car wash, tire dressing, and tire (or rim - can't recall) cleaner.

The stuff that really got my attention though, was a pair of new Simoniz Microfiber Mitts on the shelf. That's right - MF mitts. In Canada.

There were two varieties. A blue one about 6" wide which is labelled as a Dust/Detail mitt for $7. It's basically a blue high quality MF towel stitched together to form a mitt and a cuff added. The second is a very nice looking white MF wash mitt labelled as a Wash/Dush mitt for $12. This mitt is bigger and made out of a deep, thick pile of MF fibers about 3/8-1/2" deep - like a nice carpet and just as evenly cut across. I don't know how the MF mitts from places like CMA look in real life, but this looked even nicer. I'll try to take a pic of it sometime with my (recently acquired

) digicam.

The second amazing find, in the same day no less, was that elusive Ozium new car scent that Jngr likes so much. I had pretty much given up searching for this stuff locally (never got called back

) so I got detailing shock number 2 when I ran into this stuff just sitting on a shelf where they weren't the last time I was there. This was at the ACE Hardware in Richmond. Apparently they can order in almost anything that the US stores carry. I just didn't know they carried this! The only had 2 at the time, as well as other Ozium scents (or lack of scent). Priced at $4.

I have to say though, that Ozium NCS smells broadly similar to the Big Fresh stuff also sold by Medo. It's definitely nicer - less "harsh" and chemically smelling than the pungent Big Fresh version, but it's still what I call a "fake new car scent". It has a bit more "sweeter" and colonge/perfume-like hints to it. I will be using this on non-leather interior cars though since I really don't like the other stuff.

ACE also sold yellow foam applicators like the Meguiar's version except they were solid rather than hollow. I might get some for polishing because of the solid construction. Nice, even, and very fine foam cells (like Megs), unlike the cheap blue Sundance ones found at CT. $1.60 for two I think.

So many new things!

JasonC8301 · 02-16-03, 01:52

I found Ozium at a local K-mart. $4.50 a bottle US.

I bought the Original scent and the NCS. They both smell bad to me. I wouldn't let them near a car. The Original scent smells like a hospital while the NCS well smells like plastic/cinnamon.

I take to heart the whole one second spray for a room. This stuff is strong. I end us using 10-11 one second sprays for my room prior to inspection. Makes it smell like chemicals...they like that.

hmmm, I gotta look into the new Meguiar's products, thanks for reminding me!

Jason

2000_EBP_civic · 02-16-03, 02:08

i noticed they had several microfiber products last time i went in. mainly by meg's and simoniz. i picked up the meg's towels and they're not bad. for the amount of detailing i do they work great.

Santatime · 05-17-03, 02:00

yep, saw the new tire shine spray can by meg today at ct, id like to give it a try? currently use 303 on tires, i also bought the meg plastx today and applied with a cheap sundance foam applicator to my instrument panel, headlights and taillights, looks good. Where can i find a nice foam applicator like the meg yellow ones?? and finally the Simoniz mf mit, i bought this a few weeks ago, im not too impressed with it, i prefer the 100% cotton chenille pile shampoo and wash pads, it holds way more soap imho, its basically a sponge wrapped in a chenille pile

Jngrbrdman · 05-17-03, 02:21

Smells are all different to different people I guess. Some people like one scent and others think it smells like skunk pee. That's why they make so many kinds I guess. I love NCS and I use it in my car all the time. I spray it in a customer's car and then let it air out for awhile before I let them have it back. That way the scent is just barely there but its at least better than what was there before.