newbie questions.

dnyhof · 03-26-02, 05:51

ok guys, i just found this place last night and am addicted already but i got some questions.
1. first off i live in michigan and we actually have some cold weather here believe it or not and i'm wondering what you guys in the colder climates to throughout the winter with regards to waxing. i've seen alot of products say that the car surface has to be warmer than a certain temp to apply the products, so what do u do when its freezing out??? i'm about ready to buy a tank of lp and warm up my garage so i can do some detailing unless there's another solution.

2. I drive a ton for work, so my car always comes home with dust on it at the end of the day if we had a good day weather-wise. Currently i clean it off with some mother's showtime instant detailer ( no flames, i will be getting some zaino soon) and a microfiber cloth. is this the right way to do it?

3. i actually sell microfiber cloths because i sell cleaning supplies and i am planning on ordering quite a few because i can get them for a cheap price, but i've noticed of the four venders i rep, they all have different textures to the cloths, 3m seems like a really cheap cloth, Taski cloths are higher quality (denser might be a better description), Flitz is a super soft microfiber (almost like u can't even see the loops if there even are loops - i think this might be the best one of the four) and Unger cloths look like the outside of a wet suit they are so tightly woven. so anyways, what's the best to use on a car for daily detailing and/or for taking polish/wax off of the car? any insites would be great because i really want to take care of my car right.

thanks in advance.

Acuracer · 03-26-02, 06:15

Welcome,

1) Move south. Seriously, I can't answer this question because my threshold is higher than the wax. If it ain't 55 I ain't cleaning the car. (e.g. I spend a lot on the laser wash)

2) If you are confident that the car is dusty and not dirty, then a Quick Detailer (of your choice - as long as it isn't mud, you won't get flamed here) and an MF is a great idea.

3) Sounds like MF number 3 is the best choice. The "mole-skin" kind are good in the sink doing dishes but I like the fuzzy kind for the car. More room for the MF to grab and hide the dirt away from the paint.

Intermezzo · 03-27-02, 01:08

I live in Southern California so I do not have the 'winter' problems you face, but I believe most of the people here that do go through snowy winters either heat up the garage like you are planning to do or they use a polymer sealant like Klasse or Zaino which is durable enough to last through an entire winter season. As I understand it, the main problem isn't slapping on a coat of wax during the winter, rather the problem is in washing your car without having the water freeze on your car and your fingers turning into brittle ice-sticks. There are many threads on that topic. I would do a search and see what you can find.

Mother's showtime instant detailer works fine. I wouldn't worry about that. QDing, your car daily is the best way to keep your car looking nice every day of the week.....and as a bonus, you won't have to wash your car as frequently because it will be relatively clean most of the time. QDing with either MF or 100% cotton will work fine.

The best MF's to use on your PAINT are ones with a plush nap that do not scratch or leave any marring. Perhaps you can decide which one of your towels best fit that description. I'd also suggest getting a few from some of the popular vendors here and compare them with what you are using.

HTH