Scottwax
08-13-2007, 11:40 PM
A couple of easy (sorta!) one steps. I am part of an employee award program. Those who exceed their monthly goals get a 1 step exterior detail and interior vacuum. Usually they are pretty easy to do because I tend to see the same vehicles regularly so they don`t get too bad in between. This time, however, I had an Explorer I dread doing. The owner is a chain smoker and you can smell the stench of stale smoke as soon as you get close to it, even with the windows up. Just hideous when you actually open the doors. Ash everywhere and a plethora of cigarette burns all over the interior. I hope she never wants the interior detailed. To make matters worse, this past week was the first really dry week since April....but 3 months of way above normal rain means the humidity was sky high. Nearly 100 degrees with 50-65% humidity in the afternoon all week, plus I was working on concrete with no shade. Still beats doing this when it is 35 with 20 mph north winds. ;)
Anyway, I supressed my gag reflex long enough to vacuum out this 2004 Ford Explorer, gave it an Optimum No Rinse wash and then one-stepped it with Poli-Seal using green Edge Cyclo polishing pads.
http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2004_Ford_Explorer_front1.jpg
http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2004_Ford_Explorer_frontend1.jpg
http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2004_Ford_Explorer_rear1.jpg
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Same process on this 2001 BMW 325ci. I had done it two months prior and except for looking like he hadn`t washed it since, once I got it clean the paint looked decent and was still pretty slick. The paint really needs some deep polishing in a few areas (he`s been hit 3 times by other drivers and clobbered by hail once) but he has decided to just use the freebies as the paint gets better each time I do it and it doesn`t cost him anything other than what he tips me (nice deal, in fact, they all give me tips).
http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2001_BMW_325ci_OPS_front.jpg
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I was back out 2 days later for this 2003 Chevy Suburban. She actually had saved up 4 of her freebies so she`d have enough for a full detail. My son and I detailed it last summer and it was still in pretty decent shape...good enough I was able to knock it out in 5 1/2 hours!
Poli-Seal using green Edge Cyclo polishing pads and Opti-Seal by hand. Also used Opti-Seal on the trim along the sides of the doors, mirrors, wipers, etc. The running boards and trim on the bumpers got Nascar Tire Shine (on sale at Big Lots, $3 for 23 oz!).
http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Chevy_Suburban_front1.jpg
http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Chevy_Suburban_frontend2.jpg
http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Chevy_Suburban_side1.jpg
http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Chevy_Suburban_rear1.jpg
http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Chevy_Suburban_frontend21.jpg
Anyway, I supressed my gag reflex long enough to vacuum out this 2004 Ford Explorer, gave it an Optimum No Rinse wash and then one-stepped it with Poli-Seal using green Edge Cyclo polishing pads.
http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2004_Ford_Explorer_front1.jpg
http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2004_Ford_Explorer_frontend1.jpg
http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2004_Ford_Explorer_rear1.jpg
============
Same process on this 2001 BMW 325ci. I had done it two months prior and except for looking like he hadn`t washed it since, once I got it clean the paint looked decent and was still pretty slick. The paint really needs some deep polishing in a few areas (he`s been hit 3 times by other drivers and clobbered by hail once) but he has decided to just use the freebies as the paint gets better each time I do it and it doesn`t cost him anything other than what he tips me (nice deal, in fact, they all give me tips).
http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2001_BMW_325ci_OPS_front.jpg
============
I was back out 2 days later for this 2003 Chevy Suburban. She actually had saved up 4 of her freebies so she`d have enough for a full detail. My son and I detailed it last summer and it was still in pretty decent shape...good enough I was able to knock it out in 5 1/2 hours!
Poli-Seal using green Edge Cyclo polishing pads and Opti-Seal by hand. Also used Opti-Seal on the trim along the sides of the doors, mirrors, wipers, etc. The running boards and trim on the bumpers got Nascar Tire Shine (on sale at Big Lots, $3 for 23 oz!).
http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Chevy_Suburban_front1.jpg
http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Chevy_Suburban_frontend2.jpg
http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Chevy_Suburban_side1.jpg
http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Chevy_Suburban_rear1.jpg
http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/2003_Chevy_Suburban_frontend21.jpg