Cleaning door jams

[imported_pdsterns]

I just can not get comfortable with a method for cleaning door jams or when to do it. I feel that they should be washed but there is never a right time to do it during the cleaning. I dont like to open the doors while washing, I dont know how to rinse them without getting the interior all wet. I dont like to just qd them if they are dusty. How do you guys work this into your flow. Please give me your step by step to try out.

[Mark77]

I`m not sure either, depends on the car. Some cars have very tight sealing from outside, so the door jams really stay quite clean i.e. my Volvo V50. I usually just wipe them with a damp cloth maybe with some QD. You can rinse the jams, low pressure works best for me, just be carefull.

[Mad iX]

I wipe them down with QD after a wash.

If needed, AIO while I`m waiting for wax to dry.

[jasonmac]

I like the EZ Detail brush to get in there every so often, though I keep on top of them so it really isn`t a huge problem.

[stilez]

I always do interiors first. When done with the interior I mix up a bucket of APC and water (about 10:1) dilution and use a well saturated MF and agitate every area of the jams. When I wash the vehicle the rinse water washes away any residue (through the cracks or the doors) and when all done with the detail, I will go over them with a Spray Wax and/or polish.

[BigO]

Once I`ve finished washing my car with the traditional method (hose and bucket), I then use QEW on my door jams, underside of the hood, and trunk.

[EBPcivicsi]

I am assuming that we are talking about "other" people`s door jams and not our own. When I am detailing, I do the wheels and the door jams first, then mix up another bucket for the "main" wash. I spray APC 10:1 into the jams, agitate with a bug scrubber or MF sponge, then PW. Just be careful with the water and you will be fine. After I wash I wipe the jams down with a MF while drying, then typically I apply AIO topped with OCW or #16.

[imported_pdsterns]

Sean, I like that, I`ll give that a try tomorrrow

[klnyc]

Man, I ran into a snag on the door jams too. How do you guys clean those door hinges(esp on the driverside, you see all those connector attached to the door) ? You just spray w/ APC or QEW into them? :idea

[White95Max]

Good question Klnyc. I`ve been wondering that myself. Seems to me that you`d be throwing away a lot of towels when cleaning the greasy door hinges. What type of towels/products do you use for that?

[EBPcivicsi]

Good question Klnyc. I`ve been wondering that myself. Seems to me that you`d be throwing away a lot of towels when cleaning the greasy door hinges. What type of towels/products do you use for that?



You can use a stronger degreaser (compared to APC 10:) to remove that "gunk" form the hinge. As someone mentioned above, the EZ detail brush can be used to agitate hard to reach areas. I then rinse with the PW. I use sprayway instant shine to dress the accordian style hoses in the jams.

[klnyc]

Oh what about the very bottom of the door, where`s the drain hole at? You guys actually use MF to wipe of those filty black crap? :(



edit: I didnt want to hijack this thread..Sorry.

[EBPcivicsi]

Oh what about the very bottom of the door, where`s the drain hole at? You guys actually use MF to wipe of those filty black crap? :(



edit: I didnt want to hijack this thread..Sorry.



The APC+bug scrubber+PW rinse takes care of most of it, then yes MF for the final wipe down while drying the vehicle.

[stilez]

I`ll use a wheel or spoke brush in the door jams for better access. For worse areas, just make the APC dilution dwell a bit and go over it again.

[Accumulator]

If you clean and seal these areas once, they`re easy to *keep* clean. Sometimes it pays to polish these areas, as factory paint is often less than smooth in out of the way areas; smooth paint retains less dirt. For regular cleaning (after I do the exterior/etc.), I use regular wash solution and a small BHB for most of it, MFs and swabs for the tight spots. I rinse by closing the doors *not quite fully shut* and being careful with the water. Sometimes I`ll dampen my drying cloth with a little QD.



When doing someone else`s car, where they are really dirty, I use scrap rags/paper towels and a degreasing solvent, or 3M Adhesive Remover. Then an all-in-one type product and finally a good LSP. Then I lube the hinges/etc. properly, with a pinpoint oiler that doesn`t get lube all over places you don`t need it. Excess lube retains dirt too.



I wouldn`t use the EZ brush for this, too much risk of marring the painted areas- and polishing marring out of doorjambs is a pain.



Oh, and yeah, I`d sure clean the drainholes and related areas. Why risk a rust-out? I poke the holes with plastic, not something metallic that might scratch through the paint, not something wood that might break off in the hole.