The Secret Tips and Tricks Thread

[SF Space Grey]

Hi all,



I thought it might be useful to have a thread where we share interesting tips and tricks we`ve figured out or heard about that others here probably don`t know.



Things like:

- alternative detailing uses for products or household items

- little-known solutions to common problems

- methods to increase ease and effectiveness of products and processes

- ways to avoid common mistakes



No particular subject--just a place to spread the wisdom. Just make sure you include enough specific info to give everyone the full benefit.

[SF Space Grey]

I`ll start.



- claying the glass during ONR washes does an amazing job of picking up contamination. I wash the glass, then spray some extra ONR in pre-soak / QD ratio on the glass and use a small piece of clay, pressing down pretty hard. Need plenty of lubrication to keep the clay from sticking and defeating the purpose.



- old tee-shirts to clean glass. I`ve tried low-nap MF and special purpose-made glass cloths, but I haven`t found anything better than retired white undershirts. I cut the top half off and use the bottom half as a soft lint-free towel for glass.



- filling empty foam-soap dispensers with products like leather masters soft cleaner. The special dispensers for foaming soap aerate the product and produce a lot of nice foam that makes it easier to use the soft cleaner with a brush and without soaking the leather or wasting product



- drying plush MF towels in the dryer to avoid lint

[Dan]

The secret to amazingly drippy and glossy paint is.... <drum roll>.... perfectly polished paint. Much like getting rich or losing weight, its actually very simple but people go out of their way to find some shortcut that never quite works out.

[David Fermani]

Perfection starts from properly prepping your car!

[Bill D]

Years ago there was a thread outlining this idea. I have no idea if it even is in the data base now