A couple of days ago one of my customers contacted me in a bit of a panic. `In an attempt to remove the bugs from the front of his Lexus he sprayed it with Stoner Tarminator. `While Tarminator is an effective bug remover it turned out to be too strong for the plastic lenses of the headlights and turned them a chalky white. `The car also has a clear bra that he was lucky was not also adversely affected. `
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He told me he decided to use Tarminator (despite having Poorboy`s Bug Squash at his disposal) based upon some good reviews he had read about it online.`
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Several valuable lessons can be learned from this that everyone here should keep in mind:
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1. `Carefully consider the source of any advice you receive. `There are many great detailers here who offer great advice. `There are also a lot of enthusiasts who offer suggestions based upon their experience but don`t really understand the risks of certain methods or products. `There is a lot, I repeat, A LOT of bad advice floating around on other, non-detailing car sites. `Oven cleaner for cleaning wheels is just one example. `Sure it cleans the wheel but it`s not a matter of if, but when it will cause irreparable damage. `
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2. `Always use a product specifically designated for the task. `Oven cleaner is for ovens. `Pledge is for furniture. `Whatever you need to accomplish on your vehicle, there is a product for it. `Windex is a perfect example. `There is a reason there are automotive glass cleaners. `Ammonia based cleaners can damage interior plastics. `Automotive glass cleaners are designed to be safe for tinted windows and most plastics. `There are exceptions to this but, unless you understand what the product is made of and how it works, it is best to consult a professional. `They may tell you to go ahead. `They may say "Stop! `Set it down and back away from the vehicle." `Or they may suggest a better product for the task.
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3. `Always start with the least aggressive method and allow the product time to do its job. `Step up only when necessary. `Sometimes a second application of the milder method is better than going more aggressive. `Testing in a small, inconspicuous area is also wise. `If you are going to have to fix a problem caused it is better to do it on a small scale than to have to fix the whole car. `
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4. `Read the directions... and follow them. `Particularly the warnings. `One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is using too high of a concentration of chemicals. `If your car wash soap says 1 oz./gal of water don`t think that 2 oz./gal will be better. `Allowing products to dry on the paint is also a problem as the chemical becomes more concentrated as the water evaporates. `If a product says not to use in direct sun or on a hot surface you best follow that advice. `My customer admitted that, after discovering the issue with his headlights, he decided to read the label. `Sure enough, it warns that it can damage some plastics.
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5. `When in doubt consult a professional. `Forums are great but there are also many groups on Facebook where many great detailers are at your disposal and questions are often answered much quicker. `I highly recommend looking into the group "Detailing for Dummies" `and `"Ask a Detailer" `Despite the name of the former it is not just for dummies. `Some of the best in the business answer technical questions daily. `
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You might be thinking "Yeah. `I already knew all this." `Well, so does my customer but he had a momentary lapse of reason and wanted to take a shortcut. `In doing so he cost himself more time and money than if he had just done it the safe way. `
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I read a lot of posts of people are asking about ill-advised products or giving poor advice. `I encourage everyone to add their anecdotes to reinforce this concept so that anyone reading can learn from the mistakes of others.
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