Product Review & How To: Ultima Paint Prep Plus

Lou Bunn said:
I haven't tried any Ultima products...yet, but this looks good. Todd, I recently did a family member's new Caddie SRX, it was white and NO scratches / swirls from the dealer. I know, pretty rare huh, anyway I used KAIO and BFWD and they were very pleased. How would you compare this to Ultima?
Thanks!
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KAIO has been around since before I was detailing, and for good reason. It offers good protection AND good cleaning power. Ultima PPP is a better cleaner but has no protection on top of it so you need to top it with a protectant.
 
Todd Helme said:
KAIO has been around since before I was detailing, and for good reason. It offers good protection AND good cleaning power. Ultima PPP is a better cleaner but has no protection on top of it so you need to top it with a protectant.
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Hey Todd, which product do you think cleans the best by hand application? I've tried KAIO, GPS, BF, WG & Pinnacle Cleansers and honestly, I would give the edge to KAIO. After using my nanoskin, I like applying KAIO by hand w/a damp MF just to get the last bit of residual contamination off the paint. Sometimes if the paint is in good shape and I don't need to "clay", I can just use the cleanser product alone. I don't need/want the sealant so Ultima PPP would work. But 1Z, Sonus, & Four Starr all make cleanser products and would like your opinion. Again, most of the time I'm applying this product by hand.
 
Great tutorial Todd! :bigups

Like you I've found the need to apply two coats. Another thing I like about Ultima Paint Guard Plus is it can be re-coated in 1 hour under normal drying conditions.
 
addysdaddy said:
Hey Todd, which product do you think cleans the best by hand application? I've tried KAIO, GPS, BF, WG & Pinnacle Cleansers and honestly, I would give the edge to KAIO. After using my nanoskin, I like applying KAIO by hand w/a damp MF just to get the last bit of residual contamination off the paint. Sometimes if the paint is in good shape and I don't need to "clay", I can just use the cleanser product alone. I don't need/want the sealant so Ultima PPP would work. But 1Z, Sonus, & Four Starr all make cleanser products and would like your opinion. Again, most of the time I'm applying this product by hand.
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Todd, I would love to know your thoughts on this also. Even if you havent used them all, which would be your go to non abrasive cleanser?
 
Ok, since Todd isnt answering, does anyone have experience with comparing the following products:

KAIO, GPS, BF, WG & Pinnacle Cleansers, 1Z, Sonus, Ultima, & Four Starr.

I would like to know what you thought was the best cleaner to use with hand application instead of a buffer.
 
sullivette said:
Ok, since Todd isnt answering, does anyone have experience with comparing the following products:

KAIO, GPS, BF, WG & Pinnacle Cleansers, 1Z, Sonus, Ultima, & Four Starr.

I would like to know what you thought was the best cleaner to use with hand application instead of a buffer.
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Define cleaning?
 
Todd,

I appologize for being too vague with my question. I am looking for something that:

1) I have topical water spots and I am hoping that one of the paint cleansers out there may be able to remove them or at least make them look substantially better. (I believe they are topical because I have completely removed them with swirl-x and Meguiars water spot remover, but they both left slight marring). I realize that the cleanser will not also protect, and I will have to put a wax or sealant over it. I also realize that a non-abrasive cleanser will not be able to remove embedded particles like a good clay bar would.

Maybe I am mistaken in believing that a hand applied non-abrasive cleanser will induce less marring than swirl-x?

I also think that the micro marring removal that people have experienced with Ultima is due to the applicator more than the product. Would this be correct?

2) I would also like to use which ever product you recommend when it is time for me to reapply a sealant, as a great base for it. Again, I realize that if the finish needs to be clayed than the cleanser wont be able to remedy that.

So which of the products do you think would best suit my needs when applied by hand? Thanks again.

Last thing, is I realize how busy you are Todd. I just thought you would be a great reference to ask since you have used so many products and did a review on Ultima ;)
 
Todd Helme said:
Define cleaning?
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Clean for me involves removing the last bit of contamination after claying/nanoskin the paint. After using the nanoskin, I'll break out the plastic bag to verify effectiveness. Typically there is still a slight bit roughness that remains that I use a chemical cleaner such as KAIO to remove. My issue with KAIO (and other similar products) is that it contains sealant. Ideally I would just like something that only cleans - I'll apply my own LSP at the end. However, it's only after chemically cleaning the paint that the surface passes the plastic bag test. I cannot get the surface perfect from just the claying/nanoskin process alone which is why I've been searching for that "perfect" paint cleanser. Sometimes on a well maintained car, I can skip the claying step and just chemically clean it which is a nice time saver. So far I've experimented with KAIO, GPS, OptiSeal, BF, Pinnacle & WG paint cleanser products. IMO, KAIO cleans the best out of the ones I've tried, but I would love the version w/o the sealant.
 
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