Car care products and applyers (long)

M

mnbv

New member
You can see my signature of what my car is. Sorry if this is long, I don't like to leave anything out of my explanations. I numbered each area for ease of response, please use them if possible. Anything that does not have a number can be given advice if incorrect in some way. Ok, here we go.

Things needed for the interior:

1. I need a brush to scrub in solutions (6:1 woolite) into my carpet to remove/fight stains and overall cleanliness (deeper dirt) of all carpet and seats. Is it ok to spray freely, scrub, then vacuum it off? What is the best technique with 6:1 woolite? Can I use it on plastic parts of the interior?

I want to start with the interior before I start on the exterior.

2. I need a small brush for detailing vents, small dash buttons and controls. I suppose a soft paint brush would do the trick.

3. This is very important, I need to rid my terry cloths of lint before I even think about using them to wax or polish. I assume I should wash them separately(in a washing machine) to do this.

4. I used rain-x anti fog and rain on all my glass, it works well, but swirls are all over my glass. I plan on picking up 20/20 glass cleaner to take care of that, will any kind of glass cleaner (that is made for car glass) work, or is 20/20 especially good?

5. I have stickers I would like to remove before I wax (dealer stickers and a small stripe on each side) I plan on warming the stickers up with a dryer very well, then peeling them off vary carefully. I have goo-gone to take car of residue.

6. I need applicators and supplies to wash, wax and polish. Off the top of my head, sheep skin or WW micro fiber mitt (better then my cotton one), WW mf drying towel, about 5-6 WW mf basic towels to remove product from paint (and other uses, this is main use), This is where I draw a blank. Links would be very helpful, I need quality applicator for swirl remover (#82), polishing, and for a wax or sealant. i assume a easily handled densish foam applicator for each. I would really appreciate links to products or explain where I can find them on autopia's site or else where.

7. Now the fun part, buying actual products to use with my expensive, quality applicators. I have read up on many different products to use, I have made up my own list for what I think would be the best for my tastes, my wallet and most important my car. Eagle one wet car wash, Clay Magic, #82-Swirl remover, S100 Shine Enhancing Cleanser, S100 carnuba wax. I am not looking for an argument of what is better or worse, just helpful criticisms of what I have right and what needs to be changed in each of my numbered off sections.

Thanks for the space.
 
1)A stiff nylon bristled brush works great. I like the one I got from Autopia



2) Again a great brush is the 1 inch round brush...found on a lot of detailing websites



3) Mine always keep linting, I just deal with it, but I usually only use Microfiber on my paint.



4) Swirls? Like scratches? a glass polish will probably be needed if they are not too deep. Glass cleaner isn't going to get out scratches in your glass...just clean them :D



5)ok...just hope the paint isn't a mismatched color under the stripe...being a 96 and all that might be a concern



6) The #82 if done by hand might be best with a terry towel folded up into a small square. Quality MF towels can be found from a myriad of places my person favorites are autopia and Pakshak. My foam applicators and terry applicators I get from topoftheline.com For finding stuff on autopia on the home page click on Shop on the top of the screen and start looking.

7) I have no idea what your paint looks like so I cant really say if your selection is going to be adequate or not. Those are all good products that you have picked.
 
for your responses on:

3) how could you use a terry cloth folded up then for applying #82?

4)no, just swirls, I think I can get them out with a glass cleaner made for cars.

I would like some more advice on #1 if possible.

Thanks!
 
Is: http://www.topoftheline.com/micmirtow.html a good multi purpose MF towel that pakshak and autopia are sold out of?

I got these so far from autopia:

-1-inch Round Natural Detail Brush

-Upholstery Scrub Brush

-Ultimate Drying Towel

-Handi-Grip Applicator

Should I get 303 for the interior also? I am missing basic MF (are they WW also?) towels that are muti purpose. I have ordered 1 handi-grip appilcator for appling my Swirl remover, polish and wax. Do I wash and dry the foam between each step? What do you guys use and recomend to apply product? I would aprciate any help.
 
I use those little yellow foam applicators for applying S100 SEPC, EX-P, and S100 wax. They're somewhat of a pain for me because I have big hands and they all seem so small. That handi grip applicator looks pretty cool. You'll probably want a couple as you should wash em between each step, and if you drop it you'll want to wash it as well.



303 will be fine for the interior plastics as far as a protectant. You can use that Woolite mixture to clean the plastic surfaces if you'd like. A wet/dry vac should be able to handle the moisture left from spraying your woolite solution on the fabric.



The Ultimate Drying Towel is your WW towel. WW towels are just used for drying the car after a wash. Basic MF's for removing products from paint, interior cleaning, etc., could also be the Khaki Buffing Towels that Autopia sells. Look em up in the review system... It looks like Pakshak is just sold out of the WW drying towel, but that's not a problem since you're getting the drying towel from Autopia. The 16"x16" Ultra Micro-Fiber Towels (at PakShak) are good all purpose towels.



I've not had problems with terry towels linting when applying SFP, just occassionally when removing. I guess the liquid of the product helps keep the lint on the towel :dunno: The terry towels should give more "bite" than the small foam applicators and make working in and breaking down the SFP easier. Then use your MF towel to remove.



20/20 is a fine glass cleaner, as is Stoner's Invisible Glass...
 
Thanks both scottabir and perry for their help!! Much better then any other forum I have been to.

All I need now for applicators is a good sheepskin or microfiber mitt. Any suggestions? Also-can I wash my new terry cloths with regular clothes to help reduce lint?

This is what I have in my cart at autopia:



-Khaki Microfiber Buffing Towel, Pkg/6

-Upholstery Scrub Brush

-1-inch Round Natural Detail Brush

-Handi-Grip Applicator

-303 Aerospace Protectant, 8 oz.

-Ultimate Drying Towel



comes to 51.35 without shipping.



Now to continue with products to use with my applicators. I have eagle wet car wash, but I don't like it so much because it makes my paint seem too dark. I would like to keep the brighter red look. It is possible that any wash would make it appear this way as I have not washed the car with anything else (only have washed it one time since I got it a week ago). To review I have these products lined up. Eagle one wet car wash, Clay Magic, #82-Swirl remover, S100 Shine Enhancing Cleanser, S100 carnuba wax. I don't think that this car has ever been waxed, it does have noticeable swirl marks on the paint when I looked close. If the #82 doesn't cut it, I will use #83 to follow up next time around. I have heard and read reviews that Clay Magic is a good clay bar if used properly.

I am still very much in the air about polish and wax/sealers. Here is what I want out of them.

-I want a polish that is not too harsh, but brings out a nice shine in the paint.

-It can have cleaners in it, but more focused on shine and protection.

-Easy on and off is important as this is my 1st time detailing the exterior of a car- but don't sacrifice quality.

-For wax, I would not mind it being a carnuba, 2-3 weeks is long lasting enough for me.

-I would like a carnuba that does not make the paint dark like #27 yellow,

-something that is reflective, deep, makes for lively color, all the good things about a quality carnuba.

-Again, easy on and off is a good thing, but not paramount. Another FYI, I have access to some unknown (right now) buffer my uncle got for Fathers day, I may try it out my second wash/polish/wax etc, but everything is by hand for now.

I am very exited about getting my products, I have already spent 30$ on applicators, I know that they are important to getting the most out of the products.
 
It sounds like you've already done quite a bit of browsing and others have covered most things already, so I just wanted to make sure that the cotton towels you are going to use are of good quality?



It's not uncommon for cheap automotive cotton terry towels to be lint monsters and not really "100% cotton" even though they claim they are.



Just fold them as many times as needed to give them some padding and so that they feel like a firm pad that will spread out the pressure from your hand fairly evenly when polishing, by the way.
 
I am using cheap terry cloths because I am getting them for free at my brothers work. What would be a good terry cloth? I need now for applicators is a good sheepskin or microfiber mitt. Any suggestions on the wax or polish?
 
Looks like you are getting some good stuff. I'd suggest one of Autopia's sheepskin mitts to wash with. You really can't go wrong with them and they last a good long time. As for a polish, well, I've got to recommend 1Z Paint Polish. By far the easiset to work with by hand that I've ever used and it produces excellent results. Removes swirls and leaves a great shine. I follow up with 1Z Glanz Wax and my car looks awesome.
 
With #1 the Woolite solution.. in carpets I spray the stain/spot and use a clean white terry towel and aggitate the area hard and the stain will transfer to the terry towel.



I use a cheap Walmart MF spritzed with the Woolite mix to wipe down / clean leather seats and door panels .. works good on shoe scuff too.



Also a light spritz of the Woolite on a MF and a wipe down of the dash/controls lifts crud and is like a dirt/ dust magnet. Dash detailing is a whiz.. try it. Same with on door edges ..



I use one cheap Walmart towel for it all .. 1st on the dash with light sprits then on to seats etc then to door edges. 1 or 2 mfs' will do a resonably dirthy car.
 
Name Qty / Each

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Upholstery Scrub Brush 1 2.75

303 Aerospace Protectant, 1 7.95

8 oz.

1-inch Round Natural 1 4.95

Detail Brush

Khaki Microfiber Buffing 1 15.95

Towel, Pkg/6

Ultimate Drying Towel 1 14.95

Handi-Grip Applicator 2 2.40

Foam Wax Applicator, 1 1.25

Pkg/1

Geniune Wool Wash Mitt 1 8.95

Subtotal 61.55

Shipping 8.50

Tax 0.00

Total 70.05



Now I need wax, polish, swirl remover, clay and I think I will just use the eagle one wet car wash. fyi: I have a ton of black trim on my car, what can I do to not stain it with wax when getting close to the trim with my handi applicator? I would like to order or pick up my products by tommorow, I would very much appreciate any advice.
 
To avoid staining the trim you can simply use masking tape to cover it, or you can try using meg's #40 which seems to make it very easy to wipe off wax from the trim.
 
thanks travis

Can anyone help me with polish and wax/sealent choices?? Read the:

-

-

-

etc part in my second big post.

It is fairly easy picking out a wash and clay, but there are about 30 or each Swirl remover, polish, and wax!
 
FWIW, Autopia store sells a nice claybar kit - http://www.autopia-carcare.com/peshclluinpa.html



Your chocies for polish and such in your original post are good. The 1Z Paint Polish that Macgirl mentioned would also be good.. Meg's SFP works fine by hand with a little elbow grease, so the choice is really up to you. Only thing I'd do is throw in a sealant in between the SEPC and wax.. perhaps Poorboy's EX-P. It's pretty clear, so it shouldn't darken your paint.



It seems like a popular choice these days is Clearkote's Vanilla Moose followed by EX-P, with the VM replacing the SEPC. You'll probably end up trying a few products to find something you really like! You can get both EX-P and VM from PakShak.. Detailing is an expensive hobby :)



Use that blue painter's masking tape from the hardware store.. it won't leave any residue behind. Stoner's Trim Shine would be good for making that trim look good.



We expect to see pictures when you're done with it all! ;)
 
Your chocies for polish and such in your original post are good. The 1Z Paint Polish that Macgirl mentioned would also be good.. Meg's SFP works fine by hand with a little elbow grease, so the choice is really up to you. Only thing I'd do is throw in a sealant in between the SEPC and wax.. perhaps Poorboy's EX-P. It's pretty clear, so it shouldn't darken your paint.
Click to expand...



I'll go with the SFP so I can use #83 with it if it doesent cut it. I think I will go with SEPC because of reviews on VM for now. There are no reviews on SEPC, but I have heard good things. Still open to suggestion that my 2cd big post in this thread went over what I want out of my polish. It is a good idea to throw in a sealent between polishing and waxing. I will get EX-P for now, I hope it goes well with everything else. I read that S100 wax is more for dark colors in their own description, I just want a really wet, deep and glossy finish, especially since I will be adding a sealent before. So I am still up in the air for wax. I was wondering if all the differences in brand affect performance as they were "made" to work with their same brand product to follow. ??

I suppose I will buy all this online, I will check a few local car stores to see if they have anything tomorrow. (such as Clay Magic)



I will get that blue tape from my brother's work. I have already used stoner's trim shine. :up



I am getting a few before picture by thursday with only a wash with eagle one wet. I put them up as soon as I get them.
 
Yes, Woolite is awesome! You can do your whole car without worrying if it's too weak for this or too strong for that. Just takes care of everything nicely. I actually went with the cheaper Target version and it worked out nicely.
 
For "safe" cotton towelling, see if you can find some good deals for name brand bath or hand towels for the washroom. Get something US made that says 100% cotton, and is from a reputable brand.



You can find good cotton towelling for auto use, but I'm not too sure where to get them other than from some Zaino dealers (try a search here to dig these places up).
 
I'll let the more experienced detailers suggest other products, but I've done SEPC + EX-P + S100 wax on two cars and had no problems. Works for me :nixweiss A new thread may be in order to get a specific recommendation for your desires since this one is filled with lots of other questions.



The S100 products you can pick up at a local Harley dealership. You may be able to find the Meg's products locally. How to find Meguiar's pro products by Mike Philips.



EX-P's look is described as looking as if your car was dipped in salad oil :) I'd say that's pretty wet!
 
I am going to make another thread for deciding on a final polish and wax or sealent. I called a local harley dealership, the girl who picked up looked for it (she was new there) and said she couldent find it. :nixweiss Are both the S100 products I am looking for there?





I bought #82 today from red rooster using the link, it was like 1.5 miles away! thanks for the link. I picked up some simple green for future engine detailing and 3 viking's terry towels to see if these work better also.



All I need now is my order to come in from autopia, Clay Magic or Mothers clay bar, S100 SEPC, EX-P and S100 wax. These choices may change with my new thread. If I do decide to go with EX-P, will I have to get it online?
 
The S100 products should be at all Harley dealerships.. I'm just in a small town in the middle of Indiana, but my local Harley shop had em. I walked back to the parts counter and asked em where to find it...



Unless you live near a Poorboy's distributor, you'll have to get the EX-P online. http://www.poorboysworld.com/distributors.htm



Heh, you could go all Poorboy's products if you like.. Professional Polish instead of SEPC and Natty's instead of S100.. Decisions decisions :)
 
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