New Mustang, need info on keeping it clean.

[JoshLSTV]

Hello all, I've just picked up my custom ordered Sterling Grey 2013 Mustang V6 Premium, and I need help learning the proper ways to clean it. I'm trying to figure out what products that I need to purchase. Mainly for washing as I've done some polishing and waxing on my old Contour SVT, and already have a small assortment of products for those purposes. Below is a list of what I have right now, and there is a few pictures of my car at the bottom of this post.



Griot's Garage 11605Z 6-Inch Orbital Machine Polish and Wax Kit : Amazon.com : Automotive

Meguiars Ultimate Compound

Meguiars NXT 2.0 Wax

Meguiars Deep Crystal Car Wash

Eagle One A2Z Wheel Cleaner

Armor All Extreme Tire Gel

~20 Assorted Microfiber towels

Absorber style drying towel



I know that I need to get a couple of buckets so that I can use the 2 bucket wash method. I've always skipped doing that as the only car that I've "detailed" is my Contour which is 12 years old and I wasn't worried too much about a few little possible scratches, but now that I have a brand new car I want to avoid those as much as possible. I've read about having grit guards in the buckets. Are these necessary because I haven't found any inexpensive buckets with them, and I don't have a huge budget to work with. Any recommendations?



I'm planning on buying an Race glaze XL brush for the insides of my wheels. I've always just used a kitchen sponge, but sometimes I have a hard time reaching inside the wheel, and since the spokes on my new wheels are so close together I'm going to need something different. I've seen lots of recommendations for this brush, but is there anything better that's less expensive?



I also need help on keeping the interior looking new. I know absolutely nothing about cleaning an interior. All I've ever done is vacuum it out and use a damp rag to wipe it down. Never done anything to the leather because I'm not sure whats good for it.



Also, just as a side note, my car unfortunately sits out in the weather 24/7.



Thanks in advance for the help. I'm sure I'll have many more questions, but I think this post is long enough for now.





PA281715 by Josh_LSTV, on Flickr





PA281709 by Josh_LSTV, on Flickr





PA281723 by Josh_LSTV, on Flickr

 

[Dan]

Nice car, Ford really has gotten the interiors of the Mustangs down. Looks like you have everything you really need to keep the car looking great. You've been doing the right thing for interiors. There are countless threads that deal with leather but wiping it down regularly is more important than any sort of protectant.



The only things I'd add to your collection to make life easier is a spray wax or quick detailer for use during washes. As you are drying the car, spray it down with the spray wax on your final drying pass.

 

[IHA Mark]

Looks like you have made some good selections, and I second Dan's opinion that you need a QD to help between washes and spot cleaning.



I'm not sure where you live, but I would also recommend a rinseless or waterless wash product for cold weather.



Hope that helps a bit, but you are on the track.

 

[Accumulator]

JoshLSTV- Great color choice :xyxthumbs



IMO the single biggest challenge will be washing it without instilling marring (swirls/scratches/etc.).



Since the car will be outside, I'd choose a LSP (wax/sealant) based on protection/durability rather than looks alone.



Those wheels shouldn't be *too* bad to do with small sponges or mitts (Griot's sells a nice little sheepskin mitt for wheels) unless your hands are really big. The Race Glaze brush doesn't look *nearly* soft enough for me. If you want something like that I'd look into one that has softer bristels or uses a sheepskin material. Check out the various wheel cleaning tools at Griot's Garage (even if you buy similar stuff cheaper elsewhere you'll get a good idea of what to consider).



Yeah, those wheels will take some time, but then this stuff simply *does* if you're gonna do it right.

 

[pwaug]

You sure are on the right track!! Since your car will be outdoors 24/7 you might want to consider a permanent coating like Opti Coat 2.0--like adding another layer of clear coat. If not the permanent coating you might want to consider a paint sealant with extended durability--there are many, but one that comes to mind is Duragloss 105--reasonably priced, easy to apply and with occasional applications of their liquid spray sealant AquaWax you should be able to get 4-6 months of protection.

 

[JoshLSTV]

Nice car, Ford really has gotten the interiors of the Mustangs down. Looks like you have everything you really need to keep the car looking great. You've been doing the right thing for interiors. There are countless threads that deal with leather but wiping it down regularly is more important than any sort of protectant.



The only things I'd add to your collection to make life easier is a spray wax or quick detailer for use during washes. As you are drying the car, spray it down with the spray wax on your final drying pass.

Thanks, I'm really loving the car. The interior is really nice, especially at night with the ambient lighting that Ford has been implementing recently. I'll have to get some night time pictures up maybe this weekend.

Looks like you have made some good selections, and I second Dan's opinion that you need a QD to help between washes and spot cleaning.



I'm not sure where you live, but I would also recommend a rinseless or waterless wash product for cold weather.

Anyone have any recommendations for a good QD? I have one that came with the griots kit, but can't seem to get it to NOT streak. Is it just not good or are they all this way?



Yeah, I'm looking into rinse less washes as I live in Kentucky, and it gets fairly cold here in the winter time. Again, any recommendations.

JoshLSTV- Great color choice :xyxthumbs

Thanks. The color choice was partly because I've always liked gray Mustangs, but I also believe it will look clean longer than say black or the dark blue that I was considering also.

IMO the single biggest challenge will be washing it without instilling marring (swirls/scratches/etc.).

This is where I need to improve the most. I need to get those buckets, and grit guards if they are necessary, and I also need to get a different dry towel as I've been using a chamois-like absorber which I know has created some marring on my Contour. What types of drying towels are you guys using?

Since the car will be outside, I'd choose a LSP (wax/sealant) based on protection/durability rather than looks alone.

Any suggestions for a long lasting durable wax? The NXT 2.0 I've been using seems to last around 2-3 months, but I'm sure there is better out there.

Those wheels shouldn't be *too* bad to do with small sponges or mitts (Griot's sells a nice little sheepskin mitt for wheels) unless your hands are really big. The Race Glaze brush doesn't look *nearly* soft enough for me.

I was planning on using the Race Glaze only for the inside of the wheels that I can't get too with a sponge. I plan to continue to use sponges on the face of the wheel.

 

[IHA Mark]

I would recommend buying some Optimum No Rinse. You can use it as a rinse less wash, a QD, and a clay bar lubricant. Very versatile product.

 

[Dan]

Anyone have any recommendations for a good QD? I have one that came with the griots kit, but can't seem to get it to NOT streak. Is it just not good or are they all this way?



Any suggestions for a long lasting durable wax? The NXT 2.0 I've been using seems to last around 2-3 months, but I'm sure there is better out there.

The Griots QD is one of the best. Streaking usually occurs if the surface is too hot or you are using too much QD. You can cut it with water, that usually helps. Other recommendations are Optimums QD or FK425.



On the NXT, there are more durable waxes, but NXT is one of the best protecting. People don't give it enough credit in the looks dept either. You could step up to something like a Collinite to get more durability and protection. Opticoat is also a great answer for daily drivers.

 

[lostdaytomorrow]

Collinite 476s for your wax, but only after a full paint prep. Do not try to put this wax on without claying and an AIO is a good idea before putting it on as well.

 

[Swanicyouth]

I didn't like the Griots Speed Shine either (I think that is what you are referring to). It streaked for me also on black, other colors its probably OK. If you are looking for an excellent QD try Prima Slick or Optimum Instant Detailer.



It's also a good idea to have a good waterless wash around. All of them are pretty good, I've tried several. Ultima Waterless Wash + ( UWW+) is the best deal going at about 4 cents an ounce when mixed. The new Pinnacle waterless wash looks like another great deal and has some carnuba in it. Really, a good waterless wash can substitute as a QD any time.



To clean wheels, I think the best combo is a small handled boars hair brush like this:

And a set of Daytona or EZ Wheel Brushes:

They are nice because you can bend them to get in all sorts of places:

A boars hair paint brush style brush is also handy for wheels, lug nuts, and emblems

You can get the correct 5 gallon buckets at Lowes, Home Depot, or Super Walmart for less than five dollars a bucket. I would recommend at lease one grit guard in your rinse bucket. Better still, one in each bucket.



The buckets come separate from the grit guards. The GG will work satisfactorily with almost any five gallon bucket, as the size is fairly standard. You don't need to get 25$ buckets through the mail, grit guards are fairly hard to source locally.



For the interior get a good leather cleaner. I would stay away from leather "conditioners" or "dressings" as the consensus seems to be modern auto leather doesn't need to "conditioned" because its coating and little (if any) conditioner permeates the coating.



However you should try a d protect them with something. Ultima Interior Guard Plus is a good sealant that can be used on leather and helps protect it. However, I've switched to G Techniq L1 as I think it's a bit better. The new 2013 Meguiars Leather Sealant kit looms interesting (and similar) as well.



Congratulations on the new car!

 

[Dan]

Or you can just get some overhead light grating from home depot for $5 and make your own grit guards that fit in any bucket. I've been using my ghetto grit guards for six years now, they work great and are taller than the real ones which I like.

 

[pwaug]

Or you can just get some overhead light grating from home depot for $5 and make your own grit guards that fit in any bucket. I've been using my ghetto grit guards for six years now, they work great and are taller than the real ones which I like.

+1 And if you find some broken ones they will usually let them go for a buck.

 

[JoshLSTV]

I'm going to try some ONR as I've seen a lot of good things about it. Maybe once a month or so I'm going to try to use the ONR to wash it in the garage. I'm not sure if I'll get a QD yet since the ONR claims it can be used as a QD. I'm also going to get a couple grit guards, and get some 5 gallon buckets from Walmart or Home Depot.



Still considering the Race Glaze brush, but trying to find something similar that is cheaper.



The wax I'm still undecided on. I think I'm going to stay away from those "permanent" waxes for now since I'm still new to detailing, and I'm still on the search for a durable long lasting regular wax.



Also looking for a drying towel that is less likely to mar my paint. I've been reading about waffle weave microfibers for drying, but when I used one of my microfiber towels to try to dry my car it didn't work that well so I'm skeptical about these.

 

[pwaug]

ONR can be mixed at QD strength and can also be used as a clay lubricant. If you're going to ONR wash perhaps you want to wash it more than once per month so that the car is not TOO dirty when you wash.



Here is another wheel brush that is less expensive Laitner Ergonomic Spoke/ Slot Wheel Brush, spoke wheel brush, narrow wheel brush, wheel cleaning brush



If you're not going to use a coating then you really need a long lasting wax or sealant--as mentioned above you can't beat DG105 or Collinite 845 for durability and ease of use--both are reasonably priced also.



MF WW towels dry better than fluffy MF IMO, but still need to be very lightly dampened before use--with ONR best to do first dry wipe with a WW then second dry wipe with a fluffy MF.

 

[mackey]

FWIW lowes 5gal buckets arent "standard" size as the inner diameter of their buckets are smaller and the GG wont fit but halfway into the bucket which are tapered down from the opening. It may be the same for home depot IIRC.



the white paint buckets are good to go if you find them there as thats what the GG were designed for. i ended up finding them at OSH

 

[JoshLSTV]

ONR can be mixed at QD strength and can also be used as a clay lubricant. If you're going to ONR wash perhaps you want to wash it more than once per month so that the car is not TOO dirty when you wash.



Here is another wheel brush that is less expensive Laitner Ergonomic Spoke/ Slot Wheel Brush, spoke wheel brush, narrow wheel brush, wheel cleaning brush



If you're not going to use a coating then you really need a long lasting wax or sealant--as mentioned above you can't beat DG105 or Collinite 845 for durability and ease of use--both are reasonably priced also.



MF WW towels dry better than fluffy MF IMO, but still need to be very lightly dampened before use--with ONR best to do first dry wipe with a WW then second dry wipe with a fluffy MF.

Thanks for the wax, and brush suggestions. I'll look into those. I think I'll pick up a WW MF and try it out. I've been using an absorber towel that works really well but it's marring my paint.

FWIW lowes 5gal buckets arent "standard" size as the inner diameter of their buckets are smaller and the GG wont fit but halfway into the bucket which are tapered down from the opening. It may be the same for home depot IIRC.



the white paint buckets are good to go if you find them there as thats what the GG were designed for. i ended up finding them at OSH

Will the grit guard still work properly in the lowes buckets? Any idea what the inner diameter should be so that I could measure them in store before buying ones that don't fit.

 

[JoshLSTV]

As long as the weather holds up later today I'm going to try the Griots Speed Shine again. I'm going to hose the dust off of one panel and pat it dry. Then I'm going to apply less of the Speed Shine and see if I can keep it from streaking.



I've been researching the Speed Shine, and have seen pretty much nothing but good things about it so I'm not going to give up on it just yet. I think I've been applying too much because I couldn't get the sprayer to mist; it was more of a stream. I finally figured out that if you only slightly twist the nozzle you'll get a mist instead of a stream. We'll see what happens tomorrow, but I'm hoping that it works out.

 

[Accumulator]

JoshLSTV- Sorry, and a bit perplexed, to hear you're having troubles with the SpeedShine; it's been, uhm...Accumulator-proof for me no matter how I use it :think:



One thing that makes me a bit nervous is that if you're using it on a not-perfectly-clean car, using less of it might make it more likely that you'll mar things up. The sprayer *should* mist though.



On, just FWIW, much as I like the SpeedShine, I can't stand it as a clay lube! The "wax"/whatever that's in it seems to compromise the claying process's effectiveness.

 

[JoshLSTV]

Ended up not trying out the Speed Shine yet. I looked at the car, and thought it was pretty dirty so I didn't want to risk marring up my paint. I did place an order on Amazon for 32 oz's of ONR, Grit Guard insert, Viking Waffle Weave drying towel, the wheel brush that pwang listed above, and some Mother FX Tire Shine which I've wanted to try for a while now. So I think I'll be ready to go once this stuff is delivered.



Also found a couple old buckets in our garage that I think are standard sized 5 gallon buckets. They measure around 10.5" outside diameter on the bottom so I'm hoping the grit guard fits in one of those. I only ordered one grit guard for now, but plan to get another one eventually if these buckets work out.

 

[togwt]

Thanks for the wax, and brush suggestions. I'll look into those. I think I'll pick up a WW MF and try it out. I've been using an absorber towel that works really well but it's marring my paint.







Will the grit guard still work properly in the lowes buckets? Any idea what the inner diameter should be so that I could measure them in store before buying ones that don't fit.

Grit Guard® Grid - 10 ½-inch diameter x 2 5/8-inch height