Paint Cleaning? Big Deal or Not?

[RyansAutoDetail]

Sometimes (maybe most of the time?) claying isn't enough. The clay does indeed sheer off bonded contaminants on the paint but sometimes the bases of these contaminants are still embedded in the paint and could return in months to come. I'm having a difficult time adding in a specific paint cleaning step (with a paint cleaner or pre-wax cleaner) but I think it is an important step. I did a Trailblazer last year or the year before - washed, clayed with ONR I think and then used Poorboy's PwS. After half of the vehicle the pad was black ... meaning the paint was still incredible dirty even after washing and claying. It was a white vehicle and it was impossible to tell or feel that the paint was still dirty. Here was the pad:

wow that is nasty looking for a pad, what did it look like after cleaning did it all come out or did u have to trash it lol looks pretty garbage worthy to me such a mess wow ... didnt think pads could get that nasty !

 

[budman3]

wow that is nasty looking for a pad, what did it look like after cleaning did it all come out or did u have to trash it lol looks pretty garbage worthy to me such a mess wow ... didnt think pads could get that nasty !

It cleaned up just fine. Most of my pads clean up nicely except for the single stage paint ones and SSR1 pink :gotcha:

 

[Beemerboy]

Sorry missed this.

I carry all of Four Star's stuff. It's in their Pro line.

Four Star Professional Aluminum and Chrome Cleaner - Four Star Pro Detailing Products

So you mix this at what ratio and about the process?


With the FK1 you really can't work in the sun or the likes of that...so I only really get to use it in the very early hours

 

[malibu9in]

we use auto magics acid for wheels. They call it "spoke". We take it and use it straight on all cars. But while he puts it on the car with a rag i'm right behind him rinsing. This stuff works wonders on all the small spots on the car. White cars come out the best. Don't get the stuff on any glass without using a rag or the glass is ruined. It works awesome on removing etched water spots in glass.

 

[cheapshot]

kardol car-prep anyone?, I used this stuff before with good results, using a terry towel, with a nice amount of car-prep on it, give it a wipe, follow with a clean towel, then begin polishing that area.

car-prep seems to clean very well, this will keep your pads cleaner, and seems to give you a good start before polishing.