The ultimate, end all, best Paint Cleaner? (Poll)

Best Paint Cleaner?

  • Zymol HD-Cleanse

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • P21s Paint Cleanser

    Votes: 1 100.0%

  • Klasse

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Pinnacle

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • S100

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    1
M

MnRiverman

New member
I've read lots and lots on here about different paint cleaners, (Zymol, P21S, Klasse, Zaino) and I am curious as to which one you guys think is the best all around. Easiest to use, best results, etc - but I don't want price to be a factor.



Also on a side note, it seems that everyone on here is a Zymol hater - what do you all know that I don't? I seem to be the only one that likes it. Is it because it's over priced? Hard to apply? I have had excellent results with HD-Cleanse on my E46 BMW.



So anyways, if I can figure out how to post an open poll, maybe we can see some interesting figures.



- Anthony
 
OK, maybe a moderator can help me, but how do I post an open poll? There are lots of different cleaners obviously, and I don't know all their names, so I figured I'd leave the poll open. Can this not be done?
 
A *LOT* of people on here seem to be very very happy with P21s GEPC (Gloss Enhancing Paintwork Cleanser).



I've only used Pinnacle Paintwork Cleanser.. it's nice and all, but I hear GEPC is easier to use.
 
Yeah flux I've heard a lot of good things about that stuff, I'm really tempted to try it. Maybe it'll offset my crayon smell. :D



And can I not do an open poll? Or even edit my poll for that matter? If not, then can a moderator remove the poll all together, cause it really does no good otherwise.
 
adg44 said:
Yeah flux I've heard a lot of good things about that stuff, I'm really tempted to try it. Maybe it'll offset my crayon smell. :D



And can I not do an open poll? Or even edit my poll for that matter? If not, then can a moderator remove the poll all together, cause it really does no good otherwise.
Click to expand...



I don't think you can do an open poll where users add their own favorites. You can also try S100 SEPC (Shine Enhancing Paint Cleanser) it's the same stuff as P21s, just relabeled and you can find that at most Harley Davidson shops. Atleast you can pick that one up locally.
 
adg44 said:
OK, maybe a moderator can help me, but how do I post an open poll? There are lots of different cleaners obviously, and I don't know all their names, so I figured I'd leave the poll open. Can this not be done?
Click to expand...



Nope. If you want to post a poll then you pretty much have to list all the options you want them to vote on.



PM a moderator with a link to this thread and the other options you want to add to your poll and we'd be glad to do it for you.
 
P21s Is My All Out Favorite. I Rate HD-Cleanse Pretty Far Down On My List. It Also Seems Harsher than the p21s or the ppcl.
 
Jngrbrdman said:
Nope. If you want to post a poll then you pretty much have to list all the options you want them to vote on.



PM a moderator with a link to this thread and the other options you want to add to your poll and we'd be glad to do it for you.
Click to expand...



That's the problem, I dont know all the cleaners. :D



I guess I'll just ask for the poll to be removed - it's too much of a hassle.



Seems like a real set back that vBulletin doesn't let open polls....



And if I could nicely ask that we don't use abbreviations for these products, cause if I see AIOEF or PPCPPWL or whatever again I'm gonna go crazy! :P



- Anthony
 
bjwebster said:
P21s Is My All Out Favorite. I Rate HD-Cleanse Pretty Far Down On My List. It Also Seems Harsher than the p21s or the ppcl.
Click to expand...



Curious, how did you come to this conclusion?



And one more question, how often is too often to use a paint cleaner?
 
Wow, I am now versed in Autopia lingo. :D :p Thanks for the link. :up



However I have two more related questions....



1. After I SMR, am I wasting my time with a paint cleaner? What do I have to gain from a paint cleaner after SMR?



2. Since I've been reading that all paint cleaners are all somewhat abrasive, how often is too often to use one? Can someone do this once a month? Once every 6 months?
 
The P21S GEPC isn't much of a cleaner; it's more like a glaze, IMHO.



Compared to HD-Cleanse, P21S GEPC is very, very, very mild; HD-Cleanse compared to 3M SMR is mild; see where I'm headed?



My favorite paint cleaner (i.e. removes minor defects, oxidation, cuts through grime/etc) would probably be something like Meguiar's Dual Action Cleaner or 3M Finesse-It II. I'd then follow with 3M SMR, which would be followed with P21S GEPC.



As far as frequency, you don't want to use it anymore than "necessary" - no sense in removing good paint/clear coat if it's not required. I use the DACP about twice per year, and then keep a good wax/synthetic on for protection.
 
adg44 said:
That's the problem, I dont know all the cleaners. :D



- Anthony
Click to expand...



Here is a partial list of paint cleaners, which are chemical as opposed to mechaically abrasive:



Meguiar's Medallion paint cleaner

Meguiar's Deep Crystal paint cleaner

Meguiar's Body Scrub

Mother's Phase 1

Mother's California Gold Pre-Wax Cleaner

Zymol HD

Pinnacle PPCL

P21S PCL

Autoglym Super Resin Polish

Liquid Glass Pre-Cleaner

Klasse AIO

HARLY PRE-WAX CLEANER

Platinum Series Ultimate Paint Pre-Cleaner

Lusso Revitalizing Creme

BLACKFIRE Gloss Enhancing Polish

Einszett Metalliac Polish

One Grand Special Touch

FINISH FIRST Pre-Cleaner

SurLuster Pre-Wax Cleaner

Detailer’s Pride Pre-Wax Polish & Cleaner

SONAX PAINTWORK GLOSS

Collinite #840 Sapphire Prewax Cleaner

Duragloss Polish Prep



Eric
 
I find it interesting to see the results for S100 so low since it is the same as P21S but a bit cheaper. Thought more people would be using S100 than as indicated by the survey results.
 
why not just clay the car? claying is basically cleaning the paint. If your paint needs a bigger job than that, then its time to step up to a polish like 3m smr.
 
People (again) seem to have been bamboozled by wierd or misleading product nomenclature. A "paint cleaner" isn't really for cleaning dirt off of paint and it doesn't mean that it's only a chemical cleaner. Some cleaners are almost like swirl removal products (polishing and filling), while others really do clean and polish everything off squeaky clean.

edschwab1 said:
Here is a partial list of paint cleaners, which are chemical as opposed to mechaically abrasive:
Click to expand...
Almost all (if not all) of those "cleaners" contain some abrasives to help clean and polish up the paint. From what I've heard, the closest one can get to an almost abrasive-free paint cleaner/cleanser/pre-wax cleaner is the P21S/S100 or Pinnacle products.



Also, Mothers Phase 1 and California Gold Pre-wax cleaner are the same thing, and Klasse AIO and Autoglym Super Resin Polish should probably be removed because technically they're categorized with the cleaner waxes.

Abercrombie2582 said:
why not just clay the car? claying is basically cleaning the paint. If your paint needs a bigger job than that, then its time to step up to a polish like 3m smr.
Click to expand...
Clay and paint cleaning/cleansing products have different jobs. Clay is for plucking out tar specks, fallout, rail dust, etc, etc. in other words, real physical dirt. Paint cleaners should be treated almost like polishes (like SMR), as they deal with oxidation and sometimes minor marring or swirls.
 
iceman said:
I find it interesting to see the results for S100 so low since it is the same as P21S but a bit cheaper. Thought more people would be using S100 than as indicated by the survey results.
Click to expand...



Perhaps people are interpreting it as S100 - the paste wax and not S100 SEPC. :nixweiss



Technically, I would have lumped both of those as one item. Just like many of us go by S100/P21S nomenclature.



Clay/Polish



Think of clay "pulling" surface contaminatin out of the clear. If you haven't come across this technique earlier, place your fingers in a thin plastic bad, wet the paint and run your fingers through the bag over the paint. You should feel some surface contaminates (bumps). The plastic for some reason assist in sensing the particles. By claying, you pull those out of the clear.





Polishing levels down scratches so that it essentially "pushes" things into the paint until they are level. That's why it's important to clay first.



That way, the surface will polish much better and the end result will be much more satisfying.



It's late, I could probably have described it better but I need to go catch some ZZZzzzzz.



I agree with 4DSC - a paint cleaner is simply a mild polish.



i.e.



Medium Cut Cleaner, DACP, Fine Cut Cleaner, Swirl Mark Remover, Paint Cleaner, Glaze, Protectant (wax/sealant)



Different companies call things different and marketing plays a big part of it. If some was to see it as a polish or fine cut compound, they would more worried about it's effects. Seeing it labelled as a cleaner makes the average customer less weary of the purchase.



I'd like to see an abrasive guide setup that all the companies use similar to the engine oil setup:



5W30 --> 30C70 i.e. 30 cutting, breaking down to a 70 polish.



Imagine,



DACP - 30C85

FI2 - 40C70

SMR - 70C90

Hand Polish - 90C95



Oh wouldn't that be wonderful. 3M has a grading that isn't technically easy available.



Pinch me, I think I just had a dream.
 
Paco - you may not be dreaming...



I bought some DACP and #9 from Meguiars about a week ago. When it got here I noticed the bottles that I have not seen before...they had a scale on them. Shows level of aggressiveness on a scale of 1-10. If all the other companies would follow suit with the same scale it would be a perfect world.

:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top