Just wondering what car care products you use. Perhaps we can share some ideas and "trade secrets". There are lots of products out there, of which some may be unaware. There's really no right or wrong answers here, if it works for you...Except maybe, washing your car with a brillo pad.

Try this format. Just copy and paste:
Wash-
Wax/Polish-
Quick Detailer-
Dash/Trim-
Leather-
Wheels/Tires-
Windows-
Other-
Comments-

I'll go first...
Wash-Pinnacle Bodywork Shampoo
Wax/Polish-Pinnacle Souveran Paste Wax & S100 Paste Wax
Quick Detailer-Pinnacle Crystal Mist Spray Wax/Meguiars #34
Dash/Trim-Vinylex and 303 Aerospace Protectant
Leather-Lexol, with a dab of Connolly Hide Food on the applicator
Wheels/Tires-Wheels/Formula 2001, Tires/Purple Degreaser/Meg's Endurance
Windows-Windex and Stoner's Invisible Glass
Other-PakShak Microfiber Towels
Comments- I've read that a black car is the final exam of car care. I can testify to that. My advice...Don't buy a black car, unless you have a garage.

 

Wash- Zip Wax
Wax/Polish- Zaino
Quick Detailer- none
Dash/Trim- wipe the dust with a dry rag, never touch otherwise.
Leather- Zaino's leather in a bottle...mmm the smell
Wheels/Tires- Meguires or Turtle Wax Tire Gel
Windows- Windex or the like
Other- A residential vacuum with a small brush attachment works great for dusting the interior.
Comments- Formula 409 works great on many plastic parts especially the kick panels. Just spray on, let it sit for about 10 seconds and wipe off. I also use it to spot treat dirty parts of the leather before conditioning it. Keep the leather clean and not glossy. Also, tan cars are very forgiving

P.S. - Let me also add that I also use a claybar every few months, or so. Amazing smoothness after a claybar and polish

 

Wash-Zaino
Wax/Polish-Zaino
Quick Detailer-Zaino
Dash/Trim-Meguires Concourse
Leather-Zaino Leather in a bottle
Wheels/Tires-Mothers Chrome for wheels/Forever Black on tires
Windows-Zaino ClearView outside/Plexus for the tint
Other-I sometimes remove everything and start with some 3M Glazes to get it perfect before sealing with Zaino
Comments-Zaino makes washing the car easier than I ever thought. I live in the most tree populated city in the world, Sacramento. We have more tree sap on my car than anything else. With the flow of water out of the hose, all of the dirt and debris floats right off.

MW

 

Wash- Mother's California Gold Car Wash

Wax/Polish- Mother's Pure Carnauba Paste Wax (polish only if it seems needed). I apply it with my bare hands, rubbing briskly to warm/soften it before putting on the car. This technique is very thorough and gives me better control of exactly where the wax winds up.

Quick Detailer- Meguiar's, if any.

Dash/Trim- Mother's Preserves Protectant. Works especially well on the soft rubber door seals.

Leather- Zymol, although I'm not happy with the results of it so far. My car is 10 years old and the leather is particularly ground-in dirty. I'm going to try the "Soft Scrub" technique mentioned in other threads.

Wheels/Tires- Nothing special here. Just car wash suds with a soft Oxo brush.

Windows- Varies depending on my mood. I haven't yet found anything satisfactory for removing interior haze, and cleaning the exterior to reduce the glare from the glass' age-pitting. Sometimes I use Glass Wax. Always use newspaper for the applicator. No lint and it doesn't flop around on the dashboard, contaminating it.

Other- For the wash itself, I've begun using an Oxo car wash brush. It's easy to hold, the polymer handle won't scratch the car if I bump it, the bristles are very soft, and the brush generally resists holding onto particular debris. I've used sponges and mitts over the years and they're all lousy because they hold onto the grime and grit and spread it around, scratching the finish.

I've made one attempt at using a Meguiar's Clay Bar, using the car wash solution (diluted) as a lubricant. It works very well in picking up tree sap, bird poo and other weird stains on top of the wax coat. I think using clay takes some practice.

Comments- I dry with a miracle towel for the first pass (like a chamois but holds more water and doesn't get stiff), then cloth diapers (Pampers), and use those for other dressing applications/removal. Seems to be the best material for this.

Ral

 

When I first read that, I thought "Wow, it hides food stains on the leather?" It's been a long day, man.

Ral

 

Wash-Zaino Z7
Wax/Polish-Zaino Z1 & Z2
Quick Detailer- Zaino Z6
Dash/Trim- Lexol Vinylex
Leather- Lexol
Wheels/Tires- nada....always gets crap on the car and a little too pimp for me, regardless
Windows- plain H20 with 10% sudsy ammonia (not on the tint, tho)
Other- 100% cotton to wash, 2 buckets, 100% cotton to dry
Comments-

 

Wash- Zaino Z-7
Wax/Polish- Zaino Z-5 ( 2 coats ) followed by 2 coats of Z-3
Quick Detailer- Zaino Z-6
Dash/Trim- Zaino Z-9 & Z-10
Leather- Same as above ( or Lexol )
Wheels/Tires- Zaino Z-16
Windows- Griots Glass Polish & Glass Cleaner
Comments - Like MT, I use 100% cotton towels to dry & Griot's
sheepskin wash mitt ( one bucket of suds & another with
clean water for rinsing the mitt ). I also use a separate
mitt for the wheels & tires. Then I use my leaf blower to
get rid of the excess water. Every 3 months or so I use
the Zaino Z-18 Claybar then break out some of the
Griot's Polish 3 & the Porter Cable buffer to get rid of the
swirls & scratches. Kills an entire day ( even with the
Zaino ZFX ) but it's worth it!! Every morning ( weather
permiting ) I wipe the GS down with a California Duster
& treat it to a bit of Z-6. Then my wife takes it to work &
gets it dirty for me!!

:eek:

 

You guys really like the wash mitts? I've used sheepskin mitts and generally found them impossible to keep clean and debris-free. The Oxo brush I use is a lot easier in that respect.

Ral

 

Wash=Eimann Fabrik Power Wash
"Wax"=Klasse AIO & 3 coats SG
QD=Sonusacrylix
Dash/Trim=303
Leather=Leatherique
Wheels/tires cleaning=Amsoil Pure Power
Tires shining=Vinylex (less shine) & EF Black Sapphire (lots shine)
Windows=EF Clear Vision & Stoner

HIgh quality MF towels = CMA, Neatitem, Yo-Steve

 

I like using a mit, but I don't wear on my hand like one. I've used the sheepskin mits. They are VERY soft when new, but they began molting on me They would fall apart after a short time. I think it may be b/c it stayed wet so long, but it took forever to dry. I tried to keep it in open air.

As for the mit I use now, I have to have the bug-scraper design on one side of the mit. It works great for removing bugs and other things off the paint without harm.

 

Wash- Zaino Z7
Wax/Polish- Zaino Z5 and Z2 w/ ZFX
Quick Detailer- Zaino Z6 and Meguiars (Zaino seems better)
Dash/Trim- Meguiars Natural Shine
Leather- undecided, Tanner's Preserve isn't bad
Wheels/Tires- Zaino or Meguiars Endurance
Windows- homebrew, Armor All on tint
Other-
Comments- I've got a dark green 92 ES. The Zaino looks great, but I think I'm gonna try OneGrand next spring when I reclay the car and start over. I'm still trying different things and looking for the right ones on the interior.

 

I have done the soft scrub technique to my wifes 93 ls400 w/black leather. It's a very impressive technique. doesn't harm the leather or the color-dye. the amount of dirt that comes out will amaze you. people really are filthy. for those who still doubt the technique, think of the soft scrub like using a facial scrub or something similar. the grit actually digs crap out of the poors of the leather.

which company makes the best clay bar?

 

Clay Bar...

Mothers and Clay Magic (Blue bar) are both highly rated

 

Frank - Either the Mother's or Griot's claybars seem to work equally well. I also like the Zaino bar but it's rather small in size for the money. If U want to do a large area try the Griot's buffing pad with a recessed section in the middle for utilizing a claybar.
http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog....1004&SKU=10631

 

I've done this too and was amazed as well. I did feel like it dried my leather out a little, but I conditioned it real well and it's been fine. I've still got a little bit of white residue in some of the stitching but I think it's coming out over cleanings with leather cleaner.