Detailing and maintenance (2nd gen RX)
03-22-16, 06:47 AM
#1
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Detailing and maintenance (2nd gen RX)
Weather is improving and I am looking to get into cleaning up my car. I sprayed it off here and there when it snowed to get off the salt. So far my car is fairly rust free on the bottom and I intend on keep it that way for it's life.
So that being said, what are some products you guys and gals use? What is your usual routine? Do you wash, clay, wax? What do you use on the interior? On the leather?
So far I have been just mostly washing by hand and then waxing after. However I have been looking at hitting the RX with the clay bar. Anyone done this?
Just trying to get some ideas and getting ready for some better weather!
So that being said, what are some products you guys and gals use? What is your usual routine? Do you wash, clay, wax? What do you use on the interior? On the leather?
So far I have been just mostly washing by hand and then waxing after. However I have been looking at hitting the RX with the clay bar. Anyone done this?
Just trying to get some ideas and getting ready for some better weather!
03-22-16, 09:35 AM
#2
Plenty of existing threads that answer all of these questions, so please have a look around the forum and utilize the search tools to find information quckly.....
Routine maintenance is an important part of owning your vehicle. This includes mechanical maintenance to keep it functioning properly, as well as cosmetic maintenance to keep it looking its best and to ensure your vehicle’s paint system will last well beyond your ownership.
Proper Washing & Drying is the most important factor in keeping your vehicle looking great. The key word here is proper... believe it or not, something as simple as washing and drying your vehicle is the root of most of the swirl marks and paint defects that we remove with our paint correction services. Proper washing and drying will help to drastically reduce the amount of swirls and scratches that are introduced into the finish over time which means your paint will look stunning for much longer.
I typically recommend a schedule which consists of cleaning the exterior of your vehicle every 1-2 weeks. If the vehicle is not driven often, this interval can be extended. If you’re short on time and the vehicle is dirty, a touchless car wash or coin-op pressure wash station is an ok alternative solution as long as spotless water is used for the final rinse. Let me stress that full service washes with employees drying your vehicle (ie Red Carpet) and automatic washes with spinning brushes will cause damage to your paint, so please avoid these options.
Please CLICK HERE to read about the proper way to clean your vehicle.
Let me know if you've got any specific questions that you can't find answers to.
-Zach
Routine maintenance is an important part of owning your vehicle. This includes mechanical maintenance to keep it functioning properly, as well as cosmetic maintenance to keep it looking its best and to ensure your vehicle’s paint system will last well beyond your ownership.
Proper Washing & Drying is the most important factor in keeping your vehicle looking great. The key word here is proper... believe it or not, something as simple as washing and drying your vehicle is the root of most of the swirl marks and paint defects that we remove with our paint correction services. Proper washing and drying will help to drastically reduce the amount of swirls and scratches that are introduced into the finish over time which means your paint will look stunning for much longer.
I typically recommend a schedule which consists of cleaning the exterior of your vehicle every 1-2 weeks. If the vehicle is not driven often, this interval can be extended. If you’re short on time and the vehicle is dirty, a touchless car wash or coin-op pressure wash station is an ok alternative solution as long as spotless water is used for the final rinse. Let me stress that full service washes with employees drying your vehicle (ie Red Carpet) and automatic washes with spinning brushes will cause damage to your paint, so please avoid these options.
Please CLICK HERE to read about the proper way to clean your vehicle.
Recommendations from products I have used...
Wheels and Tires
Sonax Full Effect Wheel Cleaner - Great for heavy brake dust buildup!
CG Diablo Gel Wheel Cleaner - Great for routine maintenance and light buildup!
EZ Detail Brush - a great tool to clean the barrels of your wheels! Pickup the large and mini brushes!
Wheel Woolies Kit - A great tool for cleaning wheel barrels, and other hard to reach places!
Tuf Shine Tire Cleaner & Tuf Shine Tire Brush
Opti-Bond Tire Gel - Water Based, so it helps nourish your rubber!
Washing:
Foam Lance (for pressure washers)
Gilmour Foamaster II Foam Gun - Attaches directly to your hose.
CG Honeydew Snow Foam - A great soap for your foam gun/cannon
2 Buckets & 2 Grit Guard (Package) - Essential equipment for safe washing!
Optimum Car Wash - A great maintenance shampoo.
Sheepskin Wash Mitt
Optimum No Rinse (ONR) - Rinseless Washing is a great way to quickly and safely clean your vehicle!
Bug & Tar:
CG Bug Bugger & Tar Remover
Stoner Tarminator - This tar remover will quickly and easily remove tar buildup
Drying:
Microfiber Waffle Weave Towel
Metro Master Blaster - The safest way to dry your car is to not touch it at all!
Master Blaster Sidekick - This small blower moves an amazing amount of air and is perfect for making sure you don't have any water left in cracks and crevices!
Decontamination:
CarPro Iron X
DI Fine Grade Clay
NanoSkin Glide (clay lubricant)
Polish:
Meg's M100 Cutting Compound (SMAT)
Meg's M205 Finishing Polish (SMAT)
Menzerna Fast Gloss 400 (DAT)
Menzerna Power Finish 2500 (DAT)
Menzerna Micro Polish SF4500 (DAT)
Sealant:
Menzerna Power Lock Synthetic Polymer Sealant
Blackfire Wet Diamond All Finish Paint Protection
Wax:
Chemical Guys Pete's '53 Black Pearl Signature Paste Wax
Pinnacle Souveran Paste Wax - a truly premium show car wax that
Semi-Permanent Protective Coatings
22ple VX3 Signature Coating - A silica based coating that will provide great protection and maximum gloss! Very easy to apply.
CarPro CQuartz - another silica based coating option from CarPro.
Buffers:
Griot's Garage 3rd Gen DA Polisher - Affordable, Effective, Reliable, and most of all SAFE FOR EVERYONE TO USE! This product is backed by a lifetime manufacturer warranty.
Backing Plates:
5" Backing Plate
3" Backing Plate
Buffing Pads:
Meguiar's MicroFiber Cutting Discs - Great for removing heavier defects or for working with harder paint
Lake Country 5.5” and 3” Foam Pads (I typically recommend Orange Light Cutting Pads, White Polishing Pads, Black Finishing Pads, and Blue Fine Finishing Pads)
Glass:
Stoner's Invisible Glass
Metal
CG Metal Wax Polish and Protection
Microfiber
Quality microfiber is one of the best investments you can make. You must make sure that only the best products are touching the surface of your car so that you are not scratching or damaging the surface.
Black & Yellow Towel - Perfect for removing polishes, sealants, waxes, etc. Plush on one side and shorter nap on the other. My go to towel for most of the work I do!
Double Thick Edgeless Towel - Perfect for quick detailers, rinseless washing, and other tasks where plush towels are needed.
Black All Purpose Towel - A must have towel! The black color helps to hide any stains that may occur during use. I use these towels exclusively on wheels, exhaust tips, engine bays, and other dirtier areas.
Micro-Restore Microfiber Detergent - Works great to clean your microfiber and help them maintain that "like new" softness. [/B]
Wheels and Tires
Sonax Full Effect Wheel Cleaner - Great for heavy brake dust buildup!
CG Diablo Gel Wheel Cleaner - Great for routine maintenance and light buildup!
EZ Detail Brush - a great tool to clean the barrels of your wheels! Pickup the large and mini brushes!
Wheel Woolies Kit - A great tool for cleaning wheel barrels, and other hard to reach places!
Tuf Shine Tire Cleaner & Tuf Shine Tire Brush
Opti-Bond Tire Gel - Water Based, so it helps nourish your rubber!
Washing:
Foam Lance (for pressure washers)
Gilmour Foamaster II Foam Gun - Attaches directly to your hose.
CG Honeydew Snow Foam - A great soap for your foam gun/cannon
2 Buckets & 2 Grit Guard (Package) - Essential equipment for safe washing!
Optimum Car Wash - A great maintenance shampoo.
Sheepskin Wash Mitt
Optimum No Rinse (ONR) - Rinseless Washing is a great way to quickly and safely clean your vehicle!
Bug & Tar:
CG Bug Bugger & Tar Remover
Stoner Tarminator - This tar remover will quickly and easily remove tar buildup
Drying:
Microfiber Waffle Weave Towel
Metro Master Blaster - The safest way to dry your car is to not touch it at all!
Master Blaster Sidekick - This small blower moves an amazing amount of air and is perfect for making sure you don't have any water left in cracks and crevices!
Decontamination:
CarPro Iron X
DI Fine Grade Clay
NanoSkin Glide (clay lubricant)
Polish:
Meg's M100 Cutting Compound (SMAT)
Meg's M205 Finishing Polish (SMAT)
Menzerna Fast Gloss 400 (DAT)
Menzerna Power Finish 2500 (DAT)
Menzerna Micro Polish SF4500 (DAT)
Sealant:
Menzerna Power Lock Synthetic Polymer Sealant
Blackfire Wet Diamond All Finish Paint Protection
Wax:
Chemical Guys Pete's '53 Black Pearl Signature Paste Wax
Pinnacle Souveran Paste Wax - a truly premium show car wax that
Semi-Permanent Protective Coatings
22ple VX3 Signature Coating - A silica based coating that will provide great protection and maximum gloss! Very easy to apply.
CarPro CQuartz - another silica based coating option from CarPro.
Buffers:
Griot's Garage 3rd Gen DA Polisher - Affordable, Effective, Reliable, and most of all SAFE FOR EVERYONE TO USE! This product is backed by a lifetime manufacturer warranty.
Backing Plates:
5" Backing Plate
3" Backing Plate
Buffing Pads:
Meguiar's MicroFiber Cutting Discs - Great for removing heavier defects or for working with harder paint
Lake Country 5.5” and 3” Foam Pads (I typically recommend Orange Light Cutting Pads, White Polishing Pads, Black Finishing Pads, and Blue Fine Finishing Pads)
Glass:
Stoner's Invisible Glass
Metal
CG Metal Wax Polish and Protection
Microfiber
Quality microfiber is one of the best investments you can make. You must make sure that only the best products are touching the surface of your car so that you are not scratching or damaging the surface.
Black & Yellow Towel - Perfect for removing polishes, sealants, waxes, etc. Plush on one side and shorter nap on the other. My go to towel for most of the work I do!
Double Thick Edgeless Towel - Perfect for quick detailers, rinseless washing, and other tasks where plush towels are needed.
Black All Purpose Towel - A must have towel! The black color helps to hide any stains that may occur during use. I use these towels exclusively on wheels, exhaust tips, engine bays, and other dirtier areas.
Micro-Restore Microfiber Detergent - Works great to clean your microfiber and help them maintain that "like new" softness. [/B]
Let me know if you've got any specific questions that you can't find answers to.
-Zach
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