I am interested in buying some Meguiar's or Mothers products so I'm just curious if they are good for their price range, or what else is popular out there. I really only want to find a very good dashboard protectant and a washing mitt (wool I hear is the best) that will be gentle on the paint, maybe a really good chamois and perhaps some good carwash soap, all the other stuff can be rather cheap (tire brush, tire shine, window cleaner).

4/15/2012 11:12:53 PM

whatever the car wash place i go to uses.

4/15/2012 11:16:44 PM

Can you Google that for me?

4/15/2012 11:35:08 PM

sure

https://www.google.com/search?q=north+ridge+auto+spa

4/15/2012 11:40:41 PM

They use Simoniz products. Sweet. Thanks.

4/16/2012 12:04:55 AM

fairy liquid

4/16/2012 12:52:43 AM

Use whatever is on sale; especially if it's on a clearance table.

[Edited on April 16, 2012 at 1:06 AM. Reason : l]

4/16/2012 1:06:30 AM

Im not too picky when it comes to cleaning supplies for the most part, the only product Im somewhat attached to is Black Magic's protectant spray -- others provide a slighter better result after a few weeks but thats the only brand that ive found that isnt overly glossy, absorbs fast, leaves no uneven marks and isnt greasy. Ill take 90% of the effectiveness if it means no greasiness, a good matte look that is clearly still absorbed in and 10 minutes to completion. That almost sounds dirty.


[Edited on April 16, 2012 at 1:22 AM. Reason : fef]

4/16/2012 1:20:40 AM

I usually use Meguiars and Mothers products. I've used turtle wax once and was pleased.

I also use a Meguiars Claybar kit and Mequiars Tire shine. Tire shine will usually last about 2-3 weeks on a "normal" one application coat.

4/16/2012 1:59:18 AM

Wait wait I'll make this a car forum thread in 3... 2...

One time I washed my car with Walmart/generic car was and the paint fell off

4/16/2012 8:05:34 AM

I wash mine with Brandon1.

4/16/2012 8:17:14 AM

Quote :

"I usually use Meguiars"

Same here...when I do my own it's usually with Meguiars products

4/16/2012 8:27:02 AM

I only use Zaino products.

And when washing the car I use a cotton washcloth and a 2 bucket system (one with soapy water, one a rinse bucket to get debris off the wash cloth). I wash the lower areas of the car last (basically anything 0-12" from the bottom of the car) to minimize picking up anything in the washcloth that can scratch the paint. Doing it in this manner takes twice as long but is about as close to preventing any scratches to your paint as is possible.

4/16/2012 8:41:10 AM

Quote :

"I wash the lower areas of the car last (basically anything 0-12" from the bottom of the car) to minimize picking up anything in the washcloth that can scratch the paint"

Wouldn't you want to start at the top since there's more grime near the bottom?

You could also use something like this in your wash bucket to help keep the grime out of your cloth/mitt: http://www.amazon.com/Grit-Guard-Wash-Bucket-Insert/dp/B000N3W8J0

4/16/2012 9:20:35 AM

Quote :

"Wouldn't you want to start at the top since there's more grime near the bottom?"

???

I said:

Quote :

"I wash the lower areas of the car last "

4/16/2012 10:49:36 AM

for some reason I also read 'last' as 'first' and didn't catch it until your second post.

4/16/2012 11:32:22 AM

I use dawn from the sink. Works just fine.

4/16/2012 11:39:31 AM

Dish soap strips off any wax, so that's a really bad idea

4/16/2012 11:47:10 AM

^^yeah that works great to remove all the wax from your paint

meguiar's gold class for me

[Edited on April 16, 2012 at 11:47 AM. Reason : doooop]

4/16/2012 11:47:14 AM

Mothers California Gold car wash looks interesting to me.

4/16/2012 11:52:45 AM

Any good carwash soap will work fine, I prefer Majestic Solutions or Duragloss, but as long as its carwash soap it will work fine.

A wool wash mitt is fine, coupled with a grit guard and using a rinse bucket for the mitt you can eliminate swirl-induced marring.

As far as a protectant, anything water based works well. 303 or Meguiars Natural Shine is great, but expensive. Normal new formula Armor All works very well, and is essentially the same product I use in my detailing business (just I buy in bulk). If you spray it on the towel and not directly on the dash, and flip the towel to a dry side after the initial wipe you can avoid anything being slimy or greasy.

Avoid any sort of clear protectant, it normally has petrolium and alcohol in the formula, which WILL dry out your dash and lead to early wear.

4/16/2012 1:56:35 PM

4/16/2012 3:46:30 PM

that black magic cherry smell is amazing.

4/16/2012 3:58:19 PM

Whatever dish soap we have under the sink.

A towel, and water.

4/16/2012 4:14:28 PM

Ardex mega-foam wash-n-wax soap,
Griot's Garage microfiber wash mitts
Zaino bros. paint sealant,
Aerospace 303 for the interior and exterior trim,
Surf City Garage tire spray at least after my 10 bottles I have left of Black Magic Matte finish tire spray runs out (yes, i know brandon the detailer doesn't approve and has talked shit about me using this product but it's only because he's never used it because if he had he'd know where i'm coming from. shit lasts for at least a month. Surf City is the most comparable I've found to the Black Magic but even it doesn't last as long as the B/M.)
Invisible Glass for the windows along with the stiff commercial roll of paper towels like what comes out of a dispenser.

4/16/2012 8:02:46 PM

^Thats the one Black Magic product I have heard decent things about. Its mainly because it looks to be water based, not some silicone rich gangster shine.

4/16/2012 8:18:46 PM

I used to use the BM tire shine product on my Porsche back in the day. I can attest to the fact it does last longer than my current Mequiar's stuff.. My in-laws have given me those Mequiar's detailing kits for christmas each year, and I don't run out usually until the end of the year when I get another kit, so I've never had a reason to buy another tire shine product


You know what I've discovered that I REALLY like for touch ups?



This stuff is the shit. I used to carry around a Quik Detailer and a Quik Wax in the cars for those bird droppings and stuff, but I swear this Original Bike Spirits Spray Cleaner & Polish cleans much better than that detailer and is easier to use. I like it because it's very practical than having to tote two different spray bottles.

<3

[Edited on April 16, 2012 at 8:46 PM. Reason : .]

4/16/2012 8:40:09 PM

Duragloss

4/16/2012 9:30:06 PM

Quote :

"^Thats the one Black Magic product I have heard decent things about. Its mainly because it looks to be water based, not some silicone rich gangster shine."

Don't think I forgot. lol

Quote :

"Brandon1 All American 950 Posts user info edit post ^^The Armor All sucks coming from a guy that uses "Black Magic". Yeah, listen if you want. 4/4/2009 3:36:13 PM"

i love the black magic matte finish. its too bad nobody else did. i guess because people want their tires looking wet. personally, i don't care for the look. matte finish has since been discontinued. it can be had from Big Lots, though.

4/17/2012 9:00:56 PM

rain.

4/17/2012 11:10:35 PM

Quote :

"DOUBLE BUCKET WASH"

4/17/2012 11:33:21 PM

So what do you guys think of Armor All products?

About are the microfiber mitts just as good/safe for your paint as the wool mitts?

[Edited on April 18, 2012 at 11:08 AM. Reason : /]

4/18/2012 11:06:29 AM

Quote :

"i love the black magic matte finish. its too bad nobody else did. i guess because people want their tires looking wet. personally, i don't care for the look. matte finish has since been discontinued. it can be had from Big Lots, though."

Something tells me you have at least one shelf in your garage filled up with this stuff right now.

4/18/2012 11:49:17 AM

I went to Kmart on Western and they had a bunch of stuff cheaper than you could buy it online. I would recommend checking it out if you wash your own car.

4/18/2012 1:17:18 PM

^^^Armor All makes "ok" stuff. I love their original protectant, it is alot better than the older stuff. Nice and matte, no gloss, looks nice.

Microfiber mitts dont hurt, however I feel as if they dont have enough material to catch/trap the dirt compared to a wool mitt. I use wool.

4/18/2012 8:27:49 PM

i need some wheel acid...I have some brake dust from some aggressive Carbotech pads on my Z06 wheels that won't come off with a brush, and won't even come off with a plastic scraper. It'll come off if I scrape it with a screwdriver, but I don't want to scratch my wheels (and it would suck terribly to have to scrape all the wheels like that, haha).

4/18/2012 8:55:50 PM

^Are they clearcoated? Meguiars wheel brightener or Poorboys Spray and Rinse are the most aggressive cleaners that I would ever put on coated or uncoated wheels.

You could also try a claybar on the wheels to pickup the specks.

4/18/2012 9:56:52 PM

^^how long did you leave that brake dust on those wheels? If at all possible you should get that stuff off immediately after the event, or no longer than one week if you want to prevent that problem.

I always have the wheels cleaned within 2-3 days after a track event.

(<---fellow Carbotech pad user)

4/19/2012 9:40:30 AM

Quote :

"Something tells me you have at least one shelf in your garage filled up with this stuff right now. "

nah, i'm down to 6 bottles from 10. lol

4/19/2012 9:56:03 PM

i haven't washed my saturn in...6 years? maybe 5

then again, it's a saturn

4/19/2012 10:02:15 PM

Something that I forgot about thast I use to use years ago, which you maybe find in a Dollar General or a Big Lots, is Son of a Gun by STP tire foam spray, it lasts for over a week and you can use it without having to clean your tires. I have not used a tire foam in years, so what is a good one that is out now?

4/30/2012 8:13:55 PM

some kasey kahne car wash i got at ollies for $.99

4/30/2012 11:40:09 PM

Almost exclusively Meguiar's. Lamb's wool mitt, two buckets.

5/1/2012 8:25:51 AM

bulk of my products for the car is Meguiar's with some Griot's Garage mixed in. i'm actually planning a full detailing on my Mustang this Saturday as the weather here is supposed to be decent enough.

5/1/2012 1:19:17 PM

whats the easiest way to remove brake dust from rims? Id love a spray and rinse option rather than having to wipe every spoke.

5/1/2012 4:52:36 PM

purple power mixed with some water

5/1/2012 6:08:50 PM

^noooooooooo. Purple power is caustic and even mixed with water its really strong for wheels. Not all wheels are affected, but spray it on the wrong wheel and you have ruined the set.

Stick to Eagle One A2Z wheel cleaner for locally available cleaners.

5/1/2012 8:51:53 PM

Doesn't really seem practical. Who grinds their sponge into the bottom of the bucket anyway? I rinse mine in the top few inches of water every time.

5/5/2012 6:32:47 PM

Its practical, common sense really. But if I owned the piece of shit cars you drive I wouldn't bother even washing them, period. I am sure a few more grimy scratches won't bother you.

5/5/2012 7:11:31 PM

Big talk from a man who slings Dodge Neons and Honda Civics with slipping transmissions.

5/5/2012 7:33:17 PM