Ask a Professional Detailer
Oh I misunderstood the question. In that case, Black Magic makes (don't know if its still available) a product thats an aerosol 2-in-1 Engine Cleaner / Dressing. It tends to leave a white residue on rubber hoses, so you'll need to wipe those after, but other than that it works well for spray on spray off. Honestly you won't find better because you really need to scrub it for good results.
303 rubs off on your interior? How do you mean? Like the shine comes off if you touch it? I personally wouldn't apply it to any surfaces you'll be touching.
For the underbody, what are you using now? With the lack of clear/paint coverage you have to clean it gently. Use some detail spray or car wash soap in a spray bottle and wipe it very gently.
303 rubs off on your interior? How do you mean? Like the shine comes off if you touch it? I personally wouldn't apply it to any surfaces you'll be touching.
For the underbody, what are you using now? With the lack of clear/paint coverage you have to clean it gently. Use some detail spray or car wash soap in a spray bottle and wipe it very gently.
303 rubs right off... like on the door where I rest my arm.
Underbody I've used simple green at 50% and a couple things I forget what...
but have not tried detail spray (seems like an expensive way to clean down there, and its tough to get clean with dirt/grime/grease. Maybe I'll try some car wash soap as you say. hopefully this is the right place to ask, if not i apologize
I just bought these and knew they were messed up and now I want to fix them, previous owner had tried to clean them with a heavy degreaser and completely messed up the clear coat, so I was wondering if I can strip these myself and not mess up the black...they are OEM GM stamped
Sorry for the big pics but just want you guys to really see what im talking about
I just bought these and knew they were messed up and now I want to fix them, previous owner had tried to clean them with a heavy degreaser and completely messed up the clear coat, so I was wondering if I can strip these myself and not mess up the black...they are OEM GM stamped
Sorry for the big pics but just want you guys to really see what im talking about
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 2
From: IL
Brake lines. In particular the ones coming out of the ABS box and running to the res. To clean/shiny them up can I just hit them with some rubbing/polish compound by hand or is that a dremel needed job?
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Staging Lane
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
From: Aurora, IL
Basically it looks like this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCeyTHyFbck
Microfibers WILL swirl up a car so the less you have to actually tough the car, the better.
If you still want to go the microfiber route I would purchase high quality ones like COBRA so that it will swirl up less. The microfibers from the auto parts stores are cheap and will turn your car into swirl city in no time.
If you have wax on the car, do this. When you are done washing, remove the nozzle from the hose. Start from the top and work your way down "flooding" the car. Basically the water will sheet off and dry itself. I then go around the car with a leaf blower and blow the rest off and also get in the crevices like the trim, grill and mirror so that it doesn't leak out and leave water spots.
Basically it looks like this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCeyTHyFbck
Microfibers WILL swirl up a car so the less you have to actually tough the car, the better.
If you still want to go the microfiber route I would purchase high quality ones like COBRA so that it will swirl up less. The microfibers from the auto parts stores are cheap and will turn your car into swirl city in no time.
Basically it looks like this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCeyTHyFbck
Microfibers WILL swirl up a car so the less you have to actually tough the car, the better.
If you still want to go the microfiber route I would purchase high quality ones like COBRA so that it will swirl up less. The microfibers from the auto parts stores are cheap and will turn your car into swirl city in no time.
Just this past weekend I rinsed, foamed, rinsed, foam washed, dried, clayed, foam washed, dried, iron-x, clayed. Didn't even have a chance to correct it because I took so long doing surface prep. Can't wait to get the paint corrected and have some nice deep gloss this weekend!
Ok go fast I got some questions for you 
recently I started a business on base for simple car detailing now I am based in Germany so all I have access to is basic car care stuff and home cleaners at the market..brands they have out here are meguires, turtle, armoall , rain x , ect nothing fancy.. And I have access to home cleaners ..so I need advice for stuff that I don't have to use to much of, and that saves some money but works great. The list of stuff I clean is coming , along with what's the toughest parts to clean for me !
1)exterior paint(i hand wash, and spray wax) what's best?
2)wheels and tires(alot of heavy rain here so wheels are bad)
3)wheel wells(alot of grim and bugs)
4)engine bay(I need this part to be semi spotless with basic stuff)
5)windows(I use invisible glass)
6)interior(leather, plastic interior)
7)front end of the car(covered with flys and bugs thick amounts that are tough)!
Note I do this all at a hand car wash station, I bring my own bucket and supplies and do a vacuum too , so I need to know what products I can use/methods of using to make my life easier and make my clients happy ..oh and that save time thanks in advance I hope to hear from you !!!
recently I started a business on base for simple car detailing now I am based in Germany so all I have access to is basic car care stuff and home cleaners at the market..brands they have out here are meguires, turtle, armoall , rain x , ect nothing fancy.. And I have access to home cleaners ..so I need advice for stuff that I don't have to use to much of, and that saves some money but works great. The list of stuff I clean is coming , along with what's the toughest parts to clean for me !1)exterior paint(i hand wash, and spray wax) what's best?
2)wheels and tires(alot of heavy rain here so wheels are bad)
3)wheel wells(alot of grim and bugs)
4)engine bay(I need this part to be semi spotless with basic stuff)
5)windows(I use invisible glass)
6)interior(leather, plastic interior)
7)front end of the car(covered with flys and bugs thick amounts that are tough)!
Note I do this all at a hand car wash station, I bring my own bucket and supplies and do a vacuum too , so I need to know what products I can use/methods of using to make my life easier and make my clients happy ..oh and that save time
thanks in advance I hope to hear from you !!!
If you have wax on the car, do this. When you are done washing, remove the nozzle from the hose. Start from the top and work your way down "flooding" the car. Basically the water will sheet off and dry itself. I then go around the car with a leaf blower and blow the rest off and also get in the crevices like the trim, grill and mirror so that it doesn't leak out and leave water spots.
Basically it looks like this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCeyTHyFbck
Microfibers WILL swirl up a car so the less you have to actually tough the car, the better.
If you still want to go the microfiber route I would purchase high quality ones like COBRA so that it will swirl up less. The microfibers from the auto parts stores are cheap and will turn your car into swirl city in no time.
Basically it looks like this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCeyTHyFbck
Microfibers WILL swirl up a car so the less you have to actually tough the car, the better.
If you still want to go the microfiber route I would purchase high quality ones like COBRA so that it will swirl up less. The microfibers from the auto parts stores are cheap and will turn your car into swirl city in no time.
TECH Regular
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 430
Likes: 0
From: Piqua,OH
GoFast, I was curious on your opinion on what I should use to wash my car with (soap, equipment). I live outside of city limits and my water has a TON of minerals in it. It doesn't matter how i wash or dry it, I always end up with nasty hard water spots. This forces me to take the car to the coin operated washes (YUCK) just so it looks halfway decent. Any suggestions??
I'll look for that black magic stuff...
303 rubs right off... like on the door where I rest my arm.
Underbody I've used simple green at 50% and a couple things I forget what... but have not tried detail spray (seems like an expensive way to clean down there, and its tough to get clean with dirt/grime/grease. Maybe I'll try some car wash soap as you say.
303 rubs right off... like on the door where I rest my arm.
Underbody I've used simple green at 50% and a couple things I forget what...
but have not tried detail spray (seems like an expensive way to clean down there, and its tough to get clean with dirt/grime/grease. Maybe I'll try some car wash soap as you say.Detail spray doesn't have to be expensive at all. Look into Optimum No Rinse and Meguiars Last Touch (both on autogeek). It won't cut grease though.
Here's my thoughts.
#1 choice: QUALITY MF towels. Use one to soak up the water, and one to dry. Just keep wringing out the first one. This is my preferred method.
#2 choice: Electric Leaf blower. Works great, but has to be done right. The ground needs to be very wet under and around the car to keep ground dirt from getting blown onto the car. I would even recommend the motorcycle blower...can't remember what its called, but its basically a smaller leaf blower with a flexible hose and smaller end so its better for being precise. And you don't have to worry about hitting the car with the long leaf blower.
#3 choice: Absorber. Works well. MUST be kept perfectly clean. If you get dirt in it, there is no real nap for it to go into (like an MF towel), so it will scratch quickly and fiercely.
A good wheel cleaner will do. Or an all-purpose cleaner in a pinch. I'd recommend Sonax Full Effect or P21S Wheel Gel. Get some small brushes, toothbrushes work well, Swissvax wheel brush is a great addition.
If you have wax on the car, do this. When you are done washing, remove the nozzle from the hose. Start from the top and work your way down "flooding" the car. Basically the water will sheet off and dry itself. I then go around the car with a leaf blower and blow the rest off and also get in the crevices like the trim, grill and mirror so that it doesn't leak out and leave water spots.
Basically it looks like this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCeyTHyFbck
Microfibers WILL swirl up a car so the less you have to actually tough the car, the better.
If you still want to go the microfiber route I would purchase high quality ones like COBRA so that it will swirl up less. The microfibers from the auto parts stores are cheap and will turn your car into swirl city in no time.
Basically it looks like this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCeyTHyFbck
Microfibers WILL swirl up a car so the less you have to actually tough the car, the better.
If you still want to go the microfiber route I would purchase high quality ones like COBRA so that it will swirl up less. The microfibers from the auto parts stores are cheap and will turn your car into swirl city in no time.
Ok go fast I got some questions for you recently I started a business on base for simple car detailing now I am based in Germany so all I have access to is basic car care stuff and home cleaners at the market..brands they have out here are meguires, turtle, armoall , rain x , ect nothing fancy.. And I have access to home cleaners ..so I need advice for stuff that I don't have to use to much of, and that saves some money but works great. The list of stuff I clean is coming , along with what's the toughest parts to clean for me !
1)exterior paint(i hand wash, and spray wax) what's best?
2)wheels and tires(alot of heavy rain here so wheels are bad)
3)wheel wells(alot of grim and bugs)
4)engine bay(I need this part to be semi spotless with basic stuff)
5)windows(I use invisible glass)
6)interior(leather, plastic interior)
7)front end of the car(covered with flys and bugs thick amounts that are tough)!
Note I do this all at a hand car wash station, I bring my own bucket and supplies and do a vacuum too , so I need to know what products I can use/methods of using to make my life easier and make my clients happy ..oh and that save time thanks in advance I hope to hear from you !!!
recently I started a business on base for simple car detailing now I am based in Germany so all I have access to is basic car care stuff and home cleaners at the market..brands they have out here are meguires, turtle, armoall , rain x , ect nothing fancy.. And I have access to home cleaners ..so I need advice for stuff that I don't have to use to much of, and that saves some money but works great. The list of stuff I clean is coming , along with what's the toughest parts to clean for me !1)exterior paint(i hand wash, and spray wax) what's best?
2)wheels and tires(alot of heavy rain here so wheels are bad)
3)wheel wells(alot of grim and bugs)
4)engine bay(I need this part to be semi spotless with basic stuff)
5)windows(I use invisible glass)
6)interior(leather, plastic interior)
7)front end of the car(covered with flys and bugs thick amounts that are tough)!
Note I do this all at a hand car wash station, I bring my own bucket and supplies and do a vacuum too , so I need to know what products I can use/methods of using to make my life easier and make my clients happy ..oh and that save time
thanks in advance I hope to hear from you !!!Read through the thread, I believe all those questions have been answered.
It may be a good idea to take it to a professional. If you want to take it on yourself, read through this thread it will be able to help you.