Whats your routine and product preferences for washing and waxing?

[Bronco III]

Cleaning and detailing my cars is a hobby. I’ve been using Zaino Bros. (Zainostore.com) products for over 20 years and always get complements on the car’s finish. If you’re interested, go to their website and go through their instructions, pretty much runs down the purpose of each of their products.

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[Area51BS]

I use Griots car soap. I also use Griots 3in1 spray ceramic on all exterior surfaces. Glass, paint, black plastics, handles and grill. No greasy residue sprays. I use their ceramic restore twice a year on all black plastics and window rubber. Griots vinyl and rubber dressing on tires for a nice matte look.

 

[Area51BS]

Interior gets Griots interior detailer and again the 3in1 ceramic spray.

 

[Black Rob]

I use these products by Mothers. They provide a super smooth finish.

 

[Meanderthal]

For those who wash at home, what is your routine and product preferences?

I haven't yet found the magic suds that will do everything in one go.

I'm sure open to finding them but haven't yet.

First, we have a good power washer and a whole house water softener.

And I use a basic foam cannon. It does a good job for getting all the larger particulates off but it still leaves a film of fines. It almost even looks clean, until you look at the windshield and can still see the wiper limits.

So, we then follow that up with hand washing, working sections at a time, to not let anything dry before rinsing. We have a dirt strainer in the bucket.

Then follow that up with ceramic detailing sprays (Not a full on ceramic coating)

My Wife and I can tag team a vehicle, in fairly short order.

I mostly use Meguiar's products but I'm not married to them.

I do like their hybrid ceramics, for ease of use but I'm open to trying something else.

If you have clear plastics fading, like older model headlights, their Plastx product, is the best I've found.

On the matte finish plastics, Mother's, Back to Black, is really good. Super easy to work with and makes even old, sun faded pieces, look new again.

For glass, I've found nothing that compares to Invisible Glass cleaner.

On rubber window and door seals, I use 303 protectant. Its good for plastics too. Almost a universal type product.

I don't think there is a product out there that will clean completely without some mechanical (by hand) action. I think there is a "touchless wash" from Bilt Hamber that comes close but still isn't perfect.

Even if you apply a proper ceramic coating, not a spray sealant, you will need to have some mechanical action to get everything off. Then you need to do a decontamination routine at least once per year (low ph soap for mineral deposits and a iron remover for brake dust and such).

Finding good detailing products is a never ending quest. I am currently using a lot of CarPro stuff but the Zaino previously mentioned was always very good too. There are at least 100 brands of "high end" paint care and nobody seems to have it all perfected.

 

[wireman]

I don't think there is a product out there that will clean completely without some mechanical (by hand) action. I think there is a "touchless wash" from Bilt Hamber that comes close but still isn't perfect.

Even if you apply a proper ceramic coating, not a spray sealant, you will need to have some mechanical action to get everything off. Then you need to do a decontamination routine at least once per year (low ph soap for mineral deposits and a iron remover for brake dust and such).

Finding good detailing products is a never ending quest. I am currently using a lot of CarPro stuff but the Zaino previously mentioned was always very good too. There are at least 100 brands of "high end" paint care and nobody seems to have it all perfected.

Plenty of them out there for sure. I was using Griot's products, the detailer and wax and they are excellent.

Thought I would try another detailer so I bought Adams Detail spray. It's ok but I liked the Griot's better. I have Mothers ceramic spray detailer also.

I bought the Jay Leno combo products in the bucket I posted at the beginning here.

A good bargain so we will see how these work out.

 

[Warped9]

For the glass I use Norwex cloths. No chemicals. If the windows are really filthy outside then I’ll prewash them, otherwise I’ll use the cloths inside and out. They’re the most amazing things I have ever seen. You wipe with the first damp cloth then dry with the second. No chemicals, just water. Never leaves any haze or streaking. Amazing. And made in Canada. They can also be used indoors for windows and stainless steel.

For the car’s interior plastics, vinyls and leather (if you have it) I use McGuire’s wipes. Wipe the surface down, leave it for 5-10 minutes then wipe off with a dry cloth. Leaves the surface feeling natural without any greasy residue feeling like Armor-All does.

For the outside I often pre-soak at the DIY carwash then high-pressure soap then rinse. Then dry by hand with soft cloths. Once in awhile I clean the tires with a tire cleaner and between those cleanings a tire shiner. I wax the car by hand twice a year. I can’t recall the name, but it’s in an orange bottle from Canadian Tire. Keeping exterior plastics and rubber from going grey is tough.

Prevention helps and I never let the car get too dirty. On my CrownVic I found having calliper covers greatly minimized brake dust (which is corrosive) on alloy wheels. There are cleaners and wax like coatings to keep your wheels nice.

Keeping your car clean in winter is the worst. You can’t count on the weather. The worst is when it’s mild and slushy rather than actually cold. Road salt is your worst enemy. As long as it’s cold you’re okay, but when it gets mild and thawing it’s best to wash off that crap rather than let it sit on your car.

Getting the Bronco I found I needed to get myself a small foldable stool for cleaning the roof otherwise it’s impossible to reach properly by trying to stand on the open door sills and hold yourself in place.

 

[Glamdring70]

I'm not too picky about the detergent. I get the big gallon sized jug at Costco. Though I was slightly annoyed to see Armor All brand there this year instead of Meguiars or Turtle Wax. I used to like the brand, but they just sort of coast on the name without really making a better product. "Chemical Guys" is another brand I won't touch for the same thing. Overpriced and riding on a name.
I have a $20 "foam cannon" type sprayer. It's a gimmick. It will apply soap and rinse. It won't actually "clean" without regular type washing and wiping with a mitt or brush. I think we're being tricked into those in an effort to conserve water. It will clean off the car panels but if you want a good "clean" you need to get the bucket and do a wash.
I do have a buffer and wax but I use it less than once a year. The Meguiars spray on hybrid ceramic wax is great stuff. You apply it while the car still is wet and just wipe. This also saves the chamois step because the residual water spreads the wax coat. It's inferior to using a paste wax or a buff liquid but like the foam cannon it's a great time saver with good results.
I use interior wipes on the plastic but I try to keep those off the leather and use leather conditioner on those surfaces. I will use wheel cleaner and a brush if they start getting grimy, but I hate tire shine and tire black products. Not worth it.
I seem to spend a lot of time under this car with the hose. The plastic cladding at the bottom of the doors collects a frustrating amount of on and off-road debris. The big felt panel too, though I sealed the front with a strip of Flextape to stop some noise and I hope it helps with debris. The wheel liners take a lot of pressure washing to get the pine needles and stuff off.

 

[Charlie71]

Howdy folks,
My newly acquired 2023 BS OB has severe calcium buildup on the black rims. Would CLR be a safe choice if I dilute it, or would it be too harsh? If so, what would you recommend?
Next, my exterior and interior vinyl is losing its luster; is the Maguire's Rubber and Vinyl treatment safe for inside vinyl or just the outside?

Thanks!

 

[Warped9]

I had MGP caliber covers on my 2004 CrownVic and that really cut down on the brake dust on the wheels. I plan to get a set for my Bronco Sport as well. It's also a nice little touch that makes your ride a bit more distinct.

 

[davidg4781]

I don't know if I'm the expert on this since I haven't really hand washed my BS, or previous cars, too often. But I have done a lot of research.

Products I use:

• Meguiar's Gold Class car wash
  • I just ran out, I'm going to try their Deep Crystal wash next but I liked Gold Class a lot
  • I use this in an Armor All foam cannon but I'm going to try Meguiar's foaming soap next, if I can find it locally
• Meguiar's Non Acid Wheel and Tire Cleaner
• For the wax, I was using some stuff the dealership gave me but next time I'm using Meguiar's Ultimate Liquid Wax
• Meguiar's Ultimate Quik Wax on the black plastic
  • I used this first and just wiped it on the plastic. It kept it looking really good after these 2 years and since I still have some, I'll apply that every 6 months or so
• Windows... Honda Window cleaner (left over from my last car)
• Meguiar's towels
• Don't know what brand of sponge mitt
• Extension washer for the roof
• Ryobi pressure washer
• 2 buckets with grit guards from Harbor Freight

Method:

• Prep the buckets
  • Mark one as a water bucket so you won't get confused later
• Do the tires and wheels first
• If it's dirty, and it usually is, I'll rinse the BS first with the pressure washer
• Foam it up
• Was the roof using that extension to get the middle
• Work my way down using the mitt
• Rinse with water
• Dry it off with the towels

I've thought of using Meguiar's or someone else's spray ceramic stuff but I've read it doesn't have as deep of a gloss as a wax would. I'm going to try it when I'm done with the Ultimate Liquid Wax, though. One annoyance is the wax stuff the dealer gave me leaves a white mark if I get it on the black plastic trim. Being that this is a $20k SUV, I want something that'll be easier and more forgiving to put on.

 

[Glenlivet]

My dirt driveway is 300 yards long and leads to the one paved road in town. No matter how well I wash a vehicle, it’s covered with dust by the time I reach pavement. So my focus is on preservation rather than on appearances.

Twice a year it gets washed using whatever Costco is selling at the time. Lots of water and suds, including a thorough cleaning of the door sills, back hatch, and engine. Chamois dried, then carefully clayed. After that the entire vehicle is gone over with every painted surface getting two coats of Chemical Guys Jet Seal. I love that stuff as it’s the only product I’ve used that lasts through five months of brutal Vermont winter conditions. It looks fantastic till I reach the end of my driveway.

In mid-October I lift the vehicle and coat the underside, wheel wells, and inside of the bumpers with Fluid Film.

 

[rocks]

Cleaning and detailing my cars is a hobby. I’ve been using Zaino Bros. (Zainostore.com) products for over 20 years and always get complements on the car’s finish. If you’re interested, go to their website and go through their instructions, pretty much runs down the purpose of each of their products.

Zaino here too for over 20 years also. Zaino products have been updated a few times.

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