so i was just wondering what everyone uses to clean their cars..you know the whole deal sponges, clay bars, waxes, interior and exterior, the brands, how often? just curious as to what are the best products out there and what everyone is using? and now since its winter here in jersey we just got hit pretty hard by a snow storm if people use different washes in different weather?

 

This should be in 'Show, shine and tunes'. Dustin, Ryan, or R3d might move this when they see it.

Washing items - Microfiber sponges
Drying items - Waffleweave towels
Clay Bar - Meguiar's
Shampoo & Waxes - All Meguiar's
Interior Dressing - Meguiar's
Leather Cleaner - Lexol
Exterior - Meguiar's Hot Shine wheel cleaner and tire dressing.
Under the Hood - Simple Green degreaser, water, Mother's Back to Black trim restorer.
Exhaust Pipes - Mother's Metal Polish.


Now, as to what is 'the best', that is purely a matter of opinion. Different people like different stuff when it comes to car detailing products. I've tried a lot of different OTC brands and I happen to like Meguiar's products the best. I feel like you get a great result for the price. But, I'm always open to trying new things because I know there are better products out there and I could quite possibly get better results using non-OTC products... they're just too expensive for me right now. I'm trying to save up enough to buy a full arsenal of Poorboy's detailing products from spike_africa because I've always wanted to try Poorboy's stuff.

I can't help you with that 'different products for different seasons' question. I live in Florida, so we just use whatever, whenever.

 

 

******' Pee stretched out the goddamn page.









I must add: I HATE the Armor All tire shine. That **** is so sticky, you could use it as super glue. ******* slings everywhere, too. I actually don't like any Armor All stuff. I stay away from it.

 

haha damn pcola, got enough ****? haha i want my garage too look like that once i get older, i just love cleaning my car

 

dam, he does have a lot.

I use a microfiber mit for washing, some cheap-o brand car soap. For detailing I use all poorboys products, from polish,to wax, to interior wipe down. I use mothers leather cleaner to condition the seats. I use microfibers for removing and wiping down all products. For tire shine I use the armor all gel stuff, I actually like it. For black trim pieces I use armor all, but want to try black WOW as I have been told it is top quality stuff. I usually use mothers clay bar kit. And of course when detailing I use the PC 7424XP.

however glass is my enemy and I haven't found anything to clean it to my liking yet. I want to get a glass polish/restoration kit to really get the glass spot/streak free.

 

Damn Kevin, what's with all of the OTC stuff? Amor-all? Seriously? TW Ice? LOL

I've ordered about $200 worth of new Microfiber in the last 3 weeks.. Planning on getting all new pads for my Porter Cable this year too.


Wash:

• Mothers Clay bars.
• Megs paint cleaner/soap.
• Microfiber or deep pile wash sponge.
• Waffle Weave Microfibers
• Wheel brushes (flexible)
• Wheel well brush (long arm)
• Bug sponge or Sea sponge
• Amazing Roll off/ Purple power/ Simple Green
• Megs Chrome wheel cleaner
• Megs Platic X
• Stoners Aerosol Window Cleaner
• Stoners Aerosol tire wet

Interior:

• DP Cleaner/Protectant
• Ultra Plush Microfiber towels
• Vent cleaners/brushes & edge tools
• Megs Leather conditioner

Waxes/Polishes really just depends on the car/color/condition. I love Poorboys and DP products. Two of the best brands available and I think they're both made in the USA. Pinnacle makes some really good swirl removers as well and XMT360 is one of the best products on the market, period. If you can't afford to get the special order stuff, you can't go wrong with any of the OTC Megs professional (creme colored bottles) products..

And of course the one thing that anyone who wants a clean car.. Porter Cable 7424 buffer.

 

Meguiars i cant complain about...409 Aerospace protectant for converts works great, I havent found anything to make glass as perfect as id like, everything streaks. For cloths always use microfiber/waffle ones, they work nicely with anything. I do need some more desperately, just havent the time nor money. Try Autogeek.com they have allot of info and a TON of products.

 

That's what I use. I love them. I use the paint cleaner, swirl remover, polish, glaze and yellow wax. Everytime I use it, I get nothing but compliments on how deep and shiny my car looks. I'd recommend them to anyone.

 

I was waiting on Kev to post his driveway pic!

 

Haha, yeah. I got a lot of free stuff (Armorall car care kit) and the TW Ice is OG **** from when I bought my car, I don't use it. The photo's from summer 08 and I've added a couple of AG orders to what I have. I don't like armorall tire shine and only use it for cheap jobs and friends' cars.

My non OTC stuff at the time of the pic was just my polishes and PC


I have a lot more bullshit now, haha..I need to get a cabinet or something to store it all in, and a different box to use. It's a disorganized mess atm

 

Wrong section, moving......

I have an entire shelf system that is filled on all 4 racks with detailing supplies. Anything from Poorboys (most of my items are this) to invisaglass, to meguires.

 

Can you use the natty's blue paste on other colors cars??

 

Yes.

I have some Natty's blue paste wax and I'm actually not very fond of it, it seems to streak and not buff off easily no matter what the conditions. Don't know what the deal is with that.

And I also disagree with their claim of it capable of being used in sunlight and heat, the oils still evaporate, and it becomes as hard to work with as any other wax would.

 

Nattys blue is good for dark colored cars. It works fine in the sun for me when I fallow their instructions on how to apply it in the sun.

 

I just replaced my entire Microfiber collection. 24 new towels in all. 16 polishing towels, 4 waffle weaves and 4 deep pile interior towels. I'll still use my Cobra waffle weaves too since they are huge, but most of my old Cobra MF towels will be used for wheels and tail pipes, lol.

Probably going to get all new pads for my Porter cable for next year, but I'm still researching what I should upgrade to.

 

Natty's is good, the smell is amazing, but I do agree that it's not GREAT. It does work pretty good on darker cars though... I'd say that it is a good intermediate wax, better than 99% of OTC, but not as good as some of the others on the market.

My favorite PB product has to be the White Diamond "Show Glaze." Best glaze for light colored cars I've ever used, ****'s amazing.

 

my supplies is ridiculous as well..no pictures tho but i do detail cars as one of my jobs so i have my own stuff and stuff from the shop that's hard to get your hands on like the $20 per bar of clay...

anyways STAY AWAY FROM ARMORALL!! worst thing you can do to your car. it doesnt clean, it just shines the dirt up.

at home I use mothers with other stuff here and there. my spray detailer i believe is the best out there BY FAR...valuguard.