Vehicle Cleaning Product Recommendations (& Ones to Avoid)

[Flames89]

Originally Posted by zamler

Good advice those brushes are brutal on paint. But it's not always practical to avoid the self wash places, I sometimes take a bucket and my wash mitt even though they don't allow such a thing. I just go there late at night when there is hardly anyone (or often no one) else there.

For those times when you feel the need to use the brush, I always take the high-powered sprayer to it first to wash out the grime.

[cral12]

Originally Posted by Dion

I only use the self wash places even when the tepms are below zero. I just make sure I wipe the whole vehicle down when i'm finished.

Any preferences on regular car washes in the city - both self wash & "automated"? I usually just go to Petro-Can, but wondered what CPers recommend/don't recommend?

Is there a temp below which you should not use?

Thanks again, lads (and lasses!)

[cral12]

Originally Posted by Jude

Pinnacle Souveran wax is great stuff (smells delicious too...)!

Just a heads up cral12, but some cars have sealed leather so you might be wasting money on leather conditioners.

Rinsing your car and washing it by hand with a mitt is nice and doesn't take that long, I always cringe when I see people take those soapy mops at a self serve car wash and really rub it into their brand new cars, probably the fastest way to scratch up the clear coat.

Jude: by "washing it by hand" do you mean using a soap or some other cleaning product - thought this was a no-no in Calgary. Thanks.

[Bean]

I believe that you're allowed to 'hand wash' your car at home as long as you use phosphate free soap. They are hard to find but they do exist, I believe Mother's used to have one.

It's one of those things where if you're washing your car on your driveway, you may receive disapproving looks from your neighbors. Or possibly some explaining to do with the bylaw folks if they happen to drive by.

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by Bean

I believe that you're allowed to 'hand wash' your car at home as long as you use phosphate free soap. They are hard to find but they do exist, I believe Mother's used to have one.

It's one of those things where if you're washing your car on your driveway, you may receive disapproving looks from your neighbors. Or possibly some explaining to do with the bylaw folks if they happen to drive by.

Nope. Not allowed to use anything other than water according to city bylaws.

(Not that this stops me from using my phosphate free stuff, I just wanted to be clear on the law)

[Canehdianman]

anyone ever used Cquartz and or Hydr02 on their car?

I read some great reviews and took the plunge for my new highlander when it gets here.

If the Hydr02 looks as good as I hope, I doubt I'll ever wax again.

[vanisleflamesfan]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I love autogeek. Their How-To's are a great resource on how to detail your car (although of course they are trying to sell you on some of their product, but I find the ones they pitch to be really good quality). Ive ordered a lot of their stuff and generally find them to be much higher quality than what you get at Canadian Tire etc.

What I use:
• Pinnacle Shampoo - for cleaning dirt off the car. Don't ever just use regular hair shampoo or hand soap.
• Sheepskin Mitt for washing the car
• Microfibre for drying and various applications (just get a ton of these)
• Wolfgang Clay and Clay lubricant. I find claying is one of those steps that a lot of the general public doesn't do, but it can be the biggest difference in your car having a smooth finish. It's pretty easy too.

A huge +1 on claying. It makes a huge difference. I also clay my windshield before putting Rain-X on it.

Also, does anyone have a recommendation for a tire dressing that lasts longer than a day or two?

[CalgaryFan1988]

If your headlights are starting to age a little try Meguiar's PlastX. It's a cleaner/polish that worked wonders on my car's headlights.

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by vanisleflamesfan

A huge +1 on claying. It makes a huge difference. I also clay my windshield before putting Rain-X on it.

Also, does anyone have a recommendation for a tire dressing that lasts longer than a day or two?

I haven't tried it yet, but I've heard the water-based ones last a lot longer than the silicon-based ones (that turn your tires brown after a couple days).

Here is what I just ordered - http://www.eshine.ca/optimum_opti_bo...l_8oz-1628.php

[cral12]

Finally getting around to ordering.

What would CPers recommend for products to order to start off with?

[Canehdianman]

Car pro products, but the exact ones depend on what you want to do.

[Erick Estrada]

I get all my vehicles Opti-Coated. Never have to wax again. I do a 2-bucked wash in the Fall and Spring (also Iron-X after winter to get rid of rail dust) and the car looks like it was just waxed and in the winter especially it makes for easier cleaning as dirt comes off easier. I have found the ceramic layer also helps prevent road rash (large rocks are going to chip paint no matter what) from the small gravel the city dumps.

[rohara66]

Originally Posted by vanisleflamesfan

A huge +1 on claying. It makes a huge difference. I also clay my windshield before putting Rain-X on it.

Also, does anyone have a recommendation for a tire dressing that lasts longer than a day or two?

The best tire dressing available:

http://www.adamspolishes.ca/p-512-ad...-dressing.aspx

Doesn't run or shoot off tires. It's more of matte finish then glossy black (which I prefer). Tires will look brand new again and it last several washes/rain storms.

[GoinAllTheWay]

I bought a Bissel steam cleaner a few years ago. Bought it mainly for carpets obviously but it also came with a good length hose (6ft) and a bunch of small tools that connect to the end, turns out it does a damn good job in steam cleaning the seats and carpet of my car. I have a black interior and with our winters, the carpet can get pretty dirty even with good car mats. The amount of dirt that came out of that thing was unreal and returned the carpet to it's orginal black which was nice. Had a nice clean smell afterwards that lasts quite some time.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

I bought a Bissel steam cleaner a few years ago.

+1 for steam cleaning. Got one from Costco years ago and always do my vehicles with it.

[TheyCallMeBruce]

Any ideas on how to clean tree sap/tar like black dots off of car paint? I'm running out of ideas.

[Canehdianman]

Goo gone or clay bar

[Jude]

Just to clarify, after taking my car to a coin operated self wash to rinse off all the big stuff I take my car home and use an ounce of optimum no rinse mixed in a couple gallons of warm water and finish cleaning my car with a mitt. There's almost no run off (zero if you're just doing it in your garage) and it helps get rid of the film of filth that sticks to your car that the wand doesn't quite get rid of.

I dump the (biodegradable) solution into my toilet afterwards.

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by Jude

Just to clarify, after taking my car to a coin operated self wash to rinse off all the big stuff I take my car home and use an ounce of optimum no rinse mixed in a couple gallons of warm water and finish cleaning my car with a mitt. There's almost no run off (zero if you're just doing it in your garage) and it helps get rid of the film of filth that sticks to your car that the wand doesn't quite get rid of.

I dump the (biodegradable) solution into my toilet afterwards.

You are a better person than me. I dump my ONR right down the storm sewer.

[Machiavelli]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I use 303 aerospace protectant for interiors, too. If you have a vinyl-top convertible, it is the cat's ass on that as well.

I'm not sure where the general public can buy it. I get it through an industrial supplier at my work. There is also a 303 cleaner I have, but I find the protectant cleans and shines so I don't use it very often.

I think you can get it on eshine.ca - that's where I got mine a few years ago.

The stuff is indeed great. Nice and matte, no shiny crap.