What detailing products do you use and how do you like them?

[Camaro_94]

I'm really curious to see what detailing products you guys are using and how you like them. I'm always lookin to try new products, and just wanted to hear some reviews on different things.

I mainly use Mothers and Meguiars products. I found that both leave very similar results, and both are pretty cheap pricewise. The one wax I recently started using was Mothers Reflections Liquid wax and I am very impressed with it.

For interior cleaners (the plastic/vinyl), I've been using black magics stuff. I havent really found anything else, but this is what I've been using and think it works pretty good.

If I had the choice, and if Zaino was a little cheaper, I'd use that stuff over anything else. I felt it left the best results, and made the car look outstanding. I'd definately reccomend it to anyone, but like I said, its not cheap.

What detailing products do you all use and how do you like them?

- Mike

[Fastbird]

Zaino for the polish and leather cleaners.

Stoners Invisible Glass for the glass (obviously).

Damp microfiber cloth for wiping down the interior panels and dash, ZERO chemical cleaners.

Mothers Endurance (purple stuff) tire shine (this stuff ROCKS).

Zaino claybar w/Meguires quick detail spray for the claybar lube.

[1FASTSS]

3M

[KissMyWhtSS]

I vary a lot :jest:

I typically use these products though:

Eagle F1 wheel cleaner (haven't used it on chrome though... used it on my previous cars)
Eagle 20/20 window cleaner
Meguiars quick detailer
Meguiars hot wheels polish (or w/e it's called)
Eagle/Armorall both make good tire shines.

[gwoodtitansz28]

mr. clean auto car wash
meguires clay kit
nxt 2 wax
nanowax spray for a quik detailer
invisible glass for windows
armorall wheel cleaner
eaglel one tire shine
windex on the wheels to get the spots off from the tire shine


liquid glass is gonna be my next wax i think

[AChotrod]

3m hand glaze, meguirers gold class wax and mothers showtime quick detailer,
Armoral for tires and interior. Stoners invisible glass cleaner

[TCGiRL220]

hrm... ok here it goes :D

dawn dish soap on the wheels and tires
meguiars gold class car wash
black magic tire wet foam
turtle wax ice total interior cleaner
zaino's Z-AIO all in one
zaino's ZPC fusion dual action paint cleaner and swirl remover
zaino's Z-5 PRO show car polish
zaino's Z-6 ultra clean gloss enhancer spray
windex on the windows
purple power diluted with water for under the hood
I shine up the black plastic pieces with back to black and sometimes the tire wet... depends if I ran out of back to black
turtle wax bug and tar remover
got a pretty awesome buffer I don't know the brand though
I also have some detailing brushes and felt tips for the vents and such but likewise with the buffer I don't know the brand

I usually give the TA a good thorough cleaning, polishing, and waxing two or three times a year...
it gets washed close to every time I have some free time... I love detailing it :heart:

[Camaro_94]

hrm... ok here it goes :D

dawn dish soap on the wheels and tires
meguiars gold class car wash
black magic tire wet foam
turtle wax ice total interior cleaner
zaino's Z-AIO all in one
zaino's ZPC fusion dual action paint cleaner and swirl remover
zaino's Z-5 PRO show car polish
zaino's Z-6 ultra clean gloss enhancer spray
windex on the windows
purple power diluted with water for under the hood
I shine up the black plastic pieces with back to black and sometimes the tire wet... depends if I ran out of back to black
turtle wax bug and tar remover
got a pretty awesome buffer I don't know the brand though
I also have some detailing brushes and felt tips for the vents and such but likewise with the buffer I don't know the brand

I usually give the TA a good thorough cleaning, polishing, and waxing two or three times a year...
it gets washed close to every time I have some free time... I love detailing it :heart:


turtle wax's bug and tar remover works awesome. It makes everything sooo much easier to do. I've had to clean a few Corvettes that run their cars at Watkins Glen, and both always come in with bugs all over the front of them and tar/rubber all along the sides. Nothin like hitting bugs at 100+ mph and having them lodged in the paint! That stuff is truely amazing though. Spray it on, let it sit for a minute or two, and everything comes right off. I've also used that to take rubber off the back of some cars after they've gone to the drag strip, and it just makes everything sooo much easier to clean.

- Mike

[Fastbird]

turtle wax's bug and tar remover works awesome. It makes everything sooo much easier to do. I've had to clean a few Corvettes that run their cars at Watkins Glen, and both always come in with bugs all over the front of them and tar/rubber all along the sides. Nothin like hitting bugs at 100+ mph and having them lodged in the paint! That stuff is truely amazing though. Spray it on, let it sit for a minute or two, and everything comes right off. I've also used that to take rubber off the back of some cars after they've gone to the drag strip, and it just makes everything sooo much easier to clean.

- Mike

I'll have to give this stuff a shot. I've got a really good base coat of Zaino on everything but some bugs still get stubborn even with Z6 to clean them up.

[screamin96ss]

Here's my list


I use Zaino on the paint, including their clay bar.
Commercial cleaner I get from a buddies garage on my rims,underbody, door jams, and underhood.
Mix of mothers endurance tire shine gel and meg. spray tire shine.
Surf City Chrome polish on rims.
Mothers Billet polish on tips.
Stoner for glass.
Ammoral Natural Shine for interior cleaner/dressing.
Zaino leather care products on seats.

[bidicamaro]

Turtle Wax Ice almost all the way around. Simple Green Automotive for the rims and under hood (currently still cleaning the under hood spot). I have a buffer but have NEVER used one (comeing from the 4x4 scene, no need to buff them) so I'm a bit sketchy on it. I don't shine my tires, my neighbor does. Not sure what he uses but he'll spray them about once every other week or. My car gets a complete cleaning on Sundays (most of the time that is) and if the roads are nasty she'll get one in the week to.

[ksmyss]

if i am clay baring it i use dawn first, then dawn and mothers clay bar and then dawn again.

normal wash is just meguires auto shampoo (or what ever its called)

wax/polish

meguires paint cleaner
meguires polish
meguires wax
meguires glaze

i have used zano and the meguires steps get the same results for less money

i just wipe the interior with a damp rag and use mequires interior stuff every now and again

for the leather i always use lexol. hands down the best stuff i have ever used.

the glass cleaner is just any invisable glass stuff. windex and the likes always leave streaks.

tar and rubber remover is gas. works great and there is always some around. takes little or no effort.

wd/40 also works great to take of tar and sticker residue.

tire shine is meguires gel or no touch spray. if you use the gel stuff save that for the very end. its tough to even get it off your hands and if it touches the paint or anything else, for get about it.

engine bay is always been simple green. hose it down with water, spray the simple green and let it soak and hose it off. i have even mixed it with water in a bucket and let and intake soak in there for a day or 2 and it looks almost brand new without even touching it.

[Fastbird]

i have used zaino and the meguires steps get the same results for less money

Having used both, I will say that properly prepared the initial results might be close, but the Meguires will last nowhere near as long as the Zaino. It's good stuff but doesn't have the long term endurance.

[ksmyss]

Having used both, I will say that properly prepared the initial results might be close, but the Meguires will last nowhere near as long as the Zaino. It's good stuff but doesn't have the long term endurance.

zaino is just a polish. if you just want that result then dont use the wax or show glaze. on dark colored cars wax doesnt last long at all. if the same steps are used, wash, clay bar, pre polish/paint cleaner, and polish it will be hard to tell the difference. i just can't justify the price difference for basically the same results.

my roof is black and i can still see the reflection like glass in it and its 13 years old.

[Fastbird]

zaino is just a polish. if you just want that result then dont use the wax or show glaze. on dark colored cars wax doesnt last long at all. if the same steps are used, wash, clay bar, pre polish/paint cleaner, and polish it will be hard to tell the difference. i just can't justify the price difference for basically the same results.

my roof is black and i can still see the reflection like glass in it and its 13 years old.


I'm talking about endurance of the polish/wax. Mothers will probably last about a month to six weeks before the water beading really trails off. Zaino........I don't need to reapply for six months at a min. That's what I was getting at.

[97lt1camaro]

When you guys polish your cars, do you go right over the decals too? My decals have some pretty decent swirling on them, but i havent tried a polish on them yet as im afraid it will take the color out.

My list.
- Meguiars wash
- Meguiars claybay
- Menzerna micro/nano polishes
- Meguiars Hi-tech yellow wax( Amazing, smells good too :) )
- Windex pretty much for the interior

- Portercable Buffer

[ZGOBYBY]

Wizard's Detail Spray - Total Awesomeness
Stoner Tire Shine
Meguiar's Tech Wax 2.0
Windows I spray detail with Wizard's and make sure there is no haze
Wheels I use detail spray or window cleaner

[EsCrasston]

For my vehicles:
Poorboy's Black Hole
Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant 3.0
Poorboy's Natty Blue paste
Poorboy's Spray & Wipe, Spray & Gloss, and QD+
Meguiars Wheel Brite
Clay Magic blue or red clay, Meguiars QD for lube
Meguiars Hot Shine gel
Stoner Invisible Glass
Stoner Trim Shine
Poorboys Super Suds car wash
Meguiars Gold Class Leather cleaner/conditioner
Meguiars Interior Quick Detailer
Bleach White
LA's Totally Awesome (All purpose cleaner/degreaser)

For customers: (basic products the same)
Meguiars 85, 83, 82
3M Polishing Pad Glaze for Dark
Collinite 845

Porter Cable DA polisher with Lake Country CCS pads
Central Pneumatics rotary buffer

[EsCrasston]

When you guys polish your cars, do you go right over the decals too? My decals have some pretty decent swirling on them, but i havent tried a polish on them yet as im afraid it will take the color out.

My list.
- Meguiars wash
- Meguiars claybay
- Menzerna micro/nano polishes
- Meguiars Hi-tech yellow wax( Amazing, smells good too :) )
- Windex pretty much for the interior

- Portercable Buffer

You mean polishing by hand? Or with your buffer?

[97lt1camaro]

You mean polishing by hand? Or with your buffer?


Either or. i mean its obvious to just make a light pass to try it, there's not many places where the decal is not easily seen haha.

[Fastbird]

Ah.....just got done with a claybar of the entire car then a base coat of Z2 on our Celica. I love how much of a difference a partial days worth of work can make.

[Camaro_94]

Either or. i mean its obvious to just make a light pass to try it, there's not many places where the decal is not easily seen haha.

I usually try to avoid hitting any decals if possible, especially with a buffer. There is no need to polish them.

- Mike

[Camaro_94]

Ah.....just got done with a claybar of the entire car then a base coat of Z2 on our Celica. I love how much of a difference a partial days worth of work can make.

Yeah. I just did my Formula today too. 2 coats of wax.. Then it rained! :(. lol

- Mike

[EsCrasston]

Either or. i mean its obvious to just make a light pass to try it, there's not many places where the decal is not easily seen haha.

Try going over them with a glaze. It should make them look better.

[Fastbird]

Yeah. I just did my Formula today too. 2 coats of wax.. Then it rained! :(. lol

- Mike

I've got the Celica tucked in the garage with the base coat of Z2 setting overnight. I'll wipe it off before work tomorrow morning, then sometime this week while I'm on nights I'm going to REALLY go to town on it.

[Camaro_94]

I've got the Celica tucked in the garage with the base coat of Z2 setting overnight. I'll wipe it off before work tomorrow morning, then sometime this week while I'm on nights I'm going to REALLY go to town on it.

Did you ever try that "bug and tar remover" yet?

If not, Heres some before and after pics of a vette I used it on over the summer. I swear by this stuff. It makes everything soooooo much easier to do. You still have to do a little scrubbing, but not anything near as much as you would normally have to do.

Before:
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg76/Camaro_94/vette014.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg76/Camaro_94/vette013.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg76/Camaro_94/vette012.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg76/Camaro_94/vette010.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg76/Camaro_94/vette002.jpg

[Camaro_94]

After:
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg76/Camaro_94/vette025.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg76/Camaro_94/vette024.jpg
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg76/Camaro_94/vette023.jpg


I'll post some more up later tonight, I just have to upload them off a camera. Its of another vette that also runs at Watkins Glenn and has a lot more tar on it, but less bugs.

- Mike

[gwoodtitansz28]

idk how they could let it get that bad:shame: