zeitgeist57 Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 Alright...I surprised myself when I did some searching and didn't find much on detailing products. I want to be READY for the 2015 season. Please advise on what I need to buy online: Wheel cleaner - thinking IronX or Royal Brown? Rinseless soap - Optimum? Steamer - for carpet cleaning and leather Electric power washer - For wheel well, undercarriage? Brushes - I've used an excellent soft nylon bristle brush that I'll continue using, but would like a good between-spoke wheel brush. Leather/Vinyl treatment - I bought a can of Sonax for my BMW last season and I liked it alot for the leatherette seats and hard tonneau cover Anything else you recommend? This will be used on my 2 "nicer" DDs (CTS-V and BMW) so nothing I need to spend $100s on, though I realize a large rinseless jug will be about $50 but should last a long time. Thanks in advance, CR Detailers! :thumbup: If I missed previous discussions, just copy/paste in here... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AudiOn19s Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 Wheel cleaner - Sonax. It's expensive but it's good. Buy in bulk to bring price down Rinseless - optimum no rinse. Again buy gallon Leather - I've been very happy with Leather Masters line as of late. Still like zaino too but requires a couple of wipe downs after application to keep shine down. Brush - buy a soft lug nut brush and either a speed master wheel brush or wheel woollies. Not a power washer guy. Clean the hard to reach areas by hand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
POS VETT Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 I use diluted Optimum for wheels (light cleaning) and this diluted pro product (lye based) for heavy cleaning; I wouldn't use Optimum without rinsing. I don't use steamer for interior, just a regular vacuum cleaner. Power washer is half a hassle for me and I don't like the strong spray which may take off trim, paint, emblem, or any other piece; so undercarriage rinsing is done using a garden hose with a good nozzle. I do this several times a week between the truck and the Z in salty months keeping them cleaner, so a power washer is not required; they never got so dirty. Only once in a long while one of them would need a couple full washes to get rid of the heavier dirt. I use a cheap 1.5-in wide paint brush (with a few layers of duct tape around the wide part next to the bristles to avoid marring and scratching) to clean between spokes and lug wells. A large soft nylon brush with split ends for larger areas like the lip and center section. To clean the barrel, I use a tire-bead-lube applicator which has loose cloth bristles and wire handle. The wire handle is covered by a few layers of duct tape to prevent marring and scratching. It's small enough to go between caliper and barrel for most wheel and brake conbinations; otherwise the car will need to roll a maximum of 270-deg wheel revolution (the case for CTS-V with 18" wheels, no need while having 19" or larger). My interiors are usually vacuumed and lightly cleaned using this pro product containing mink oil. Once in a long while, cars with leather trim get Leatherique full treatment. So far, the Leatherique treatments never yielded anything to indicate heavy soiling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted January 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 Thanks, Andy! I looked at that Full Effect wheel cleaner and it does look like great stuff. Anyone have any discounts for products? BTW, despite my cheapassedness, I realized this last year (especially with Sonax) that cheap, piss-based wheel cleaners and soaps are now costing a pretty penny. Yes, you pay more for the professional products but if I get something recommended by others, it tends to do better cost-per-volume over the cheap WalMart/AutoZone stuff, especially with a discount or bulk-shipping on the internet. I've got a milk crate of old cheap products I'd rather get rid of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AudiOn19s Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 Tom makes a good point. If you clean the wheels enough you don't need a dedicated wheel cleaner every time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AudiOn19s Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 Autogeek has 20% off and free shipping on orders over $150 good for the next 14 hrs. Coupon code right on the main page. The free shipping incentives are worth it alone when buying in bulk esp gallons of product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
POS VETT Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 Yep, do it often (like once a week) to keep it clean and you don't need a heavy cleaner. The lye-based wheel cleaner I got actually scares me. It's diluted 5:1 and I keep watch of it closely while it's working. Sonax falls between this diluted pro product and the diluted Optimum (2:1), but diluted Optimum is a whole lot cheaper for light cleaning and if you need medium cleaning, use Optimum at full strength but keep an eye on it. By using Optimum for a lot of things (work for underhood cleaning when diluted further) you keep the cleaner variety in your shelf to one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmwohio Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 Just drive it through the car wash :marc: http://media.giphy.com/media/JLbTqEU5B8Z2w/giphy.gif Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted January 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 Thanks for your points, guys. I agree about not needing the power washer too...I've gone back to the coin-op car wash this winter and for $1.50 I get a hot, soapy power-wand wash that I can use to knock salt/slush off topside and underside...that's about the worst the car ever gets is in winter. I'm sure regular maintenance during warmer months will keep it as good as it's gonna look. Definitely looks like Sonax wheel, Optimum washsoap, and a Speed Master brush for now. Quick google search earlier showed that Autogeek option...I'll buy some stuff for my FiL as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AudiOn19s Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 Fwiw - to this day my favorite item for cleaning wheels is microfiber gloves. They are cheap and soft and effective for cleaning wheel faces. Use the liug nut brush for tight areas and speedy brush for inner barrels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted January 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 http://www.autogeek.net/no-rinse-car-was-with-carnauba.html ???? I like microfiber gloves as well.....but not for washing cars. :masturboy: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AudiOn19s Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 http://www.autogeek.net/no-rinse-car-was-with-carnauba.html ???? I like microfiber gloves as well.....but not for washing cars. :masturboy: Have not tried but have read good reviews. For your use there are no downsides I'd say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBQdDude Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 I always find the junkmans, Junkman2000, posts on Youtube to be very informative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2 Sweet Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 Folex carpet cleaner. By far the best carpet stain remover I've ever used. $5 a bottle, can be found at Lowe's or pretty much anywhere. It will easily remove decade old oil/coffee/cola stains Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotCarl Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 Moo Moo Express anyone? .... crickets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gillbot Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 Wash a car? :lolguy: Isn't that what rain is for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 You'll want the sonax to keep your calipers clean, too. If you get the wheels clean and use a sealant like Poorboys wheel sealant, that's all you'll need the sonax for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 I prefer to let my race pads shit corrosive dust all over my wheels/calipers/car. Then be shocked 6-10 times a year how bad the wheels look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted March 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch Posted March 14, 2015 Report Share Posted March 14, 2015 Nice job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeonbergerG Posted March 14, 2015 Report Share Posted March 14, 2015 Check out http://www.ohioautosupply.com they Sell Professional Detailing Products. (PDP). They make an awesome product and have many choices available. Complete line of Products and supplies. Can be purchased at your nearest Federated auto parts dealer also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
POS VETT Posted March 14, 2015 Report Share Posted March 14, 2015 So, who's the idiot in the video rinsing a brush full of brake dust back in the bucket??? Oh wait ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geeesammy Posted March 14, 2015 Report Share Posted March 14, 2015 Youtoop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTQ B4U Posted March 14, 2015 Report Share Posted March 14, 2015 Nice work. However $18 is pretty steep. I usually buy a $40 5 gal. bucket of simple green and mix it up strong and it last me years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cstmg8 Posted March 15, 2015 Report Share Posted March 15, 2015 I always find the junkmans, Junkman2000, posts on Youtube to be very informative. This, those Korean microfiber towels are in a whole different class, love em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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