2008 Nissan Altima

I

imported_Bimmer

New member
This is a basic question, but I try something different every time. What is the best way to clean around door jambs? Every time I do them the interior gets wet. :(



Also around the trunk jambs.



These are hard areas to clean and hard areas to wax.
 
Mine have never been horribly dirty or anything, you make it sound like yours are hard to clean.



I just soaked them down with soapy water or QD and *very gently* wiped away with clean wet towels. This was the first time, after that I hit them with EAGLE ONE WET WAX AS U DRY spray wax product (use like QD) after almost every washing.



I will be AIOing them pretty soon though for better results. Then SG away!



Orrrr I could Zaino them and test carnauba on top!!
 
On two of my cars the door jambs were bad. They had not been cleaned for a couple of years, and grime seems to go everywhere in the winter around here. Some of the grime seemed to be grease and required the use of some simple green to remove.



I must confess, I did not really detail my cars correctly. I didn't appreciate the difference between dish soap and car wash soap. Of course it wasn't until just the last 4 to 5 years that I have had cars that I was real concerned about the finish.



I woke up one day washed my cars and said, I must be doing something wrong, look at all these little scratches! Ever since I've been getting educated. This forum is a great. There is a lot of good topics and very good interaction.



The jambs will certainly be much easier to clean if they are kept clean, and the mess should be less.



:up :up
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by Bimmer [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>

I must confess, I did not really detail my cars correctly. I didn't appreciate the difference between dish soap and car wash soap. Of course it wasn't until just the last 4 to 5 years that I have had cars that I was real concerned about the finish.[/b]</blockquote>Yeah, I used to Dawn wash monthly with a scratchy wash mitt, 1 wash bucket . . . :eek: :scared

And that was less than 7 months ago! I am glad I have seen the light!
 
Now that you are an autopian doorseals are something that you now noticed. Welcome.

The initial cleaning of those areas after neglect will be very tedious. Take your time and use some soapy water and rags. You may have to use something as strong as Dawn or even Grease Lightning to dissolve most of the crud. Follow up with your protectant of choice and treat all rubber seals with a good protectant ( 303, Z16,etc). After this initial cleaning subsequent cleaning will be easy if you touch-up after every exterior wash.

Bimmer jump into with both feet...:D
 
I use my Meguiar's #20 on my door jams. Don2000g sold it to me way back when I first joined the board. :D It was about the same time I discovered Klasse so I decided to use the #20 on my door jams and the Klasse on the rest. It makes them a lot eaiser to clean, that's for sure.
 
My last washing of the door jambs I used two buckets. One with the soapy water and one for rinsing, plus the simple green. That approach should be OK. I did use two different 100% cotton wash rags. One for wash and one for rinse. I discovered that if I used the same one for both the rinse water got dirty quickly.



It is easy to see if these areas were cleaned regularly and protected that the clean up would be easier.
 
Is Simple Green safe for use on the paint? Will it cause any damage? I love the stuff, but am weary about using it on my vehicles other than maybe ocassionally on the tires.
 
Good question. Now that I know better. I avoid the use of harsh soaps on the finish of my car. I used to use Dawn every week, up until a year ago. My second choice these days to the use of a car wash soap (I use Zanio Z-7) is to us P21 Total Body wash. But it did not cut the grime on my door jambs. So I tried simple green. I thought it would be better than Dawn.



Tonight when I get home from work I will check it out and see whats in it. Total Body wash I believe is a Citrus base clearner. But, I'm basing that on the smell. I like it a lot. I use it on the wheels and on the bugs in the summer. Around here bugs once you hit them become welded into the paint.
 
I ususally use a bucket with soapy water and then wipe down the door jams. I use my car wash soap. I then have another towel that is wet, which I use to wipe the door jams down after using the soapy towel. Instead of using a second bucket for then no soap towel I use my hose to rinse it off each time.
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by blkZ28Conv [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>Now that you are an autopian doorseals are something that you now noticed. Welcome.
The initial cleaning of those areas after neglect will be very tedious. Take your time and use some soapy water and rags. [/b]</blockquote>
You got it right dude! :xyxthumbs
If this hasn't been done be prepared to go at it for awhile around all of the nooks and crannies and hinges. If you have lots of nasty greasy crud you may consider using some of those Scott Rags in a Box so you can just pitch them when you're finished. After the first initial clean, use AIO then you can do touch ups with a damp towel after drying your car with it and a dry towel. I use a soapy wash mit on them maybe every other wash depending on their condition.
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by Hans [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>Is Simple Green safe for use on the paint? Will it cause any damage? I love the stuff, but am weary about using it on my vehicles other than maybe ocassionally on the tires. [/b]</blockquote>
I only use Simple green on paint if its in the door jambs or under the hood....... but yeah its safe if you're careful about it...

you may want to try Meguiar's "EXTRA!" cleaner as an alternative. I find it works better as an underhood degreaser. Also Simple Green WILL strip your carnauba-based waxes.
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by YoSteve [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>I'd use Meguiars Extra, if you could find it :xyxthumbs [/b]</blockquote>
Unless you have aluminum trim! That stuff along with Castrol Super Clean are excellent degreasers but are also really harsh on non clearcoated aluminum. I used the Extra under the hood of my truck and it works really well as a degreaser but it had a corrosive effect on the aluminum intake manifold. It caused that white chalky type of corrosion that had to be recleaned with a Dawn solution and a scrub brush.
 
About a month ago one of the service advisors I work with at Nissan had a customer come in for a service had the vehicle cleaned and she asked if there was anything they could do about the bird poop stain on the door and the white mark left on the trunk from a magnet. The detailers cleaned and did nothing with these marks. The Advisor has her come speak with me I took the car in the back and polished half of the trunk near where the emblems are and removed the stain I did not try the poop. She was blown away how half her trunk looked. So a month later she set up a time for me to detail her car. Goal is to remove mark from poop and bring the gloss back to the paint.

Washed the vehicle with pressure washer
Using First Place Finish car soap mixed with Zep Citrus to remove the old wax
Rinsed vehicle
Sprayed entire vehicle included wheels with Iron X
Rinsed
Re Washed and cleaned wheels and tires
Pulled vehicle into detailing bay and began to clay using Dodo Born to Slippery and Yellow Clay
Dried the entire vehicle using Meguiars Water Magnet and compressed air
After testing pads and polish I ended up using
Meguairs D300 compound with Buff N Shine Yellow pad on the Griots Garage DA I found this to cut better then Menz 203 and slightly less then Meg Me105 but finished off amazingly well. I was getting a lot of dust then I slowed the machine from speed 6 to 5 and the dust was not a problem
Washed the vehicle with Zep Citrus
Dryed as before
Prima Amigo with a Green Buff n Shine pad on the GG DA speed 3.5
Interior was vacuumed
Wiped down with Optimum Leather Plus
Door jambs cleaned and then wiped down with DG AW
LSP was Dodo Supernatural Hybrid

You all are aware I am no good with the camera so here you go

Before

washed, Iron X and clay

IMG_5030.jpg


IMG_5031.jpg



bird poop area
IMG_5024.jpg


IMG_5025.jpg



Bad swirls

IMG_5026.jpg


IMG_5028.jpg


IMG_5029.jpg


IMG_5035.jpg


IMG_5036.jpg


IMG_5044.jpg


IMG_5055.jpg



Left side polished

IMG_5040.jpg



polished

IMG_5041.jpg


IMG_5037.jpg


IMG_5049.jpg


IMG_5050.jpg


IMG_5051.jpg


IMG_5054.jpg



All Finished

IMG_5064.jpg


IMG_5065.jpg


IMG_5066.jpg


IMG_5067.jpg


IMG_5063.jpg


IMG_5062.jpg


IMG_5061.jpg


IMG_5060.jpg


IMG_5059.jpg


IMG_5058.jpg


IMG_5057.jpg


IMG_5056.jpg
 
Looks great!
The Megs D300 is quickly becoming a big favorite of mine. It is sooooo easy to wipe off, has such a long work time and finishes down so well that I'll be buying a big jug of the stuff with my next order.
 
The Altima looks great Sal. There was a little bit of everything on that car. Bird bomb stains, scratches, swirls, water spots. Looks like you knocked them all out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top