How do you clean the road grime that gets in the letters on the doors and tailgate? Also, right under the door moldings, road grime accumulates and if you don't notice it when washing, you think you cleaned it pretty good. Today I was detailing my truck and sitting on a short stool, I noticed the grime under the moldings. I took a tooth brush and turtle was bug & tar remover and it took about 1 1/2 hours to clean under the molding and in the letters. Thanks in advance.
cleaning road grime
- Thread starter feb
- Start date
Ronkh
Wax Waster
I would use something softer than a tooth brush for that.
Look up "famous brush", then I'd use some good quality apc + good car wash soap, then maybe bug squash.
Don't forget to re apply lsp after that.
Look up "famous brush", then I'd use some good quality apc + good car wash soap, then maybe bug squash.
Don't forget to re apply lsp after that.
mjlinane
My name is Mike
Famous Detailing Brush or something like it.
XxBoostinxX
New member
I typically use a Raceglaze brush and either P21S Total Auto Wash or Optimum Power Clean. Both work extremely well on road grime.
Stokdgs
dansautodetailing.com
There are a lot of brushes that will work with varying degrees around moldings and letters of vehicles...
As you figured out the ones on the back of the vehicles usually are worse because of the air that is created back there all the time when driving...
I use that SwissVax brush with the red plastic ferrule and nice bristles, and a lot of Qtips - they make pointed ones now - dipped in a good APC or something that will break down the gunk and allow you to rinse it all off when done cleaning there..
QTips are the only thing that works between and in letters without scratching the paintwork there..
If its dried wax or compound, etc., then a QTip dipped in some Meguiars 105 will work wonders to clean it off and polish it up a little better than before..
Here is a good all-around brush that works well in tiny places provided they are not too deep to get to --
SM Arnold Dual Purpose Toothbrush-Style Detail Brush
I use dozens of these and they absolutely get into that 1 last little tiny place...
Good Luck !
Dan F
As you figured out the ones on the back of the vehicles usually are worse because of the air that is created back there all the time when driving...
I use that SwissVax brush with the red plastic ferrule and nice bristles, and a lot of Qtips - they make pointed ones now - dipped in a good APC or something that will break down the gunk and allow you to rinse it all off when done cleaning there..
QTips are the only thing that works between and in letters without scratching the paintwork there..
If its dried wax or compound, etc., then a QTip dipped in some Meguiars 105 will work wonders to clean it off and polish it up a little better than before..
Here is a good all-around brush that works well in tiny places provided they are not too deep to get to --
SM Arnold Dual Purpose Toothbrush-Style Detail Brush
I use dozens of these and they absolutely get into that 1 last little tiny place...
Good Luck !
Dan F
When someone mentions road grime, are we talking about bright red Georgia clay that has dried/baked into the vehicle manufacturer's make and model emblems on the rear deck lid/tailgate/panel or something different, like tar/asphalt OR limestone gravel dust that has turned into cement? I would think white vinegar can sometimes break up the cement-like "dirt" if that's what it has turned into, and then washed with soap(APC)-and-water. The other solution is to wash it with regular Coke-Cola (yes, the soft drink, which contains phosphoric acid) to break up the cemented dirt and then soap-and-water.
As far as brushes, Detailed Image sells one called the ATLASTA Soft Tip that looks like a parts-cleaning brush, but with softer bristles. (Sorry, no link due to forum administrator rules about vendors who do not sponsor or support this forum directly.).
As far as brushes, Detailed Image sells one called the ATLASTA Soft Tip that looks like a parts-cleaning brush, but with softer bristles. (Sorry, no link due to forum administrator rules about vendors who do not sponsor or support this forum directly.).