A while back, Ron had a post that said something to the effect of: "I`ve realized that I like car detailing products, more than I like car detailing". Coupled with Accumulator`s recent posts about "loathing" detailing - a chord was struck.
I love a clean and pristine car. But I like enjoying it more than I like actually doing the work to achieve it. And I don`t want to pay someone to do it, either. I`ll put in the hours, and sweat the details...but I`d rather not. Much like keeping up our home, I`d rather just enjoy it than maintain it...but that`s not reasonable (for my salary, anyway). Truth be told, I`ll let our vehicles go a month before touching them for a maintenance wash or whatever...but when I do, it`s a full afternoon, and the vehicles will be perfect (for the moment, anyway).
This post is just a fun way to list out some of the (maintenance) products that make your life easier. Whether it be for production detailing, high-end, or just DIY weekend warrior.
I`ll start.
Glass: Sonax Glass Cleaner - I`ve found no equal. Have a gallon of Meg`s D120. Still reach for the Sonax every time.
Wheels: Meg`s D143. Works, doesn`t cause me to gag (Sonax), and is cheap as chips.
Tires: Meg`s D143. I can knock our rims and tires in the same sitting, with the same product. Love it.
Trim Dressing: Solution Finish if it`s nasty, or Optimum Opti-Bond (which runs in the rain, but whatever...who am I kidding? I won`t care after it`s all leached from the plastics).
Tire Dressing: I don`t care. I`ve tried so many. Seems the ticket is proper preparation of the rubber. After application and a buff, they`re all the same (to me).
Bugs and Grime: Poorboy`s Bug Squash. Seriously, this stuff is effective. Cut 1/3, I can get anything off the paint that`s stuck. Won`t be without it.
APC: Optimum Power Clean. Dude. This is a knockout product. Safe on paint, trim, leather, everything. I don`t have to think when I use it. I just spray, scrub (or whatever), rinse and be on my way.
Leather: Ultima Interior Gel. I`ve found no equal. 10 minutes and the seats look incredible. Again, I don`t have to think about "safe" or not, on the leather.
Interior Detailer: 1Z Cockpit. I don`t have to think if it`s safe on whatever, or not. It is. I spray it. I wipe. It`s clean. I move on. Awesome.
Interior Dressing: If I do a dressing, I reach for Ultima Interior Guard....cause I only have to apply it 3 or 4 times a year. It`s great. It`s not slimy, or greasy. It`s not shiny. Cool.
Detailer: They`re all good. If I do a quick detail job (rare), the Ultima Waterless Wash Plus gets my vote. It doesn`t streak. Leaves behind some type of "protection". It`s cheap, and effective.
Spray Wax: D156. In every situation, every paint (I`ve tried), under every condition - it`s flawless. Hard to compete with this stuff (IMHO).
Wax: BSkip recently sent me some of the P21S 100% Carnuba. It`s easy on, easy off. Looks like Carnuba wax. Gets my vote.
Sealant: Powerlock. Easy on, easy off. Lasts a while. Haven`t found a negative to it.
Metal Polish: P21S Polishing Soap. Uuuuhhh. Dude. Really? Really? It`s THAT easy.
Shampoo: Meg`s Hyper Wash. I can guzzle the stuff, it`s so cheap and effective. Close second is Optimum Car Wash...but it`s more expensive and with a lower dilution ratio.
I`ve tried other products, for other purposes - but for maintenance, the above list is my "desert island" rundown of products. These (for me) are all idiot-proof (I need that). Or they are products that are wickedly effective.
Anyway, this is just a fun way to talk about the products we like. As with Ron`s statement a while ago, I`ve come to terms with the idea that I like the products more than I like using them (ultimately). Accumulator`s recent comments about rather be doing something other than detailing, really hit home. Boy do I like my fleet to be clean and neat...but I also hate myself about 2 hours into achieving it. These products (for me) make the goal more attainable. For a moment, anyway....
Cheers.
I love a clean and pristine car. But I like enjoying it more than I like actually doing the work to achieve it. And I don`t want to pay someone to do it, either. I`ll put in the hours, and sweat the details...but I`d rather not. Much like keeping up our home, I`d rather just enjoy it than maintain it...but that`s not reasonable (for my salary, anyway). Truth be told, I`ll let our vehicles go a month before touching them for a maintenance wash or whatever...but when I do, it`s a full afternoon, and the vehicles will be perfect (for the moment, anyway).
This post is just a fun way to list out some of the (maintenance) products that make your life easier. Whether it be for production detailing, high-end, or just DIY weekend warrior.
I`ll start.
Glass: Sonax Glass Cleaner - I`ve found no equal. Have a gallon of Meg`s D120. Still reach for the Sonax every time.
Wheels: Meg`s D143. Works, doesn`t cause me to gag (Sonax), and is cheap as chips.
Tires: Meg`s D143. I can knock our rims and tires in the same sitting, with the same product. Love it.
Trim Dressing: Solution Finish if it`s nasty, or Optimum Opti-Bond (which runs in the rain, but whatever...who am I kidding? I won`t care after it`s all leached from the plastics).
Tire Dressing: I don`t care. I`ve tried so many. Seems the ticket is proper preparation of the rubber. After application and a buff, they`re all the same (to me).
Bugs and Grime: Poorboy`s Bug Squash. Seriously, this stuff is effective. Cut 1/3, I can get anything off the paint that`s stuck. Won`t be without it.
APC: Optimum Power Clean. Dude. This is a knockout product. Safe on paint, trim, leather, everything. I don`t have to think when I use it. I just spray, scrub (or whatever), rinse and be on my way.
Leather: Ultima Interior Gel. I`ve found no equal. 10 minutes and the seats look incredible. Again, I don`t have to think about "safe" or not, on the leather.
Interior Detailer: 1Z Cockpit. I don`t have to think if it`s safe on whatever, or not. It is. I spray it. I wipe. It`s clean. I move on. Awesome.
Interior Dressing: If I do a dressing, I reach for Ultima Interior Guard....cause I only have to apply it 3 or 4 times a year. It`s great. It`s not slimy, or greasy. It`s not shiny. Cool.
Detailer: They`re all good. If I do a quick detail job (rare), the Ultima Waterless Wash Plus gets my vote. It doesn`t streak. Leaves behind some type of "protection". It`s cheap, and effective.
Spray Wax: D156. In every situation, every paint (I`ve tried), under every condition - it`s flawless. Hard to compete with this stuff (IMHO).
Wax: BSkip recently sent me some of the P21S 100% Carnuba. It`s easy on, easy off. Looks like Carnuba wax. Gets my vote.
Sealant: Powerlock. Easy on, easy off. Lasts a while. Haven`t found a negative to it.
Metal Polish: P21S Polishing Soap. Uuuuhhh. Dude. Really? Really? It`s THAT easy.
Shampoo: Meg`s Hyper Wash. I can guzzle the stuff, it`s so cheap and effective. Close second is Optimum Car Wash...but it`s more expensive and with a lower dilution ratio.
I`ve tried other products, for other purposes - but for maintenance, the above list is my "desert island" rundown of products. These (for me) are all idiot-proof (I need that). Or they are products that are wickedly effective.
Anyway, this is just a fun way to talk about the products we like. As with Ron`s statement a while ago, I`ve come to terms with the idea that I like the products more than I like using them (ultimately). Accumulator`s recent comments about rather be doing something other than detailing, really hit home. Boy do I like my fleet to be clean and neat...but I also hate myself about 2 hours into achieving it. These products (for me) make the goal more attainable. For a moment, anyway....
Cheers.
