I've been devouring the great info on this site for the last two weeks, preparing to do the first full detail on our 2005 Honda Odyssey. Based on extensive research I did here, I've gathered the following tools from local brick & mortars:
- Duragloss 901 shampoo (car quest $5)
- Blue clay magic kit from autozone ($11)
- Duragloss 601 (cq $7)
- Duragloss 105 (cq $10)
- Duragloss AquaWax (cq $7)
- Invisble Glass (wal mart $3.50)
- Lexol leather cleaner ($9.50 advance auto)
- Lexol leather conditioner ($9.50 advance auto)
- "Foaming" hose sprayer ($18 at Costco - holds 4 oz of shampoo
and does fan pattern or 1/4" high-pressure stream)
I already have three clean sheepskin mits, some wheel cleaner, and armor all to do the tires and trim.
Washing technique: I used the fan pattern on the foaming hose attachment to apply soapy water to the van. After going over it twice, the kids (who have been carefully instructed in proper mitt techniques that I learned here!) hit the paint with the sheepskin mitts, rinsing their mitts in a pail of clean water after each panel. I rinsed the paint and we all dried with terry towels - one 16"x16" towel per panel.
Then I clayed with the blue "magic clay". This was my first time using clay but it went pretty smoothly. The car was maybe a bit too hot on the sunny side because the lube was evaporating pretty fast. So I ended up using a lot of lube to cool the section I was working on and to make sure I had the proper lubrication to avoid marring. I was pretty happy with the results except that the plastic bumpers didn't seem to want to give up one or two paint and/or plastic scuffs that had been left by an uncourteous door and/or shopping cart. I was amazed at the load of garbage that was coming off what looked like "clean" paint, though. Afterwards the paint felt almost as smooth as a freshly waxed vehicle so I am pretty happy.
I applied the DG 601 to the entire van and was able to get a coat of 105 on the entire roof and the entire rear half of the van before it got dark. Will finish off the rest of the van in the morning before it gets warm, then work on the interior and windows while that sets up. Then tomorrow afternoon when it cools back down some (IF it cools back down - brutally hot here lately) I will either apply another coat of the 105 or finish off with the AW. Am leaning towards two coats of 105 just to be sure I've got a nice layer of protectant there.
I did not even take any before photos - too embarrassed about how bad my wife let it get before I finally intervened on behalf of the poor vehicle!! I will take some photos once it is done and post them here.
In the meantime - thanks for any and all advice or constructive criticisms you might have about the products and procedures I've laid out above. I'm off to read up on carpet cleaning. The carpet and floor mats are absolutely filth-laden and I'm not sure how to tackle that yet...
- Duragloss 901 shampoo (car quest $5)
- Blue clay magic kit from autozone ($11)
- Duragloss 601 (cq $7)
- Duragloss 105 (cq $10)
- Duragloss AquaWax (cq $7)
- Invisble Glass (wal mart $3.50)
- Lexol leather cleaner ($9.50 advance auto)
- Lexol leather conditioner ($9.50 advance auto)
- "Foaming" hose sprayer ($18 at Costco - holds 4 oz of shampoo
and does fan pattern or 1/4" high-pressure stream)
I already have three clean sheepskin mits, some wheel cleaner, and armor all to do the tires and trim.
Washing technique: I used the fan pattern on the foaming hose attachment to apply soapy water to the van. After going over it twice, the kids (who have been carefully instructed in proper mitt techniques that I learned here!) hit the paint with the sheepskin mitts, rinsing their mitts in a pail of clean water after each panel. I rinsed the paint and we all dried with terry towels - one 16"x16" towel per panel.
Then I clayed with the blue "magic clay". This was my first time using clay but it went pretty smoothly. The car was maybe a bit too hot on the sunny side because the lube was evaporating pretty fast. So I ended up using a lot of lube to cool the section I was working on and to make sure I had the proper lubrication to avoid marring. I was pretty happy with the results except that the plastic bumpers didn't seem to want to give up one or two paint and/or plastic scuffs that had been left by an uncourteous door and/or shopping cart. I was amazed at the load of garbage that was coming off what looked like "clean" paint, though. Afterwards the paint felt almost as smooth as a freshly waxed vehicle so I am pretty happy.
I applied the DG 601 to the entire van and was able to get a coat of 105 on the entire roof and the entire rear half of the van before it got dark. Will finish off the rest of the van in the morning before it gets warm, then work on the interior and windows while that sets up. Then tomorrow afternoon when it cools back down some (IF it cools back down - brutally hot here lately) I will either apply another coat of the 105 or finish off with the AW. Am leaning towards two coats of 105 just to be sure I've got a nice layer of protectant there.
I did not even take any before photos - too embarrassed about how bad my wife let it get before I finally intervened on behalf of the poor vehicle!! I will take some photos once it is done and post them here.
In the meantime - thanks for any and all advice or constructive criticisms you might have about the products and procedures I've laid out above. I'm off to read up on carpet cleaning. The carpet and floor mats are absolutely filth-laden and I'm not sure how to tackle that yet...