Inexpensive Detailing Products
- Thread starter stevcha
- Start date
hydrogen peroxide- stain remover
bleach- shop vac deodorizer
lighter fluid - used to remove stickers, etc. on some things
tooth paste - plastic and metal polish
Dawn (blue) Dish washing soap - wax remover
pledge- wood trim polish
pam- wheel wax
olive oil- tire dressing
air freshener- saturate cotton balls and stick under seat
Vinegar - microfiber cleaner
spray paint - carpet dye
liquid shoe polish black - Recolor all exterior black plastic, vinyl and rubber surfaces
Rinsed out old spray bottles can be used for...,
....clay lube - 1 part carwash 10 parts water.
....IPA wipe down - 50% rubbing 50% Alcohol water - final wipe down mix to remove all oils and wax
....Waterspot remover - vinegar/water mix.
....Distilled water, when moisture is needed, pad conditioner.
Magic Marker - Label all your stuff.
Transparent tape - put over you label writing so it doesn't wash away!
Crack cleaning kit - Tooth brush (also pad cleaner), Paint brush, Q-tips, Toothpicks, old credit cards, Popsicle sticks.
Shaving cream brush - wax residue duster
Nail polish brush - touch up paint brush.
Duct tape - pet hair remover (among other things)
Plastic or Metal spoon - For applying wax to pads from container. Use the backside to spread the wax on the pad.
Grout sponge - excellent carwash sponge for under $3
Kitchen Spatula - Interior hard to reach window cleaner. Attached microfiber towel with rubber band.
turkey baster - measuring and transfer liquids
Medicine cup - measure to measure oz's of liquids
Leaf blower - touchless car dryer
sprig clips- hang floor mat holders
Plastic butter tubs - clay container or anything else that needs air tight storage.
Plastic butter tub lid - pour small amount of tire dressing into lid and dip applicator on it for even coverage.
Dental Floss, used to remove emblems.
Newspaper - use it for glass cleaning.
Paper towels - always good to have.
Super glue - you'll find a use for it.
leather office chairs - (won't scratch) from OfficeMax, adjustable height down to 12 inches cost $39.00
5-gal paint/powdered laundry detergent bucket - stool/wash bucket combo
Milk crate - store and carry products/stationary stool upside down
bleach- shop vac deodorizer
lighter fluid - used to remove stickers, etc. on some things
tooth paste - plastic and metal polish
Dawn (blue) Dish washing soap - wax remover
pledge- wood trim polish
pam- wheel wax
olive oil- tire dressing
air freshener- saturate cotton balls and stick under seat
Vinegar - microfiber cleaner
spray paint - carpet dye
liquid shoe polish black - Recolor all exterior black plastic, vinyl and rubber surfaces
Rinsed out old spray bottles can be used for...,
....clay lube - 1 part carwash 10 parts water.
....IPA wipe down - 50% rubbing 50% Alcohol water - final wipe down mix to remove all oils and wax
....Waterspot remover - vinegar/water mix.
....Distilled water, when moisture is needed, pad conditioner.
Magic Marker - Label all your stuff.
Transparent tape - put over you label writing so it doesn't wash away!
Crack cleaning kit - Tooth brush (also pad cleaner), Paint brush, Q-tips, Toothpicks, old credit cards, Popsicle sticks.
Shaving cream brush - wax residue duster
Nail polish brush - touch up paint brush.
Duct tape - pet hair remover (among other things)
Plastic or Metal spoon - For applying wax to pads from container. Use the backside to spread the wax on the pad.
Grout sponge - excellent carwash sponge for under $3
Kitchen Spatula - Interior hard to reach window cleaner. Attached microfiber towel with rubber band.
turkey baster - measuring and transfer liquids
Medicine cup - measure to measure oz's of liquids
Leaf blower - touchless car dryer
sprig clips- hang floor mat holders
Plastic butter tubs - clay container or anything else that needs air tight storage.
Plastic butter tub lid - pour small amount of tire dressing into lid and dip applicator on it for even coverage.
Dental Floss, used to remove emblems.
Newspaper - use it for glass cleaning.
Paper towels - always good to have.
Super glue - you'll find a use for it.
leather office chairs - (won't scratch) from OfficeMax, adjustable height down to 12 inches cost $39.00
5-gal paint/powdered laundry detergent bucket - stool/wash bucket combo
Milk crate - store and carry products/stationary stool upside down
- Hi Temp Extreme Cut.. not the best, not the worst, but definitely best bang for its cut!
- Hi Temp Smooth Cut Polish.. still questionable as it hides a lot of stuff and i've been SPOILED by 106ff, although 106ff/blackfire is like 8x the price! but long working time and doesnt dust much. one day, i'm going to work with this polish more and see if i really like it or not.
- Kiki shoe polish.. dye your trim to black at the fraction of the price!
- Productions Phase II wax creme.. although im not a big fan of any production polishes or cutters, the wax is good! Theres a distributor in my town that i use to go to a lot and i gotta say, im always quite disappointed, especially cutters and polishes.. although i tried 2 of the waxes and i really like it! At about $30 a GALLON, you get yourself a extremely easy to release wax (like butter)that leaves a real shine! not too flashy, not to flat, but almost like a brand new cars shine! Doesnt stain trim either, it seems to brighten trim! Although, it streaks like crazy if you apply it by hand, so you would have to use a DA.
- Vector Rotary Polisher.. at $60, you just cant go wrong! although the speed trigger is confusing (speed 1-6, no rpms), you will get the hang of it! Light weight and sounds great! Although i blew 2 of them so far (probably the brushes as i have it on all day long in the sun). I have got to find a way to get replacement brushes!
Costco yellow microfiber towels.. $10 about for like 30ish? i forgot.. but at that price, you cant go wrong! although i had picked up 2 bad batches in the bast that lint like crazy, but the rest are fine. although these towels looses its softness after a few washes.. its still under 50 cents a towel.. i wipe my butt with these!
- Hi Temp Smooth Cut Polish.. still questionable as it hides a lot of stuff and i've been SPOILED by 106ff, although 106ff/blackfire is like 8x the price! but long working time and doesnt dust much. one day, i'm going to work with this polish more and see if i really like it or not.
- Kiki shoe polish.. dye your trim to black at the fraction of the price!
- Productions Phase II wax creme.. although im not a big fan of any production polishes or cutters, the wax is good! Theres a distributor in my town that i use to go to a lot and i gotta say, im always quite disappointed, especially cutters and polishes.. although i tried 2 of the waxes and i really like it! At about $30 a GALLON, you get yourself a extremely easy to release wax (like butter)that leaves a real shine! not too flashy, not to flat, but almost like a brand new cars shine! Doesnt stain trim either, it seems to brighten trim! Although, it streaks like crazy if you apply it by hand, so you would have to use a DA.
- Vector Rotary Polisher.. at $60, you just cant go wrong! although the speed trigger is confusing (speed 1-6, no rpms), you will get the hang of it! Light weight and sounds great! Although i blew 2 of them so far (probably the brushes as i have it on all day long in the sun). I have got to find a way to get replacement brushes!
Costco yellow microfiber towels.. $10 about for like 30ish? i forgot.. but at that price, you cant go wrong! although i had picked up 2 bad batches in the bast that lint like crazy, but the rest are fine. although these towels looses its softness after a few washes.. its still under 50 cents a towel.. i wipe my butt with these!
imported_dirtdiggler
New member
HD grout sponge.
CalgaryDetail
Mike
meg apc
megs hyperdressing
tol bubble bath
optimum no rinse
it all depends on what you find cheap. I find most sealent inexpensive...
so durgaloss 105
dp protectant
megs hyperdressing
tol bubble bath
optimum no rinse
it all depends on what you find cheap. I find most sealent inexpensive...
so durgaloss 105
dp protectant
violentveedub
New member
Al Buff said:
You are stronger and deafer than I am.
Mine is all kinda heavy and loud (not as loud as the PC though). Still at the price it can't be beat!
- Denture brushes with the little pick thing for interior cleaning.
- Cup/Dish brush for cleaning the backs (barrels) of wheels.
imported_Jakerooni
New member
Mr. Clean Magic erasers.... I seriosuly wasn't expecting much for $3.50 a box but i was blown away with the sheer effectivness of them. Even my most expensive degreasers would be extreamly hard pressed to out perform a simple magic eraser.
I have found the turtle wax platinum line at Odd Lots to be the best bargain so far. The car wash, leather cleaner/conditioner, tire dressing, and interior protectant have all been wonderful and cheap at around $3 for each one. The wal-mart WW MF towels that is $3 is also a good bargain. Heck I got collinite 476S on e-bay for around $8 including shipping (that was a good deal, can't find it anymore though).
Eliot Ness
Active member
Dawn Power Dissolver. Below is a tire dressing applicator where 1/2 was treated with DPD before washing with regular Dawn:
Eliot Ness said:Dawn Power Dissolver. Below is a tire dressing applicator where 1/2 was treated with DPD before washing with regular Dawn:
I wish I learned about the DPD before I bought DP Pad Rejuventator. I guess when I run out or don't feel like mixing a full batch of DP I can use the Dawn. Thanks for the info!!
Eliot Ness
Active member
I use them mostly on non-painted surfaces........ glass, some wheels, some interior plastics, etc.. The only thing you want to watch is they are mildly abrasive, so don't get too carried away on a surface that could mar. I've used them very lightly on some painted wheels, but you gotta be careful.stevcha said:
Smoked Tails
New member
stevcha said:
We use pads that are seemingly just large MEs on steroids to wash KC-135s. We used to use some crappy, generic nylon-based pads, but it would take 6 people a minimum of 12 hours to clean one jet. With the new pads, that are similar to MEs, we get the job done in half the time. Our jets are painted with flat gray paint, almost like a really thick gray primer. But, I can tell you that they kick at least 12 different kinds of *** for our usage.
I will be trying some genuine Magic Eraser action on the wheels on my new (to me) Golf. They are 15" BBS wheels that have been neglected for, oh I'd say, the last 11-12 years. I used 5:1 APC and a small brush with little success. I'm gonna try straight APC and a rag tomorrow, and if that fails, I will go 5:1 APC with ME. Failing that, I'll try straight APC and the ME.
These wheels do need refurbished, but I would feel better sending them off as clean as I can get them.
Sorry if I veered slightly off topic.