Need cleanser after polishing?

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imported_zenhog

New member
I'm talking about true paint cleansers, not cleansers that also have filling in them.



What would be the need or benefit from using a paint cleanser after doing a bang-up job (rotary) of compounding and polishing, then completely cleaning the paint with 50/50 alcohol? Isn't a cleanser supposed to be a mild form of removing contamanents? I'd think that compounding and polishing would remove the need for the cleanser step. Any thoughts?
 
Based on your description there are no benefits to a cleanser. I'm not sure what product you're referring to. "Cleanser" is just a word, there's no deep meaning to it. It's just another product designed to do what you already described.
 
Thanks, guys.



I'm specifically talking about p21s gloss-enhancing paintwork cleanser (gepc). I avoided naming the product because on this forum it would have generated a big discussion since some of the members seem to think that it isn't just a straight cleanser, that it has some kind of filler or gloss creating oils.
 
I think the general consensus is that GEPC actually does have very fine abrasive qualities, so if you used it, it still wouldn't be a total waste if you IPA'ed it off.



It's really just best to know each individual product rather than to go by its name. Remember that Meguiar's sells Heavy Cut "Cleaner".....
 
I think that's what makes it a "cleanser" in the sense that it is a "lighter" way to get at what claying will do.. take the contaminents out of the paint. It does it via abrasives...



But for my purposes, since I polished the whole car first with Menz IP and then Menz FP, there would be no benefit to using a very light abrasive like GEPC. Right?
 
It depends on the results and your expectations. Sometimes a product like GEPC is a worthwhile step, sometimes its not.



It's important not to get too wrapped up in terminology. Sometimes it just creates confusion. Who knows what a paint "cleanser" is vs. a paint "cleaner" vs. a paint "polish" vs. whatever. Making decisions based on what a mfr calls a product is a mistake. Look at your detailing steps and your paint and decide what the best product to use it. And forget about the terminology.
 
zenhog said:
...since I polished the whole car first with Menz IP and then Menz FP, there would be no benefit to using a very light abrasive like GEPC. Right?
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I think you're gonna find differing opinions on this. If *I* were you, I'd formulate my OWN opinion. Why not try a small spot and see what happens.



Example: I had heard that using GEPC after VM would make for a (slight) improvement. After VMing the XJS, I used GEPC on one panel. No matter HOW I inspected it, I could NOT see any improvement, so I decided NOT to GEPC the rest of the car. Not saying it doesn't work for others, but now I'm satisfied with what I've determined regarding THAT car.
 
I have to admit I've seen both <slight> improvement by adding that step, and other times not. Brad and I were fooling around with my car and he did polished a spot with 3M PI and I did a spot with Menz. Mine looked better. Then he added GEPC (standard step for him). His leapfrogged my look and looked a little better. I added GEPC and it bumped it up to a very slight improvement over his side. So it did make some difference. Enough that, after learning how to use the rotary over the last 2 nights (some re-do's, as expected) , was I going to add that step ? Naaaahhhh... I slapped the EX on and the car NEVER has looked better. When I get a warmer sun later this aft I'll take some pics.



.. yes, I know Brad what you're about to say.. "just think how good it would look if you did it right and put the GEPC on like I taught you.." LOL
 
Accumulator said:
I think you're gonna find differing opinions on this. If *I* were you, I'd formulate my OWN opinion. Why not try a small spot and see what happens.

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Exactly! Is using it as an extra step getting rid of that last bit of haze or not? Is it a permanent step or are you just being tricked by oils or fillers that can come out with a folllow up swipe of a quick detailer?
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