milani
New member
It's been a while since I have posted here, and it feels good to be back. My wife's car, a 2008 Ivory Pearl Infiniti QX56 has been a little neglected. I had been traveling alot, and did not have much time for more than a quick wash here and there. I got a new car last week, and want to detail it, so I figured I better warm her up and detail her grocery getter first! Well, I am not in her car much, but I decided to do a full detail today, starting with the interior and the engine.
The Products
Griots Garage Window Cleaner
GG Carpet Cleaner
GG Rubber Cleaner
GG Chrome Polish
GG Engine Cleaner
GG Engine Bay Dressing
Vinylex
Lexol
Zaino Z-10 (Leather in a bottle)
Plexus
P21S Finish Restorer
The "Odor Gun" (A diluted mix of water and febreze)
Oil Eater cleaner/degreaser
The Process
Well, I started by taking a look around the car. Much to my amazement, it was trashed. The carpet/mats were filthy, candy wrappers everywhere, candy stuck to the floor, dirty leather seats, fingerprints on the nav screen. You name it, it was dirty. There was something in the rear cupholder that reminded me of a science experiment. Looked like some Coke, with a sucker, and a touch of hardened caramel. What a mess.
So I removed all of the garbage, and anything else that was not attached, out of the car. I vacuumed the mats, and they still looked nasty. I then vacuumed all of the carpets, removed the center console, which was even nasty under there. WTF???
After vacuuming, I cleaned the mats with GG carpet cleaner. This stuff is great. (let mats dry while continuing)
I started in the rear of the car and worked my way to the front. In the rear, there was some type of stain on the floor, so I used the Oil Eater to remove whatever it was. I then used the GG carpet cleaner to clean the cargo area carpet. I then scrubbed all vinyl surfaces with water, and a little of the oil eater, to get them nice and clean. I then treated with Vinylex. I did the windows in the rear, and proceeded to the 2nd row. Where the kids sit (ugh).
I cleaned all leather with Lexol, and treated it with Z-10. The seats had marks all over them. I then scrubbed all surfaces again with water to remove any dirt and treated any vinyl surfaces with Vinylex. The carpets were attacked with GG Carpet cleaner. By any chance, did I say that this stuff rocks??? It was the first time I had used it, and it worked great!
I then moved up to the front seats, and did more of the same. After this was done, I did a second vacuum job to remove any excess dirt and moisture that may be lingering.
I then cleaned all seals with GG Rubber cleaner and treated with Vinylex. I polished any plastic-coated wood with Plexus or P21S FR depending on the condition. I treated the doors with Vinylex and Z-10. All vinyl surfaces were hit with VInylex. I did all the windows with the GG glass cleaner and a window cleaning tool that I bought from GG. It worked very well! I wiped all the jambs and sills, but will get them again with the exterior. I cleaned all vents with a vent cleaning brush.
The center console with the science experiment was a task by itself. There was stuff stuck all over it. I soaked the areas with the oil eater cleaner, and agitated several times. I had to scrape out the caramel, but it cleaned out nicely. Followed up with Vinylex and Z-10.
Now the mats were dry, so I gave them a vacuum, and I shot the floor with some "odor gun". Put the mats back in, and interior complete!
I then moved to the engine bay (what a mess)! I did a first-pass of GG engine cleaner, and let sit for 5-10 minutes. I then scrubbed every surface I could, and used a mitt to get into tough areas. I rinsed, then soaked again for 5 minutes. I then sprayed with a heavy spray, then rinsed. Followed with a blower, to dry, then toweled everything else off. Once dry, I used GG Engine bay dressing on just about anything in the engine bay, then buffed. Engine now looks like you could eat off of it.
Ok, so that's the story. I am sure you are waiting for the pics! I didn't want to include all of them in the post, so I created a slideshow..
The Pics
Stay tuned for Part 2 - The exterior (It's just as bad!!!)
The Products
Griots Garage Window Cleaner
GG Carpet Cleaner
GG Rubber Cleaner
GG Chrome Polish
GG Engine Cleaner
GG Engine Bay Dressing
Vinylex
Lexol
Zaino Z-10 (Leather in a bottle)
Plexus
P21S Finish Restorer
The "Odor Gun" (A diluted mix of water and febreze)
Oil Eater cleaner/degreaser
The Process
Well, I started by taking a look around the car. Much to my amazement, it was trashed. The carpet/mats were filthy, candy wrappers everywhere, candy stuck to the floor, dirty leather seats, fingerprints on the nav screen. You name it, it was dirty. There was something in the rear cupholder that reminded me of a science experiment. Looked like some Coke, with a sucker, and a touch of hardened caramel. What a mess.
So I removed all of the garbage, and anything else that was not attached, out of the car. I vacuumed the mats, and they still looked nasty. I then vacuumed all of the carpets, removed the center console, which was even nasty under there. WTF???
After vacuuming, I cleaned the mats with GG carpet cleaner. This stuff is great. (let mats dry while continuing)
I started in the rear of the car and worked my way to the front. In the rear, there was some type of stain on the floor, so I used the Oil Eater to remove whatever it was. I then used the GG carpet cleaner to clean the cargo area carpet. I then scrubbed all vinyl surfaces with water, and a little of the oil eater, to get them nice and clean. I then treated with Vinylex. I did the windows in the rear, and proceeded to the 2nd row. Where the kids sit (ugh).
I cleaned all leather with Lexol, and treated it with Z-10. The seats had marks all over them. I then scrubbed all surfaces again with water to remove any dirt and treated any vinyl surfaces with Vinylex. The carpets were attacked with GG Carpet cleaner. By any chance, did I say that this stuff rocks??? It was the first time I had used it, and it worked great!
I then moved up to the front seats, and did more of the same. After this was done, I did a second vacuum job to remove any excess dirt and moisture that may be lingering.
I then cleaned all seals with GG Rubber cleaner and treated with Vinylex. I polished any plastic-coated wood with Plexus or P21S FR depending on the condition. I treated the doors with Vinylex and Z-10. All vinyl surfaces were hit with VInylex. I did all the windows with the GG glass cleaner and a window cleaning tool that I bought from GG. It worked very well! I wiped all the jambs and sills, but will get them again with the exterior. I cleaned all vents with a vent cleaning brush.
The center console with the science experiment was a task by itself. There was stuff stuck all over it. I soaked the areas with the oil eater cleaner, and agitated several times. I had to scrape out the caramel, but it cleaned out nicely. Followed up with Vinylex and Z-10.
Now the mats were dry, so I gave them a vacuum, and I shot the floor with some "odor gun". Put the mats back in, and interior complete!
I then moved to the engine bay (what a mess)! I did a first-pass of GG engine cleaner, and let sit for 5-10 minutes. I then scrubbed every surface I could, and used a mitt to get into tough areas. I rinsed, then soaked again for 5 minutes. I then sprayed with a heavy spray, then rinsed. Followed with a blower, to dry, then toweled everything else off. Once dry, I used GG Engine bay dressing on just about anything in the engine bay, then buffed. Engine now looks like you could eat off of it.
Ok, so that's the story. I am sure you are waiting for the pics! I didn't want to include all of them in the post, so I created a slideshow..
The Pics
Stay tuned for Part 2 - The exterior (It's just as bad!!!)