Washing your TL
#121
So Slick, bugs dont stick
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Spokane, Washingtonia
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It really up to you. I barely got my TL, so I keep it clean. I try to wash it every week, just so it doesnt get to dirty. I use Meguirres products. Its a little expensive, but if you want to keep your vehicle lookn clean I suggest get the good stuff. Meguirres is top of the line for me. STRONGLY SUGGEST IT!
** steps to washing **
1. Rinse car in shade/overcast/garage.
2. Get bucket fill with luke warm NOT HOT water (~2-3 gallons I believe) and mix in about 1/2 cup of meguiars soap.
3. Get sheepskin wool mit. They're actully REALLY soft (for you new detailers that are wondering) Mix it in with the bucket, stirring up soap and making the suds
4. I start with the roof, dip in bucket, hood, dip in bucket, trunk lid, dip, all windows, dip. **Dont go straight for the mud/grime etc. work your way down the car.
5. Rinse off sudsy areas. Spray out mit with hose.
6. Wash upper half of one side of car.. (fender, rear qtr panel, and all above the door ding strip.) Dip ur mit.
7. Repeat for other side of car.
8. Spray out mit again with hose.
9. Dip ur mit, do front of car (bumper, headlights, grille etc.) Dip again and do the rear, tail lights and finish trunk but DONT do the rear bumper.
10. Dip again, wash lower half of car, i.e. below the door ding strip on one side. Dip and do to the other.
11. Spray out mit one more time, dip it and wash rear bumper.
12. Hose off car and hose out mit. Wash wheels with diff sponge/mit!!
13. Take off hose nozzle, and sheet the water off. (I will NEVER use a squeegee or anything similar. The less you touch your paint the better) Let the hose open full blast on your paint and windows, work from the roof down and rinse wheels after washing too.
14. Take a large Micro Fiber drying towel and finish the drying process. Again, work from the roof down to your wheels.
15. Step away and enjoy. If you wish to clay, polish, wax, you may but I would go with meguiars; noobie detailers. I started with some crappy stuff and found meg's to be the best out there. Its a little pricey but its one of the best. I have yet to try them all so dont base all opinion on mine lol.
GOOD LUCK
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Gonzo_03_TL (06-18-2013)
#122
8th Gear
Join Date: Oct 2008
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Meguiars products are the way to go all across the board. Take some time and enjoy washing your car. As far as the streaks always rinse your mit off before you go back into your soap bucket and that will help.
#123
What's the best way to try and keep your car in decent shape, now that the cold, crappy weather is here.
NBP is great when clean, but like any black car, looks bad, with salt and snow stains on it.
Just rinse down, and dry off as often as possible i guess.
NBP is great when clean, but like any black car, looks bad, with salt and snow stains on it.
Just rinse down, and dry off as often as possible i guess.
#124
Awesome Memeber
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
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You should also put a front bumper cover on during winter. Especially for NBP, it will help keep the paint scratch free since there will be salt and other debris on the roads.
#126
A-SPEC DUDE
Join Date: Apr 2008
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OK GUYS here is question bout leather cleaners conditioners, what works to keep leather seat from stretching whre ur butt sits.2 half moon cavities. i got my car car w 52,000mi,
2 1/2 yrs ago and seats looked as they had never been sat in now with 76,000 on it im concerned that they might split eventually. i usually use simonize wipes leather cleaner/
conditioner that leaves a nice satin ( no gloss) finish on everything in the interior. also what can i do to regain my drivers seat?
2 1/2 yrs ago and seats looked as they had never been sat in now with 76,000 on it im concerned that they might split eventually. i usually use simonize wipes leather cleaner/
conditioner that leaves a nice satin ( no gloss) finish on everything in the interior. also what can i do to regain my drivers seat?
#127
Suzuka Master
OK GUYS here is question bout leather cleaners conditioners, what works to keep leather seat from stretching whre ur butt sits.2 half moon cavities. i got my car car w 52,000mi,
2 1/2 yrs ago and seats looked as they had never been sat in now with 76,000 on it im concerned that they might split eventually. i usually use simonize wipes leather cleaner/
conditioner that leaves a nice satin ( no gloss) finish on everything in the interior. also what can i do to regain my drivers seat?
2 1/2 yrs ago and seats looked as they had never been sat in now with 76,000 on it im concerned that they might split eventually. i usually use simonize wipes leather cleaner/
conditioner that leaves a nice satin ( no gloss) finish on everything in the interior. also what can i do to regain my drivers seat?
Leather is going to stretch, no stopping it. What you want to do is prevent it from drying out and cracking. It needs to be cleaned and conditioned. I used to be a lexol fan, but it is more laborious with the cleaner then the conditioner and always flet it hard to get all the cleaner residue out. I have since switched to leather CPR, a cleaner condition. It does not leave the film that lexol does and leaves the leather very nice and supple, brings it back to new like feel and look. Of course I use it form the begining, it won;t work miracles on old untreated leather.
http://www.leathercpr.com/products.htm
The local Horse Town store carries it so I get it locally and have been using it exclusively for close to 3 years now.
#128
#129
i loooove washing my car..i think i could wash and wax my car every day...a few more tips..always dry from top to bottom..do the rocker panels last cuz that were most of the crap is..you dont want to bring up some crap from the rocker panels up and scratch your car,,dont dry using circular motions,,thats a way to get swirl marks..try to dry in one direction.any spots that are left after you wash get em with detailing spray and a microfiber cloth for a spotless finish...as far as wax,i use new turtle wax ice..probally the best wax i ever used..and i used everything..another tip to removing wax is to spray a light mist of detailer spray over the hardened wax before you remove it..this will aid in removing the hardened wax if you find its hard to take off
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ihabzayed (04-18-2012)
#131
Phmbm12
i have dirt and it wont come off. i took the mud flap things off and there was an outline of it. i scrubbed and scrubbed but it wont come out. what to do
#132
AZ Community Team
Join Date: May 2007
Location: N35°03'16.75", W 080°51'0.9"
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#133
Cruisin'
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: northern Illinois
Age: 68
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A really good source of information on cleaning/detailing cars is Griots Garage. The have some fantastic products and some that are O.K.. I have been very impressed for the most part. Some are a little on the pricey side, but well worth it IMO. I enjoy spending a sunday afternoon cleaning my TL, its very relaxing and rewarding I think.
As far as the interior---all I have ever used is a damp cloth (water only) I detest greasy scented products on the seats and dash.
They have a download you can get that explains all the ins and outs and whys on cleaning cars--a must read if you are serious about keeping your car looking like new, even if you don't use their products it is definitly worth reading.
Can't wait for warmer weather!!!
As far as the interior---all I have ever used is a damp cloth (water only) I detest greasy scented products on the seats and dash.
They have a download you can get that explains all the ins and outs and whys on cleaning cars--a must read if you are serious about keeping your car looking like new, even if you don't use their products it is definitly worth reading.
Can't wait for warmer weather!!!
#135
Removing water stains
Hey does anybody know how to get rid of hard water stains?? i washed the car 2x and the spots are still there i looked online and read tht i could use dilluted vineger not sure how well thts goin to work but willin to try.. any idea would help
#136
AZ Community Team
Join Date: May 2007
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#137
8th Gear
when it gets dirty i just rinse with a high pressure hose, ( never go into those self wash machines they leave hella haze marks! ) grab a bucket with some soap and a nice soft preferably microfiber towel, go over the car with that, rinse off with the hose and then dry with microfiber towel again!
#139
My car did have a layer of wax, I used straight distilled and then I wiped it down with a wet towel soon after. Finish with a spray wax or real wax
#141
Cray bar, machine polish (V36 from Chemical guys, middle cut pads, Dewalt buffer @2800) , m-seal, black light wax.... I only use Chemical guys products! Took out a lot of little scratches but took me a whole day!
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sined (08-25-2013)
#143
paint correction is best done by a buffer, and not a cheap one. So yes, for some it would be better to just pay to get it done. some people do more damage to the car then it is worth by trying to buff it themselves.
#144
Just picked up a 2010 TL SH-AWD from the dealer on Friday. Did a quick rinse to get rid of bugs from the 150 mile drive home, but need to clean it up good. All I have in the garage right now to clean with is Turtle Wax. Looks like I'll need to get a good multi-level wash done this weekend, with Dawn, Meguires, and then a wax.
Recommendations for cleaning up the dashboard?
Recommendations for cleaning up the dashboard?
#145
Meguiars is the way to go by far. As far as soap, tire shine, and interior cleaning supply's go, i get those from a detail warehouse near me. Guys got some good stuff.
#150
I've use Dawn like said a hundred times above when it is really dirty. Other than that, my normal trick is to use Armor All car wash soap, and dry it with a terry towel. I get compliments quite often.
#151
Instructor
iTrader: (2)
Based on the comments throughout this thread would I would be safe in saying that NO ONE would even consider using a car wash/detailing shop to clean their vehicle?
When I was younger (in my twenties) I always detailed my cars. But I'm 49 now and haven't done so in a long time. All the methods mentioned seem to be so time consuming, but I guess if you want a good clean, based on the suggestions offered, I will need to do it myself.
When I was younger (in my twenties) I always detailed my cars. But I'm 49 now and haven't done so in a long time. All the methods mentioned seem to be so time consuming, but I guess if you want a good clean, based on the suggestions offered, I will need to do it myself.
#152
Slot Machine Lubricator
iTrader: (2)
They are absolutly time consuming. It takes me about 1.5 hours just to clean and detail the car. I use the Turtle Wax Black Box which is a 3-step hour long process.
It sucks but I love my car and it's worth it in the end. Micro fiber is your friend. And leaf blowers.
Source: My cars made the front page of /r/Honda too many times.
It sucks but I love my car and it's worth it in the end. Micro fiber is your friend. And leaf blowers.
Source: My cars made the front page of /r/Honda too many times.
#153
Instructor
Ack, dish soap? I really get into detailing:
Interior-vacuum, clean/protect leather & dash (Pinnacle brand)
Exterior:
Clean rims w/Wolfgang Wheel & Tire - no noxious smell
Wash w/two buckets & a wool mitt using P215 shampoo - very mild.
Clay bar, if needed.
Apply Klasse AiO Polish using terrycloth, moistened with detailer
Wax with Pinnacle wax!
Interior-vacuum, clean/protect leather & dash (Pinnacle brand)
Exterior:
Clean rims w/Wolfgang Wheel & Tire - no noxious smell
Wash w/two buckets & a wool mitt using P215 shampoo - very mild.
Clay bar, if needed.
Apply Klasse AiO Polish using terrycloth, moistened with detailer
Wax with Pinnacle wax!
#155
Great info on this thread.
A novice at washing, I followed the advice of the thread to the T.
But:
1. If you dawn it first, like I did, and strip everything slippery off your paint, and don't have an electric buffer, you're in for a workout. Polishing by hand was exhausting.
2. I was unlucky and it started raining after the polish, before I could wax.The rain ruined it. You really have to wax right after the polish or don't bother.
A novice at washing, I followed the advice of the thread to the T.
But:
1. If you dawn it first, like I did, and strip everything slippery off your paint, and don't have an electric buffer, you're in for a workout. Polishing by hand was exhausting.
2. I was unlucky and it started raining after the polish, before I could wax.The rain ruined it. You really have to wax right after the polish or don't bother.
#157
Pro
iTrader: (1)
Meguiars Ultimate is all i use - I typically do everything in one day - wash, clay bar, compound, polish, wax, I have the Meguiars DA (drill attachment) and it really makes the compounding/polishing/waxing pay off - i wash using the two bucket method, making sure any debris comes off in one bucket and then suds in another bucket - i stay away from dish soap - too abrasive methinks, i use Eagle A2Z wheel cleaner, or Sonax when i feel like buying it lol...
Last edited by Boosejars; 02-09-2016 at 04:29 AM.
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