would it be a good thread?

anyone can put there tips for others to learn....

 

Detailing tip of the week : what to do first when detailing your car (interior, engine, wheels and last exterior)

 

I do wheels first........

 

OP, any affiliation to Smartwax or CG?

 

Wheels first for me too.

 

really? why wheels first? I have always done wheels last...

 

When you wash the car, remember to use open cell wash media, something that can hold on to the dirt that is on the car without dragging it against the paint surface. Detail the interior first; avoiding wet/dirty footwear on the carpets. Ensure there is sufficient high lubricity car wash concentrate in your GritGuard bucket.

As you wash, start at the top of the vehicle, and work your way down. The top is the cleanest; the bottom has the most road dirt / grime; wheels last. After every individual pass washing, rinse your mitt with your hose to dislodge the dirt and grime that you just removed from the car, before putting it back in the bucket for more soap

 

Cuz I hate interiors. Exterior is instant gratification. Wheel cleaning inevitable relies on brushes and/or spray cleaning products. Brushes often have the tendency to make a larger mess, lol. And then you have that spray wafting in the air. Just makes sense to get the dirty wheels out of the way first.

 

Interesting, I always do my wheels last, but I have to be super careful, maybe I'll try the wheels first next time

 

Interesting.... I should try it next time...

Good Luck with WestCoastDetailSupply.com - You've been a great supporter of detailing with care and always give sound advice and I hope the new business does well.

 

Thank you James!

 

I always do rims first......

 

I do wheels last.

 

Customer cars they & the tires are done first .. on my own car they are last , I use a separate mitt and the last of my wash water that way even with a grit guard there is less chance of stirring up something and it getting on the paint.

 

Bro, you gotta do wheels first b/c they tend to be hella dirtier than the rest of the car. ~clean wheels ~rinse car ~wash car ~dry car ~clay bar car ~polish car ~wax car ~interior ~apply wheel dressing

 

Wheels First.

 

When polishing with a rotary and you want to locate holograms before finishing down, use either an LED flashlight or take a picture with the camera on flash. Obviously if the sun is available, use that.

 

I do everything top to bottom. That includes wheels last.

 

To avoid friction of the vinyl rear window material of a roaster or convertible, place a 100% cotton micro fibre towel, front and back, before putting the top down. Do not use terry cloth towelling, as this is abrasive and will cause scratches.


(Exceldetail- glad to see you up and running again :0 )

 

Thanks Jon!

 

Wheels first for me as well. I used to do them last, and then the quarter panels would get all wet again after drying.

 

Wheels first most of the time, Sometimes if I have a very dirty interior I will start with the interior so it has more time to dry after shampoo.

 

I detail interior first then top to bottom on the exterior. Then sometimes I get bored and take off my wheels and clean the barrels.

 

Two of the Cardinal Rules of Detailing

1. It cannot be emphasized enough ‘Apply products very sparingly’ Ease of product removal is inversely proportional to the amount used

2. Always choose the least intrusive product, it is preferable to polish 2-3 times to restore the paint film surface than to use an unnecessarily abrasive machine polish / foam pad combination.

 

I always dry the car using a surfactant type (ONR) detail spray (8oz / gallon) and a waffle weave micro fibre towel. Why? A surfactant encapsulates any dirt and will provide lubricity to the paint's surface as you blot the paint to minimize adding imperfections. This method will safely remove any water spots that might occur

This drying technique is excellent for black cars (the ones with ‘soft’ single stage paint that show every surface mark) but look so good when they are properly detailed. This process never includes scrubbing, rubbing or applying any pressure whatsoever. The only time that pressure needs to be applied to a paint surface is when you are polishing.

 

why interior first... want to avoid bringing wet shoes back inside the car...

 

Pre-test Spot Procedures

After checking the pH value and MSDS of the cleaner, apply several drops of the selected cleaning solution in an inconspicuous area and rub gently with a clean, white micro fibre towel. Do not over wet. Use small amounts of the product and blot frequently, do not rub or use too much pressure. Works from outer edge of the spot towards the centre to prevent rings

Do not use the product if it adversely changes your fabric's colour or texture.

 

Detailing tip of the week: when fully detailing the exterior of your car (wash,clay,seal,glaze,wax) you should be using 6-12 towels min. preferable double sided microfiber towels with silk trimming -

 

Inside Front Windsheild VS Dash protectant? Which first?

AND how do you keep dash protectant off the winsheild OR keep from wiping protectant off of the dash while cleaning the windsheild?

 

I do dash protectant first then windshield using a glass wand.

 

Detailing tip of the week " when applying dressing to your interior vinyl apply gently as if you did with wax in a circular motion but to reduce it from attracting dust after applying the dressing, simply wipe down with a microfiber towel to give it a fresh look"

 

A short nap microfiber soaked in ONR wash dilution rung out well will clean windows really well, a 2nd dry short nap microfiber to buff afterward will guarantee streak free results.

 

Whats the ratio? I have the QD and the Clay ratio..

 

My little bucket for cleaning windows is just at regular wash dilution, 1oz per 2 gallons. Its about 1/4 oz for me because my little container I keep my short napped microfiber in is only half a gallon. Don't see why you couldn't have it mixed at QD strength though.

 

detailing tip of the week: "for those that do car shows or just simply want to use no water to clean your rim & tires on the spot, we have a solution...use any citrus base product like carpet cleaner or ------- blended with water on the rim & tire, wipe off with a microfiber towel to a perfect clean surface" app...ly more if needed. this process is good on any type of finishes.

 

Won't the solution remove any wax on the wheels?

 

once a year (or whenever I rotate the tires) I powerwash the wheels while they are off the car

 

I also like to take the car around the block after washing the car and then take a towel and dry off all the little droplets. Some times I use a quick detailer if it dried and streaked.