Hello!

Well, I ended up washing my car at a touch free car wash the other night to try and remove what appeared to be dirt. However, that proved to be unsuccessful, and now I am stuck with another issue. The crappy wax that the car wash used managed to build up around my 3m clear bra (right where it ends), and I am not sure what I should use to remove this. Could someone please offer me some advice? I figured I might as well ask before I use something that could potentially harm my 3M clear bra.

Thanks,

Jeff

 

do you have a claybar?

 

I do! Would that be my best bet? That won't cause any problems with the 3m clear bra would it?

 

Here is what you can do.

1) Purchase some detail swabs from an online detailing shop.

Like this one =

You can try Exceldetail here on this forum as a good start. I have used your normal household cotton swabs but they are too wide and they can cause scratches in the paint next to the edge of the clear bra. They feel soft to the touch but seem to act like wool on the painted surface.


2) Purchase some 70% IPA (isopropyl alcohol) from your local market. dilute the alcohol to a 50% solution in a small spray bottle or squirt bottle. The 50% IPA is a solvent for old wax and polishes. Note that it can also dissolve your wax so that is why you need a soft flat swab to get the edge and not the paint.

Use this formula: 700mL of 70% IPA + 300mL of water = 1000mL of 50% IPA


3) Soak the swab in the 50% IPA and fling it a bit so it does not drip.


4) Use the long edge of the swab to clean about 10-12" of the edge of the clear bra. You can use both sides or the end of the swab, if necessary. The key is that the edge of the swab is in contact with the edge of the clear bra. This will prevent scratches in the paint next to the edge of the clear bra which is a huge pain in the butt to get rid of.


5) Once the wax has dissolved a bit use a good microfiber towel to wipe up the residue on the edge of the clear bra.


This method has worked very well for me and I no longer worry about getting wax residue.

 

Been there and done that The clay bar will not do the job!! Since the edge of the clear bra is sharp/square the clay will get stuck on the edge and that is a pain to remove.

 

Agreed....
PPF and wax buildup can be a pain if left untreated, as the problem only gets harder to deal with.

Laugh all you want but this is why I dont trim my fingerbails down to the bed. I usually use my fingernail below a MF towel. just guide your finger nail along the edge......
Heres the same area with just a MF and fingernail..........

And heres the final product after a little more work with fingernail and QD....and MF.

Now, what do to if you dont have a fingernail? I would opt for the alcohol I suppose! Just dont mix alcohol and fingernails!

 

I use the fingernail / M/F method too ... sometimes I add a little Klasse AOI or Vanilla Moose or Poliseal to the cloth .

I'm like you Patrick never cut my nails ... well only after I rip them detailing.

 

I talked to the 3M Clear Bra installer, and he recommended Plexus. Do you guys think that this would do the trick, or probably not?

http://www.plexusplasticcleaner.com/plexus.html

Thanks,

Jeff

 

I use clay on PPF, then a protectant like DG 105 or UPP......Whatever you use, your still going to have to manually remove the buildup.....Another option is a rubber tipped detailing tool.

 

Definetly agree with using clay on the PPF and using a diluted solution of IPA is great for removing wax buildup. And yea, you can use Plexus or Megs PlastX on the PPF or any type of protectant. The next time you wax, use some painters tape on the edge of the PPF to prevent wax buildup.

 

What about using a good QD spray on a microfiber (with the fingernail method Pat mentioned)? Isn't QD supposed to remove wax build up?

 

Beat ya to it Steve! LOL

 

I used the fingernail method, or a MF towel and go over it.

The toothbrush will leave swirls and micro scatches on the finish, and I don't use my fingernail anymore because I scuffed up the film before. I now just use a MF towel.