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Detailing

1037 Views 4 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  hopetonbrown
What have you had the best results with as far as products to keep the car looking spiffy?
Also, I understand that several vehicles now a days have a dashboard made out of composite materials that are designed to not crack or fade with age. It is my understanding that it is actually counterproductive to put the shiny armorall on these dashboards because it keeps the material from breathing and makes it shiny counteracting the benefit of the anti reflectiveness of the dashboard from the factory. Has anyone else heard this? Is the Volvo dashboard made out of this material?
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Re: Detailing (marlowe)

When I'm looking into getting my car nice, and on a budget, I usually do the following:

Rinse down, wash twice with Rain-X car soap, wash the wheels twice with some dish soap, dry off with some microfiber towels, clay it using Meguiar's clay and some Meguiar's detail spray. Then after that comes some Meguiar's NXT spray on wax. Rub that on with an applicator, wait a few minutes, then buff off with a microfiber towel. Then Windex the windows on the inside and out, and apply Rain-X to all windows. Rub on some Meguiar's tire shine to the wheels too. I also like to squirt just a tad bit of Armour All to a cloth and apply it to the black trim pieces on the side mirrors, and the rubber gaskets around the doors. Gives them a nice deep black shine. Then, Meguiar's interior detail spray on all the interior surfaces (non leather surfaces to be specific)- dash, trim pieces, plastic pieces, etc. Gives them a nice clean, deep, look without the shine of Armour All. Then for casual day to day cleaning, I use Meguiar's 2 in 1 leather cleaner/conditioner on the seats, console cover, steering wheel, side panels on the doors, etc. But if you want a good clean/condition, Lexol is apparently the "good stuff".

Then take the rubber mats out, and wash them with some dish soap, and on the carpet inserts, use some good carpet cleaner, as they tend to get dirty pretty quickly.

Oh, and before I even start washing the car, I take the mats out and vacuum the entire car.

Pop the hood and wipe it down with a damp cloth, check the oil, fluids, and top off the washer fluid.

That's what I do, and the car looks pretty good after it.
I don't polish because I'm scared I'll do something wrong. Lol.
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Re: Detailing (marlowe)

Quote, originally posted by marlowe »
What have you had the best results with as far as products to keep the car looking spiffy?
Also, I understand that several vehicles now a days have a dashboard made out of composite materials that are designed to not crack or fade with age. It is my understanding that it is actually counterproductive to put the shiny armorall on these dashboards because it keeps the material from breathing and makes it shiny counteracting the benefit of the anti reflectiveness of the dashboard from the factory. Has anyone else heard this? Is the Volvo dashboard made out of this material?

Products like Armor All, STP Son-of-a-Gun, or similar products should never be used on top of dashboards. They can create blinding reflections on bright sunny days. The dull, flat color of Volvo (and other makes) dashboards are designed not to reflect sunlight. But I don't think these materials have to "breathe" at all.
Re: Detailing (MAC1LSR)

just use a microfiber towl to wipe down the dash...
Re: Detailing (nobbe3728)

I like Poorboys World Natural Look Dressing on my dash.

http://www.poorboysworld.com/natural-look.htm

I don't like to use Armor-All, or cleaners found under the kitchen sink for my car. I like to use dedicated automotive products.

My new favorite quick detailer/spray wax is Blackfire's Deep Gloss Spray Sealant.

http://www.properautocare.com/blacdeepglos.html

I've tried a lot of quick detailers and spray waxes, this one by far is the glossiest and slickest.

Autogeek always has deals on high quality microfiber towels. Much thicker than the stuff you'll find at your local Big Box. They have a buy one, get one free special page, here's a link:

http://autogeek.net/buy-one-get-one-free.html

Good deal on the Pinnacle clay as well.
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