Boutique vs. OTC

Is there a big difference in the cleaners and polishes you buy from these boutique places (Adams, Chemical Guys, Zaino, etc.) vs. the stuff you can buy at the local auto parts store? I noticed a lot of members use Meguiars

Anyone have any opinions on Adams products?

Thanks,

 

Never used Adams but I've had great luck with Meguiars brand stuff. The only thing from Meguiars that I bought and didn't like was their interior cleaner wipes. I don't think they did a great job picking up dirt and would leave streaks. Their exterior products seem to do an excellent job. I don't have a show truck by any means but I do detail it twice a year and wash it probably every other weekend at the very least during the warm months, so I do like a clean truck.

 

I am not a professional detailer, but like Pugga, I also like to keep my truck clean & detail it at least once or twice a year. I have never bought boutique products & but for my needs, Meguiars products have worked perfectly fine.

From all the video's I've watched trying to learn how to detail vehicles the professional way, I think any professional will answer you question by saying: Is there a difference between boutique & OTC products? Yes, but there is also a difference between boutique product ABC & boutique product XYZ.
What you are trying to achieve & what you are working with (vehicle paint & condition) will dictate what you should use.

 

Thanks Mike and Rocco.

Yeah I'm pretty much in the same boat as you guys, detail 2-3 times a year, wash every two weeks.

Got any recommendations for an interior detailer?

 

For detailing only 2-3 times a year, I suggest Zaino. Expensive, but its a extremely long lasting sealant.

zainobros.com

 

Stay away from the Meguire's NXT 2.0... Got some from what others had said on here and within a week there as no beading whatsoever. Yes, I said a WEEK...It rained and there wasn't event the slightest hint of a bead!

When I get a chance, will go back and put my old Turtle Wax Ice on it - at least I know it actually beads up for a while...

 

I beleive from former posts , the fancy expensive waxes are much softer than the cheaper polishes and waxes . The expensive buotique waxes look better but require more buff time or once a week type of detailing .
I use the mothers 3 step program and am finding that dirt particles penetrate the final Carnuba application very easy .
Having wider tires on the truck and crappy factory mud flaps , I prefer a hard wax below the body line . I try to prevent the tires from chipping Toyotas soft paint .
Their paint chips extremely easy so I suggest a few layers of quality sealant near the rubber

 

a couple years ago i tried my first boutique stuff... now nothing OTC touches my vehicles. i can do a complete exterior detail on my truck (clay, cleaner, micro polish, sealant, and wax)in the time it takes to just "smear" on and "scrub" off an otc brand wax. I know you think im blowing smoke, but i kid you not it takes like 15 mins to wipe wax or sealant on and about another 15 to buff it off. that is one of the huge differences that i have noticed. thing is most of the places will have amazing sales from time to time and that is when you purchase. but be warned it is just as addictive as buying mods for your truck.

in short, not only will you get a better result with a boutique but imo where it really pays off is the ease of application/removal. used to spend all day just on my truck and barely be able to lift my arm at the end of the day. now i start at 6 am on a sat or sun morning and knock out my truck and the wifes rav4 and just end up eating a late lunch around 130 or 2pm and spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing.

 

Thanks everyone for taking the time to respond.

I bit the bullet and placed an order with Adams. We'll see how it goes...