*Official* Ask A Detailer Thread

I have a Tex black bumper. I've had great luck with spray sealants like Meg's fast finish and recently coated it with McKees 37 for the hell of it. Holds up real good

 

Clay bar and isopropyl alcohol diluted 2:1 with hot water.

 

As a sweaty guy, my steering wheel and shifter in my 2016 are starting to get sticky. I'm worried about hurting the leather when I clean the steering wheel. Can I clean it with this stuff?

$12 Chemical Guys SPI_663_16 InnerClean Quick Detailer with Pineapple Scent, High Performance Interior and Dashboard Cleaner, Dust Repellent, Easy to Use Non Greasy Formula, 16 fl oz

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008LPEZ6Q/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks in advance!

 

I love their quick detailer. It's great.

Remember with these products, use microfiber towels and spray the product onto your towel not directly onto the surface you want to clean. You don't need a lot of product to get the results you want. I've had that 16oz bottle for over two years and I still have 80% of what's in there.

Chemical Guys also makes a leather cleaner and conditioner. I highly recommend these. I use the leather cleaner and conditioner twice a year. It will help the leather from becoming dehydrated and cracking and flaking over time.
I also installed leather seats in my Tacoma and use it on them. It does a great job of keeping everything plush.

 

Wow, thanks for the super quick response. So would I be okay using the quick detailer to clean, then use the leather conditioner to keep the leather nice? I'm a teensy bit hesitant to buy a cleaner for just the leather since the only leather in my life currently is the tiny bit on my steering wheel.

Oh, also, I still have some of this stuff from when I had a leather bicycle saddle, should be good to use, right?

https://www.amazon.com/Brooks-Proof...10&sr=8-1&keywords=brooks+leather+conditioner

 

As long as the leather isn’t really gummed up you should be fine.

I’m not sure on the leather product. You’ll have to read applications and i structions. Part of the shifter and steering wheel are real leather though.

 

Other than Ceramic coating. What might be a good easy wax or coating for wheels? Something to protect the finish.
Repel brake dust and or help brake dust rinse off more easily? I'm currently using Meguiars Ultimate Quick wax. Sprays on and wipes easily off.
Anything better?

 

I just picked up some Sonax Spray and Seal. You spray it on a wet vehicle then rinse it off.

 

Have you tried it yet?

 

Anyone tried this stuff?

 

In general Sonax makes quality products.

 

In my opinion you need to physically get down and clean your wheels, not look for a product that will give you a hands off cleaning ability.
Mostly because I don’t think that perfect product exists so thinking it does just builds bad habits.

I use Iron-X and a wheel cleaner on my wheels regularly to remove brake dust that will embed in the finnish and destroy it.
I have a set of wheel brushes I use to get in the lug nuts and spokes. I clean the wheels every car wash.

They do make sealers specifically for wheel applications to help clean them up. Also ceramic coatings are good options (but make sure who does them removes the tire to seal the whole wheel).

I still would physically clean the wheels every wash though. Brake dust is highly corrosive, you need to get it off.

 

X2. I’ve yet to encounter a truly hands off wheel product that meets my expectations. Sound advice here....

 

I will not disagree here. My wife demands a clean car and unfortunately her car is Black. I have a nice little home car wash set up with an electric pressure washer stationary in my garage. 50 ft of pressure washer hose on a high pressure reel. All I have to do is turn on the water and pressure washer, grab the end of the hose and walk out the door with it. Takes about 60 seconds till I'm washing.
I have a designated wheel bucket, brushes and wash mit. I'm asking for something to help maintain the wheels between hand washings.
Not that they need it but I don't want to hand wash the wheels 2-3 times a week.

Demand is not really the truth. She likes a clean car.
Mama Happy.... Everybody happy....

 

What are some good wheel cleaner for rims? Regular painted stock rims? What wont leave a residue after?

 

Sonax is really good. You could also check Chemical Guys.

 

Hopefully you aren’t seriously washing her car 2-3 times a week...
All that does is wear off sealers, waxes, and any other protective coatings off the car much faster. Even when using pH balanced soaps. Plastics and rubbers will discolor faster as well.

You don’t need to wash the wheels that often either. If she insists on ruining the finish on her black car with excessive washing then only wash the wheels every few washes.

Last summer I took several road trips. I was washing my truck every two weeks to get bug guts off.
I only did a heavy duty clean up job on the wheels every 3rd wash.

Just hose the wheels down and everyfew weeks get down and clean by hand.

 

Yep I'm serious 2-3 times/week. It's probably just as much me as her and I don't mind doing it. I like experimenting with new tricks and techniques that provide better results in less time. "Sorta Lean CI"
I'm using a ph balanced snow foam from Chemical Guys with a foam cannon on my stationary electric pressure washer. A WORX electric leaf blower to blow the water off so about half the time the car is washed with never being touched. Takes about 20 minutes start to finish. The other times I foam the car down, use the 2 bucket method with a microfiber mit for washing. Then dry the car with microfiber towels after lightly misting each panel with Meguiars D156 Synthetic Express Spray Wax. That way as I dry I'm applying a light coat of wax each time and I actually think it takes less time to dry the car.
So yes I'm washing 2-3 times a week but I'm also sorta waxing it each week.

 

Does anyone use Opti Seal? just found this stuff and have been using it, seems to work well..some protection from brush pin striping...if its been covered here sorry for the repeat

 

Yep. A little goes a long ways. A bottle lasts forever.