How to properly clean your truck

Hi guys,

This my first brand new vehicle. I used to drive an old Honda CRV so I didn't really care for it. I recently bought a new 2018 off road tacoma a month ago. I brought for it's first wash at this hand wash place and they didn't do a great job.

There's spots all over my fender and the only really vacuumed the inside. They didnt clean the doors or dash.

SOOOO I would like to start washing my own truck. So this might seem stupid but what do you recommend that is best to wash my car with? What's good to clean my seats? What's good for my dash and my side panels on my doors? How do I get ride of the spots on my fender from the stuff the sprayed on my wheels with?

New to all of this so any help would be great. I know these are silly questions.

Thanks in advance!!

 

Welcome to TW and here is a link you can look in to for your truck which will need some TLC from now on: Car Care

 

Welcome to TW and congrats on your new truck! I'm no help because I use the car wash but there is a forum on detailing that should help you out. Good luck and enjoy your truck!

 

Subbed for the answers

 

What he said.

 

Start here

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/official-ask-a-detailer-thread.8957/

I like Chemical guys products
They have lots of helpful videos for most of their products.

https://www.chemicalguys.com/default.asp

Good luck, have fun!

 

I use a high end car detailer and have it done quarterly.Never use somebody that does it out in in a parking lot in the sun.I pay $150 to get mine done every quarter. My truck is 12 years old and looks brand new.I use a business called the Shine Shop in Greensboro N.C.

 

My suggestion is hand wash yourself with a quality wash sponge two buckets.

Fill one bucket with soap and water and the other with just water.

Keep your truck wet the entire time your washing it. Rinse out your dirty wash sponge in the plain water bucket before going back into the soap pail.

Using a second rinse bucket will really help to cut down on swirl marks.

 

Use chemical guys vrp for the interior. Super easy and makes the plastic look like brand new

 

Just give it a good bath.

 

1. Two bucket method with grit guard
2. Quality microfiber towels to wash
2a. Wash/dry in straight lines, do not wash in circles or dry, all you are doing is swirling dirt around (hence micro swirl marks)
3. Quality paint sealant 2 x a year ( or once)
4. Wax approx 4 x a year
5. Fluid film underbody x 2 a year
6. I dry with a leaf blower (yes I have a neighbor who thinks I'm bat shit crazy but it's so much faster and does a better job than hand drying with a MF (and no swirls)
7. 303 aerospace for interior vinyl
8. fridge full of beers


I probably missed something but that's pretty much my approach. As far as sealant and wax go there's about 100 products out there that ppl recommend, but for starters research Collonite 845 for wax and Wolfgang sealant or jetseal

 

How long should I leave mine in there?

 

That could possibly cause a sunroof leak.

 

Any clean bucket.
Any clean rag.
Any car soap.
Any hose with water in it.

Boom. You just washed your truck.

 

U should bait it and trap fish while you're at it

 

^ This. It ain't a Rolls-Royce.

 

There's a detailed thread somewhere on here that has a ton of info and product recs you should be able to find. Welcome to TW

 

Use mild Dawn dish wash soap. Always in the shade, rinse completely and wipe with old bath towel. Our airplanes are finished with a Corrosion X product called "RejeX"; It bonds with the clear coat. Outlasts any auto supply products multifold. Google it to read the specifications and purchase direct on line or via an aviation specialty store. Easy to use and spit shines and bugs fall off easily. Good luck.

 

10 hours...


Looks like new when you pull it out of the water:


@Jamesboy2233

 

Got pictures of your wheel wells?