What have you tried so far?by Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Yeah, the pump (for the cleaning solution) bit the big one years ago...HOWEVER, the vacuum portion of the Big Green has been going strong, never missing a beat. Actually I have found it to be much easier NOT using the built in pump, instead using spray bottles for my cleaners and a 1 gallon garden sprayer for 'rinsing' water. This way I can have several different cleaners available atby Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
One thing that was left out is that in many cases, you actually need to clean the glass TWICE or more...It even recommends this on STONERS INVISIBLE GLASS instructions. One other thing you can do is after you have cleaned the glass, and it looks good (except for the smears) is to THEN take your (CLEAN/DRY) mirco-fiber towel, diaper, of paper towel and BUFF the the glass DRY...just like you wereby Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Yes. I wash the car and rinse it like normal. Then instead of drying the car, I take a clean bucket of soap & water and a clean wash towel and spread soap & water over the area I want to clay.by Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
I use regular car wash soap & water. I "wash" the area then use the clay bar.by Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Start with a hand glaze/mild polish CLEAN towels (sorry, the voices made me say that) and apply the polish in straight front-to-back motions. Repeat as needed and rewax/sealby Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Just prior to washing the car, hose down (figuratively speaking) the bugs with WD-40 and let it soak a few minutes (will not damage paint). The penetrating abilities of the WD-40 will let it get absorbed into the insectile remains (bug guts) and softens them up and relaxes their hold on the painted surface, making them easier to remove. So far, the best "bug scrubber" that I have foundby Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Oh jeez...I'm starting to mis my old P.O.S. Toyota pick-up with it's ALL vinyl interior (INCLUDING the headliner)..... Anyone else remember the days of: Spray with cleaner...scrub with brush...rinse or wipe clean??by Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
What kind of sealant/protectant are you using on the paint?by Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Well I tried some of it and I hope the results I'm getting are because it's so hot and humid. It comes out of the bottle looking like watered down Elmer's Glue. The best way to describe what it does is that it INSTANTLY 'flash-dries' (& is a REAL bitch to remove when it does that). Beyond that bad point, it seems to work well. The only way I've been able to appby Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Remove the tireby Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Carpet shampoos are generally good for light to moderately dirty carpets. It's when you start getting into heavier or greasy stains that some of the all-purpose cleaners are your best bet. If your headliner falls down, it's toast. Find a shop that installs new ones.by Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Try dampening a towel with some white vineager and blotting/wiping the spots. If they are hard water stains, the vineager should dissolve the minerals.by Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
I would try a cleaner/wax first, then try a paint cleaner like the #2 As for your electrical problems...have you tried looking for a VW webboard? Too, your car has been around a while so there should book books from HAYNES and CHILTONS available for it to help you chase down the bad ground.by Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Yeah, I thought about mentioning that (I had a plastic gallon jug burst on me the other day). The Oxy-Clean FOAMS big time if it's shaken too hard during the mixing. If you put it directly in a sealed bottle right afterwards.... The best way to mix a strong solution is to put it in a large bucket (5 gal wash buckets work great...just make sure it's clean) add 4 scoops of Oxy-Clean forby Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
The Oxy-Clean is awesome. The method I use is to put 1 scoop into a 32 oz bottle (I usually plan ahead and put 4 scoops in a gallon container and pre-mix a large amount). I soak a small area with the Oxi-Clean and let it soak for a minute, then use the Bissel and pull it out. If the stain is still there, I spray more Oxi-Clean and vac it out (a small toothbrush works well on extra-stubborn stainby Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
A mild mixture of Simple Green works very well, puts out no harmful vapors and leaves a clean scent. Oxy-Clean also works very well.by Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
I could have clayed it, but the clay would have done nothing for all the scratches and oxidation. Since this is my dad's truck, and he really doesn't care too much about how it looks I didn't feel like spending the extra time. I knew I was going to have to use paint cleaner anyway, so I skipped the clay step. Doing his truck reminded my why I'll never have a black car again,by Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
I spent over 8 hours on my dad's truck yesterday. Between shampooing the interior and buffing out the paint (I found out later the heat index was 105...yikes!!). I did a basic 3 step...the DC paint cleaner and #7 followed by Finish First. The truck started off with an extreme amount of minor/moderate scratches and swirls and moderate oxidation on the top surfaces. Also there was acid rainby Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
It's been so long since I've used abrasives that I really don't remember.by Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
I used Meguiars Deep Crystal paint cleaner for the first time today. My parents asked me to clean up thier cars (they could write a how-to on destroying a car's finish). I didn't want to use rubbing compound, but I knew a mild polish wasn't going to get it either. The Meguiars site recommended Medalion paint cleaner, but all I could find was the Deep Crystal. I did my mom'by Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Obviously you haven't read the book. Personally I don't crawl under my car with a toothbrush & wax to do the underbody. (I don't straighten out the fins on my radiatior either).by Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
My advice still stands, wax it. (avoid heavy abrasives though).by Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Look for the book: "ULTIMATE AUTO DETAILING" by David H. Jacobs Jr. It's published by 'MOTORBOOKS INTERNATIONAL' P.O. Box 1 Osceola, WI 54020 1-800-826-6600 The guy is into the "Concours" type of detailing (which is too anal even for me), but this book has to be the single best read on the subject of detailing.by Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
If it's painted...polish and wax it.by Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
No, I just clean my windows alotby Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
I used Tuff Stuff foaming cleaner on my grandfather's car (EVERY SURFACE), and when I was done, my dad (who HATES smoke) couldn't smell it anymore inside the car.by Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
I 'remixed' solution of SG, Rain-X glass cleaner & water. Originally I used the mixture suggested by the manufacturer (1 tsp SG to 16 (26) oz water and 1/4 oz R-X to 16 (26) oz water. It worked well, except for occasionally leaving heavy "streaks" that needed buffing from a 2nd towel. When the bottle was 1/2 empty, I refilled it with water, effectively cutting the mixtby Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
I agree with Dan on this one, if there is nothing on the car-claying won't hurt anything. But if there is...claying can help prevent adding new scratches while removing others.by Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
I used to work at a carwash that used 1100 psi pressure washers. If you got too close to the nozzle, it was like getting zapped by a razor blade (the soap didn't make it feel any better either).by Don M - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts