Newbie Car Cleaning Q's

[VerbalJungleGym]

I've read a bunch of posts here but I still have some questions. This is my first new car (Blue 09 Sport) and I want to make sure I take care of it properly.

I've read a bunch of posts about washing, and I think I get the general idea. That being, I've still got some questions. I'm planning on heading out to the autostore to pick up a whole cleaning kit and give it its first wash(had it less than a week lol). I've never washed my other cars, so I apoligize if I ask silly questions. Thanks for any help you can give.

1.)If I notice a random bird dropping or bug splat what should I do to clean it without have to clean the whole car?

2.)Also, after you've washed your car, what method do you use to wash your microfiber towels/lambskin mitt?

3.)Are california water blades as good as they sound?

4.)Do you have to wax your car whenever you wash it? If not how often? What do you need to after a wash if you don't plan on waxing?

5.)Say you wash your car but the next day it's covered in pollen, is your only option to re-wash? Or would water and a water blade work+towel?

6.) What should I use to wash my wheels?

7.) What would you recommend for cleaning the interior(seats,dash,hud)?

I'm really excited to take care of my ride. I'm also looking at the various diy guides and planning out what mods I want to put in. But what's the point without a clean car?

Thanks a bunch all.

[BC-Fit09]

hi..I'll just answer a few things here which I think are the most important.

Bird droppings, leaves, etc..get off RIGHT away as they will bleed right into the clearcoat. Im having a real nightmare with a certain small yellow leaf here that almost bleeds in instantly. Im picking them off daily and I keep a bottle of Meguiars Ultimate Quik detailer spray with a small microfiber towel in my car to use on the yellow. It does come off as long as you don't leave it for a few days. But I don't know whats wrong with this paint as Ive NEVER had this problem with any vehicle Ive owned and have lived in the same house 20 yrs.

I have yet to SEAL it with a product..I can't find the #20 or #21 Meguiars sealants that have been recommended here by the pro's. Other products which come highly recommended by folks here are Klasse and Zaino sealants.
(I'm looking into ordering one of the Meguiars online today!) The sealants, especially for a new vehicle...seem to be the way to go as it should be good for 6 months. And yes, you can still wax over the sealant.
I can only hope this takes care of this bleeding in problem.

For bird pooh...I keep a small package of kleenex in the glovey and scoop up the majority of the crap carefully as there can be grit in that pooh. If at home, I wet down the kleenex or use paper towel. ..then finish wiping with the Meguiars detailer spray...it takes care of things nicely.

As for the pollen (bad year for that here!) if it has the pitch in it, best to wash the car a couple times a week. If its just dry pollen, I wouldnt worry about it unless you find its bleeding into the clearcoat.

I use a Chenille wash mitt and microfiber towels and wash them together on a regular cycle using warm water. They wash and dry great, although I only partially dry the mitt in a machine, then hang on a line inside to finish drying.

You will definitely have to figure some of this out for yourself in relationship to the environment in your neighbourhood with the trees,etc there.

There are a number of threads about washing/waxing/sealing techniques and the products recommended...very easy to search.

[qbmurderer13]

Very good advice although you should never use a paper towel on your car. They come from trees which are naturally very abrasive.

1) As mentioned use a quick detailer and a microfiber towel. Only use it on certain spots. Also to remove bugs. Doing a whole car when it hasnt been washed in a day or two will swirl the paint.

2) The mitts should stay generally clean assuming you use the 2 bucket method, which if your not your doing worlds of damage to your paint. Keep one bucket with plain water, after each panel dip the mitt in a bucket of clean water to remove the dirt and grime from the mitt that way you dont re introduce it into the paint.

To wash the towels you can pick up a product online called micro restore. Although any liquid detergent will work providing you dont use fabric softener as it will clog up the fibers.

3) California water blades are not that great. If you just happen to forget one spec of dirt on the car you will drag it across the paint and scratch your car like crazy. Use only microfiber waffle weave towels.

4) You should only need to wax probably every other month depending on the wax and conditions your car sees. After the car is dry spray some quick detailer on it and remove with a microfiber towel to remove any waterspots or remaining water and add some gloss and protection.

5) NEVER, and I repeat NEVER dry your car without washing with soap. Water alone will not remove anything. One day is enough for dirt to accumulate. Use a quick detailer and microfiber towel to remove pollen.

I detailed a car that would rinse his car and just dry it with an absorber. The paint was TRASHED.

6) You can use regular soap to clean your wheels providing them you keep them clean. Always use a dedicated mitt to wash the wheels. Never use the same mitt you use on the wheels on your paint. If you need to clean your wheels pick up P21s gel wheel cleaner. Best wheel cleaner hands down.

7) For interior look online for a product called 1Z cockpit. Works awesome on all interior products and doesnt leave it glossy and shiny like armor all. Doesnt attract dust either.

Check out these sites for more information, tutorials, and products.

www.autopia.org

www.autogeek.net

www.detailersdomain.com

[kenchan]

here's my take. i do a lot of detailing as a hobby.

>1.)If I notice a random bird dropping or bug splat what should I do to clean it without have to clean the whole car?

i use a soft paper towel and a lot of polymer based QD called Prima Slick.
dont work the paper towel into the paint cause it will swirl it. wipe UP the
crap in a pickup motion, not circular motion. the reason why i use polymer
based QD is because you can use it in the sun and it will leave a stronger
protectant vs carnauba based QD.

if im in a rush i also use disposable gloves cause bird crap can get you
stick if handled incorrectly.


>2.)Also, after you've washed your car, what method do you use to wash your microfiber towels/lambskin mitt?

after separating MF towels from all the other laundry, i just run it in my
washing machine using no-perfume no-softner ALL laundry soap. if my MF
gets a tad stiff after long use, after i fill the machine (keep the lid open)
i pour about 1/2 cup of white vinegar in there and leave it for a few hours.
you can also get MF towel cleaners from Griot's which also work very well.

make sure you wash your new MF towels before use. otherwise you could
end up with A LOT of lint and poor performance.

>3.)Are california water blades as good as they sound?


Stay away from those unless you want to just squeegee your windows.
they are by far one of the worst tools out there for paint...if you care
about your car dont use it.


>4.)Do you have to wax your car whenever you wash it? If not how often? What do you need to after a wash if you don't plan on waxing?

no. if you use Paint sealants you can go without a wax for a few months.
but try enhancing the protection by using spray waxes during your wipe
down after each wash. i use Griot's Paint Sealant as the base protection
kept up by Prima Hydro. Hydro also calms down the plasticy artificial
shine of sealants and make them luster in more deeper gloss similar
to carnauba waxes.

>5.)Say you wash your car but the next day it's covered in pollen, is your only option to re-wash? Or would water and a water blade work+towel?

chances are your car is also covered in dew. which means some of the
pollen is stuck to the top of the finish. it's best to wash it, but you can
use some QD or SprayWax as lube to clean it off. in my case i use
Griot's SprayOn Car Wash. it's got super high lubricity content so my
MF towel glides very well over even soiled finishes with very minimal
hazing.

dont use CaliforniaDusters for cars that are parked out doors over night.
those are meant for very clean/waxed cars with light dust.

>6.) What should I use to wash my wheels?

your car shampoo and a boar's hair brush.

>7.) What would you recommend for cleaning the interior(seats,dash,hud)?>

vaccuum is a requirement, but you can also use California InteriorDusters
for your dash and Prima Nero (waterbased dressing) which works absolutely
perfectly on our dashes both GD and GD. i also find myself using masking
tape at times to get at lint that get stuck in the seats. also a boar's hair
paint brush comes in handy at times.

for windows I use Griot's WindowCleaner for outside and PrimaClarity
for inside. I can use Clarity over gauge lens too and any LCD's. use
the appropriate MF glass towels made for glass/LCD use.

goodluck!

Prima can be found through amazon or: Home Page
Griot's found here: Car Care, Detail Supplies, Garage Organization, Car Accessories - Griot's Garage 800-345-5789

[clmag]

We bought a 2009 Fit in August (base model), and the dealer did not put in windshield washer fluid in the reservoir. I asked my husband to get some, as I thought it's pretty generic stuff. He came home with Rain-X Windshield Washer Fluid with Bug Control. It's green and is rated to work only to 32°F. I researched Rain-X products on the web, and it seems people love it or hate it. To me, this washer fluid may damage the plastic, paint, and metal parts. However, from what I have read, it apparently does make rain flow off the windshield so you barely need to use the wipers while it is raining. I haven't put it in the reservoir, because I'm just not sure about it. I did read one review where they said this washer fluid froze in winter in the reservoir. Rain-X apparently does make a de-icer washer fluid, too, which is orange in color.
Anyway, do Fit Freaks use Rain-X products? Why or why not?

[qbmurderer13]

Rain-x stuff is pretty good. No cons to it IMO. Aquapel is way better though.

[G0dXilla]

So I tried washing my car for the first time since I bought. It's been about a month and I would have washed it sooner but it's been raining a lot. I got a nice MF Mitt and a MF Sponge but for the life of me I can't get these little spots off my car. They are a brown dot in the center with what looks like a water spot around it. The only way i've found to get them off is to pick them off with my fingernail. That can't be good for the paint AND it would take forever! I'm using Eagle-1 NANOWASH & WAX and my Mirage Wash Mitt and I swear the car barely looks like it's getting cleaner. Also, i'm using Meguiars Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner and that doesn't seem to do very well either. Do these products just suck that bad, or am I doing something wrong?

[qbmurderer13]

Those products are decent. Now I pray that your using two buckets to wash the car and are only using microfiber/waffle weave towels to dry? Clay bar your entire car and that will get rid of all the contaminants bonded to your paint that washing can't remove. There's several threads in this section about claying. Also pick up some meguiars ultimate quick detailer and a microfiber towel and use it after a wash. This will remove waterspots missed when drying, clean any spots you missed, and give your car extra protection and gloss.

[qbmurderer13]

Also I recomend meguiars gold class and eagle one wheel cleaner. They are the best products for what they do without having order online. There are way better products online if your willing to order.

[G0dXilla]

Yes, i've been using the 2 bucket system. In fact before I touched the car i had probably read a dozen posts by you on how to wash it. I got the waffle towel to dry, but I wasn't sure exactly what this clay bar thing is. This is my first new car, and the first car I've ever owned that I car what it looks like.

[G0dXilla]

I buy a lot of stuff online, but i'm looking for a cost effective way to keep my car in great shape. I would have gone right out and bought your whole detailing closet if I could afford it, but the car note alone is hard enough right now, not to mention the insurance.

[qbmurderer13]

Well at least do the clay. It should be done immediately after purchasing. A clay bar shouldn't be more than $20. It will get rid of those waterspots and stuff your trying to get rid of using your nail. It will leave your paint smooth as glass.

[G0dXilla]

Yeah I picked up Mother California Gold Clay Bar on my way home from work. The spots don't exactly wisk right off, but with a little work they are coming off safely. Is this a good product or do others work better? Also, how many times can you use one clay bar?

Thanks

[qbmurderer13]

Mothers isn't the best brand but clay is clay. What did you use for lubrication? Also you did wash before and after right? Applying little to no pressure?

[G0dXilla]

The clay came in a kit with a spray bottle of mother quick detailer, 2 bars of clay, and a MF cloth. I washed before, and used the spray/clay on just the spoiler to test then wiped clean with the cloth. I did not wash afterwards. I used little pressure on most of the area but some spots were very stubborn and required a more pressure.