Hmmm. Every time I have ever used it or seen it used it has browned within a couple days and it's a pain to clean off. But who knows. Everybody has different experiences with everything lol.
Cleaning products reviews!
I'm going to start reviewing all the cleaning products I use on my Forte here.
First up, ArmorAll wipes:
I've used both the glass wipes and protectant wipes, and they are absolutely fantastic!
The "Original Protectant Wipes" are amazing. Two will clean your entire car in about 10 minutes. They leave a wonderful shine on anything black or dark colored. And leaves a fairly neutral smell behind.
The "Glass Wipes" are also very nice. They do indeed remove dirt and leave it streak free. But I would just use a run of the mill glass cleaner, it's cheaper and works just as well, if not better. But... the wipes are much more convenient.
NOTE: I no longer like the protectant wipes. They leave a shiny wax coating that looks crappy after a week in the hot sun.
ArmorAll tire foam
LOVE this stuff! Spray it on and leave it! Your tires will come out black as... well... very black. It doesn't make them shiny, but it will return the new tire color. Apply some tire shine and they will look brand new!
If you're willing to spend a little extra time, use a terry cloth to rub the foam into the tires. It will come out darker, and you won't need as much product.
Turtle Wax Bug & Tar Remover
Good stuff, just make sure you get the bugs early! If you let them bake in it will be an absolute pain-in-the-tookus to remove them.
Spray a good amount on, wait a minute, and wipe off! I use this after every journey home (400 miles).
If you let bugs and tar bake onto your paint, it's gonna take a lot more than a spray and some wiping! Probably nothing short of a clay bar.
Also good for removing labels and stuff. It got the residue from my EX badge just fine. Took a decent amount of elbow grease though. It's not a miracle worker!
Turtle Wax ICE Car Wash soap
Smells great, lubricates very well, and leaves a nice shine. It doesn't condition your paint, doesn't wax, nothing like that. I just simply cleans your car!
They claim it won't leave water spots.... that depends on how hard your water is. The water in Lubbock is very hard, so I always get spots if I'm not careful. In good shade it won't leave spots if dried quickly. Just dry with some good microfiber towels and no spots will be seen.
Mothers California Gold Carnauba Cleaner Wax
I've been using this stuff on my emblems and exhaust tip for a while. Always leaves a very nice shine. Makes it a joke to wash off dirt, just wipe with a cloth.
I haven't waxed my whole car yet, but I will before the meet. I've done small sections that needed it, and it always produces a brilliant shine. Love it!
More to come:
>Mother's Clay Bar kit
>Invisible glass with rain repellent
>And others as I find/use them.
First up, ArmorAll wipes:
I've used both the glass wipes and protectant wipes, and they are absolutely fantastic!
The "Original Protectant Wipes" are amazing. Two will clean your entire car in about 10 minutes. They leave a wonderful shine on anything black or dark colored. And leaves a fairly neutral smell behind.
The "Glass Wipes" are also very nice. They do indeed remove dirt and leave it streak free. But I would just use a run of the mill glass cleaner, it's cheaper and works just as well, if not better. But... the wipes are much more convenient.
NOTE: I no longer like the protectant wipes. They leave a shiny wax coating that looks crappy after a week in the hot sun.
ArmorAll tire foam
LOVE this stuff! Spray it on and leave it! Your tires will come out black as... well... very black. It doesn't make them shiny, but it will return the new tire color. Apply some tire shine and they will look brand new!
If you're willing to spend a little extra time, use a terry cloth to rub the foam into the tires. It will come out darker, and you won't need as much product.
Turtle Wax Bug & Tar Remover
Good stuff, just make sure you get the bugs early! If you let them bake in it will be an absolute pain-in-the-tookus to remove them.
Spray a good amount on, wait a minute, and wipe off! I use this after every journey home (400 miles).
If you let bugs and tar bake onto your paint, it's gonna take a lot more than a spray and some wiping! Probably nothing short of a clay bar.
Also good for removing labels and stuff. It got the residue from my EX badge just fine. Took a decent amount of elbow grease though. It's not a miracle worker!
Turtle Wax ICE Car Wash soap
Smells great, lubricates very well, and leaves a nice shine. It doesn't condition your paint, doesn't wax, nothing like that. I just simply cleans your car!
They claim it won't leave water spots.... that depends on how hard your water is. The water in Lubbock is very hard, so I always get spots if I'm not careful. In good shade it won't leave spots if dried quickly. Just dry with some good microfiber towels and no spots will be seen.
Mothers California Gold Carnauba Cleaner Wax
I've been using this stuff on my emblems and exhaust tip for a while. Always leaves a very nice shine. Makes it a joke to wash off dirt, just wipe with a cloth.
I haven't waxed my whole car yet, but I will before the meet. I've done small sections that needed it, and it always produces a brilliant shine. Love it!
More to come:
>Mother's Clay Bar kit
>Invisible glass with rain repellent
>And others as I find/use them.
21 - 40 of 46 Posts
Good to know regarding Autoglym availability. In my defense, I haven't checked on Autoglym's availability in a few years; last time I checked, there was only one online source down in Florida.
Glad to hear there's another option out there for car care products.
Glad to hear there's another option out there for car care products.
Using the following on my black Koup
Megs Soft Wash + ONR w/ Griot's Garage "Noodle" MF wash mitt
\/
Mothers CG Clay
\/
Autoglym Super Resin Polish
\/
Megs Nxt 2.0 TW
\/
Megs Ult QD or QuikWax
Buffed off with Megs Supreme Shine MF's.
P21S Total Auto wash for light engine cleaning
Griot's Undercarriage spray for fender wells
Autoglym Leather Cleaner and Leather Care cream for the seats
Armorall for the dash and interior trim
The Koup uses the Megs stuff, mainly cuz I was experimenting with it at the time, and decided to stick with it on that car.
http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/detail.jsp?ID=125
Their bug removal mitts are top notch!
The key for me, is using quik detail spray or a good sealant on the front bumper after each wash.....helps bugs come off alot easier during a wash.
The key....is having that sealant or wax on your paint
Oh, and a thick coating of wax is never a good idea. Hard to remove, leaves hazing etc etc.
Use a thin initial layer, and "top up" after every wash with a QD spray or spray wax.
Then use Meguiars Tyre Endurance Gel. That stuff lasts really long!
Megs Soft Wash + ONR w/ Griot's Garage "Noodle" MF wash mitt
\/
Mothers CG Clay
\/
Autoglym Super Resin Polish
\/
Megs Nxt 2.0 TW
\/
Megs Ult QD or QuikWax
Buffed off with Megs Supreme Shine MF's.
P21S Total Auto wash for light engine cleaning
Griot's Undercarriage spray for fender wells
Autoglym Leather Cleaner and Leather Care cream for the seats
Armorall for the dash and interior trim
Their polishes and waxes are about the best I've used. And I've used a bit (not a detailer, but I like to experiment) on my own. My weekend machine sees Autoglym stuff ONLY. HDWax and ExtraGloss protection are excellent LSP's (last step protection) to seal in all the work and filling achieved by their polishes.
The Koup uses the Megs stuff, mainly cuz I was experimenting with it at the time, and decided to stick with it on that car.
Take a look at these:
http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/detail.jsp?ID=125
Their bug removal mitts are top notch!
The key for me, is using quik detail spray or a good sealant on the front bumper after each wash.....helps bugs come off alot easier during a wash.
The key....is having that sealant or wax on your paint
Oh, and a thick coating of wax is never a good idea. Hard to remove, leaves hazing etc etc.
Use a thin initial layer, and "top up" after every wash with a QD spray or spray wax.
I scrub mine with a brush and soap powder. Get off all the gunk.
Then use Meguiars Tyre Endurance Gel. That stuff lasts really long!
Yu had me until these two parts of your post.
While I don't much care for AA products, I see why some people might like them. But it's that gel crap that kills me. I'm not critizing anyone for using it but I just have a personal issue with the stuff some people put on their tires. They cake crap on them, wich picks up grime, dirt and everything else. Then they don't know why their tires don't look good. It it works, great. I just see many more people complain.
Personally I use Meg's Hyperdressing (only problem is, it's not over the counter). One gallon is about $35 but you'd mix it 3:1 or 4:1 so it's really like $10/gallon. A little goes a long way. It has the ability to migrate all over the plastic/rubber, so very little is needed. When I spray tires down with water at the self serve car wash I can see some of the product benig washed off but it will last through that and the tire still looks like it was just treated. As you, I use a tire brush and the car wash soap (Gold Class... 'cause it was $2 on clearance) to clean the tire. Nothing more.
I don't like HD on the interior of the vehicle.
BTW - Great post!
Yu had me until these two parts of your post.
While I don't much care for AA products, I see why some people might like them. But it's that gel crap that kills me. I'm not critizing anyone for using it but I just have a personal issue with the stuff some people put on their tires. They cake crap on them, wich picks up grime, dirt and everything else. Then they don't know why their tires don't look good. It it works, great. I just see many more people complain.
Personally I use Meg's Hyperdressing (only problem is, it's not over the counter). One gallon is about $35 but you'd mix it 3:1 or 4:1 so it's really like $10/gallon. A little goes a long way. It has the ability to migrate all over the plastic/rubber, so very little is needed. When I spray tires down with water at the self serve car wash I can see some of the product benig washed off but it will last through that and the tire still looks like it was just treated. As you, I use a tire brush and the car wash soap (Gold Class... 'cause it was $2 on clearance) to clean the tire. Nothing more.
I don't like HD on the interior of the vehicle.
BTW - Great post!
LOL I hear ya.....
. I'm not a fan of AA stuff either....but it's convenient and easy to get in my country If it's any solace, I use Autoglym Rubber and Vinyl Care on the interior one of my other cars (rarely driven).
I like the smell, and it's really not that greasy.
As for the Endurance gel....hmmm.....I normally scrub the tyre down with dishwash and and old sponge, dry, and then use a dab of Endurance gel.
Any other recommended options, besides HyperDressing? What about stuff from Griots?
Here is one cleaning product I can't live without...
My Karcher electric pressure washer, and my foam cannon, made a quick video of me using it on my new Forte for you guys.
I can't seem to figure out how to embed it so here is the link...EDIT, ok I think I got it.
http://photobucket.com/fortekoup
My Karcher electric pressure washer, and my foam cannon, made a quick video of me using it on my new Forte for you guys.
I can't seem to figure out how to embed it so here is the link...EDIT, ok I think I got it.
http://photobucket.com/fortekoup
Those things are BAMF! I don't have regular access to a hose though, so not very useful for me
how much more BAMF would it be if I told you the foam cannon only costs $14.99
I love the Karcher, for $100 bucks its every bit worth it, one of my fav things is the water usage, it uses alot less water than a hose normally would so you don't have puddles everywhere you are sloshing through as you wash
I love the Karcher, for $100 bucks its every bit worth it, one of my fav things is the water usage, it uses alot less water than a hose normally would so you don't have puddles everywhere you are sloshing through as you wash
21 - 40 of 46 Posts
