Just had a few quick question in regards to how often people are cleaning/maintaining the interior/exterior of their car and what products you use.

How often do you wash your car? Is it hand washed or do you use a touchless car wash?

How often do you wax your car? What type of wax do you use and is it hand-applied or do you use a buffer? If a buffer, what type of buffer/buffer pads?

Have you claybarred your car? Is this only as-needed or should it be routinely done as well? What type of claybar do you use?

Have you washed/conditioned the leather interior? How often would you do this, and what products do you use?

And last, how often do you clean the interior surfaces and what products do you use?

I just am curious what may be the best products out there from what you all have used and what may just be marketing hype that I should avoid buying. For example I've read some people swear by Armor-All and others stay far away.



I'll start this out by sharing what I use and how often I have done things so far, but since this car is still new I'm trying to gauge how often I should be cleaning it and what I should be cleaning it with.

I take my car to the touchless car wash about 1-2 times/month, and they do the whole car/wheels/undercarriage and give me a Rain-X treatment as well.

Haven't waxxed it yet, but plan to as the weather warms up. Wanted some input on what product to use and how to apply it.

Haven't claybarred yet, same as above if anyone has any input that'd be great.

Haven't washed/conditioned the leather yet, same as above.

So far on the interior surfaces I've been using Orange Clean Armor All which has been working great.

 

Touchless wash when I can't hand wash it each weekend (mainly when it's below freezing in the winter). Always handwash during the warmer months with a super soft lambswool mitt (mitt washed on gentle cycle after each use). Meguiars Pro car wash soap is great, but I've become a huge fan of my foam gun with the Extreme foam concentrate. Pretty much keep it cleaned every single weekend if it's not raining. After each wash, usually spray the whole car down with the Zaino Z-5 extreme clean spray or the Z-8 grand finale spray to keep it looking shiny like the day I polished.

Wax- typically 2-3 times a year just to keep a nice coating on the clear. Been using Zaino Bros. polishes and sealers for years with good results. Always clayed the entire car prior to each polishing (including the windows).

Leather- again, Zaino Bros leather cleaner and conditioner. Usually do all the leather every few months.

Interior Surfaces: I really like the Meguiars Interior Quik Detailer. Leaves a matte finish and also protects all synthetic materials.


Everyone has their favorite products to use, but I've used all of these for many years with great results. I'm a bit OCD when it comes to keeping my car clean though

 

Cleaning frequency comes down to the owner. I'm very fussy & so I detail my cars on a regular basis. During the winter months I go a little longer between detailing but in the summer I usually clean the interior at least once a week. As far as washing the exterior goes, I personally do it more frequently than others. Always after it rains or when the paint gets dirty. I always wash by hand. I have been detailing at a professional level for close to 10 years so I can definitely recommend some of the products that I like the best.

I get a lot of products from a detailing products supplier called Bloomco (in Burlington, Ontario, Canada). I buy large pails of cleaner/degreaser and tire shine. They also have great micro-fibre wax applicator pads.

Wash Mit: Simoniz Genuine Sheepskin (Australian Sheepskin). This is the softest mit, wont scratch at all and if cared for properly will last you many washes. I usually go thru 2 per year @ about $15 each.

Wax: Worlds Best Wax is the only wax I use. Although pricey compared to to other waxes, it is well worth it. I have tried every wax on the market and this one tops them all! Highly recommended http://www.worldsbestwax.com/main.htm
I use micro fibre wax applicator pads and apply it using a side to side motion, following the contours of the car. I wax my cars once a month, but frequency really depends on the owner & what your using as wash soap since most will strip the wax off. Its best to use a wash soap that has carnuba in it. Never use dish soap or other harsh cleaners. Worlds Best also sells wash soap (yellow) which is the one I use.

As far as claybar goes, its really only something you do if you get tree sap, overspray or other contaminants on the clear coat. I recommend Meguiars claybar used with Meguiars Quik-Detailer as the lubricant.

For leather and all interior panels I use a Bloomco product called 'Hot-Purple.' It comes concentrated and you dilute it with water about 20/1. It brings everything back to new. I never use products that shine like Armor-All anywhere inside the car as it attracts dust and leaves an oily residue all over the place. I prefer the raw clean look and feel. I keep a micro fibre cloth in the glovebox and dust the dash & door panels about once a week. Micro fibre cloths are also great for cleaning windows

Hope that helps you~

 

I take it to the carwash (hand washed) once a week. Spray wax it myself 2-3 times a week to keep the dust off since I park outside. Clay bar and regular wax twice a year at the carwash. I plan to clean and condition the leather twice a year but have only conditioned it once so far.

Spray wax: ICE Synthetic Spray Wax
Leather: Lexol
Windows: Invisible Glass

 

I use a porter cable random orbital polisher and my assortment of pads... I use all meguiars polishes, waxes, clay bars, and soaps. I also use Poor Boys Black Hole as a glaze and their natty blue as a final wax in the summer (makes my black car look WETTTTTTTTTTTT) using the Porter cable is an easy and efficient way to polish out spider webbing and swirls.

Other than that I use a wool mit with the two bucket method with grit guards in the bottoms of both buckets. Wash from roof down. Using a back and forth motion trying not to go over a part of the car you have already done. More motions equals more chances to induce swirls, small scratches, or spider webbing. I dry using USA MADE microfiber cloths and some detailer spray. I use separate towels for my paint, door jams, and wheels. Tires get either armor all or what ever is on sale. I usually apply it let it sit for until I am done with the inside and then wipe off.

Inside a steam clean twice a year, vacuum once a week. I use Lexol on the seats and vinyl. I let it soak in for about 30 minutes and then buff off. I use something flat that gives UV protection like turtle wax interior detailer or meguiars for the plastics. Apply, let soak, and then buff off. I keep carbon filters under both front seats to absorb any odors that may get tracked in. Windows get invisible glass cleaner and rain replant inside and out.

Dont worry about finding a wash with caranuba in it... usually it is a very minute amount that will make NO difference. I use Meguiars Gold Class. It is not too harsh and will not remove all of the wax, yet cleans very well. DO NOT use dish soap unless you are wanting to remove EVERYTHING from the paint and are planning on doing a FULL DETAIL and are reapplying sealants, glazes, and waxes.

Also i would not suggest using anything such as "hot-purple" or "simple green" even diluted over time will dry out the plastics. I use murphys oil soap diluted 10:1 or 15:1 or woolite diluted the same about 4 times a year just to get the built up dust and oils off the plastics, but I ALWAYS follow up with some sort of detailer to return some sort of moisture back into the plastics and to protect it from UV rays.

EVERYTIME i do a full detail where I am applying some sort of wax (other than detailing spray sealer or wax-as-you-dry) whether I am using my PC or doing it by hand i use a clay bar. A clay bar removes all of the impurities that becomes embedded in your paint from just normal driving (exhaust dust, road dust, metal shavings, brake pad dust, ect...) even new cars have this from what is called "rail dust". A clay bar will remove most of these contaminants and make the paint smooth. A trick to use to see if you need to clay bar is to stick your hand in a ziploc back and rub it across your paint if it feels rough and the bag kind of catches you need to clay bar before you apply wax or use a PC. To use a clay bar you need to use some sort of detailing spray and just gently rub the clay all over a small area. Once completed pick it up and fold it into itself revealing a new clean part of the bar and continue. I usually wash my car, clay bar, and then wash again, and dry.

Usually for the normal person a wax 1 time every 3 months is more than enough, and then use some sort of wax-as-you-dry product or a spray wax in between after each wash will give the look that most want and will protect the paint adequately. This will not do any sort of paint correction like get rid of spider webbing or swirls but will some what mask them.

Your best bet is to go to f150online.com and look at the detailing forum there. THEY KNOW THEIR STUFF. especially ROCKPICK. I learned everything from him. Just look at his pics they speak for themselves. He even has a special light gun that NOTHING can hide from.