Anyone have any handy tips for some serious, deep cleaning of your 7th gen? For instance, it drives me crazy that there's a bunch of crumbs and junk between the seats and the center console that the hose of my vacuum can't reach. What's the trick? Am I forced to remove the seats? (I can't imagine actually doing that).

Other tricky/hardcore stuff you've done to keep your Max looking showroom-new?

I've changed the in-cabin filter, which can be tricky, but was made easy by advice I received here, so I trust some of you will have some good tips.

 

use an air compressor to spray the junk out, then pick it up with a vacuum cleaner

 

Take the seats out. If there's crumbs you can see, i guarantee its worse than it looks.

 

I went to a local vacuum shop and bought a Long extention handle for $2-3 works great.

 

yup my vac has an attachment fits in there

 

get one of those small detailing brush, sold everywhere now.

 

i dont vacume i use a blower i have for yrs it gets every crum everywhere forced air can go.open the doors let the blower blow

 

after you do that, keep food out of the vehicle because obviously someone can't keep the crumbs to themselves

 

Can you post a link or a pic of this brush? Thx!

 

I have one for paint if your interested. I have been a maguiars fan for 20 years and the ultimate line is as good if not better than their professional line. I have a brand new super black 2012 and already got a 3" scratch along the bottom of the front. Used ultimate compound then followed up with ultimate polish then finished off with a little ultimate liquid wax. Scratch no more. Completely gone and better than before. So I decided to do the entire car with the polish and then the wax. OMG. You talk about making black pop. No burst. Man what a job it did. Best thing is it will keep swirl marks gone for good. Love the stuff.

 

Wow, thanks for all of the great tips, everyone! And yes, I try not to bring food into mine, although sometimes, it's necessary. I will try the paint/wax trick, too.

 

1) Get some all weather mats-dont care where you live it will keep the carpets clean
2) Invest in some good leather cleaner & conditioner if you have leather seats. I use Zaino products only
3) Buy an eyeglass micro fiber cloth for your gauge cluster or nav system screen. Keeps it clean and avoids scratches
4) The tips on the vacuum on here are great. Moving the seat all the way up and getting at the crumbs from the back are best

 

Man I totally agree on the all weather mats. WEATHER-TECH ALL THE WAY.

 

I have black and it is a bear to keep clean. I wash it by hand at least once a week. Sometimes more if there is rain, but usually once a week. The guys over at auto geek are nuts about car finishes. http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/

Check them out. Im not a member there, but have gotten a lot of good advice.

I also am a huge fan of Zaino. My black paint is so slick and shinny. I get compliments all the time on it. People ask me how I got my 'new' car so shinny. I tell them about Zaino. And then I tell them it has 38K miles and its 2.5 yrs old. They can't believe it.

Zaino's leather cleaner is just the best. That is how I found them.

Make sure you get a good micro fiber drying towel. I didn't at first and put those slight micro swirls in my paint. A good polish from a Pro got it back to perfect. And the topping of Zaino Z2 was perfect.

I hand wash it with a good quality micro fiber mit, then when I dry it I use my leaf blower to get 90+% of the water off, then I use my nice micro fiber towel to dry it. Then every 6 months I put on a few coats of the Z2. Its work, but the results are stunning. I figure I paid a lot for this car I might as well take care of it


With my cell so not the best. Light was running out so I took some pics.

 

2010BlackMax, I'm so jelly. You need to do a full tutorial. I want mine to look like that! So hot!

 

I wash my car with Optimum No Rinse and Optimum Spray Wax. I will never use a hose or soap ever again! ONR >*

 

Thanks!! It is a bit of work, but I just love Zaino. It is pricey, but well worth it in my opinion. I have used Meguires in the past and liked them a lot. then I found Z, and I will not go back. The nice thing is that it is a polymer sealant, not a wax. So it actually lasts 6+ months. Every carnuba wax I have seen is really only good for 3 or 4 weeks.

Really if you find a product that works, stick with it.

As for a write up:

1st I used dawn dish soap. This gets all the old wax/ junk off of the car.
2nd Clay bar. Use a good clay and lube. Makes all the difference.
3rd Paint correction. This is where I used a Pro. I don't have the equipment or the knowledge. He did a mild polish on it to remove the micro swirls I had on my paint, from my bath towel drying. You can see these if you go out in the direct sunlight and look at the paint. You will see them
4th, the Zaino sealant. I followed their instructions. The results are amazing. I am sold on their stuff. You only use about 1oz per coat. So very very little.
5th maintain the paint. Yes actually wash your car, by hand. Follow up once a month or so with the Zaino detailing spray.

Enjoy your shinny car

Ryan, I have heard good things about their products as well.
Here is where I get the Zaino:
http://www.zainostore.com/
I think that is the only place to get it.

 

Thanks, couple questions:

What clay bar and lube do you use? Are there any instructions for using that? Never done it before.

Also, how much did you pay for your paint correction. I found THIS GUY near me. Good prices?

Finally, did you use the Zaino ZFX additive or just the Z-2 straight?

 

Clay bar and lube stuff from Zaino. Last time I used the ZFX. All it is so you can put more then one coat of Z2 on in 24 hrs. It allows the polymer to harden faster. So if you want to put more then one coat on in a day then use the ZFX.

That link, the guy looks like he knows what he's doing. Prices starting at 900 seem very high. I got my whole car done for 300 and that included a full detail as well. He just had to do one pass. It did about 95% correction. Which was perfect for me.