it's getting closer to that time again...car season in the midwest. I was wondering what new stuff is out on the market for detailing and what everybody was using. I'm going to list what i use for my detailing adventures. Post what you use for detailing and what you've found to work best! My list is as follows;
WASHING SOAP: whatever car soap i have available.
WAX: Meguiars tech wax, eagle nanowax, or zaino (Z1 & Z5) if i have all day.
SCRATCH REMOVER/SWIRL REDUCER: open to suggestions!!!
WHEEL CLEANER: meguiars hot wheels
TIRE SHINE: meguiars wipe on
WHEEL SHINE: ? i have dirty wheels
CHROME POLISH: turtle wax chrome polish
GLASS CLEANER: newspaper and windex
INTERIOR LEATHER CLEANER/SHINE: ?
DASH, PLASTICS, AND STEERING WHEEL CLEANER/SHINE: formula 2001

DETAILING BRUSHES AND CLOTHS: tooth brush for emblems and soft wool rags for final wiper down over the wax.

well, thats all i can think of. i need to buy new stuff, so i'm looking to see what you guys are using. thanks

 

Car Wash - Zaino, Meguiers, or Armoral
Wax/Polish - Nothing but Zaino
Scratch Remover - Norton Liquid Ice with a Green Cut/Polish Buffing pad
Wheel Cleaner - Diluted Simple Green and an old towel
Tire Dressing - Black Magic
Wheel Shine - Mothers Aluminum Polish will shine up anything....i have painted stockers on right now and they shine real nice after i hit em with mothers.
Chrome Polish - Mothers Chrome Polish
Glass Cleaner - Stoner w/ cotton towel
Interior Leather Care - Zaino leather cleaner and care
Dash etc - Armoral


Brushes/Towels - Tooth brush for vents and small cracks in the interior, medium brush for tires, and mircofiber towels for paint

 

Wash - Zaino Z7 Show Car Wash
Clay - Zaino Z18
Polish - Zaino Z2
Swirls - Zaino Z5
Dash - Armor All Cleaner & Armor All Low Gloss Protectant
Leather - Zaino Z9 (Cleaner) & Z10 (Conditioner)
Carpets - Scotch Guard Carpet Cleaner & Scotch Guard
Glass - Stoners Invisible Glass
Inside wheel wells - Stoners Trim Shine
Tires - Armor All Extreme Tire Shine Gel
Towels - DF Towels

My work -

 

That is a lot of Zaino my friend.

Paint cleanser/Swirl Remover:Z-PC or 3M Scratch & Swirl
"Wax": Zaino Z-2/ZFX
Car Wash: Zaino Z-7
Vinyl: 303
Leather: Zaino Z-9 & Z-10
Glass: Stoner Invisible Glass
Tires: Z-16 or Stoner More Shine Less Time
Wash Mitt:100% Cotton S.M. Arnold
Towels: DF
Tar Remover: Stoner Tarminator
Detail Spray: Zaino Z-8
Clay: Zaino Z-18

 

i was wondering how that mother aluminum wheel cleaner/shine worked...i gues now i know its worth trying. i only have ss 10 spokes, but there need a shine job too. you guys are really loyal to zaino. i own the z1 and z5. i found the z1 alone to be disappointing. but if you use z1 first, and then z5 its got a great shine. it wont let me upload the pics, but my 96 c1500 looks like reflection glass with that combo. i just don't like zaino because it takes soo long to dry. i can wash and detail wax my car in 45 minutes flat. i've done soo many i can fly through and not miss a thing. i like being able to do it so fast. with zaino, i have to wait. in the summer the wait is tollerable, but in the cooler weather it takes 45-60 minutes for each coat to dry. if i had a local dealer, i'd probably buy it more. but for now, i've got really good results with meguiars tech wax and nanowax. i like tech wax better, but it doesn't last quite as long. i'd like to try the new mothers syn wax and see how that works out. anymore, the waxes are getting closer and closer to the same.

 

wax + pre cleaner P21s Other than that I use 3m products.

 

the ZFX is suppposed to decrease the dry time. I havent tried it (or any zaino) before but plan to this summer.

 

mothers aluminum polish will shine up ur 10 spoke alittle...and as for the Z-1 thats what locks down the polish....the Z-1 isnt a polish itself....read the instructions on how to apply Zaino on there website

 

Yes it speeds up dring time in humid weather, and forms a "harder" finish.

 

i absolutely love the results i got from zaino, but for as much as i wax my car, it's cost me a fortune to do it the zaino wax. by waxing my car every 3 weeks or so, the tech wax stays on nice and dries fast.

 

I think I must be the cheapest guy alive...that or cheap detailing stuff really works!

1. I use the cheapest carwash soap that fred meyer/walmart carries and wash the car. I also use a pressure washer and a bottle of Simple green which I use to do door jambs, wheels, wheel wells, and engine bay. Rinse, but do not repeat!
2. Then, I use a Mother's claybar that I bought at Schucks for $12. It's nice and big.
3. After claying, I dry with a Cali Water blade and a synthetic chamois.
4. Apply Carnub wax with a chenille applicator ($3 at schucks for 2 of them).
5. Wipe off wax with a micro-fiber cloth.
6. Open up the inside, wax jambs and cracks.
7. Vacuum
8. Clean windows using Windex and newspaper.
9. Wipe entire interior with wet rag (just water)
10. Wipe entire interior with Blue Coral Leather conditioner (leaves a great dull finish on everything and protects leather beautifully).
11. Spray tire shine (any brand) on foam applicator and apply to tires.

So...all the stuff in green is what I use. I think it works pretty good and most of it's readily available and very cheap.

 

water might clean the interior, but doesn't shine much. lol yeah, thats pretty cheap. i'll never let a powerwasher in my engine bay.

 

what interior cleaning products do not use silicone? that stuff is just way too greasy for me. Armorall uses silicone, and so does just about everything else. any alternatives?

 

Whoever said they spend a fortune using Zaino every 3 weeks, you definitely don't need to polish every 3 weeks with Zaino - I Zaino 3 coats in April and another 3 coats in November. Live in Nebraska.