Cool Detailing Tips from a Detailer
Aug 1, 2007 | 06:08 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
From: Seacoast NH
Cool Detailing Tips from a Detailer
Some quick tips for you guys who dont know many tricks!
- Headliner stains: Cig smoke, coffee etc.
*Any foaming glass cleaner (Sprayway) spray on the stain allow to soak for 5-10 seconds, and blot and wipe clean with a towel. After the spot is dry, hit it with a vacuum to fluff it back up!
-Tree sap, Road Tar, Black Streaks:
*Carburetor cleaner, spray 1'' dab on a clean towel, and place directly on the spot of sap or stain, rub back and forth very gently...it dissolves slow but very effective, once its removed, make sure its wiped dry to remove residue, I do not reccommend doing this to like half a hood with a big rag, Im talking little spots, rocker panels etc. Follow with any wax, stand back and smile!
-Spot Stains: Carpet and Upholstery
*Spray stain directly with PinkStuf, or any general purpose cleaner, let it soak, and with an air nozzle, hold 5'' away and blow the stain away, depending on the pressure thats coming through, mines 120 and 5'' away is fine!
-Rocks & debris in running boards and cracks and crevasses
* Small flathead screwdriver to pop out all the junk, and Air Nozzles work great!
-Door Jams: Dirty & Squeaky?
* Any tire shine or silicone-based dressing works great for jams, shines them and also acts as a protectant! Spray 2-3 squirst in the hinge area, then one on the rest, one hell of a shine, no squeaks and no dirt!
-Water Spots on glass
*#00 Fine steel wool, with glass cleaner as lube, rub gently until removed (or vinegar)
-Forget Rain-X
*Any reputable car wax, is an excellent protectant on any glass surface. Apply one window at a time, and remove. I do mine every time I wash my truck, and wow watch that water fly right off!
-What to wax
* Any painted, or smooth (non corrugated) surface can be waxed, Example: Headlights can be waxed, taillights, chrome bumpers, wheels (excellent to do) windows and yes you can do your instrument cluster if your **** like me
-OOPS! Wax on corrugated plastic or molding?
*Not a problem, peanut butter and a small stiff brush works excellent. Or if you need a quick fix, WD40 or tire shine.
Written by me, I was bored and figured Id let you in on some secrets if you werent already aware! ~Tyler
- Headliner stains: Cig smoke, coffee etc.
*Any foaming glass cleaner (Sprayway) spray on the stain allow to soak for 5-10 seconds, and blot and wipe clean with a towel. After the spot is dry, hit it with a vacuum to fluff it back up!
-Tree sap, Road Tar, Black Streaks:
*Carburetor cleaner, spray 1'' dab on a clean towel, and place directly on the spot of sap or stain, rub back and forth very gently...it dissolves slow but very effective, once its removed, make sure its wiped dry to remove residue, I do not reccommend doing this to like half a hood with a big rag, Im talking little spots, rocker panels etc. Follow with any wax, stand back and smile!
-Spot Stains: Carpet and Upholstery
*Spray stain directly with PinkStuf, or any general purpose cleaner, let it soak, and with an air nozzle, hold 5'' away and blow the stain away, depending on the pressure thats coming through, mines 120 and 5'' away is fine!
-Rocks & debris in running boards and cracks and crevasses
* Small flathead screwdriver to pop out all the junk, and Air Nozzles work great!
-Door Jams: Dirty & Squeaky?
* Any tire shine or silicone-based dressing works great for jams, shines them and also acts as a protectant! Spray 2-3 squirst in the hinge area, then one on the rest, one hell of a shine, no squeaks and no dirt!
-Water Spots on glass
*#00 Fine steel wool, with glass cleaner as lube, rub gently until removed (or vinegar)
-Forget Rain-X
*Any reputable car wax, is an excellent protectant on any glass surface. Apply one window at a time, and remove. I do mine every time I wash my truck, and wow watch that water fly right off!
-What to wax
* Any painted, or smooth (non corrugated) surface can be waxed, Example: Headlights can be waxed, taillights, chrome bumpers, wheels (excellent to do) windows and yes you can do your instrument cluster if your **** like me
-OOPS! Wax on corrugated plastic or molding?
*Not a problem, peanut butter and a small stiff brush works excellent. Or if you need a quick fix, WD40 or tire shine.
Written by me, I was bored and figured Id let you in on some secrets if you werent already aware! ~Tyler
Aug 1, 2007 | 07:54 PM
#5
Excellent tips, thanks. Here's a little something I've been doing for years...if a bird craps on your freshly cleaned truck, I hit it with some Toyota foaming glass cleaner and wipe with a super soft rag...gets that turd right off. I'm assuming that any comparable foaming glass cleaner would do the same trick.
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Aug 1, 2007 | 09:20 PM
#9
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 96
Likes: 1
Here's my basic tips...
#1
when waxing a car.. or using a buffer (porter cable for example) Use the 3M painters tape on all the rubber and surfaces you dont want polished/waxed.
This way you can "go to town" without worrying about destroying the rubber with rubbing compound and such..
Using the painters tape ensures no sticky residue!!
Its also helpful if you cover areas you are worried about "burning through" with the edge of the pad.
#2
Use an electric leaf blower (or blower portion of a shop vac) to dry your car. It get all the water out of the cracks, door jams, wheel wells, wheels, etc... Then go over it with an absorber or continue to blow dry...
#3
DO NOT MAKE EVERY INTERIOR PLASTIC SURFACE GLOSSY. one of my biggest pet peeves and a very bad look for car interiors. cars come from the factory with a matte finish interior for a reason... making it shiny will only detract from the look. Keep it clean.. dont use armorall and tire shine in your interior. There are products targeted for this..
On a side note.. im not to keen on the tire shine in my door jambs... I'd rather have them very clean and properly lubricated. Tire shine = dust and dirt collector!
#1
when waxing a car.. or using a buffer (porter cable for example) Use the 3M painters tape on all the rubber and surfaces you dont want polished/waxed.
This way you can "go to town" without worrying about destroying the rubber with rubbing compound and such..
Using the painters tape ensures no sticky residue!!
Its also helpful if you cover areas you are worried about "burning through" with the edge of the pad.
#2
Use an electric leaf blower (or blower portion of a shop vac) to dry your car. It get all the water out of the cracks, door jams, wheel wells, wheels, etc... Then go over it with an absorber or continue to blow dry...
#3
DO NOT MAKE EVERY INTERIOR PLASTIC SURFACE GLOSSY. one of my biggest pet peeves and a very bad look for car interiors. cars come from the factory with a matte finish interior for a reason... making it shiny will only detract from the look. Keep it clean.. dont use armorall and tire shine in your interior. There are products targeted for this..
On a side note.. im not to keen on the tire shine in my door jambs... I'd rather have them very clean and properly lubricated. Tire shine = dust and dirt collector!
Last edited by Blown2300; Aug 1, 2007 at 09:32 PM.
