Detailing - Do's & Don'ts, Nor necessarily for CW cars, but it won't hurt! Options

[Pat Garvey]

If this thread is large enough, I'll nail it.

Let's here your witches brew for making your beast "acceptable" to the public, or just acceptable to you.

Warning to all - there will be no personal slams (including towards me - well OK I can take it!) because of selected methods or products. Snakeoil products welcomed.

Go for it - who wants to be first?
Pat

[tod914]

PO on my car used shoe polish on the roof, pia to remove. I like the PS21 products, the wash, paint cleaner and wax for the body. The wax is white/clear so it wont tint the paint like the other darker waxes do when it's on. Lexol Vinalx applied on a damp cloth for the interior, Glass plus for the windows; doesnt streak like windex. The allum. window trim I use the PS21 cleaner and wax. Still looking for a good rubber care product. I would not use PS21 wheel cleaner on the alloy rims, it will stain them if left on too long. For degreasing I'm pretty happy with ZEP citrus degreaser for the engine etc. Can get that at home depot. Wet down 1st, then apply. Dont leave it on long and you should have good success with it. It can stain paint if left on for a period of time so be carefull.

[Pat Garvey]

PO on my car used shoe polish on the roof, pia to remove. I like the PS21 products, the wash, paint cleaner and wax for the body. The wax is white/clear so it wont tint the paint like the other darker waxes do when it's on. Lexol Vinalx applied on a damp cloth for the interior, Glass plus for the windows; doesnt streak like windex. The allum. window trim I use the PS21 cleaner and wax. Still looking for a good rubber care product. I would not use PS21 wheel cleaner on the alloy rims, it will stain them if left on too long. For degreasing I'm pretty happy with ZEP citrus degreaser for the engine etc. Can get that at home depot. Wet down 1st, then apply. Dont leave it on long and you should have good success with it. It can stain paint if left on for a period of time so be carefull.

Hey Tod!

Agree with most of your list of products, though I' more prone to use the the things I've used for - forever.

My choice of wash is a gallon of water with 7-10 drops of Ivory Liquid. Cleans & rinses off quickly. Does no damage to wax.

Like Vinalx too.

Don't like any PS21 products. I know everyone else does, and they may work well on newer finishes, but I can't work fast enough to keep them from leaving marks on my old beast. YMMV!

Then, there is the top. I've used Turtle Wax Black Vinyl Top Dressing since day one. Does an excellent job, but has 2 problems. 1) Isn't available anymore ( the major problem) and 2) requires you to rub the crap out of it.

Rubber.....oh yeah, they biggest problem in my estimation (check the costs for replacement parts$). In my opinion, there are 2 major things that degrade rubber parts. Sunlight & ozone (could be construed to come from the same source). Way back in the early 70's, I used Armorall products. They did more harm than good. Then, departed friend told me about glycerine. Been using it since the mid 70's. For the most part, my rubber pieces have been kept intact since using glycrin twice a year, but not all. This past weekend, as I was changing my engine tin screws, each time I brushed against a fuel injector boot, they crumbled. Guess that 36 years just caught up with them, as thin as they are.

Still a believer in glycerine for protection, but the time comes when you have to face replacement.
Pat