HD Cleanse is a Zymol paint cleaning product for pre-wax application. It should be used post clay bar.
I used to write in this area about how much I thought HD Cleanse sucked. But after a recent trip to Emmons Coachworks and a lovely demonstration, I have completely changed my mind.
See: the problem is, the container's instructions are awful. They say something like: Apply some HD Cleanse to a small area. Leave for 20 seconds. Remove.
Not real insightful stuff to say the least.
The actual way to do it is to use a real applicator. I prefer the kind sold by Emmons (Zymol makes some as well) that are basically smallish sponges wrapped in cotten terry. You completely coat one side of the applicator and then squish the sponge a little so that it soaks in.
Apply it with some pretty decent elbow grease to a one square foot area. If your working environment is nice and cool and you have decent humidity you can apply up to about 2 feet square with no worries. Just make sure to use decent pressure in the application. Once the application is down, depending on your humidity, you can let it rest for a few seconds before removing, but I generally remove it immediately. Just use a nice 100% cotton terry towel folded to remove it. A microfiber WILL NOT WORK for removal. This is what I tried before, but it just pushes the stuff around and won't absorb it.
Then continue applying the HD, overlapping to insure complete coverage to the remainder of the area to be waxed. Afterwards, you might want to go over the area with a microfiber (it may "dust" a little on you upon removal) or even wash again if you're especially anal about this sort of thing.
I tried this on my black JEEP Cherokee on the hood which was really nasty after claybar-ing, and I was absolutely amazed at the difference between the claybar-ed and then HD-ed side, compared to the side of the hood that had only been claybar-ed and had not yet been HD-ed.
This really is good stuff, and I'm glad that I gave it a second chance. Kudos again to Zymol!
(And no, I have no financial stake in Zymol or Emmons. I just really believe in the product, and I want to encourage other MINIacs to take care of their cars and keep 'em purty!)
