Hi, folks,

What do you use for between-wash touch-ups? The windshield washer fluid left little stainlets on my rear panels, and I'm wondering the best way to clean them up, or any other little smudges or stains I get between washings.

Also, will whatever you suggest work on chrome as well as paint? I'd like a quick way to clean door handle smudges as well.

Thanks!

 

Keep in mind i am still a detailing noob... but i'm partial to the Meguiars' Quick Detail thing (in the maroon bottle?)... And for the chrome- Windex (*ducks*)

 

I use Griot's SpeedShine. very good stuff. i bought a gallon of that
stuff.

for starting out though, Meguiar's QuikDetailer is not bad...been using it
for a long time with good results, but the SpeedShine is so much better.

Meguiar's Final Inspection, Wizard's Mist are others that you might
want to try.

 

NXT detailer works for me

 

this stuff removed my NXT wax...

 

It is not "very good stuff".

IT IS GREAT STUFF! And it does not remove the wax!!

We use that on everything....hell if I could drink it would that is how much I love that stuff.

We also use that on our boat to remove the scum line after a day on the water.....and anyone who boats knows what a PITA the scum line is clean after just a few hours.

kenchan, you have great taste in cleaning products.

 

I can vouch for the quality of the Griot's stuff as well. I like it so much that I've already bought gallon quantities of their Speedshine, Vinyl/Rubber dressing, Engine Cleaner, Rubber Cleaner, Interior Cleaner, Car Wash, and Wheel Cleaner.

I also have their claybar, plastic polish, chrome polish, and glass cleaner, but I don't think they're significantly better than other companies' offerings.

Likewise, I have Griot's "Best of Show Wax", and while it's a great wax, I have two other systems that I like much more (Zaino and Menzerna).

My wife just shakes her head when she sees the receipts, but since it's her Mini that gets most of the detailing attention, she doesn't mind much.

Scott

 

Do you simply spray and wipe this stuff (detailer) on in between washings? I have been afraid that the road grime on the car would put swirlys in the paint with no water to help lift the dirt. Every once in a while I know some one has been looking in my car b/c there are hand prints on the glass and doors. I always shut the door with the handle so as not to leave prints on the car.

 

The quick detailer acts as a lubricant, so that you can lift up the dirt without scratching up the paint. I wouldn't use it for a filthy car, though - you'd have to switch to a clean towel a dozen times before you were done.

If there's just a layer of dry dust, I use a paraffin-impregnated duster (California Car Duster). If there's a thin layer of grime, I'll use the Griot's SpeedShine. Anything worse than that, and I just wash the car.

Scott

 

Thanks, folks! I'm building my detailing shopping list as we speak. Yes, yes, I know I should've done it _before_ I got Logan!

But Griot's SpeedShine and the California Car Duster are now on my list. Thanks for all the info!

For folks who use more than one brand of detailing supplies--I'll need at least California, Griot's, Zaino, not sure what else yet--do you have a great recommendation for where I can do 1-stop shopping, either on-line or otherwise?

I love NAM. Truly.

 

The quick answer is to use the Quick Detailer that is made for the wax you use.

Many QDs contain some carnuba wax. If you use a polymer wax like zaino this will interfere with your next coat.

 

Whatever Quick Detailer you use, just choose it within the system you are using and you shouldn't have any compatibility issues. Meguiar's NXT Speed Detailer or Gold Class Quik Detailer work great with any of their waxes. Ken's experience of it removing the wax is highly unusual and sounds more like an application issue.

I wax my car with Meguiar's M21 or NXT Tech Wax and I used to QD every day, but now have gotten a bit lazy and do it every 2 to 3 days. My car is garaged and often has a light coat of dust on it. I can assure you that using a QD on your paint is a good thing. Since I wash once every 6 weeks or so, using a QD keeps my MINI shiny all the time.

After 60,000+ miles on my white OEM 5 stars, brake dust wipes off with a wipe of a Microfiber towel, and they still look new--except for the lousy scratch my last tire installer put in one wheel. Other than that, I never waxed my wheels, only maintained daily with a QD. Frequent use of a QD had a similar effect to waxing the wheels since the QD leaves behind trace amounts of protectant while cleaning the surface.

 

yah, just blame it on the Asian again you damn Asian hater!
SpeedShine doesn't remove NXT... it enhances it.

 

hehehe. yah, i like to try new things and see for myself.
SpeedShine is definitely a great product!

 

As OctaneGuy indicated, stick to your system. I use Zaino for the polish/wax so I use the Z-6 for the QD. They also have a Z-8 which Zaino says adds even more shine than Z-6, but I can't really tell the difference. For Zaino products here is their website: www.ZainoStore.com
I use QD during the week and usually wash my car each weekend (keeps me out of the house and gives me something to do).

 

maybe for Zaino's polymers, but not NXT + NXT Detailer. i tried it
myself and i didn't like it. after about 5 apps the NXT lost a lot
of its slickness and it started to make it harder for heavier
contaminants to lift off... The NXT + red bottle QD was a better
match as I could go about 8-9 apps before i had to spot wax.

with NXT + SpeedShine, im on my 7-8th app and it's still extremely
slick and the shine is deep. this is why I have not been in any hurry
to remove the NXT. it compliments each other better than Meguiar's
own NXT system. if one says otherwise, obviously they have not
tried this back to back and missing out on a great thing.

 

.. of course the rule says that there are always exceptions to the rule.
At one point I put P21S Carnauba wax over my Zaino and did Zaino QD as maintenance. Seemed to work just fine. I didn't see much difference with the Carnauba wax so I doubt I will do that again but it didn't cause any problems. I guess trail and error would be one approach, or learn from others.
I would think however that the most conservative approach would be to use one system unless you see some negative effects like kenchan, then try something else.
Its not like your paint will fall off (just some money and some time usually).

 

I've used Ice on top of Meguiar's Gold Class and after a few applications, the "smooth" feel of the wax was diminished. I don't know if using actual Meguiar's detail spray would have been any better, though.

 

I use Mother's detail spray on everything painted.

 

If you are using Meguiar's Gold Class as a wax, then why put on ICE over Carnuba? For more protection????

A wax is an LSP(Last Step Product) under the Meguiar's system. By putting on another layer over the LSP, of course the feel of the wax is going to be diminished because ICE is now the LSP, not Meguiar's.

 

I used it because the car was lightly dirty (water spots and such after a rain storm type dirt), and I didn't have time or inclination to break out my two buckets, car shampoo, wheel brushes and hose to simply clean them up. Isn't that what detail spray is FOR?

Honestly, I thought that Ice was more of a quick cleaner than a wax. If it's more of a wax, though, then yeah, that certainly explains why the "feel" of the Gold Class was dimished. Are you saying that the Meguiar's detail spray won't do this? If so, I'm assuming you'd recommend something like the Quick Detailer over the "Cleaner Wax" for this ind of application?

As always, Octane... thanks!

 

Taken directly off the box copy:

A Breakthrough
Introducing the most revolutionary technology ever created for making your car shine. ICE Synthetic Liquid Wax is the result of years of research at the laboratories of Turtle Wax. This incredible discovery of unique synthetic polymers allows you to quickly and easily wax your car and make it shine like never before. Guaranteed!

Sure sounds like it's being promoted as a wax and not quick detailer.

If your car has a good coat of wax on it, then rinsing it with water after the rain--dousing it--and drying it with an Absorber won't take long at all as the water will sheet off or bead up.

If it's only lightly dirty, then sure, I would liberally soak it with a Quik Detailer. I would only use Spray Wax as a booster--as in between waxing, and for me, I don't even use Spray Waxes. I prefer to wash every 6 weeks (except when it rains-then I wash immediately after rain), wax every 2 to 3 months using the PC, and Quick Detail using either NXT Speed Detailer or Last Touch (Final Inspection is actually be best of the 3).

Actually if it's got dust on the paint, a Quick Detailer is perfect. If it has light dirt, then I would probably resort more to QEW or Optimum type dry wash product in a bucket--wash and dry as you go, if I don't have time to wash the car.

In the 3 years I've been using Meguiar's products, I've never had any of the issues that Ken had with NXT, so maybe my experiences are just as unique as his, but if you go on over to Meguiarsonline.com and ask this question, you're certain to find lots of helpful answers.

And I prefer NXT Speed Detailer over the maroon Quik Detailer. For me, it's always only complimented the NXT Tech Wax or M21, never diminished it.

Richard

 

^^ the NXT Detailer does have benefits that I can use... like being
able to use it on a car that's sitting outside. the mist doesn't
dryout (and almost stain) like the red bottle QD as quickly so I
like to use it to remove contaminants (including bird crap) on
my commuters even on a hot day with a hot panel. I know
i shouldn't be detailing with QD in the sun, but in real world
conditions, sometimes you just have to.

NXT wax is the same way... you can use it outdoors in the
sun and still get great results.

 

Well, as a WAX, the Ice certainly leaves much to be desired... The Gold CLass is MUCH richer than the Ice, but then again it's a lot more work than the Ice too... I started using the Turtle Wax because people seemed to be using it as a detailing spray. It IS nice since you can use it on paint and the on the black plastic simultaneously, although not as nice as true vinyl/plastic dressing. I'll be sure to pick up some of the Meguiar's detail spray now - thanks!

 

Imagox- from what i've been using, polymer as base coat with added
natural wax enhancers over it seems to work better than the other
way around. i have no scientific data, but that's wat ive experienced.