You didn't let anyone down, Heather ! You are still The Detailing Goddess of NAM and The Rest Of The World !!

It's just that now we really know you're partially human.


Thanks, BC... glad you enjoyed a good laugh !

 

Well I ordered Hydro last week, and I also got a clay bar and bottle of Slick to use with it for lube. I'm not terribly **** about this kind of thing - I'd never make a detailer, but the products were very easy to use and gave great results for little effort. I have to admit, I did not really get the clay thing when I first read about it here on NAM, but after the first pass I understood it completely - its an eraser for dirt (anybody that has ever taken an art class and drawn with charcoal with a kneaded eraser will know what I mean).

Only problem I had was I dropped my Hydro bottle and broke the sprayer. I have to get a replacement...

 

I haven't seen this written anywhere but here's two (2) questions.

Since everyone doesn't know they can Hydro windows too, when's the proper time to use Clarity after washing and does Clarity strip the Hydro if I do one then the other within a short period of time?

And remember, the only stupid question is the one you don't ask.

 

since when did everyone didn't know?

I use clarity on windows inside and out on my MCS/G.. outside, i use it
after each drive..

i dont use any type of wax on my cars on the windows..and i still do not
use hydro on the legacy/civic windows primarily because im using rain-x
and do not want to mix product. i do not use any rain repellants on my
MCS/G.

I solely use clarity on the inside windows on all cars.

i believe clarity strips Hydro, cause i think im smelling alcohol in
the product. i haven't clarity'ed my paint so don't know 100%, but
i have a feeling it will remove wax.

 

I don't use Hydro or any other wax on my windows. I don't see the need to. I clean with Clarity every week & have Rain-X in my washer reservoir

 

mmmm... very nice.

 

+1

(not actual Rain-X, but Rain-X washer fluid)

 

I use Epic on my outside glass during a polish/wax event. Then I use Hydro on the outside glass every wash. I stick with Clarity on the inside glass only.

 

How often does everyone use Hydro on their Mini?

Everytime you wash/dry? Every other? I typically wash my car every Friday or Saturday with quick details using Slick in between and for a while I was using Hydro every time. I know that is overkill but I can't get enough of the smell and how much easier it makes drying to achieve a great look.

 

Every time I wash I use Hydro. Sometimes that's twice a week, sometimes only once. I still do wipe-downs in between with Slick. I don't think it is overkill 'cause I like a clean machine.

 

I hydro with every wash and slick for touch ups.

 

Yes that's what I use too. Having actual Rain-X in the reservoir would make a foggy mess

I seem the remember somewhere in one of these mile long Hydro threads that talk of wax build-up was brought up & Heather said you should Hydro approx every 3 weeks but I don't feel like searching thru a gazillion pages for that post

 

I vaguely remember the same thing. She also said its a waste of product to do it too often. (I think she said that?)

Any idea what the negative effect of build up of wax is?

 

Another Hydro convert, here. I just got to use mine two days ago. I had my doubts at first but after using the product, all I can say is "WOW"!

 

Heather can chime in tomorrow, but I don't believe she said anything about wax build-up; just that Hydro will last about three weeks.
I have proof that there is no wax build-up with my Hydro use. Also I don't use very much after a wash and I'm still working on my first bottle - it really does go a long way if you don't use too much at any one time.

 

after 4yrs, the washer fluid in my MCS is still the original in there.

 

um ... that's great!??

 

I had to get mine out, it was staining the boot!

Another Hydro fan today: my husband.

I went out into the garage and he had the door open and the Yukon backed into the driveway and was setting up to wash.

Like the poor misguided soul he is, he was ABOUT to wash his car with Dawn. I stopped him, showed him how to use the Mr. Clean to filter the water and how to use Mystique, supervised while he washed, then did the tires and wheels while he dried with Hydro and did the trim with Wizard's.

He was really impressed with Hydro. In his words: "It's like Shiny Car for Dummies!"

I also showed him how to use Griot's Rubber Cleaner. His tires were just disgusting...you know how tires that have NEVER been cleaned well start to get that weird orange look to them? They were like that, and after the Rubber Cleaner they were all clean (and I was thoroughly grossed out). He was like "Huh...they do look more black now." After I dressed them he was like DANG! They sure sucked up a lot of tire gel though.

*pats self on back* Now the Yukon and the MINI can live in clean harmony. I'm sure Clara was making fun of his filthiness when we're not around. She's kind of a b*tch like that...

 

It's funny how some people will never notice how dirty their car is, but will notice when it is cleaned properly. Perhaps ML you've made a convert and you two can detail together.

 

I dunno. There are issues that need to be dealt with - he's got sap in spots on it, and I tried to go at it with some clay but he was getting impatient "who cares"...I think for him as long as it looks okay from a distance he's more than happy with it

 

Well, it's a start.

 

not to sidetrack this Hydro thread (because, of course, I love Hydro, too), but i must secretly admit that i have been really apathetic about my tires. this is partly because I really hate cleaning the wheels, which get so dirty, so fast, and then i spend most of my time on the paint, and by the end, I'm usually too tired to clean and dress the tires. but i need to do them as they are starting to look quite ugly.

would you recommend Griots Rubber Cleaner first? What do you use as tire dressing? (I saw OctaneGuy said he uses Meguiar's Endurance High Gloss Gel, so I was thinking of that... but there really isn't a Prima tire dressing is there?

 

Not to jump in to a question for ML, but for the tires I just use Mystique to clean and then either Wizards Black Renew or Zaino Z-16 for dressing. I think Wizards last longer but I like both.

 

For tires, I like Griot's Rubber Cleaner with a nylon bristle-brush, followed by Griot's Rubber/Vinyl Dressing. I like their dressing because it gives a nice semi-gloss finish that lasts a long time.

 

I wash mine with mystique and a tire brush. Then dry and use the same High Endurance grape-scented gel that OG likes. Shiny for a day or two, but keeps nice and black for a long time after that.