Novice detailing question for you pros. When washing, how, when, and with what do I wash the inner surfaces of the door sills, jambs, door ends, etc. without getting soapy water slopped inside the car, but with enough water to 'float off' the dirt as the detailed detailing process says to do? Is this something I come back to after the exterior is washed, and do with a mitt that is clean and not carrying a lot of water?

 

Try busting out the Quick Detailer and a soft terry cloth.

Seems to work for me :smile:

 

I use a microfiber sponge (applicator) for these areas. I just dip it in my bucket when all else is done.

I also have a small set of waffleweave drying/detailing towels which I use exclusively for these jamb areas. I save the big ones for the surface areas.

 

I generally use just a bit of 303 aerospace cleaner (diluted 1:5 w/ water) and an older microfiber.

 

Thanks guys, I'll try those. It was just a small hole in the 'detailed detailing process'.

 

I'll wash with a wet sponge or towel, then rinse after with the Mr. Clean AutoDry's filtered setting, which has a fine mist and comes out in a precise pattern, none goes inside.

 

A hole! Noooooo!

Looks like I've gotta go back for an edit...

(This post takes me to 5th gear! 600 posts! Woo Hoo That's gotta be a record for someone who doesn't have a MINI yet! I got sucked into this community of MINI-acs over 2 years ago when I was about to pull the trigger and buy one, but my trip to the dealer was interrupted by an unexpected lay-off from my job. The only thread where I could provide any value at all was here, in the detailing forum, so I've racked up almost all of my posts in here. When my MCS arrives in December, I'll be an honest man! )

 

Doh! You need 601 to make 5th gear!

 

Congrats on the new 'gear' and the new MCS, I'll really look forward to seeing it in it's fully detailed glory. Your advice in this forum has been invaluable to me, I was clueless on how to detail.

 

If/when I have the time, I use a white microfiber towel to wipe down all of the door jams, around the trunk, inside the engine bay, etc. I'll wax those areas about once a year, but wiping them down with a microfiber on occasion keeps them dirt and dust free, and there are no unseemly water spots either.


-Keith

 

Woah! Congratulations! Yes, that must be a record. :smile:

 

I went to my dealer today for an agonizing visit... My first order was botched and I discovered the mistake too late to fix the wrong roof color that was ordered. I got pushed back 2 production weeks to get the color right (will turn out to be more like 4 real weeks).

The first, wrong colored, car showed up at the dealer a few days ago and I couldn't resist going out to look at it. I have never seen my interior choices put together before, so I was a bit concerned... but it all looked right in my head! The interior was beautiful! Cordoba beige w/ anthracite dash, anthracite headliner and chrome package. I love it... which makes the next 4 weeks even harder to bear.

I test drove another MCS just for fun (thanks to the guys at Moritz for letting me satisfy the itch). FYI: The new checkmate leather seats don't match well with the anthracite dash... the anthracite in the door ovals wind up too close to the seats and they take on an olive-ish tone... definately not a good match.

 

Oh no! It will seem like FOREVER! :impatient

 

Thread resurrect!

Getting ready to get my Prima and do the whole bit and noticed today that my boot jam is filthy. The Slick and MF route sounds the best to me (too afraid to get a hose near anything open to the interior). Any thing to watch out for or suggestions on better techniques discovered in the last 2 years?

 

You know, I just wash everything with the mitt - including the jams - and spray to rinse. If a little water gets inside (and some always does), well, it's ONLY water... not like it's going to hurt anything. It's a CONVERTIBLE for God's sake... just have a towel handy... The toughest nasty part is the inside of the rubber seal / drain around the top of the cabrio boot... I use a little brush in there occasionally, but I've learned not to obsess over it, cause it WILL stay dirty and no one sees it but me...

 

i first wipe down the whole car using Hydro (wax as you dry) as usual. then
after im done wiping, i spray some Hydro in the wet door jams and wipe down
using the same drying towel. yes, your towel will get soiled, but it will wash out.
if your door jam is very dirty, take another MF detailing towel and use Hydro
to wipe down.

basically im just telling you that you need to order some Hydro from
www.detailersparadise.com to make your work easier.

 

dirty little - oh, that's not quite right...

clean shiny little *****.

 

I usally just hit them with slick after drying the car and hydroing.