Technical

Car Washing

• If water is not available, use ONR (Optimum No Rinse) Car Wash to clean car and a clean microfiber. Yellow Costco Microfibers are fine. Don’t use downy in the dryer with them. ONR can also be added to water and does not require rinse.

• Use Clean towels with no additions or softeners in the wash. Wash the towels alone. Do not reuse a used towel.

• Always use a clean microfiber cloth. Fold the cloth into quarters and use a quarter at a time. Put your hand in the middle of the square.

• Use a flat side not fluffy side.

• Feel the pad against the paint. Do not press hard.

• Remove oil, tar, etc before cleaning.

• Check that Hand Car washes do not reuse dirty towels. Avoid them if they do.

Glass Cleaning

• Inside film on windows is gassing of upholstery and plastic dressings.

• Clean outside top/bottom, inside side to side. Helps you see which side streaks are.

• Sprayway Glass cleaner is an excellent choice.

• Do not use Vinegar as it is acid, do not use.

• Spray cleaner on a towel not glass, as overspray ends up on wood and interior.

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Upholstery

• Newer cars leather has urethane coating so clean with clean towel + hot water + mild detergent.

• Older cars Leather food or neat’s-foot oil is for older seats.

• Feed leather regularly and will last forever but not stitching so do not leave on too long. What is good for leather may not be for stitching.

• Do not leave leather food on for more than a day.

• Lexol is a good cleaner but not a good conditioner. Suede soap is good.

• Beware of blue jeans staining seats.

• Restored cars, ask upholstery shop if the leather is coated or not.

Ceramics v Wax

• Ceramic treatment protects paint but only new vehicles. Ceramic Paint Coatings are good for protecting the paint, but the warranties given are really sales gimmicks. Once a car is ceramic coated, dirt flies off the paint and is much easier to clean.

• Old cars are best protected with wax. For older cars look for conservation products.

• With Ceramics you still need to keep the car clean. Ceramics protect paintwork but kicks in when washing.

• Spray-on Ceramics from Turtle Wax, Meguiar, 3D 440, etc., need to be reapplied regularly. Need to wipe off carefully and keep off the glass.

• Find brands that do their own manufacturing and formulation.

• Watch your product's shelf life and throw out if the product separates.

• Hard ceramics and polish will damage soft paint.

• A quick way to tell if you need a wax job, look at how well does water beads off the paint. A good wax can last from 2 to 6 months depending on your use of the vehicle and sun exposure.

• Don’t ever use Armor All inside the car.

• Scratch-X does not remove scratches. It removes surrounding layers of paint.

• Avoid masking tape on car trim as leaves sticky residue.

• Meguires #7 Wax is fatty acid mixed with oil

• Good wax is 50 to 100 per parts [50 parts per 100?]. The oil fills in the marks and restores shine.

• Wax does not last. Think of pumpice stone v flat reflection.

• Clay bar cuts/removes paint and dirt. Turn often and do not over-use.

• Beware railway dust which rust particles that attach to paint.

Maintenance

• Carry a bottle of water with ONR to remove sap, bugs, and bird droppings.

• Bird Droppings are acidic and will cause paint to swell. Droppings also contain fragments of grit.

• Do not scrape bird dropping off. Soak and blot off with water and microfiber.

• Avoid paper towels with coating. Use plain napkins if nothing is available.

• Use filtered water if possible. Never scrub bird droppings, bugs, or sap. Spray with a gentle cleaner and hot water, let it soak in, then wipe it off. You may have to repeat the process, but never scrub, only blot.

• Road tar – Use WD40, Mothers’ products or Zippo lighter fluid

• Avoid Simple Green as it is acidic.

• Yellowed headlights need to be stripped and recoated. Look for the complete kit or a specialist shop.

Car covers

• Never cover the car with a dirty cover and never cover a dirty car

• Long term do not cover car outside as the cover captures moisture inside the car.

• Avoid dragging the cover over the car. Front of cover back towards center, then cover rear to center and then fold side to side. Good car covers suggestions are Covercraft and Cover King.

[Notes are courtesy of Phil Endliss, Les Hamilton, and Deborah Hartunian.]