Cleaning Your Car - Page 2 - Toyota 4Runner Forum

toybox · 05-12-2005, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by zduchene
So you don't actually have to rub to hard with the clay bar...you wipe with it???

Yes it is basically wiping. You need to lubricate the surface first with slightly soapy water. (they actually make a lube spray for this but it is essentially slightly soapy water) and then wipe with slight pressure in one direction.

I can move along pretty quickly doing little sections at a time. You will actually fell it pulling some of the stuff off the car. You need just enough lube to feel it drag a little across the paint.

zduchene · 05-12-2005, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by toybox
Yes it is basically wiping. You need to lubricate the surface first with slightly soapy water. (they actually make a lube spray for this but it is essentially slightly soapy water) and then wipe with slight pressure in one direction.

I can move along pretty quickly doing little sections at a time. You will actually fell it pulling some of the stuff off the car. You need just enough lube to feel it drag a little across the paint.

Thanks for the tip, I will give it a shot this weekend.

07-13-2005, 02:15 PM

I have to disagree on the use of shampoo for the car, they make liquid soap just for cars nowadays

MDT4RNR · 09-26-2005, 04:14 PM

That you guys know, is there a reason not to use simple green?
I used it on my truck to wash it and it is clean.
Granted I used more concentrate than that recommended by the label for washing cars, could using more concentrate than what is recommended eventually hurt the paint job? or strip the car wax?

daverunner · 11-26-2005, 06:34 PM

Also wheel wells,( im kinda freaky about them being black) spray them with any aerosol tire dressing after a good hosing out and they will look like new.

sketch1 · 04-19-2006, 01:23 PM

If you have one available I like to use a leaf blower to dry the car. It makes for a much quicker process then a chamois, and it allows you to blow all the excess water out of all the cracks and crevaces. I can't tell you how many times I have washed and waxed my car, only to drive off and have water rattle out of all the seams in the body, behind lights, behind the mirrors... It's like the cracks can hold ten times more water than you could ever imagine.

rx900 · 07-01-2006, 06:14 PM

Here's what I usually have when I clean any of the cars: (brand doesnt really matter much on every item)

1. Soap
2. Sponge
3. 3 Towels
4. Wax-> Meguiars (occasionally)
5. Leather cleaner and conditioner (occasionally, and only for the GX)

Tire dressing is a NONO for me, because it just tends to splash on the body when you drive it!

nauticalniremor · 07-22-2006, 12:54 AM

I searched and really could not find any info here about the difference between a wax and an acrylic treatment such as CRYSTAL-GLO. I did read Thai's post of how to wash a car and he mentioned that if you did not want to wax, you could use the CRYSTAL-GLO acrylic car polish instead.

Quote:

Originally posted by Thai
Cleaning your car
by Paul Williams

Alternatively, an excellent acrylic finish, and Canadian-made, by the way, is Crystal-Glo Acrylic Car Polish. Too bad these guys make it so hard to find. Try specialty automotive shops. If all else fails, order it from crystalglo.com. You can skip the wax with this product, which starts at $14.99.

ANYWAYS - my question is this - is using the acrylic polish instead of wax better or worse for the car ? will there be build up or anything if i was to just use the crystal glo and never wax??

This is my first "real" car being that I have only leased all my cars in the past - and i want to be sure I keep it looking good for a long time!! Any hints would be great!! thanks!!

broncosi · 07-24-2006, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sketch1
If you have one available I like to use a leaf blower to dry the car.

Is that safe? id be kind of worried of something flying out of it and smacking my paint.

Also, nauticalniremor: the crystal glo stuff your talking about is a polish. To put it simply, polish will shine your car and wax will protect the shine.

Iron Clad Lou · 07-31-2006, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Border411
ALWAYS use a good deep pile wash mit. I use ones that have that scrubbing mesh stuff on the back which helps to get off bugs and other road junk, but wont scratch the paint. The deep pile of the lambs wool (or synthetic material) draws the dirt into the mit, away from the surface of the car, therefore preventing fine scratches from ever forming. FYI-The wash mits are cheap, so do yourself a favor and buy 1!
Shaun

I used a lambs wool mit this weekend..amazing..does a great job and cuts the wash time in half...alot easier to use!

I also tried Eagle One window cleaner and a microfiber window cleaner towel...you must try this stuff...best results ever!

sketch1 · 08-13-2006, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by broncosi
Is that safe? id be kind of worried of something flying out of it and smacking my paint.

Also, nauticalniremor: the crystal glo stuff your talking about is a polish. To put it simply, polish will shine your car and wax will protect the shine.

Ive done it for years now without any problems... I dont know what would come flying out of your leaf blower and hit the car anyway?

broncosi · 08-13-2006, 02:39 AM

haha funny and painful story, i was using the power washer to rinse my car and about half of the metal nozzle gun shoots off onto my hood leaving a nasty cut through the paint but its only about the size of pea

pickerdd · 10-05-2006, 03:44 PM

Any thoughts on the Mr. Clean car wash system with the dedicated filter and soap?

Uneek · 10-05-2006, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pickerdd
Any thoughts on the Mr. Clean car wash system with the dedicated filter and soap?

It works as advertised, no water spots. I've heard others say the soap builds a hazy layer on the paint and it strips wax. I haven't gotten around to experimenting by waxing a fender and then wash it with Mr. Clean soap. Many on detail forums like autopia recommend washing with good car soap and then use Mr. Clean for the filtered water to rinse.

tomhaney1 · 10-19-2006, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pickerdd
Any thoughts on the Mr. Clean car wash system with the dedicated filter and soap?

I use the soap from the thing occasionally on my wheels and I use the filtered water as a final rinse; however, I use Meguiar's Gold Class for the shampoo (with a lambswool mit of course- nothing better). The soap is pretty strong and I can easily see where it would strip wax. Cheap shit really. Also, I use a terry mit for the wheels and wells separately.

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