Self Detailing/Maintaining Products

[RaidenGear]

To those who detail their cars themselves...

I would like to know what products u guys use for shampooing/washing/waxing/polishing/cleaning..etc.

I personally can't tell what is a good brand and so forth. So I was hoping maybe someone who has some personal detailing skillz can help

Thanks

 

[kenntona]

Re: Self Detailing/Maintaining Products

Zaino range, for ease of application.

There are more "professional" products out there - example Swissvax, Poor Boy - perhaps deeper gloss from their non-filler status, but these takes too tedious to apply at our levels, not to mention the machining, the cut and the time spent.......

 

[pbear1973]

Re: Self Detailing/Maintaining Products

To those who detail their cars themselves...

I would like to know what products u guys use for shampooing/washing/waxing/polishing/cleaning..etc.

I personally can't tell what is a good brand and so forth. So I was hoping maybe someone who has some personal detailing skillz can help

Thanks

I use ArmorAll shampoo to wash, RainX wax (body wax, not the windshield thing) to wax the car, Autosol 2-in-1 car polish to remove fine scratches and very sticky sap, and Autosol leather cleaner to clean the hard plastics and leather seats. I wax the car once a month.

Not the fanciest stuff on the market but it works. I plan to bring it to a professional detailer every 6 months but haven't gotten round for the first appointment (my car is 7 months old)..

I heard though that waxing is bad for the car. Don't know how true this is. My previous car was waxed happily every 1-2 months without issue.

 

[Kiasu King]

Re: Self Detailing/Maintaining Products

Autoglym High Definition Wax.

 

[MW]

Re: Self Detailing/Maintaining Products

NB everyday rain non stop, I also dunno whether wan to wash and wax my car for CNY or not!!

 

[Mockngbrd]

Re: Self Detailing/Maintaining Products

i use Meguiars NXT range. Easy to use and not as expensive as the Zainos/dodobird/swisswax
but cleaning rims i think so far, the Sonax cleaner is pretty good

 

[Surge]

Re: Self Detailing/Maintaining Products

I would recommend either of the following

Jeff WerkStat The Shine Garage
Optimum Optimumcarcare
Zaino Zaino Asia Pacific
Duragloss Maddetailer

I have personally tried Jeff, Optimum and Zaino before. All are easy to use and give great results.

If i remember correctly, Optimum gave me quite a "deep" and warm shine to my black ride.

Currently using zaino because the detailer i goto use zaino. Zaino's shine does seem a little "colder" and more synthetic feel to it. Dunno how to explain. Though its also feels very smooth and shiny after a simple quick detail of Z6

Duragloss , i have never tired though read abt alot of pple raving abt it. I use the Duraglass drying towel though, and by far it is the best i have used. Super absorbent and the size gives really good coverage. Even better then waffle weave towels I used to use before this (although i personally dun find the waffle weave so good.)

Anyways, all are good products. Go with these and you can't go wrong.

I washed my car, then top off with z6 and z8 yesterday... then my wife ask me to go buy dinner:errr: so I had to drive the car out in the rain... :verysad:

Oh well

 

[RaidenGear]

Re: Self Detailing/Maintaining Products

NIce recommendation guys, guess I'll head down to shops to look for some of these products and see whats what.

Oh yeah, one more thing. Since rain's so abundant these days, how are u guys holding up against watermarks? My car has sh!tload of them already man .
I heard you can remove them using white vinegar ah, is it true? Or is there any product specifically designed for watermark removal?

 

[Mockngbrd]

Re: Self Detailing/Maintaining Products

white vinegar??? mmm.... if really cannot just send it in for a proper grooming session?

 

[Kiasu King]

Re: Self Detailing/Maintaining Products

If you polish and wax the car regularly, watermarks will not be a problem and can be easily removed using car shampoo to wash the car during regular washing.

NIce recommendation guys, guess I'll head down to shops to look for some of these products and see whats what.

Oh yeah, one more thing. Since rain's so abundant these days, how are u guys holding up against watermarks? My car has sh!tload of them already man .
I heard you can remove them using white vinegar ah, is it true? Or is there any product specifically designed for watermark removal?

 

[RaidenGear]

Re: Self Detailing/Maintaining Products

Hmm, yeah! Those water marks sure is gone after some polishing and waxing . However, I wanna ask, how often do u guys wax ur car? I am currently using the carnuba turtle wax thingy. It seems to hold it's shine for quite some time.

 

[Physicist]

Re: Self Detailing/Maintaining Products

I think Zymol is very good. The products smell very good too

 

[awded]

Re: Self Detailing/Maintaining Products

Went for grooming in spark car care at ubi. They have done a great job in removing my water stains and swirl marks. Done in Jan, now still shiny. Basically, they restore my 5 year old paintwork to showroom condition. Was very pleased with the job.

 

[n@u9ht]

Re: Self Detailing/Maintaining Products

i use Dodo Juice BTBM shampoo for washing car body, got good sheeting properties and high dilution ratio, Meguair NXT for rims curz its cheaper. Bilt Hamber claybar and dodo lubricant for claying. then Zaino AIO to prep the surface and 3 layers of Zaino Z2. then if i havent died of exhaustion, ill add dodo supernatural wax or swissvax concourso for the extra glow, but the wax isnt necessary if uve three layers of zaino. zaino is just so glossy and dirt-proof

 

[Ckchow13]

Re: Self Detailing/Maintaining Products

Went for grooming in spark car care at ubi. They have done a great job in removing my water stains and swirl marks. Done in Jan, now still shiny. Basically, they restore my 5 year old paintwork to showroom condition. Was very pleased with the job.[/QUOTE

What was the cost?

 

[crazybugger]

Re: Self Detailing/Maintaining Products

I use any car shampoo that's on sale ... preferably one that does not contain wax

I use Soft99 Authentic - its a carnauba paste wax

doesn't cost a lot and it gives pretty nice gloss. i wax abt once in 4-6 weeks