How do you clean your truck?

[glcbn]

I use Mequiar's products and if it's not microfiber it doesn't touch the truck.

[STINSAN3]

Usually I take the truck to the coin op and just spray off all the bugs, loose dirt, road grime, etc..
Then take it back home, wash the wheels first, then do the 2 bucket wash. After I rinse the truck with a pool of water, I use Detail Spray to spray on then dry off with Adam's Great White Drying towel which is my favorite drying towel.
Then finish it off with UnderCarraige Spray and Tire Shine.

[Likarok]

A. Don't you dish soap on you car. It' eats away at the wax that's already there and eventually will harm the clear coat.

B. Don use windex on your tinted window. The ammonia in the windex will destroy the tinting film. Use either a weak vinegar/water mixture if you have oil marks or other marks (dog nose prints) that you have to clean from the window. What else works is the cleaners that you would use on your TV's / computer screens.

 

I've found in my years of cleaning, you get what you pay for. Good quality waxes are a little pricey but the results are worth it.

Hear Hear!

 

All of the above! I would add as well, do not use a chamois! If you are, throw it in the garbage! Use microfiber towels or even terry towel bath towels to dry your car. Microfiber towels for polishing and shining.

 

Also do your research on websites like Mothers, Adams, Maguire's, and others. Because most of the people who work at the auto parts stores drove to work in a old beater! They know little or nothing about cleaners and waxes, etc ! Until I owned a Corvette and learned that polishing, waxing and cleaning a car/truck is a science and has to be done properly I was doing it the hard way to. Once you learn the proper techniques it is actually easier to wash your car than the way you were doing it before!

 

I have gone so far as to purchase a Porter Cable random orbit polisher with all the colored pads. It is crazy what a science this is with each color of foam pad being different densities from each other. Now you don't need to get this crazy. Just saying! If you know what you are doing you can bring back a paint job that you thought was shot! The use of a clay bar on the front of a car and my motorcycle is the most rewarding thing I have ever done. Makes that paint as smooth as a babies butt!

 

Have fun with your new truck and "Keep The Shiny Side Up" !!!!!!

 

PS: What else is funny is that the terry towels I use on the Corvette are better that the ones I shower with! hahaha

[soltys]

 

PS: What else is funny is that the terry towels I use on the Corvette are better that the ones I shower with! hahaha

 

There's absolutely nothing wrong with this.

[tstehle]

http://www.detailersdomain.com/

 

http://www.adamspolishes.com/

 

http://www.zainostore.com/

 

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=45

I would like to add to your list. I am very particular about detailing my vehicles and when I am stuck for answers http://www.autogeek.net has some great how to topics.

[bdbake01]

Word of warning, not all microfibers are created equal. Most are fine, some are scratch makers.

 

Kinda like a lobster dinner. Spend more than a dollar.

[luckybob]

So I have learned a lot through this post and some additional reading.

 

Say no to Dawn! (outside of a wax strip)

Say no to automated cleaning systems!

Say no to Armor All!

 

I took a trip to the store and stocked up on some cleaning materials. I got a few buckets (wash/rinse/tires), picked up a large pack of microfiber towels, got a couple microfiber hand mitts and grabbed a couple chamois. I went ahead an got some turtle wax soap/wax formula for washing, spray wax for detail and some some Mequiar's detailing wipes for the interior. I found the glass cleaner the wife gets is already amonia free, so good there. I also got some of the Turtle Wax tough spot junk for bugs and what not. Because of the rain I was only able to get the interior of the truck and my wife's car done. I really liked the Mequiar's detail wipes. Took almost half the container on my wife's car, and made quick work of the truck.

 

Once the weather improves I plan on applying my skills to the wife's car and then taking the knowledge to the truck. I do understand it is a truck and it will get dirty, just trying to keep the new car feeling as long a possible.

 

Thanks for all the input, I will report back when I get a chance to wash the cars.

[nards444]

Still amazes me that people use dish soap on cars. I only do it maybe once a year with dish soap as it usually does clean prett well, but I mainly use it once before applying new wax.

 

Some other tips never go through a brushed washed, or use the brush in the quarter washes, unless you want scratches. Use new towels every time you wash, ensure your wash mitt/brush is cleaned after use and before use. Do this and you eliminate scratching about the best you can.

[CANDenali]

Washing your car is definitely a science, but a fun one. There is nothing like that feeling you get when you see your beauty all shined up. You guys got me going now, I will be detailing my truck this weekend. If anybody south of the Great Lakes looks north and sees a glow this weekend you will know I just backed out of my garage.

Sent from Windows Phone.

[MMC]

Washing your car is definitely a science, but a fun one. There is nothing like that feeling you get when you see your beauty all shined up. You guys got me going now, I will be detailing my truck this weekend. If anybody south of the Great Lakes looks north and sees a glow this weekend you will know I just backed out of my garage.

Sent from Windows Phone.

I'm right across the lake from you, Ill keep my shades handy.

[14sierra4x4]

Anyone use a squeegee to dry? Been using one a few times now and works pretty well getting most of water off then I follow up with mf or waffle pattern drying towel. I try to clean my truck at least 2x month though. Hate when my truck looks dirty esp cause its white. For those that have had your truck through snowy winter, is there anything you do to protect body During these months.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

[SteveCZ]

Dude, back away from the truck! Seriously, never do any of that to your truck again!

 

With one possible exception. The dishwashing liquid (Dawn being my favorite) is perfectly fine to use from time to time, maybe say twice a year, IF you are deep cleaning and intentionally trying to remove any old wax/polish/etc. and get down to just virgin paint. For this, it's acceptable and even recommended. Any other time, ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!

 

Armorall? Throw it away along with the Windex.

 

Find a polish system (NOT a wax) that you're happy with and start there. Wash the truck with Dawn, thoroughly, then clay the surface, wash again w/ Dawn, and now you have a properly prepared surface to begin your polish.

 

I am a huge Zaino fan. This stuff is awesome, and very few other products even come remotely close. No it's not cheap. But then again, neither was this truck.

 

Properly apply the polish, and then maintain with a polish safe wash. DO NOT dry wipe or "wash only with water". One purpose of a car wash is to lubricate the surface and encapsulate any foreign particles to prevent scratches. Think about it. You have dirt on the truck, you have a dry towel, you wipe dirt off with dry towel...you just took tons of extremely small and very sharp objects and scraped them down your paint. Not a good idea. Use a proper wash such as Zaino Z7 and you're good.

 

Then, after and ONLY after the grime has been removed, then dry with a 100% terrycloth towel (high quality, pay more than a dollar), or chamois or an absorber-like product. I prefer the latter.

 

If you ever drop a towel/rag/etc on the ground, it DOES NOT touch the paint again until it has been thoroughly, thoroughly, thoroughly washed. Period.

 

Seats. Good leather cleaner and conditioner system (Z9/Z10). Don't over clean or over condition. Either is bad. No, it doesn't really need that much.

 

Windows, Stoner products are great. Use anything ammonia based, and your beautiful tint job will look like a purple Wal-Mart special disaster in short order.

 

 

 

Exactly what he said, except I use Mother's Polish, and Collinite for the wax, look it up, Jay Leno swears by it (not that I'm a Leno fan, but he does have a few cars in his stable...).

[Luster]

Two bucket wash with this...

 

 

Seal with this:

 

 

Detail with this....

 

 

Or this.....

 

 

Makes truck look like this....

 

[355HP Z71]

Anyone ever use rejex sealant ? I have tried many of products and rejex seems to last the longest .

[RobZ71LM7]

I'm using CQuartz UK edition on my '14. I've also applied it to my mother's brand new car.