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Let's talk about cleaning these beautiful trucks!

Rymack10

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Silverado Steve Senior Enthusiast

Silverado Steve

Posted
Posted

Leather should not be oily/greasy or shiny, it should be dull and clean looking.

Says who? I'm not saying armor all shine and grease, I'm saying smooth and with a sheen that dust right off, kind of like furniture after you apply Pledge.

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Silverado Steve Senior Enthusiast

Silverado Steve

Posted
Posted

I'm with you. I'm beyond the days of where I would spend hours detailing my cars. I have other things I'd rather spend my time doing. A run though the touchless wash followed by a wipe down with Detailer spray does as much as a hand wash and wax for me. I do my wheels with detail spray too. Most of the off the shelf detailing sprays work on all automotive surfaces.

 

 

That's what I do. Back in the day I would use all kinds of polishes and cleaners and spend hours making my vehicles look clean. Several years ago I just stopped buying stuff and you what? My vehicles are as clean and sharp as any around, and it doesn't take me all efn day. I run the sprayer over my cloth as I wipe and it gets my vehicles pretty clean. Then I wring out the cloth and start the drying process. Also I don't have the dreaded swirl marks either. I do wax from time to time though, just not very often. Also at least twice a month I do run my truck through a touchless car wash.

 

tnchevy Senior Enthusiast

tnchevy

Posted
Posted

 

So do you just rinse it somewhat often or just drive it around dirty?

Drive it around dirty a lot of the time! I only drive my truck on the weekends but most of my free time is spent riding one of my motorcycles, fixing stuff around the house, or fixing up another old motorcycle. The older I get the less I care about how shiny my truck is but I try to give it a good washing at least once a month.

Cohen Enthusiast

Cohen

Posted
Posted

Carnauba Car Wax vs. Paint Sealants:

http://www.autogeek.net/qude101.html

 

Interesting read, I didn't know the difference until now... Saw a few people say they use paint sealer and then wax (both after clay bar), seems like they are the same thing. Best of both worlds or ...?

ndkid Enthusiast

ndkid

Posted
Posted

I use Adams Polishes and they work great. Sealing the paint and wheels makes future washings much easier. Their interior products clean great and add SPF to protect from the sun. Their videos are great for explanations. From what I understand a sealant will protect the surface longer while a wax will add more shine. A wax has a lower melting point compared to a sealant.

Rymack10 Enthusiast

Rymack10

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Well looks like I need to get a grit guard and check out some of these Adam's products. I also need to order a clay bar kit.

TJay74 Senior Enthusiast

TJay74

Posted
Posted

Adams will have all of that, they run specials from time to time as well.

crushNchowda Senior Enthusiast

crushNchowda

Posted
Posted

Well looks like I need to get a grit guard and check out some of these Adam's products. I also need to order a clay bar kit.

 

autogeek.net

 

Has EVERYTHING you'd ever want for car detailing and then some, low/mid/high/exotic price points.

Rymack10 Enthusiast

Rymack10

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I've noticed Adam's is pretty expensive for their stuff. Wouldn't Meguiar's products do just as well?

crushNchowda Senior Enthusiast

crushNchowda

Posted
Posted

I've noticed Adam's is pretty expensive for their stuff. Wouldn't Meguiar's products do just as well?

like many things in life, you get what you pay for. I think meguiar's is pretty good too....but you can tell the difference between, say, turtle wax and armor all products vs. meguiar's right? Well there's a difference between meguiar's and adam's too....just not as big a difference IMO

 

The Adams quick detail spray looks (color-wise) and smells like old fashioned bubble gum - LOVE using that on my vette, I think meguiar's "ultimate" quick detailer for instance works very well too, but it doesn't wipe away as cleanly/easily and doesn't work as well in direct sun (none of those mists do as good in sun but adam's is better)

 

Now, if you ask me weather I think the price difference between Adam's and say, Zaino is justified, I will say hell no.

 

Same thing w/ interior - Lexol vs Leatherique? Give me lexol all day, leatherique doesn't justify the price hike

TJay74 Senior Enthusiast

TJay74

Posted
Posted

Adams makes some stand up stuff, I used Meguires for years and then moved over to Adams and haven't looked back. The Adams peeps are very helpful and their customer service is top notch. I order the detailing solution by the gallon, 4 gallons a year. One of the gallons came in damaged and had leaked about a 1/4 of the gallon out. No questions Adams sent me a new one and told me to keep the old one.

Sooperdave Enthusiast

Sooperdave

Posted
Posted

I couldn't seem to find a thread about cleaning these trucks. If there is a thread already for this could someone please link it?

 

I live in an apartment, so I don't have access to a water hose. Therefore, I have put this truck through a drive through car wash a couple times. I don't want to do this any more, so I will be getting a water hose for my gf's place so I can wash it there.

 

Sure you could look up online about washing and detailing vehicles, but I figured it'd be nice to hear from the people on these forums. So, why don't we share tips on how we clean our trucks? These are gorgeous trucks and nothing makes them look better than a good wash! I've never owned a new vehicle until this truck, so I want to try to keep it in the best shape I can.

 

How about we list our do's and don'ts of car washing and any other tips we may have for our fellow chevy/gmc owners?

 

Nice truck btw! Here is my most common method I use that isn't quite as good as a good home car wash soap down, but is pretty close. It's my three towel system at the DIY spray car wash. I first give a 3-4min thorough soaping and wash depending on how filthy, but before time is over, I soak the towels with the soap not holding down the trigger in the truck bed. Don't put the towels on the ground as they will pickup dirt. Take towel #1 and wash the top and upper-mid sides of the truck including windows. Take towel #2 and wash front and bottom sections. Take towel #3 and wash wheels, step boards, then fender moulding(for GMC's). This area has the roughest particles so be sure not to use that towel on any other area. Start with wheels first though. Then give a thorough 3-4 minute rinse. Now for the drying and this is a must or there will generally be spots. To start with getting most water off I use an auto squeegee. Just a quick once over and this is entirely optional but it does help complete the next step. Next I use an Adams super drying towel. I can fully dry my truck with only one of these after the squeegee. But I don't touch the wheels with this towel. I just wait til I get home then use another fresh slightly damp microfiber towel to finish wiping the wheels and the step boards. I finish the windows with Adams Glass Cleaner and just a good over all tire coating. Also get your hands on the Adams Quick Sealant or any other type of sealant. This helps protect! Once in a while I do give her a good home 2 bucket Adams wash soap down. Good luck!

 

Note on wash towels: I only use microfiber like the green, blue, or whatever color. I generally have a stack of these towels sorted by each use. So my best towels are only used for top and upper side.

Rymack10 Enthusiast

Rymack10

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Nice truck btw! Here is my most common method I use that isn't quite as good as a good home car wash soap down, but is pretty close. It's my three towel system at the DIY spray car wash. I first give a 3-4min thorough soaping and wash depending on how filthy, but before time is over, I soak the towels with the soap not holding down the trigger in the truck bed. Don't put the towels on the ground as they will pickup dirt. Take towel #1 and wash the top and upper-mid sides of the truck including windows. Take towel #2 and wash front and bottom sections. Take towel #3 and wash wheels, step boards, then fender moulding(for GMC's). This area has the roughest particles so be sure not to use that towel on any other area. Start with wheels first though. Then give a thorough 3-4 minute rinse. Now for the drying and this is a must or there will generally be spots. To start with getting most water off I use an auto squeegee. Just a quick once over and this is entirely optional but it does help complete the next step. Next I use an Adams super drying towel. I can fully dry my truck with only one of these after the squeegee. But I don't touch the wheels with this towel. I just wait til I get home then use another fresh slightly damp microfiber towel to finish wiping the wheels and the step boards. I finish the windows with Adams Glass Cleaner and just a good over all tire coating. Also get your hands on the Adams Quick Sealant or any other type of sealant. This helps protect! Once in a while I do give her a good home 2 bucket Adams wash soap down. Good luck!

 

Note on wash towels: I only use microfiber like the green, blue, or whatever color. I generally have a stack of these towels sorted by each use. So my best towels are only used for top and upper side.

 

Thanks. I had never thought to just take a few wash clothes with me and using those. That could suffice when I'm not able to do the usual 2 bucket wash. I tried the two bucket wash at the car was one time and you spend more money keeping the water running and you spill half the water out of your bucket when trying to fill it with the pressure washer. Couldn't ya just take an extra drying towel, maybe not as good as the adam's drying towel, but a different one to dry it while at the wash?

 

I may try this and take the truck back to my garage at the apartment and do the class cleaning and some polishing there as well as tire shine and what not. Thanks!!

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