mpittmann

I am far from an expert detailer but it's something I enjoy to do.. gets me out of the house and some alone time. I'm just curious what everyone is using for products and methods? Nearly all of my products are Meguiar's due to the price point, results I see, and availability.

For my standard wash:
2 bucket method
Foam Cannon
Soap: Either Chemical Guys extreme suds, Megs gold class, or Megs wash and wax.

For paint correction/wax (all Meg's products);
Meg's DA Polisher
Ultimate Compound
Ultimate Polish
Ultimate liquid wax

For quick detail:
Meg's ultimate QD
or-- Wizards mist and shine

Something I've been trying recently is ExoForma ceramic spray. It's not a ceramic coating but it's a spray that adds a lot of hydrophobic properties to your paint. Water beads up and runs off. They do recommend 2 coats to start. It's a spray on and buff, then wipe off process.. Similar to a quick detail spray. I have found with my DD (Corolla) that I need to add a new layer of ExoForma every month or so to keep up the properties of it. I recently bought their newly released Ceramic Shield soap as well. This is supposed to help recharge the shield while washing it. I have yet to try it out though.

Also, I added P&S Beadmaker to my stash of products. As the name says..it makes beads. It leaves a very slick surface to the paint and water beads up and off great! I'm expecting a layer needs to be added after every full wash. However, it should help keep the vehicles cleaner between washes.

One question I have for everyone... What do you do for hard water spots? Most of my miles on my pickup come in the winter, and they salt and sand pretty heavily here. My garage is heated with a drain and water hookup so I'll often give my truck a quick rinse when I get home to hopefully get as much sand and salt off as possible. I don't do a full wash/dry though so this results in hard water spots mainly on the tops of my fenders, a little on the hood, and the stupid drip line that goes down my doors from my mirrors. Open to suggestions for this..

catengi

I've found that if I use the Meguiar's quick detailer on water spots it helps clean them up a little bit. I recently moved into a house with softened water so hard water spots aren't as much of an issue anymore but at my old house they were impossible to avoid. It was part of my washing routine to go over the whole truck with QD after the wash to clean up the spots. Doesn't completely get rid of them but makes them far less noticeable anyway.

mpittmann

Thanks for the tip. However, my water spots are far past a QD being able to remove them May need to break out the compound and polish I guess..

LexPD

I use a lot of Meg products too. I have started to expand in to some of the chemical guys products. So far they have all lives up to expectations for me.

I do use compressed air (from a distance) to get the excess water out from the mirror and door handles. That would drastically cut down on the drip spots and help prevent a little bit of your hard water spotting.

First-Ford

I love this product. A little pricey but goes a long way.

https://www.autogeek.net/p2concarwax.html

mpittmann

Might have to try that out. How does it hold up?

thx10

For my Tuxedo SCREW, I use Meguiers Clay Works on my waterspots. I clay it at least once a year (whole truck) and the hood typically twice.

Will always repolish/wax after.

I do have a question. What do you all use on the external vinyl or plastic to restore?

Thanks

jdunk54nl

I don't have this but have heard good things about it

mpittmann

I tried clay.. no luck.

I've never used anything on the plastic to restore it.. but it's something I'd be interested in if anyone has dealt with this!

mpittmann

Wow! That would be quite the setup to have.