What are your pet peeves when detailing....

[boston824]

Hello Fellow Nicolodians:

What is your BIGGEST pet peeve when detailing the exterior of your vehicle; and what do you do to resolve it?

Personally, I hate the small bits of wax residue that builds up in the nooks and crannies (not the ones on your muffins); especially when using a paste wax on a dark colored vehicle.

To resolve this, I purchased a soft bristle 2 inch paint brush and cut the bristles down to 1 1/2 inch from the brass collar at an angle. I can now use the brush to clean out the remaining residue in all door and panel seams, trim edges, recessed light lenses, etc. As you clean out the residue, follow with a clean microfiber cloth.

Due to having a black vehicle, when finished, I return the brush to its original packaging to prevent dirt from getting trapped in the bristles when not being used. I also throw any microfiber cloths that drop on to the ground in the wash pile and get a new one to prevent dirt and grit suck on it from leaving fine scratches in the paint's clear coat (and NO! shaking out the cloth does not remove the sandy grit).

I hope that by starting this thread that we can all share some of our little tips for maintaining a premium vehicle finish, and maybe even learn a thing or two.

Stay Safe,

[themadscientist]

I haven't washed my car in two years you elitist!

I prefer my muffins clean shaven too.

[Razi]

I really should wash my car.

[themadscientist]

I'm past wash to repaint. My vehicles are like neglected children.

[Bubba1]

My pet peeve is when it rains the day after I detail it.

[Jesda]

Human blood leaves permanent stains.

/fromthedeskofanasiandriver

[Dattebayo]

Detailing is my biggest peeve about detailing.

I like my rides filthy fast.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Snow. I believe it was scientifically engineered by The Universe as the optimal transfer medium for road grime to moving vehicles. It's like reverse toothpaste: it seeks out hard-to-reach places and leaves you presents.

Also: black cars. You can't win with black cars. They look amazing when they're clean, but 5 minutes later they're not clean anymore. White stays clean. Doesn't look as good as black for those 5 minutes, but 3 days later, the black car looks like it lost a fight with a Swiffer Duster and the white car looks just as good as ever.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I hate waxes/polishes that don't lift off easily... even when they advertise that they do. I swear it just started happening to me in the past 2 years too... its like the government made some ingredient illegal and now all waxes are a b**** to take off

[frapjap]

My biggest pet peeve is car dependent. When I wash the T/A I immediately want to take it for a drive given that I just spent 2-3 hours busting my a** on the exterior and interior. However, when I open the hatch to store the T Tops, water from around/inside the spoiler mounts will ALWAYS run down the rear window that I just cleaned! No amount of rag or soaking method can prevent this.

The next is tire shine- if you don't purchase the right one or apply just a little to much of it, it'll sling all over your fenders, doors, and quarter panels.

[Heavy]

windows, i hate cleaning f*** windows

[frapjap]

windows, i hate cleaning f**king windows

You need this stuff:

Just don't apply it like that, it'll take FOREVER to wipe off.


Its like $4-5 but lasts FOREVER. I've had my can for about 3 years with plenty to go.

[sx moneypit]

My wife bought me one of those things that looks like a Swifter duster that you clean the inside of your windshield with, works like a champ!
http://www.amazon.com/As-Seen-TV-Windsh ... 274&sr=8-2

[Heavy]

ray- I do use that stuff and i use it sparingly as possible and i still get streaks, oh well.

[boston824]

My biggest pet peeve is car dependent. When I wash the T/A I immediately want to take it for a drive given that I just spent 2-3 hours busting my a** on the exterior and interior. However, when I open the hatch to store the T Tops, water from around/inside the spoiler mounts will ALWAYS run down the rear window that I just cleaned! No amount of rag or soaking method can prevent this.

The next is tire shine- if you don't purchase the right one or apply just a little to much of it, it'll sling all over your fenders, doors, and quarter panels.

I had the same issue on my black Altima, I purchased a pancake compressor from a local big box "orange" store and use compressed air to bow out the seams. For $45 usd it work pretty well. and I no longer get those annoying water streaks and runs on the finish.

[TTkickedin]

My biggest pet peeve is NOT using the drive in wash "wax" option. It sucks. So when I hand wax it, I have to be sure to wax every single portion of the car twice over. If it egts dirty by the next day, I'll do it all over again.


When I used to have my Zeus line wheels, I made sure those things were always free of brake dust.

Oh, anyone seen this stuff? http://fw1shine.com/ it's awesome. Just gotta make sure heavy drift is lifted before you use it, it does leave a nice shine though, for real.

[DJ_B_Easy]

Drying/chamoising. My area is notorious for hard water, if you dont dry you WILL have water spots, regardless of sunlight. To be quite honest, I was very upset when the Mr Clean Auto Dry was discontinued. That thing RULED.

[Razi]

windows, i hate cleaning f**king windows

I just apply wax on my windows and mirrors to get rid of streaks.
Works easy.

[asoomal]

When you're waxing your car, and waiting for it to dry to a haze and then a bird decides to take a crap on your car -_-.

Also, s*** drying chamois.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

windows, i hate cleaning f**king windows

YES!
I have NEVER found ANYTHING that can properly clean an interior window, and I have tried a LOT of stuff.

Then for some reason it likes to fog up like a mother for a month after cleaning it. FUNK DAT!

[VQpwrdSE-R]

Add another guy who hates cleaning windows. No matter what I use or the time I take I'm always blinded and angry as I drive east towards a sunrise on my commute.

I have used stainless steel cleaner from my BBQ grille on my exhaust tips and gotten great results. Just apply to a rag as to not damage plastics on bumper or get overspray.

[DJ_B_Easy]

I always wipe my windows first with just a dry microfiber cloth, the kind intended for eyeglasses. Just a whole ton of muscle and the dry cloth to get that nasty film off. Then, I use the foaming stuff posted about above (I think the one I get is called Best Glass Cleaner in the World or something like that). Works like a charm. Sometimes the dry cloth is enough in itself.

[boston824]

I have used this method for cleaning my vehicles windows...

[*]Fill a new spray bottle with a solution of 50% water and 50% vinegar, and shake well.

[*]Spray mixture on window glass and clean with a dry cloth.

The vinegar and water mixture cuts through the greasy, grimy film that accumulates on window glass. Once you've finished cleaning the window take a piece of newspaper, crumple it up and go over the window with it to remove any streaks.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

^I'll give that a shot. What type of vinegar do you use?

[nissangirl74]

I've used vinegar on windows before, works great. Use newspaper to wipe your windows. No streaks. Even with hard water. Also, Coke (as in Coca-cola) works great for getting grime off your windows. Just make sure if it gets on your paint you remove it pretty quickly. That s*** is evil.

[PEZi]

I always hate detailing... mainly when it comes to streaks of any sort. I always find a way to remove them, but still SO annoying. THUS... my 720 got the matte black treatment. The pink car is vinyl wrapped... we use windex on the whole thing. Done.

Thinking my next car will be matte white...

[boston824]

^I'll give that a shot. What type of vinegar do you use?

Distilled White Vinegar- I think its like to $2-$3 a gal in the supermarket.

[BusyBadger]

What is your BIGGEST pet peeve when detailing the exterior of your vehicle?

Dropping my clay bar.

What do you do to resolve it?

Throw it away.

[300ZXttZMAN]

My pet peeve is when it rains the day after I detail it.

I was about to type this then I was like hmm let me read through and see if anyone has said it.

[flohtingPoint]

Whats detailing? I drive my vehicles, I don't go at them with toothbrushes. Hell, my kart I just spray with WD40 and give it a quick wipe-down so it doesn't rust.