detailing tips

[4402tuff4u]

Never heard of Zaino -- will definitely check it out.

I really like Never Dull for the chrome, and have been using Blue Magic some for areas where paste residue getting left behind is not as likely or as much of a problem.

Vinegar and water and newspaper for the glass.

Interested in the pledge use on vinyl.... doesn't it contain anything that will harm it? - I'm paranoid I suppose... I would expect one benefit would be less likely attraction of lint etc that can attach itself after a nice cleaning...

I use a little vegetable oil and a lint free cloth to wipe down (wipe it off) rubber hoses, bumpers/stops, weather strip, body plugs and such.... leaves the stuff flat and somewhat conditioned (or it would seem)....actually, when I pulled apart the interior, I soaked all the body plugs from the floor in a light oil for a couple days, wiped off clean and they look great...

...really thinned out mixture of gas and black paint and a rag can bring some life back to old tires, when the foam or other conditioner doesn't seem to return (for any decent period of time) the blackness...

Just my two wacky cents...

You could use Silicone spray (armorall is silicone based) that leaves a shine and does not hurt rubber products. You should'nt use any petroleum base solvents or lubricants as cleaners. The petroleum base chemistry will definetly breakdown the rubber/plastic materials. 

[41husk]

I had heard the same thing on the petroleum products, many of the cleaners are petroleum based.  I try to avoid those.

[Paul G]

I have been using Zaino for several years now. After I tried it and my friends saw what it does they have all switched over to it. When one of us makes an order we all get something and split the shipping. Here is the link. http://zainostore.com/ Our club sponsors a car show every summer. Before last years show I phoned Sal Zaino asking for a donation. (It's a charity event) He sent one of his $80 kits for us to give away. Top shelf guy in my opinion.

After cleaning the car and applying the Z1 polish lock or using the ZFX accelerator you will be ready. Like stated above you should start with the Z5 swirl mark remover/polish.  Give it several applications till you are happy with the finish. It works. Then switch to the Z2 show car polish. You have to wait between coats, and let each coat fully cure to get the max results. It's all in the tips and tricks / instructions on the Zaino site. Follow the instructions to the T. It's actually extremely easy once you get the hang of it. No rubbing hardly at all. Use great big white 100% cotton towels only. 

I use the leather conditioner mostly because it makes the interior smell like brand new leather.  The tire shine looks great, not greasy, and wont sling off like the other products do.

You can cut the Z6 gloss enhancer spray up to 50% with water if you want. It makes it stretch and still works just as good. Sal clued me in to that one. I to notice just a little more pop from the Z8 Grand Finale spray before a show.

At the last show I had the car to a guy asked me if it was just painted. Thats the Zaino for ya. 

[Charger1973]

Its not a Charger but this is the car I had a couple years back.  It was a 96 and people thought it was brand new.  Zaino all the way. 



Also I agree with the guy who brought up the Absorber.  Theres nothing better for drying a vehicle, its amazing.

[41husk]

I can't wait to get out and use my zaino products.  It almost sounds to good to be true.

[bill440rt]

I have yet to try the Zaino products. I'm actually using many products from Griot's Garage. Their detailer Speed Shine works great. I also use their cotton polishing cloths, micro-fiber hand dusters, plastic cleaner, etc. I use their blue wipes & Stoner Invisible Glass for cleaning glass.
I use pure carnauba wax from Fleetwax on my paint. It goes on almost oily, & seems to melt across the surface as you wipe it off. ZERO abrasives. If any polishing is needed before wax, I use 3M's Liquid Polish. For chrome, I also use the liquid form of this wax, zero abrasives. Chrome actually scratches very easily, and once it's scratched you'll never remove it no matter what you use.
For tires, I use Black Magic's Tire Wet and their Pro Shine Protectant for interiors. I put the Tire Wet on with a half-round FOAM applicator. The tires are not glossy, and it doesn't spray all over the car when driving. For white letters, a little dab of Tire Wet on a rag with your finger does the trick.
Oh, & I NEVER use a hose to wash the Chargers. Ever. I basically wipe them down after every time I drive, and use a California Duster. The mini duster works well in door jambs, wheels, underhood, trunk, etc. Undercarriage gets wiped down twice a year. The Glosser cloths (I think they're made by Meguiars), work great for wiping down under the hood & undercarriage. It all depends how well detailed your car is in order to use them.

[plum500]

I have a question about wheels -- Torq Thrust Originals - I have a new set I'm putting on this year, and I've been warned about the blasted finish of the spokes and how difficult they are to keep clean...and if you let em' go, some stuff will seem permanent -- brake dust/grease and such. I mean I've seen fingerprints show up on these things -- just wondering what others have done/experienced....

...are they really that difficult? is there anything I can spray them with to make cleaning easier? should I shoot them with a coat of clear? -- I had one suggestion to paint them but not really thinking I want to do that -- most of the (visual anyway) reason I chose them is for that blasted finish....

[Brock Samson]

   But Ya' Know...

There's sumpthin beautiful about a Charger! Driven hard and put away wet.   

[bill440rt]

Another good detailing tip for those really hard to reach places: You know, the kind that leaves your fingers numb and knuckles bleeding.
Try using a little spray of detailer on foam paint brushes, the kind from your local hardware store or Home Depot. They come in different widths & sizes. They are perfect for around power steering pump/alternator brackets, horns, K-frames, and on distributor cap between all the posts & wires. Even in the grille spokes & other hard to reach corners. You can also spray or dip them in Simple Green to get rid of any hard to reach grime. (Grime? GRIME??? What is that??) 

For windows: after wiping using your favorite glass cleaner, wipe the inside of the windows with a dry micro-fiber cloth. Your windows will be streak-free.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

on distributor cap between all the posts & wires.

damn Bill you are hard core!!    

I don't even go there.....

[bill440rt]

You could learn a lot...from a dummy!!!   

[Black and Blown]

I got tired just reading these posts.

[472 R/T SE]

41husk, how did your Zaino experience turn out? 

[Rizzo]

Lots of people seem to dig the Zaino and from what I've seen it does a sweet job.  I use Zymol Carbon wax on my vehicles.  This summer two people asked me if my truck had been repainted.  It's still wearing the original paint and has lived through 11 Canadian winters and doesn't get parked in a garage.  www.zymol.com.  They have some really really expensive blends they call Estate Glazes.  Most of those are so hard you have to warm them with your hands before applying to the paint.

[41husk]

I love the Zaino products, I am hooked thats all I use now.