Recommendations for products

[Clout]

Hey, I am new here and also pretty new to detailing.
Just bought a car and I really want to wash and maintain it's paint properly.
There are so many products out there and so many different opinions so I needed to hear from the professionals here what to buy.
Would be glad to get some recommendations for the producs of the list I made:

Soap
APC
Glass Cleaner + Seal
Wax
A spraying bottle
2 Detailing brushes(exterior + interior)
Tire brush
Seat brush

Thanks in advance.

[Breese147]

Hey, I am new here and also pretty new to detailing.
Just bought a car and I really want to wash and maintain it's paint properly.
There are so many products out there and so many different opinions so I needed to hear from the professionals here what to buy.
Would be glad to get some recommendations for the producs of the list I made:

Soap
APC
Glass Cleaner + Seal
Wax
A spraying bottle
2 Detailing brushes(exterior + interior)
Tire brush
Seat brush

Thanks in advance.

You will find you like some products more than others but here’s some products sold here that I’ve always enjoyed.
Glass cleaner/sealant- Rainx 2in1 cheap fast and easy.
Wax- I would substitute for spray on sealant. I like McKee’s 37 10 min sealant however durability isn’t the best but it’s super easy. I also used to love meguairs spray wax.
Tire brush- TUF shine brush cheap and effective. I would also recommend a speed master or wheel Whoolie for inner barrels of wheels. I used to never use them until I I found out how effective they are.
Interior brush- I don’t recall if it’s sold on here but I will keep it at this DF ultra soft detailing brushes.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Billy Baldone]

There is no reason AG doesn’t have these packages available. Matt at Obsessed Garage has done a fantastic job at packaging products.

[MarkD51]

Hi, and welcome to this forum. You hit paydirt by coming here.

Your information, and requests are sort of vague, so we have little knowledge.

But I hit on one theme you say, "new to detailing". Thus as our forum master guru Mike Phillips would no doubt say "KISS", meaning "keep it simple simon".

There's so many lines and products here, and you could get so many recommendations, it could likely confuse you even further, and that's surely what you don't want.

Firstly, I'll say go through the rituals of signing up here so you can be aware of any-all sales that occur here.
Listing your location could be of help, and also what type of vehicle, its age, condition, so other folks here can make solid and wiser befitting recommendations for you personally.

I would say get the basics down, the washing, and getting some good protection of paint, trim, interior, decent cleaners for glass. Should have basic tools, like you say, some brushes, a decent wash bucket, at least maybe consider a Grit Guard for the bucket(s) A Decent Chenille Wash Mitt. some decent applicators, and Microfiber Towels.

No, you don't have to spend $7-$12 per towel, in truth I'd rather use a clean new wally world MF Towel, than some high end towel that looks beat.

This might be frowned upon when I say this, but I'll assure you, there's not a member here who has not bought products to use outside this forum. Yep, from the big box auto parts stores, Auto Paint Supply Stores which commonly carry detailing products, and even places dare I say like Walmart, Home Depot and Dollar Tree.

The Duragloss line, and it's sold here, all pretty good products, others will agree, from their glass cleaners, their shampoos, poly sealants, glass rain repellants, trim and rubber-tire protectants, all excellent and pretty inexpensive. Great bang for the dollar, tough to beat for the cash outlay.

Carrand here makes all sorts of brushes, and brushes can be had from the many places I mention above. Choose what you think will work best for you, such as Tire Scrub Brushes, Detailing Brushes, so on.

A decent small vacuum cleaner is a must have. One that has a few different attachments like a crevice tool, soft brush for seats-etc.

Drying Towels, the Griots Garage PFM (Pure Freaking Magic) Towels have little to no peer, I've got friends who own best of show winning cars whom I've converted from the old school Chamois Leather to these, and they aren't ever going back.

When I first joined this forum, and like others, I searched, I read, and had to choose my own personal path of what knowledge I wished to seek and absorb. It all came, little at a time. And the topics and discussions of the countless products made are all mentioned here. There's a search tool so you can seek information about anything detailing related.

Vehicle care is of course an investment of love, time and work. Vehicles, no matter what, and no matter what products used will need periodic maintenance, re-applications, that's a given.

It will all come, given time, and your interest and willingness to learn.

[57Rambler]

1. Soap - Optimum Car Wash.

Optimum Car Wash is a concentrated auto shampoo that washes away grime on your car & protects wax. (https://www.autogeek.net/optimum-car-wash.html)


2. APC - Duragloss APC, Meguiar's D101, & McKee's37 Hi Intensity are good, offered as concentrates, and have wide range of uses. 303 Multi-surface is good stuff too, but only comes pre-mixed in a spray bottle and use it mainly for interior/exterior fabrics, vinyl.

128 oz. Duragloss All Purpose Cleaner (APC) (https://www.autogeek.net/128ozduallpu.html)

Meguiar's All Purpose Cleaner Concentrate, 1 Gallon, works on carpet, fabric, vinyl, and leather for all-over interior cleaning. (https://www.autogeek.net/mg10101.html)

McKee's 37 Hi-Intensity All Purpose Cleaner Plus (https://www.autogeek.net/dp-apc-plus.html)

303 Fabric Cleaner removes stains and restores fabric to like-new condition. The 303 biodegradable formula removes oil, grease, dirt, coffee, tea, (https://www.autogeek.net/303552.html)


3. Glass cleaner - Invisible Glass.

https://www.autogeek.net/glass-cleaner.html

(Can usually be found in local stores too)


4. Waxes & sealants - For durability, Collinite #476 wax or Duragloss 105 sealant + 601 bonding agent (use in combination). For ultimate shine, Pinnacle Souveran wax. For an all-in-one, Blackfire One Step.

https://www.autogeek.net/collinite-super-doublecoat--wax-476.html

https://www.autogeek.net/duragloss-total-performance-polish.html
https://www.autogeek.net/duragloss-polish-bonding-agent.html

https://www.autogeek.net/souveran-mini.html

https://www.autogeek.net/blackfire-total-polish-seal.html


5. Tire brush - TUF Shine tire brush.

https://www.autogeek.net/tuf-shine-tire-brush.html


6. Detail brushes :

a. Exterior (delicate) use

https://www.autogeek.net/boars-hair-car-detailing-brush.html

b. Interior (delicate) use

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

c. General detail use, exterior & interior

https://www.autogeek.net/mothers-detail-brush-set.html

Or good ol' toothbrushes work well too.


Other suggestions :

7. Tire dressing - Duragloss #253 Tire Dressing.

https://www.autogeek.net/duragloss-tire---rubber-mat-dressing.html

TIP : Apply tire dressing with a flag-tipped brush, it saves a huge amount of time and makes even application a cinch.

Flagged tip brush to apply HD to tires. (https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101-a/117990-flagged-tip-brush-apply-hd-tires.html)


8. Interior dressing - Wolfgang Cockpit Trim Sealant.

https://www.autogeek.net/wolfgang-cockpit-trim-sealant.html


9. Exterior trim dressing - For the best UV protection, 303 Aerospace Protectant.

https://www.autogeek.net/16oz.html


Also, McKee's37 Trim Restorer & Wolgang Exterior Trim Sealant are good trim dressings that also provide decent UV protection as well.

https://www.autogeek.net/mckees-37-trim-restorer.html

https://www.autogeek.net/wolfgang-exterior-trim-sealant.html


10. Microfiber towels

Drying - Griot's Garage PFM

https://www.autogeek.net/griots-garage-pfm-drying-towel.html
https://www.autogeek.net/griots-pfm-2pack.html

Wax/polish/sealant removal - Cobra Edgeless Polishing Cloths

https://www.autogeek.net/mf-green-12.html

Final buff - Cobra Super Plush

https://www.autogeek.net/cobra-jr-microfiber-towels.html


11. Wash mitt

https://www.autogeek.net/super-plush-wash-mitt.html

A separate color-coded mitt for wheels, etc., is a good idea too.

https://www.autogeek.net/black-microfiber-wash-mitt.html

[Thomkirby]

Well, I think 57Rambler has covered about everything and MarkD51 is dead on track without all the detail links sent by 57Rambler.

I have spent so much with AG that I now have choices and have to decide what the car tells me. Anything found in AG store will work! And yes, watch the sales and specials and build up your kit. Several kits are found that will bundle things together and you can always go to local supply stores if must have it NOW.

Read the forum and of course search on topics as the members are great at telling you what works for them and might match your needs. I do reach out on the forum and ask questions, I have learned much by participating and reading.

Have fun with your new vehicle!

[Clout]

Thank you everyone for all your replies it really helped me figure out what I want to purchase.
I already have buckets, wash mitts and towels, as I used to wash my father's car just for the fun it(ye im weird).
I really wanted to refresh my products and buy some quality ones, cause the only products I got is random CG stuff but I felt like is not enough.
About my car, I have got a Giulietta QV 2011 manual, color 8c red

[MarkD51]

Thank you everyone for all your replies it really helped me figure out what I want to purchase.
I already have buckets, wash mitts and towels, as I used to wash my father's car just for the fun it(ye im weird).
I really wanted to refresh my products and buy some quality ones, cause the only products I got is random CG stuff but I felt like is not enough.
About my car, I have got a Giulietta QV 2011 manual, color 8c red

Probably doesn't matter much if your car is new, or used, but it takes inspection to decide then what courses of action and products might need to be used.

Let's take appearance. If you're not noting much in the way of swirling and light scratches in the finish, then for now you might not have to worry about polishing. A paint finish might look fine, but there's other methods many of us use to check just how "clean" a vehicle is. Just a simple wash is no guarantee.

This method is called the "Plastic Baggie Test". Right after your car is washed and dried, take yourself the thinnest plastic sandwich bag you can find. Place your hand inside of it, and feel the paint finish, and the glass.

What often feels very smooth initially with just the naked hand, and then feeling with the plastic bag, there's usually a considerable difference in feel. The bag enhances the feel of the hand upon the paint and glass surfaces.

What you're then feeling is "above surface contaminants". Generally, these are the very first steps to check and address when it comes to detailing. The smoother your paint finish is, the better it looks and shines, and the better that protectants will bond to the paint.

There are Clay Bars, and now also Clay Bar Substitutes that can be had. Iron fallout and contamination is another contaminant, very stubborn to remove by simple washing. Think of Iron Particles as being similar to like a Wood Sliver in your finger. They are both above and below-imbedded into the paint.

There are many companies here who make Iron Remover Solutions. They are easy to use, many smell quite horrid, but are Ph neutral, and safe to use, not acidic or alkali.

As many would say, work clean, and think clean.

If you note hazing or clouding on your paint, you might then consider a cleaner wax product. (Or the use of a high quality fine finishing polish as well). These types of cleaner wax products, or sometimes called "All in Ones", or "AIO" clean the paint surface, help restore color, and some also have mild abrasives in them that will also polish the paint to bring back gloss-shine.

While some of these products do work more effectively with a Machine dual action Polisher, most if not all can also be used by hand to good effect.

Once you have removed contaminants, enhanced feel and shine, the maintenance then becomes easier to do.

Hope this helps.