PerroneFord
04-07-2010, 09:48 PM
Last year I decided to try the Road Trip Grime Destroyer product by Surf City. Like many of you, I'd become pretty jaded by a number of products but it got some good reviews so I gave it a go. Long story short, it's magic in a bottle. Really. If it's not in your aresenal, you are REALLY missing something great.
Based on that experience, I decided to add a few more products to my arsenal for this year, and decided to dip into the Surf City well once again.
This time I added their Beyond Steel Wheel Cleaner, and the Clearly Better Glass Cleaner. As per usual, I tried these out on my daily driver before using them on any customer cars.
It's pollen season here in North Florida, so my DD is seeing pretty regular rinseless washings. And I had done a full 2BM wash a few weeks back. But I intentionally left the wheels with the stubborn stuff on them anticipating this purchase.
Beyond Steel Wheel Cleaner -
Reason: I bought this cleaner to be my new goto product for dealing with tough dirt on sensitive wheels. I have other cleaners I can use on non-sensitive wheels, and I have gentle cleaners for sensitive wheels, but I wanted something safe but powerful.
Smell: Like the Grime Destroyer, it has an odor, but it's not overpowering, and not too bad. About as strong as APC+ at 10:1.
Usage: I decided to use the product uncut since that is how I use competing products. The product is not "thick" like a gel, it's really quite like an APC. Immediately upon spraying, I could see the brake dust starting to run. The gunk that was still in the lugnut holes started to run down the face of the wheel.
Result: I was quite pleased with the results of this product. Its a very effective cleaner, about the effectiveness of a good APC at 5:1 or 8:1, but without the harshness. It should save me a TON of time doing more sensitive wheels. I used mild agitation on my wheels (daily driver with over 100k) and my wheels came as clean as they do with my usual Eagle 1 A2Z wheel cleaner.
Would I recommend it?: Absolutely. It's effective, and like the rest of my SCG products, it does exactly what it says on the label. A bit more pricey than some of it's competitors to be fair, but it works as advertised.
Clearly Better Glass Cleaner -
Reason: Normally, I use Stoners Invisible Glass. And I am very pleased with that product. In fact, I'll continue to use the spray can inside the car because it clings better than other products I've tried.
Smell: There is no ammonia in this product, and the smell is quite pleasant. Certainly no issue working with it in an enclosed car.
Usage: I used this on external glass surfaces, and on the inside windshield. The product is much like any basic glass cleaner. It's tinted blue. One thing I did notice is that the product "glides". Many glass cleaners seem to either have abrasives or chemicals in them that make a MF Towel grabby for lack of a better word. This glass cleaner did not do that. As advertised, there was zero streaking.
Result: fabulous. It's as good as Invisible Glass. Some people have streaking issues with IG, but I generally do not. In any event, this product didn't streak either and was very easy and pleasant to use. One caveat. My windshield is heavily sloped. And working inside is a bit tricky. I prefer the aerosol from IG for that work as it gives me plenty of working time before the product runs down to the bottom. Based on cost, the Surf City may be more pricey than Stoners.
Would I recommend it?: If Stoners isn't working well for you, I absolutely recommend the Surf City. If you are happy with Stoners keep using it. I didn't NEED a new glass cleaner, but I wanted to get my Surf City order over $50 for the free shipping, and this was a nice way to do it. I'd happily order it again, though in the more economical size.
I would like to say that I am sad that AutoGeek has discontinued their relationship with Surf City. Whatever the reasons may be, they produce a line of absolutely wonderful products that I certainly have enjoyed using and will continue to use. I will also say that the packing methodology from Surf City was a welcome surprise. They use all recycled packing materials, and each item was sealed in plastic. I think I remember there being some issue with their bottles breaking during shipping and perhaps AG was having an issue with breakage and returns. If so, I can understand the issue. But I will continue to support SCG as long as they continue to produce pro level product like this that meet the claims on the bottles.
Thanks for reading.
Based on that experience, I decided to add a few more products to my arsenal for this year, and decided to dip into the Surf City well once again.
This time I added their Beyond Steel Wheel Cleaner, and the Clearly Better Glass Cleaner. As per usual, I tried these out on my daily driver before using them on any customer cars.
It's pollen season here in North Florida, so my DD is seeing pretty regular rinseless washings. And I had done a full 2BM wash a few weeks back. But I intentionally left the wheels with the stubborn stuff on them anticipating this purchase.
Beyond Steel Wheel Cleaner -
Reason: I bought this cleaner to be my new goto product for dealing with tough dirt on sensitive wheels. I have other cleaners I can use on non-sensitive wheels, and I have gentle cleaners for sensitive wheels, but I wanted something safe but powerful.
Smell: Like the Grime Destroyer, it has an odor, but it's not overpowering, and not too bad. About as strong as APC+ at 10:1.
Usage: I decided to use the product uncut since that is how I use competing products. The product is not "thick" like a gel, it's really quite like an APC. Immediately upon spraying, I could see the brake dust starting to run. The gunk that was still in the lugnut holes started to run down the face of the wheel.
Result: I was quite pleased with the results of this product. Its a very effective cleaner, about the effectiveness of a good APC at 5:1 or 8:1, but without the harshness. It should save me a TON of time doing more sensitive wheels. I used mild agitation on my wheels (daily driver with over 100k) and my wheels came as clean as they do with my usual Eagle 1 A2Z wheel cleaner.
Would I recommend it?: Absolutely. It's effective, and like the rest of my SCG products, it does exactly what it says on the label. A bit more pricey than some of it's competitors to be fair, but it works as advertised.
Clearly Better Glass Cleaner -
Reason: Normally, I use Stoners Invisible Glass. And I am very pleased with that product. In fact, I'll continue to use the spray can inside the car because it clings better than other products I've tried.
Smell: There is no ammonia in this product, and the smell is quite pleasant. Certainly no issue working with it in an enclosed car.
Usage: I used this on external glass surfaces, and on the inside windshield. The product is much like any basic glass cleaner. It's tinted blue. One thing I did notice is that the product "glides". Many glass cleaners seem to either have abrasives or chemicals in them that make a MF Towel grabby for lack of a better word. This glass cleaner did not do that. As advertised, there was zero streaking.
Result: fabulous. It's as good as Invisible Glass. Some people have streaking issues with IG, but I generally do not. In any event, this product didn't streak either and was very easy and pleasant to use. One caveat. My windshield is heavily sloped. And working inside is a bit tricky. I prefer the aerosol from IG for that work as it gives me plenty of working time before the product runs down to the bottom. Based on cost, the Surf City may be more pricey than Stoners.
Would I recommend it?: If Stoners isn't working well for you, I absolutely recommend the Surf City. If you are happy with Stoners keep using it. I didn't NEED a new glass cleaner, but I wanted to get my Surf City order over $50 for the free shipping, and this was a nice way to do it. I'd happily order it again, though in the more economical size.
I would like to say that I am sad that AutoGeek has discontinued their relationship with Surf City. Whatever the reasons may be, they produce a line of absolutely wonderful products that I certainly have enjoyed using and will continue to use. I will also say that the packing methodology from Surf City was a welcome surprise. They use all recycled packing materials, and each item was sealed in plastic. I think I remember there being some issue with their bottles breaking during shipping and perhaps AG was having an issue with breakage and returns. If so, I can understand the issue. But I will continue to support SCG as long as they continue to produce pro level product like this that meet the claims on the bottles.
Thanks for reading.