Nth Degree
06-09-2014, 11:41 PM
A couple of days ago one of my customers contacted me in a bit of a panic. In an attempt to remove the bugs from the front of his Lexus he sprayed it with Stoner Tarminator. While Tarminator is an effective bug remover it turned out to be too strong for the plastic lenses of the headlights and turned them a chalky white. The car also has a clear bra that he was lucky was not also adversely affected.
He told me he decided to use Tarminator (despite having Poorboy's Bug Squash at his disposal) based upon some good reviews he had read about it online.
Several valuable lessons can be learned from this that everyone here should keep in mind:
1. Carefully consider the source of any advice you receive. There are many great detailers here who offer great advice. There are also a lot of enthusiasts who offer suggestions based upon their experience but don't really understand the risks of certain methods or products. There is a lot, I repeat, A LOT of bad advice floating around on other, non-detailing car sites. Oven cleaner for cleaning wheels is just one example. Sure it cleans the wheel but it's not a matter of if, but when it will cause irreparable damage.
2. Always use a product specifically designated for the task. Oven cleaner is for ovens. Pledge is for furniture. Whatever you need to accomplish on your vehicle, there is a product for it. Windex is a perfect example. There is a reason there are automotive glass cleaners. Ammonia based cleaners can damage interior plastics. Automotive glass cleaners are designed to be safe for tinted windows and most plastics. There are exceptions to this but, unless you understand what the product is made of and how it works, it is best to consult a professional. They may tell you to go ahead. They may say "Stop! Set it down and back away from the vehicle." Or they may suggest a better product for the task.
3. Always start with the least aggressive method and allow the product time to do its job. Step up only when necessary. Sometimes a second application of the milder method is better than going more aggressive. Testing in a small, inconspicuous area is also wise. If you are going to have to fix a problem caused it is better to do it on a small scale than to have to fix the whole car.
4. Read the directions... and follow them. Particularly the warnings. One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is using too high of a concentration of chemicals. If your car wash soap says 1 oz./gal of water don't think that 2 oz./gal will be better. Allowing products to dry on the paint is also a problem as the chemical becomes more concentrated as the water evaporates. If a product says not to use in direct sun or on a hot surface you best follow that advice. My customer admitted that, after discovering the issue with his headlights, he decided to read the label. Sure enough, it warns that it can damage some plastics.
5. When in doubt consult a professional. Forums are great but there are also many groups on Facebook where many great detailers are at your disposal and questions are often answered much quicker. I highly recommend looking into the group "Detailing for Dummies (https://www.facebook.com/groups/206537342838215/)" and "Ask a Detailer (https://www.facebook.com/groups/413322145433226/)" Despite the name of the former it is not just for dummies. Some of the best in the business answer technical questions daily.
You might be thinking "Yeah. I already knew all this." Well, so does my customer but he had a momentary lapse of reason and wanted to take a shortcut. In doing so he cost himself more time and money than if he had just done it the safe way.
I read a lot of posts of people are asking about ill-advised products or giving poor advice. I encourage everyone to add their anecdotes to reinforce this concept so that anyone reading can learn from the mistakes of others.
He told me he decided to use Tarminator (despite having Poorboy's Bug Squash at his disposal) based upon some good reviews he had read about it online.
Several valuable lessons can be learned from this that everyone here should keep in mind:
1. Carefully consider the source of any advice you receive. There are many great detailers here who offer great advice. There are also a lot of enthusiasts who offer suggestions based upon their experience but don't really understand the risks of certain methods or products. There is a lot, I repeat, A LOT of bad advice floating around on other, non-detailing car sites. Oven cleaner for cleaning wheels is just one example. Sure it cleans the wheel but it's not a matter of if, but when it will cause irreparable damage.
2. Always use a product specifically designated for the task. Oven cleaner is for ovens. Pledge is for furniture. Whatever you need to accomplish on your vehicle, there is a product for it. Windex is a perfect example. There is a reason there are automotive glass cleaners. Ammonia based cleaners can damage interior plastics. Automotive glass cleaners are designed to be safe for tinted windows and most plastics. There are exceptions to this but, unless you understand what the product is made of and how it works, it is best to consult a professional. They may tell you to go ahead. They may say "Stop! Set it down and back away from the vehicle." Or they may suggest a better product for the task.
3. Always start with the least aggressive method and allow the product time to do its job. Step up only when necessary. Sometimes a second application of the milder method is better than going more aggressive. Testing in a small, inconspicuous area is also wise. If you are going to have to fix a problem caused it is better to do it on a small scale than to have to fix the whole car.
4. Read the directions... and follow them. Particularly the warnings. One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is using too high of a concentration of chemicals. If your car wash soap says 1 oz./gal of water don't think that 2 oz./gal will be better. Allowing products to dry on the paint is also a problem as the chemical becomes more concentrated as the water evaporates. If a product says not to use in direct sun or on a hot surface you best follow that advice. My customer admitted that, after discovering the issue with his headlights, he decided to read the label. Sure enough, it warns that it can damage some plastics.
5. When in doubt consult a professional. Forums are great but there are also many groups on Facebook where many great detailers are at your disposal and questions are often answered much quicker. I highly recommend looking into the group "Detailing for Dummies (https://www.facebook.com/groups/206537342838215/)" and "Ask a Detailer (https://www.facebook.com/groups/413322145433226/)" Despite the name of the former it is not just for dummies. Some of the best in the business answer technical questions daily.
You might be thinking "Yeah. I already knew all this." Well, so does my customer but he had a momentary lapse of reason and wanted to take a shortcut. In doing so he cost himself more time and money than if he had just done it the safe way.
I read a lot of posts of people are asking about ill-advised products or giving poor advice. I encourage everyone to add their anecdotes to reinforce this concept so that anyone reading can learn from the mistakes of others.