Whats your technique for removing caked dirt on exterior cracks and crevices?

[808_detail_nut]

I'm starting this thread to see other ways you can do this as safe as possible. I been using my steam cleaner and it works well but very time consuming. If you got any techniques you use please feel free to share. I'm looking do ways to speed up the process of my details. Thanks.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[GSKR]

Everyone as there preference on tools and techniques,I would do without it and just clean everything quick the old fashion way elbow grease.

[BillE]

I've found that using 'pad conditioner' and Q-Tips work pretty well.

Takes time and patience, but it 'works for me'.

Bill

[DaHen]

Usually sneak in with a soft bristle toothbrush.

[jrs1418]

Not too long ago, out of the blue I decided to bust out my dusty bottle of Carpro Spotless and a brush to see if it worked on caked up deposits around trim and mouldings and sure enough it worked great! I applied it and allowed to dwell for a few mins, then agitated with a brush for a few mins while adding more as needed.

[RFrommann]

i recently did a white BMW 325I that had build up around the door mouldings. i used a MF towel and some cleaner wax.
applied cleaner wax to towel, rubbed in towel, folded towel and used the fold to get in the cracks.

took maybe 15-20 minutes to do top and bottom of mouldings, around the entire car.



another time i used 3D HD touch, on a towel the same way.

[caudleej]

I know this sounds like a harsh way to do it but this has worked for me. I detail several pickup trucks which tend to get much dirtier do to their nature and the larger tires the owners have on them and one owner lives down a dirt road but still likes his truck to be cleaned and taken care of regularly. I use a pressure washer and rinse the vehicle entirely and focus on wheel wells and the lower parts of the vehicle. I have a sediment filter equipped on the spigot I run the pressure washer to prevent any sediments from being blasted onto the vehicle. I then use a regular hose a two bucket method to wash the vehicle. Once I'm done a dry them down I use a slim soft bristled brush and IF I happen to see something in a door gap or in between a fender molding and the body and hit it with some quick detail spay and the brush and then wipe it dry and continue drying the vehicle. If I use the pressure washer I may only find 1-2 spots that need the brush and QD treatment.

[OnSite Details]

What type of steamer do you use? I live by my steamer and a toothbrush, it blasts away basically anything in any crevice extremely quick.

[litespeed77]

My method is not safe but it is quick. I spray degreaser and then use the pressure washer.

We get several vehicles in a week and some are very, very dirty. I spray degreaser on the engine, tires, inside door jams, the edges of the trunk, and around the gas tank cap. Then I close the doors and pressure wash everything, closing the doors first. I then open up the doors and pressure wash the jams and all around the door. You can get pretty good at directing the water away from the interior. But, if the interior gets wet, it is an easy wipe down. I'll clean the interior soon after anyways.

The degreaser/pressure wash takes me less than 10 minutes. I'm amazed how well and fast this works.

[808_detail_nut]

Not too long ago, out of the blue I decided to bust out my dusty bottle of Carpro Spotless and a brush to see if it worked on caked up deposits around trim and mouldings and sure enough it worked great! I applied it and allowed to dwell for a few mins, then agitated with a brush for a few mins while adding more as needed.


Thanks buddy, yes I do know that hydrogen fluoride based acid cleaners (waterspot removers) work really well but I was wondering if there were other ways. Around caked on emblems like this it's almost a necessity.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160126/cfef708d9d562edebe64b98049f6f2ba.jpg

I know you know what I used but since it's not sold on AG I'll not say it.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[808_detail_nut]

What type of steamer do you use? I live by my steamer and a toothbrush, it blasts away basically anything in any crevice extremely quick.


I have a dupray super inox


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[jrs1418]

Thanks buddy, yes I do know that hydrogen fluoride based acid cleaners (waterspot removers) work really well but I was wondering if there were other ways. Around caked on emblems like this it's almost a necessity.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160126/cfef708d9d562edebe64b98049f6f2ba.jpg

I know you know what I used but since it's not sold on AG I'll not say it.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Came out awesome!

[lawrenceSA]

A dirty emblem like this
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Dave%20BMW%20X3/IMG_1397_zpsn4snhpkr.jpg

will have some of the gunk removed during the wash and decon steps

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Dave%20BMW%20X3/IMG_1409_zpso7hfmqim.jpg

But invariably you will still be left with some embedded dirt like this

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Dave%20BMW%20X3/IMG_1432_zpssxchhhdb.jpg

I then typically liberally apply Autofinesse Tripple on a Q-tip, allow it to dwell a bit (but not dry), then agitate with the Q-tip and remove excess with a MF towel.

Leaving you with this

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Dave%20BMW%20X3/IMG_1434_zpsnoe8tel6.jpg

Taken from this write up http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/95496-titanium-silver-bmw-x3-detailed-lawrence.html

Hope this helps

[WAXOFF]

i use my Tornador around model name emblems and every other crack i cant get to with a detail brush and then blow out with compressed air.