DIY: Mothers Clay Bar System...

[speedminded]

Speedminded, what products do you use to detail your car? You seem like you know what you're doing.

I've been happy with a Mother's claybar, Meg's #7 show car polish, Megs NXT wax, and Meg's NXT spray detailer afterwards (and as claybar lube). I'm planning on picking up either a Zaino or Zymol kit this summer.

I used to use a POS turtle wax buffer for applying wax but it crapped out on me a couple months back after 6 years of use. I'm just going to do everything by hand until I can afford a Porter Cable. I did everything else by hand but the machine was nice for quickly and evenly applying wax, I always buffed it off by hand.

A little bit of everything, for those distant relatives I rarely get christmas gifts for but they insist on sending something I just tell them anything from a parts store that says Mequiars on it It's a pretty safe bet i'll get something decent if i tell them it HAS to say Mequiars, otherwise it would prolly be windshield vinyl and LED washer squirters ...each time I normally get enough random detail stuff to last me throughout the year

Cleaner Wax I use Zymol...seems go on and off the easiest plus it smells good and attracts all sorts of insects you never knew existed, lol.

For vinyl/rubber/interior I prefer Mothers, it seems to be alot less "oily/greasy" then Mequiars....I can't stand the just detailed look, like when you can see your reflection in the tires. I'll wipe it on, let it soak, then go back over it with a dried out armoral wipe to take out the lustre (sp?)

Zymol leather conditioner for the seats, a cream colored cream in a clear bottle, by far the best i've found, keeps the seats incredibly soft and supple...i use it on my leather shoes and boots too

Sometimes you can hit up a Big Lots for Zymol car wash, it's normally like $15 for a small bottle but you can find it there for like $5-10 a GALLON, lol!. Big Lots used to carry all sorts of big name cleaners, it's hit or miss now...just depends on what deals they happen to find.

Dollar General seems to have the best deal on degreasers, $1.00 bottles for relatively strong stuff...you can't even find empty spray bottles for a buck anymore. They also have an industrial strength glass cleaner, it's basically a ammonia glass cleaner and simple green solution pre-mixed...does wonders for painted surfaces under the hood and won't take the shine out of the paint.

As for the windows, I stripped my tint so ammonia isn't an issue, but never use ammoniated glass cleaner on tint...unless you like the purple window look. Stoner products Invisible glass is by far the best i've found, they have tons of other products I haven't had the privilage to use too...

http://www.stonersolutions.com/




*EDIT*
I've been watching eBay for the best deal on bulk microfiber cloths, the best so far is 20 - 16" x 16" for $10 + $10 S/H, so $1 each shipped. Most Parts stores are $6.99-9.99 for 3 or 4. I'm just waiting for like a box of 50 to pop up I always keep a couple with my camera equipment and laptop to wipe them down before putting up then a couple in the kitchen and bathroom. I'll wash and reuse them for there but not on cars