Noob question about using cleaners..

[Clutch34]

Since cleaners remove paint, technically isn't it bad to use cleaners a lot since eventually you'll remove the paint all the way? Just something I was thinkin about earlier today as I prepare for my first detail in a few days.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Noob question about using cleaners..

Most paint cleaners, like A12 Cleaner Wax for example, have REALLY mild cleaners in them. The amount of paint you would remove in an application would be so small you couldn't even measure it.

Using a cleaner wax to maintain a finish is a safe practice that some users have been doing for decades on the same paint without issue.

Now, when you get into dedicated polishes and compounds you are removing more paint, so you want to use that less often.

[Murr1525]

Re: Noob question about using cleaners..

Now, when you get into dedicated polishes and compounds you are removing more paint, so you want to use that less often.

I think Mark meant to say strong cleaner/polishes and compounds. Also how the products is applied changes things.

Even applying a strong product gently by hand makes it milder, as opposed to a rotary buffer with a wool pad, which can make anything very strong.

So yeah, mild products by hand can be used over and over as much as you like.

If you find that you need to be using stronger products by hand or machine often, because scratches/swirls are showing up, it is a good idea to try to find the reason for the swirls, and prevent them in the future.

[Clutch34]

Re: Noob question about using cleaners..

How can you tell if it's a mild or strong cleaner? Will it say so on the bottle? I've seen the abrasive chart already for Meg products, but what about non-Meg and new products?

Also, is "cleaner" another name for a polish or compound? I get confused about that sometimes...

Even applying a strong product gently by hand makes it milder, as opposed to a rotary buffer with a wool pad, which can make anything very strong.

I plan on getting a DA sometime within the next few months, will using that also mess up the paint if done incorrectly? I think I've read on this forum that they're easy to use for new detailers and pretty fool proof.

[Murr1525]

Re: Noob question about using cleaners..

As far as being able to tell.... sometimes it is best to ask here. The Meguiars Pro Line products do have a chart on the bottles, but the Consumer and Detailer Line products do not.

Different companies use different terminology, so that also makes it tough. For Meguiars, a cleaner is something that removes dirt from the paint, and if strong enough, swirls and scratches, etc. A polish is something that adds oils to the paint. Something with the word compound will pretty aggressive.

It is hard to mess up paint with the DA. As someone noted a few days ago, it can happen, but it is very very rare and takes some pretty unique circumstances. Using it on good paint, with proper products, and moving it as you are supposed to is pretty fool proof.

[Clutch34]

Re: Noob question about using cleaners..

Gotcha, makes sense. Hence the reason cleaners need to be scrubbed in while polishes are just applied and removed. Good stuff, thanks Murr!

Ok, last question...since cleaners remove dirt, and sometimes swirls/scratches, and a wax protects everything underneath it, a cleaner/wax is basically an all-in-one sorta deal, right? It'll clean the paint and protect it all together in one step. I'm guessing it also has some polishing capabilities as well. And I'd have to leave the cleaner/wax on until it hazes over so that I get the protection part of it. (sorry, most of this is me talkin to myself as it makes sense to me.. lol)

Ok, I think I'm ready to do my detail!! I'm plannin for Tuesday evening!

[Murr1525]

Re: Noob question about using cleaners..

Not sure scrubbed is the right term, but something like that.

Yeah, thats how you would use the cleaner/wax.

[Clutch34]

Re: Noob question about using cleaners..

Well, applied with "passion" -- not simply "wax on, wax off" per se