A few noob questions

[VaerO]

Hello,

Is someone kind enough to answer some noob questions i have?

1) Not sure what this part of the car is called, but the bottom of the front of my car (Bumper?) is made from white plastic. It has a lot of scratches, bumps and road tar marks on it. Does Mequiar's offer a product to make it like new again? Maybe PlastX? I've used Ultimate compound on it and that brought a lot of colour (White) back to it, but there is still the scratches and marks on it. The worse part is that the scratches are black so it sticks out like dog balls!

2) Is there any reason to use Ultimate quick detailer over Ultimate wash and wax?

3) Is there any point in claying a car if your just going to use Ultimate compound on it anyway?

4) Is Ultimate protectant safe to use on the rubber trim around my windows etc...? is there a product made just for rubber?

5) I clayed my windows... Is there any point to this? I thought it might get rid of those water spots, but it didn't. How can I get rid of them?

6) Does cleaning my windows using something such as Meguiar's perfect clarity glass cleaner, remove the rain-x I applied?

7) My car has plastic hub cabs, the front ones get covered in a lot of brake dust. Is hot rims brake dust barrier safe on plastic?

8) Is it safe to clean foam applicator pads and re use them?

9) How do grit guards work? How do they stop practicals from floating through them?

10) What is the difference between Ultimate black and Ultimate protectant?

11) Microfiber wash mitt vs lambs wool wash mitt? Which is better?

12) How does Quick out work? Do you put it on, let it dry, then vacuum it out?

13) Is Ultimate protectant safe to use on plastics in and around under the hood and engine?

14) Why has the Ultimate range not extended to the tire parts of the car?

15) Does my car benefit from putting more then one coat of wax on?

16) If I was to use Ultimate quick detailer once a week, when would I need to wash my car?

There is a lot of questions here, and if anyone would take time out of their life to answer them I would greatly appreciate it.

[Murr1525]

Re: A few noob questions

Is someone kind enough to answer some noob questions i have?

Ehh...

1) Not sure what this part of the car is called, but the bottom of the front of my car (Bumper?) is made from white plastic. It has a lot of scratches, bumps and road tar marks on it. Does Mequiar's offer a product to make it like new again? Maybe PlastX? I've used Ultimate compound on it and that brought a lot of colour (White) back to it, but there is still the scratches and marks on it. The worse part is that the scratches are black so it sticks out like dog balls!

Any chance of a pic?

2) Is there any reason to use Ultimate quick detailer over Ultimate wash and wax?

Well, couple different products here...

UQD is a spray and wipe product that is for light dust only.

UW&W is a regular car wash soap, meaning soapy water bucket, etc. It would be for regular-heavy dirt, dust, etc.

Ult. Wash and Wax Anywhere is a spray and wipe product for regular dirt, or places with water restrictions. Its not quite as safe as the regular car washing soaps, but better than nothing if that is your only option.

Also, Rinseless Wash is in the Pro Line, and is a similar type of product in bulk if you were going to be using a lot. Just no wax in it.

3) Is there any point in claying a car if your just going to use Ultimate compound on it anyway?

Yes, your pad will actually just bounce over grit that is bonded on well, or possibly grab and drag around grit that is looser.

4) Is Ultimate protectant safe to use on the rubber trim around my windows etc...? is there a product made just for rubber?

Yes, it is safe.

5) I clayed my windows... Is there any point to this? I thought it might get rid of those water spots, but it didn't. How can I get rid of them?

If there is gunk stuck to the windows, then claying can help. You can try some Ult. Compound with a smooth applicator on the spots next, if you already have it around.

6) Does cleaning my windows using something such as Meguiar's perfect clarity glass cleaner, remove the rain-x I applied?

It seems to when I do it.

7) My car has plastic hub cabs, the front ones get covered in a lot of brake dust. Is hot rims brake dust barrier safe on plastic?

Yes.

8) Is it safe to clean foam applicator pads and re use them?

Yes.

9) How do grit guards work? How do they stop practicals from floating through them?

Just gravity/density. The dirt sinks to the bottom, and the grid tries to keep it from getting stirred back up into the water. Seems to work.

10) What is the difference between Ultimate black and Ultimate protectant?

One is a spray, one is liquid.

11) Microfiber wash mitt vs lambs wool wash mitt? Which is better?

I like the MF ones. I tried a lambs wool mitt once, and just ended up finding more grit in the wool.

12) How does Quick out work? Do you put it on, let it dry, then vacuum it out?

Well, like any other carpet cleaner. Spray, agitate, rinse/vacuum.

13) Is Ultimate protectant safe to use on plastics in and around under the hood and engine?

Yeah... just let it dry before running the car.

14) Why has the Ultimate range not extended to the tire parts of the car?

Kind of expensive to rename/re-make every product... the ones with other names work just fine.

15) Does my car benefit from putting more then one coat of wax on?

2 coats just makes sure you didnt miss anywhere.

16) If I was to use Ultimate quick detailer once a week, when would I need to wash my car?

At least around here, I wouldnt want to use UQD after a week of dust/grime.

But if you were thinking of one of the rinseless wash type products mentioned above, then sure. That would count as washing the car... no need to use a hose if you didnt want to / cant.

[Blueline]

Re: A few noob questions

Murr1525 knows his stuff, and I would never question his knowledge. That said, I will offer my opinion on the Grit Guard. Useless, and a waste of time and money. It is not a magnet, and will not attract dirt. Dirt simply sinks to the bottom. If you use the two bucket method, and don't swirl your wash mitt around the bottom of the second bucket, you will not pick up any dirt. In my case, the second bucket is a high sided one, almost twice the height of my suds bucket. I never even get near the bottom where the dirt is. Frankly I am surprised these Grit Guards are not sold on late night TV for a buck. "BUT WAIT, order now and get the second one free".

[Michael Stoops]

Re: A few noob questions

Long before we offered the Grit Guard rebranded with our logo on it, we were huge supporters of it because it does indeed work. It's a simple little baffle that prevents motion in the water from churning up the dirt that collects at the bottom.

Blueline, if you choose not to use one, that's fine. But to call it "Useless, and a waste of time and money" and then throw in the uncalled for "late night TV" borders on bashing the product, and you know we don't allow that here.

[smack]

Re: A few noob questions

OP you just recieved pretty solid advice from two of the most knowledgeable people on here. You cant go wrong.

I personally love my Grit Guards and are indeed a great product. What would you do with a dirty wash mitt after you finishing swiping heavy dust/dirt from the side of the car? Answer: take the mitt and rub it against the Grit Guard in the bottom of the bucket to release the dirt from the mitt. Now you have a clean mitt to continue washing the car. Wash, rub, repeat.

[andytsang]

Re: A few noob questions

I also love the Grit Guards. I have one 5 gal bucket from Walmart somehow the Grit Guard fit only half of the way down. I found this arrangement better as rinse bucket. I can rub the mitt against the Grit Guard, as smack described, more easily. I use couple mitts to wash. After washing couple panels, I switch to another clean mitt. Hence the Grit Guard is a good place to put the mitts without touching the bottom of the bucket where the dirt are.

[Blueline]

Re: A few noob questions

Long before we offered the Grit Guard rebranded with our logo on it, we were huge supporters of it because it does indeed work. It's a simple little baffle that prevents motion in the water from churning up the dirt that collects at the bottom.

Blueline, if you choose not to use one, that's fine. But to call it "Useless, and a waste of time and money" and then throw in the uncalled for "late night TV" borders on bashing the product, and you know we don't allow that here.

It is called an opinion. Perhaps I should have put that in, and no one would have been offended. I stand by my "opinion" and where the product should be sold. Why do so many people have swirl and scratch free cars and have no need for a gizmo such as a guard at the bottom of their buckets? If a product cannot stand up to scrutiny and the manufacture steadfastly defends the product without even listening, as in Shakespeare's "me thinks thou protests to much", then I question the value added of such a product. This is all, of course, my opinion, which I thought was allowed on this site, and certainly is in this country.

[JET_Fusion]

Re: A few noob questions

I'm not a fan of the "lambs wool wash mitt" because it tends to stubbornly hold more of the small dirt particles than a microfiber mitt.

[VaerO]

Re: A few noob questions

Thanks Murr1525 for taking the time to answer my questions I'll take some pictures tomorrow after work. Also will using UQD on plastic trim that has been coated with UP remove it?

[Murr1525]

Re: A few noob questions

Ehh.. probably not... At least just misting a towel, and wiping over ... If you soaked it, then more likely to remove it.

[Selectchoice]

Re: A few noob questions

Murr1525 knows his stuff, and I would never question his knowledge. That said, I will offer my opinion on the Grit Guard. Useless, and a waste of time and money. It is not a magnet, and will not attract dirt. Dirt simply sinks to the bottom. If you use the two bucket method, and don't swirl your wash mitt around the bottom of the second bucket, you will not pick up any dirt. In my case, the second bucket is a high sided one, almost twice the height of my suds bucket. I never even get near the bottom where the dirt is. Frankly I am surprised these Grit Guards are not sold on late night TV for a buck. "BUT WAIT, order now and get the second one free".

Blueline, have you used a grit guard personally?

I find them particularly useful and use one in the rinse bucket and one in the wash bucket. Even before I had them I was never one to go anywhere near the bottom of either bucket with my wash mitt.

In my opinion, since using them I have found my black daily driver is benefitting. At the end of the wash there is a whole heap more dirt and grime under the grit guard in the bottom of the bucket than I used to find pre-grit guard, and the wash mitt itself is a whole lot cleaner. I don't think that can be a coincidence.

[Murr1525]

Re: A few noob questions

I think the point was you can get the same results without it if you are careful.

But I dont want to add more things to be careful about.

[ethereal45]

Re: A few noob questions

Even if you were highly skeptical that grit guards did anything, they are like $15 for two of them. Over the life of your car, that's extremely cheap insurance.

[VaerO]

Re: A few noob questions

So this is the front plastic bumper, As you can see the previous owner has some how scraped the white coating off. Is my only option to fix this repainting the area? cause it also looks like the previous owner has somewhat done that, and the results look pretty bad.

[Murr1525]

Re: A few noob questions

Yeah, the black is the plastic itself, so all you can do is get new paint over it.