Common/crazy misunderstandings with Detailing products...

[gb387]

Just from talking with people at work and just about everywhere, as many of you know if you keep your vehicle looking good your get questions...

I have noticed that many people use a "quik wax" (all brands) like a regular wax... I have heard many times over "I use it twice a year and once I am done it looks great!" Kind of makes me cringe, its not adding the protection of a "normal" wax is it?

Another one I have heard twice now... I use/going to use PlastX on my painted plastic bumpers?!?! The bottle says Clear plastic.

Its amazing how many people use the As Seen on TV type products, sure there are many good products out there but I get a little sceptical when some say you can use it on your pots and pans, the kitchen sinks, cars, trucks, bath tubs, lawn furniture and will protect from fire, harsh acids, screaming children... you get the point. Yes we have found many uses for Meguiars products other then their intended uses but Meguiars doesn't need to advertise that as they are a car care products company (for the most part).

Anyone else see/hear things that make you go hummmmm....

[Blr123]

Yeah a very common one is "I use washing up liquid" as opposed to a car wash...............I recon even a cheepy car wash would be better than washing up liquid.............just an opinion

Bryan

[Shiny Lil Detlr]

The one I heard that baffles me the most is something I heard one of my relatives say:

"Yeah I just wash my whole car (C4 'vette) with windex... lots of vette guys do it that way since the car is made of fiberglass."

Moron, don't you know that there's regular automotive paint on top of that fiberglass?! And that windex is just for CLEAR glass?!

I feel extremely sorry for his poor car.

[gb387]

Originally posted by Shiny Lil Detlr
The one I heard that baffles me the most is something I heard one of my relatives say:

"Yeah I just wash my whole car (C4 'vette) with windex... lots of vette guys do it that way since the car is made of fiberglass."

Moron, don't you know that there's regular automotive paint on top of that fiberglass?! And that windex is just for CLEAR glass?!

I feel extremely sorry for his poor car.

wow.... that is not good, I guess they see fiberglass!?!? wonder what the car looks like.

I changed the tile of the post slightly... kind of fun hearing the crazy stuff people do!

[Michael Stoops]

I got bit by this detailing bug almost two years ago when I bought a new car. I've been washing/waxing my cars for 30 years, but for some reason with this one I decided to step things up a notch, and it's carried over to my other two cars.

So when a coworker told me I was nuts upon hearing that I'd spent a couple hundred dollars (or more) on detailing supplies, I invited him to the parking lot to look at our cars.

Here's what we came up with: He takes his black BMW 540i to the carwash every week, at a cost of around $12 plus a tip. I pointed out that in a span of 10 weeks he has spent $120, plus tips, or more likely $150. In 20 weeks, less than 6 months, he'll be $300 in. And what does he get for that $300? A quick vacuum, some of his brake dust removed, the dirt removed from his paint, his windows wiped down, then a little shiny stuff applied to most of each tire and a nice new set of swirls. What a deal.

Then I point out to him that for that same $300 I can keep 3 cars looking good for probably a couple of years. Plus, my brake dust is completely gone, the tires shine uniformly, the carpets are actually clean (not just lightly vacuumed), and my paint is nice and shiny and virtually swirl free (hey, it's a never ending battle!).

Looking at our cars side by side, he came to realize that I'm crazy all right - Car Crazy!! (and crazy like a fox too!)

[roushstage2]

Originally posted by Shiny Lil Detlr
The one I heard that baffles me the most is something I heard one of my relatives say:

"Yeah I just wash my whole car (C4 'vette) with windex... lots of vette guys do it that way since the car is made of fiberglass."

Moron, don't you know that there's regular automotive paint on top of that fiberglass?! And that windex is just for CLEAR glass?!

I feel extremely sorry for his poor car.

My friend cleaned his now totalled(sp?) motorcycle with windex. He got a brand new black one, and I got him stuck on Meguiars products. He waxes it all the time and carries Speed Detailer and a MF cloth around in his backpack while riding, "just in case."

[Aurora40]

Originally posted by Blr123
Yeah a very common one is "I use washing up liquid" as opposed to a car wash...............I recon even a cheepy car wash would be better than washing up liquid.............just an opinion

Bryan

Yeah, I don't get that either. Products like Tide or Dawn or other household cleaners are more expensive per use than a cheap car wash too. I mean you can buy some no-name car wash for probably $2 a gallon and I suspect it would be a lot better than using Tide on your car...


Also, are you guys saying I shouldn't wash my glass 'vette with Windex? The whole reason I bought it was for the "free" car washes with a gas station squeegee...

[Ranger72]

I know of someone that only washed his car with water and a rag!
He said, "I don't like to use soap, it strps the wax". I tried to explain but gave up shortly.

[Shiny Lil Detlr]

Originally posted by Aurora40
Also, are you guys saying I shouldn't wash my glass 'vette with Windex? The whole reason I bought it was for the "free" car washes with a gas station squeegee...

[Ranger72]

My favorite line.
First let me set the stage, someone is parking and bumps anothers car, there is a huge nasty scratch.
What is the first thing someone will say? "Oh, don't worry, that will compound right out".
The funny thing is most people that say it, have no idea the concept of what compound is, when to use it, and how to use it! lol