Exasperated with misinformation in other forums

[Teak]

Originally posted by Pete-FWA
Tilex?

Thing is, it probably CAN get out some nasty stains (albeit, leaving worse problems behind.) Yes, many supposed detailers can find some wacky methods to getting the job done. Often times, it looks better than it did before, so they claim success.

Success or instant gratification is exactly what people want. About leather cleaning, I have read on other message board about using pumice orange hand cleaners for leather and other have used this method. People need to learn how to be patient and remember the dirt was put on over time in gentle layers and needs to come off the same way.


Eric

[Teak]

With people using household cleaners on their vehicles, these cleaners when rinsed end up in are sewers and waterways, which leads to environmental laws.

Eric

[Murr1525]

Speaking of Simple Green.. Since i use it some in the wheelwells... I was not aware it is bad for aluminum. Should I be worried about getting it on wheel, exhaust, or is this pitting only after it sits too long?

I was plannigh to try the APC, but wanted to finish using the Simple Green Bottle up first...

[Shiny Lil Detlr]

Originally posted by Murr1525
Speaking of Simple Green.. Since i use it some in the wheelwells... I was not aware it is bad for aluminum. Should I be worried about getting it on wheel, exhaust, or is this pitting only after it sits too long?

I was plannigh to try the APC, but wanted to finish using the Simple Green Bottle up first...

Yeah it'll be fine if you aren't letting it dwell for long; though I recommend wetting down all surrounding surfaces of engine/exhaust/suspension before you spray on the SG, that will partially dilute it on contact. Needless to say, you REALLY want to avoid brake rotors/drums and pads.

As far as wheels, I usually try to clean the wheel/tire first, and then drape an old towel and/or a black plastic garbage bag over it to avoid any cleaners going where I don't want them.

[Murr1525]

Is the APC safer, less to worry about? Brake parts still need avoided either way?

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by Murr1525
Is the APC safer, less to worry about? Brake parts still need avoided either way?

The safest approach to cleaning wheels without the fear of damaging any surrounding component or coating is to use M36 Wheel Cleaner.

[Murr1525]

Well, I have been using a wheel cleaner on wheels. It is more oversypray and drips when cleaning wheelwells, underbody, exhaust/mufflers, etc that I was worried about.

[Mosca]

Originally posted by Mike Phillips
The safest approach to cleaning wheels without the fear of damaging any surrounding component or coating is to use M36 Wheel Cleaner.

LOL, see? If I wrote that in that forum, I'd get jumped on! I got jumped on for suggesting a dedicated vinyl cleaner for the top and a dedicated engine cleaner for the engine. I didn't name brands, just categories of products! But it makes all the sense in the world to use the products designed for the job, and no sense at all to substitute something else!

I picked up a couple bottles of #36 during the Katrina Relief sale, btw. A little bit mild, but OK for wheels that aren't too bad.


Tom

[Shiny Lil Detlr]

Originally posted by Mosca
LOL, see? If I wrote that in that forum, I'd get jumped on! I got jumped on for suggesting a dedicated vinyl cleaner for the top and a dedicated engine cleaner for the engine. I didn't name brands, just categories of products! But it makes all the sense in the world to use the products designed for the job, and no sense at all to substitute something else!

I picked up a couple bottles of #36 during the Katrina Relief sale, btw. A little bit mild, but OK for wheels that aren't too bad.


Tom

Agreed. Personally I prefer the Gold Class and/or Hot Rims, since both (to me) seem stronger than M36.... maybe I'm just working to rinse the M36 off faster than I should be (needs more dwell time) but I'm always leary of wheel cleaners after I had some Eagle One A2Z eat a customer's wheel clearcoat. From then on, I always spray it on, scrub at it quick, and rinse it off.... repeated if necessary.

And to clarify about my post from before, yeah I was talking about specifically the overspray from degreasing the "other" areas, namely wheel wells and undercarriage. It's never a good thing to break out an APC on wheels unless it's a last-ditch effort before getting some wheel acid. That is, unless the APC is VERY well diluted.

[Pete-FWA]

With any of the wheel cleaners you mentioned, does anyone use a pressure washer or do you always brush by hand?

[Shiny Lil Detlr]

Originally posted by Pete-FWA
With any of the wheel cleaners you mentioned, does anyone use a pressure washer or do you always brush by hand?

Pressure washer as OPPOSED to hand brushing? I don't think you can make that swap, frankly. When it comes to wheels and tires, there is NO replacement for scrubbing by hand. All the pressure washer is doing is blasting the rinse water (and thus the dirt in crevices) away faster. To do a quality job you'll still want to hand brush.

For me, the process is usually to spray it on and let it dwell for about 30 seconds, then go at it with the wheel brush, tire brush, and a toothbrush into any hard-to-get areas. Then follow that with the pressure washer to remove the cleaner and dirt residues.

[Pete-FWA]

"All the pressure washer is doing is blasting the rinse water (and thus the dirt in crevices) away faster. To do a quality job you'll still want to hand brush."

This is incorrect. A pressure washer agitates the cleaner and actually removes the dirt. Given the right pressure AND volume, coupled with the correct chemicals, a pressure washer can do wonders.

While a pressure washer doesn't replace ALL hand scrubbing, it certainly DOES make it far easier. Specifically, with wheels and tires, it definitely can remove all the hand scrubbing. In worst case, it makes things far easier to do by hand by removing the bulk of the work.

[Don]

Since water is incompressible, under pressure, it has many properties of a solid. In the case of tires (rubber) high-pressure water acts almost like a single bristled, perfectly contoured brush. Spraying on the cleaner & allowing it to dwell a few seconds/a minute, then hitting with H/P water cleans nearly as well as several intense hand-scrubbings WITHOUT the scuffs that a brush leaves. Follow this with a second application of cleaner then a rubbing with a coarse towel then rinse and you have perfectly clean tires ready for dressing.

The beauty of a pressure washer is that the water contours itself to the surface being washed, it is far less likely to scratch than any "contact" cleaning method and it can reach areas that you cannot physically reach (trim seams, body seams etc). Like the pic of my spoiler below, a pressure washer can get most of the gunk out from underneath the spoiler without me having to physically remove it from the car.

[rusty bumper]

Talk about misinformation!

Read what some of these guys use on their paint.

[gb387]

Originally posted by Rusty Bumper
Talk about misinformation!

Read what some of these guys use on their paint.

From RB's link:

"...Maybe once a year on an older car I will wash the car using a little Bon Ami cleanser (cheap mild abrasive) to cut through the oxidation and shine it up a little...."

cheap mild abrasive? not on a vehicles finish! Might as well rub some gravel all over the paint, its free!