Car cleaning 101 and Tips please! - Altima Forums.net - The Nissan Altima Enthusiast Talk and Discussion Forums

guitarchordz · 05-30-2011

Hi all!
I bought a brand new 2011 Altima!
I love it so far.

I have never really cleaned cars and I would appreciate it if you guys could please post some suggestions and tips.

Basically, what I'm looking for is to clean my car may be once every 2 weeks or so...just to get the bugs off the front bumper...a little dirt spots from the sides...also yesterday I found a bird decided to send its blessings on my car's hood! LoL.

So if you could suggest:

1. What solution/liquid you use for general cleaning of your car
2. What material/cloth/microfiber?
3. Anything seperate for the windows/windshield? Windex?
4. Also for the tires?

I have absolutely no ides what to use.

Thanks all!
J.

gameguru1360 · 05-31-2011

well I usually just wash my 09 2.5, but have been meaning to try doing the clay bar at least once in my lifetime! It's a very slow and painstaking process, but it picks up dirt that you probably didn't see with your naked eye. It's recommended that you do that before you wax. Since having a metallic silver altima, I don't really have to wash it every week since it hides dirt easier than darker finishes.

I usually use the turtle wax car wash mix, but for the clay bar, I think Mothers or Meguiars is the best clay bar brands. For the windows, I use windex to clean them, but Rain-X afterwards to put a light layer to make it easier to clean later and to repel rain and dirt. I put Rain-X on all my windows, headlights, tail lights and mirrors. Since your car is new, I would suggest putting like 2 coats of Rain-X on the windshield...then later you only need to put on 1 layer like twice a month.

For my tires, I usually use the turtle wax gel...I find the gel lasts longer than the Black Magic Spray or any of the sprays.

Also it might be good to get that Rain-X windshield washer additive in addition to using windshield washer fluid. It works great if you just use water because it compliments the Rain-X that you usually apply to the windshield. Normally you would want to use that washer additive during the summer months.

Welcome to the altima forums by the way!!

MrHiggles · 05-31-2011

I use Turtle wax Ice car wash, a fleece washing mit and a large microfriber drying towel. I can dry the WHOLE car with it and I think it works better than a chamois. IMO anyway. Its cheaper too. I also used a clay bar on the car and like Guru said...its VERY LONG and annoying as well but it gets the car glass smooth. I polish my car with meguiars ultimate polish and finish the job with his paste wax. I clean the tires with Mothers Wheel and Tire cleaner and that stuff isnt cheap. I also scrub the tires down to remove the old tire shine.

DJ · 05-31-2011

Welcome to AF, J! I moved your thread to Detailing 101 for reference.

**superbad** · 05-31-2011

I use mothers or mequires products. They work well for me. I wash, clay bar, and wax my car. I would definitely recommend clay bar because it gets all the dirt you can't see off your car and it's easy to do just a little time consuming. I only use microfiber towels too
I use windex for windows bur I heard stoner makes a great glass cleaner.

Mahendra Sukharan · 05-31-2011

To clean the interior, I would recommend using Turtle Wax brand appose toArmor All protection wipes, the Armor All wipes leaves everything super shiny, it leaves streaks and doesn't come off very well, and the worst part it dries the interior after awhile leaving cracks on the dash.

**mikejamesbyma** · 05-31-2011

I use amorall in the interior of my Altima all the time. The hard plastic will not dry out. If it was a soft material I would use something else for sure.

My routine is very simple - dump some wash in wax in a bucket and wash with a wash mitt, then dry with a chamois. That's it for me. I don't really have the patience for a clay bar or anything like that, plus silver doesn't stand out that well with those products anyway.

dvs1270 · 10-06-2011

interior- no streak window cleaner, meguiar's interior dressing (low gloss, greaseless). air spenser for the smell.

tires- shieldco tire dressing, professional grade, i get it from the bodyshop by the gallon. i use an eagle 1 tire sponge & never spray on the tires.
wheels- whatever i wash the car with. i use my retired mit for them.

paint- presta chroma 1500 when i need to get out scratches etc. meguiar's gold class, or plum crazy for polishing. (all with a high rpm buffer) meguiar's clay bar & quik wax for spot jobs. turtle wax adhesive remover for gunk.

headlights- meguiar's plastx for haze, quik wax to polish. (sanded with 2000grit 1st cleaning)

washing- megiuar's car wash or shieldco when i can get it. mit or micro-sponge. i dry with an absorber (10yrs. old & still good). good wash & wax a must, i hate waxing.

sounds like a lot, but i never spend more than 1/2hr washing a car. waxing & polishing is far between. i have gotten a nice gloss on the silver, in direct sunlight the micro-flakes in the paint can be blinding.

nighthawks24 · 10-06-2011

It really depends on where you live, 4 seasons, or warm all the time. With that said, Take your car to your nearest Cloth Only car wash and get the basic wash. You really only need this 1 time a month. Maybe more if they use allot of salt to clean your roads in winter. Then take it to a nice spot, dry it with Micro-fiber cloths only. Wring them out, and spray Lucas Quick Mist on a damp cloth. Go from the top to Bottom of car. Doing about 1 quarter of the car at a time and Wipe/Shine it with a dry Micro. Done. The Nice thing about this product is that cars have Glass, Plastic, Rubber, Paint.... and this polishes and UV protects them all Without Build-up or streaks. You can use it direct sun, you can use it in between cleanings. On a lightly dirty Dry Car. Inside and out. Tires I use McGuire's Tire Gel or Armor All Tire Gel they have a sponge applicator and it goes exactly where you want it.Lucas Quick Mist might have a You-Tube Video on "How-To"

bigaudiofana · 10-06-2011

If you want to get serious about keeping your car clean and free of swirl marks. I recommend looking over junkmans videos over at Adams polishes. They are FILLED with knowledge. I have been detailing for about 5 years now and they even helped me.

Adams or griot's are the two high end products I would recommend.

If you just want to keep it nice and do not care about swirls here are a few tips to keep in mind.

Microfiber towels from walmart or any auto part store are junk and should be used for your wheels or for checking your oil. Real MF towels do not have tags sown into them.

Use a wash and a rinse bucket with a good quality wash mit.

Stay away from any car wash that touches your car. Even if it is cloth think of it this way. The guy before you brings in a muddy truck. All that grit is not going to act like sand paper on your car. If you have to use a car wash us a touch less carwash with nothing touching your car not even to dry.

Here are the videos.

http://www.adamsforums.com/forums/ju...orner/5656.htm

And another set

http://www.adamspolishes.com/t-videos.aspx

If you need any help I would be happy to lend a hand with my advice.

Berg · 10-06-2011

clay bar doesn't take that long.i did my wife's car in 45 minutes.it looks brand new and paint is oh so soft feeling.

bigaudiofana · 10-06-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Berg

clay bar doesn't take that long.i did my wife's car in 45 minutes.it looks brand new and paint is oh so soft feeling.

Actually if done right and depending on how bad the condition of the paint. It can take up to 2 hours.

Make sure to put a layer of at least wax after your done with the clay. I recommend a sealer than polish than wax for max protection.

**Unclear_Motives** · 10-07-2011

I stick to Chemical Guys for my car care. They sell remarkable quality products, and actually supply detailers across the country.

Until maybe 6 months ago...I really didnt have a clue myself, but I'm learning a bit as I work on keepin my car in good shape.

**Unclear_Motives** · 10-07-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by nighthawks24

...spray Lucas Quick Mist on a damp cloth. Go from the top to Bottom of car. Doing about 1 quarter of the car at a time and Wipe/Shine it with a dry Micro. Done. The Nice thing about this product is that cars have Glass, Plastic, Rubber, Paint.... and this polishes and UV protects them all Without Build-up or streaks. You can use it direct sun, you can use it in between cleanings. On a lightly dirty Dry Car. Inside and out...

This sounds so good...but IDK man, I have NEVER really learned to trust any "all-in-one" products. They somehow fall short in some areas...usually.

I will admit tho, that I've never tried this Lucas product.

On my glass I use Stoner's Invisible Glass with microfiber cloth.

mrofrancis · 10-09-2011

try zaino car products my friends runs a deataling company and thats what he uses