Sorry to hear about the pads breaking down. I'm guessing since you are going through multiple pads with multiple different colors is that you are building up too much heat somewhere in the process. It could be too much pressure on the buffer or another part of the process. The new Meguiar's DA Microfiber Cutting Disc Buffing Pad - 2 pack and the finishing discs are very durable. I know some pros that have been using the same exact pads for months. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Greg @ DI

The 303 Cleaner & Spot Remover is my favorite cleaning product for any kind of fabric. Mist it on the carpets, spray stains directly and wait one minute. Get a tray of warm/hot water, dip your brush in the water and agitate those areas working the brush in different directions.

This product can also be used to clean the vinyl, dashboard, doors, console, trim, etc. I personally use it all over the interior and around my home. If you want the best value possible you can get the same cleaning formula in the concentrated form here - 303 Fabric & Vinyl Cleaner. I dilute it roughly 8:1 (water to cleaner) and again use it all over the interior.

Greg @ DI

What would you recommend I do for a car I just purchased? I was thinking wash, clay bar (bought a Meguiar's kit), wax (with Meguiar's Gold Class). Are there any important steps I am missing? I would love to buy top dollar products, but being a student I can't go extreme with my purchases. Thanks in advance for the help!

Adam

George

Well, I'm kinda stuck parking in an unpaved parking lot at work for about the next three years. I end up with a fine layer of dust that gets thicker and thicker each day.

I've considering doing a california duster to clean the car off after I get home each day, but am wondering if just leaving the dust on there until proper cleaning on the weekends would be better.

I currently use ONR on the weekends, and full detail (clay, polish, seal, wax) every 3-4 months.

Would a pre wax glaze have any effect of swirls? I haven't waxed my car yet ( havent had it in 6 weeks) but i plan on it this week...should i see if the glaze has an effect on the swirls before i buy a swirl remover?

It might cover up some of the very minor swirls for a short period, but besides that it won't do much.



This depends entirely on your point of view. It would probably help if you took some pictures of the car including some close ups to show what condition the paint might be in. The majority of the people out there have no idea how to properly care for a car so I'm guessing that the paint probably needs work. Clay bar from Meg's kit with wax will not do much. The clay will help take out the contaminants and make your paint super smooth if you do it right, but at the same time it might cause more swirls. Meguiar's Gold Class wax will NOT cover swirls. It'll make your paint look nicer and more reflective, but it won't cover any defects.

If you really want to correct your paint and make it look nice then you'd have to do some polishing. Polishing = money. You can spend like maybe around $200 for the basic stuff to do it yourself which should take like 12-16 hours.. orrr you can have a professional or someone else that's reputable enough to do it for you for $250-$500.

Nvm I found the answer lol

Just bought a ton more stuff hah.

Ill see if the glaze does anything when i wax it this week

What buffer do you recommend?

Adam,

I don't often use products that are available at local car parts stores so I apologize this list if formed from my experiences. However you may be able to find similar types of products for each area/category I reference.

Exterior Protection
Wash - Most swirls come from the washing and drying process so make sure you use good technique (see our detailing guide) and use quality products. If you need to upgrade your materials check out these three package deals:
DI Packages Foamaster II Advanced Kit
DI Packages Washing and Drying Advanced Kit
DI Packages Washing and Drying Starter Package

Sealant - Protecting the exterior right away will preserve the paint and make future cleanings easier. I highly recommend the Blackfire Wet Diamond w/polycharger because it looks amazing, applies with ease and protects for months (4-6). I also use it on the headlights, exterior glass and wheels for added protection. You only need about 1 oz per coat for a medium size car so apply it nice and thin for best results. Blackfire Wet Diamond with Polycharger)

Full Detail
I generally just wash and protect my car throughout the year as desired. At a minimum do this every 3 - 4 months and the paint will look very good. If you want the paint to look exceptional try adding in a full detail 1 - 2 times per year. For the full detail I'd wash, dry, clay bar, polish, sealant, wax (optional)
- Wash and Dry (see above)
- Clay bar and clay lube (DI Packages DI Gentle Fine Grade Clay Bar 100g & Clay Lube)
- Polish (Meguiar's Ultra Finishing Polish M205)
- Sealant (Blackfire Wet Diamond with Polycharger)
- Wax - sealants provide more than enough protection but if you'd like more protection and shine I'd suggest the Chemical Guys 50/50 Limited Series Concourse Paste Wax or you can use the Poorboy's World Liquid Natty's Blue Wax

Microfiber
Microfiber is paint safe and highly effective at removing the left over clay lube, polish, sealant, wax, etc. For this process I would suggest getting 5x - 10x of the DI Microfiber All Purpose Towel. These towels are also great for interior cleanings, apply protection, leather care, glass care and so much more!

Interior Protection
303 Aerospace Protectant protects just about the whole interior (vinyl, plastic, rubber, leather). It blocks out UV rays and preserves the finish so apply it to the dashboard, doors, console, arm rests, exterior trim, rubber moldings, etc. etc. Protecting the carpets and mats is super easy just mist the 303 High Tech Fabric Guard on them and you are done! It will help repel moisture while keeping the fibers flexible and soft.

If you follow these basic pre-cautions your vehicle will look great for years to come and keep the re-sale value up! If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask. Take care!

Greg @ DI

In my opinion you are far better off just waiting for a proper cleaning with a traditional wash or an ONR wash.

Greg @ DI

Good day DI, can you recommend a good wheel wax for anodized wheels. I usually use megs quick detailer once a week on my wheels (volk GTS) but I don't wax them afterwards.

The SONAX Wheel Cleaner Full Effect is safe and highly effective on all finishes. It's extremely popular and lots of people really love how easy it is to use. Check out the Ask A Pro Product Review for SONAX Wheel Cleaner Full Effect by Todd Cooperider.

If you want to protect the wheels check out the Poorboy's World Wheel Sealant. Let me know if you have any questions.

Greg @ DI

thanks greg

I was wondering what's the best way to clean finger oils off regular and tinted windows? It drives me nuts! I tried wiping for about a minute in a spot and all it did was smudge it all over the place.