Hey guys, I am new to this part of the forum. I actually just realized the other day there is more areas of this forum than just the Off Topic section.

J/K..

On a serious note. I have a question for those of you that take the time to actually detail their cars. I have owned and operated a detail shop for 7 years now. I teach school full time now and just do the detailing for the extra income.

I have seen more cars with this problem than I can count... It is the dirt grim build up around the emblems. I usually just use some Orange cleaner and a soft towel, but sometimes I have to get a detail brush and even a tooth brush out to get the dirt. The down side to this is the very fine swirl type scratch marks the brushed leave. I can try to use a light rubbing compound by hand, but that packs the compound in around the emblem and causes more work.

I am hitting this problem again today with a 06 A4. I took pics. I will probebly end up doing it my normal way again today, BUT I wanted to ask you all what your techniques were. Maybe someone have a super easy way of getting this off, and would be willing to share their tricks to help a fellow member out.

 

Q-tips mabe, I just debadge when I have this problem, but I guess thats not an option on a customers car.

 

hahhahah, yeah, maybe that is an option.... "Hey, sorry about you emblems. I was not planning on charging any extra for the debadging, but if you wanna argue about it I will be more than willing to charge extra."

 

Yeah q tips or you can use those this foam tip sticks from edge to polish out those swirl and scartches.


Or if that doesn't work. Try using a terry towel with your polish/compound to remove them.

Also some people pressure wash the car after polising to remove any residue left in the cracks and crevices and even push the mf in real tight into the emblems to remove the wax/polish residue.

 

That looks liek a good idea to getting the wax buildup and compound out... BUT what about that nasty dirt build up. The stuff you have to use cleaner wax or a light compound on???? ANYONE have an ideas/tips on a cleaner that will break down that grime any easier??

 

P21s Total auto wash

 

Kuneff....

Q-tips do work pretty well, but try adding some WD-40 to the spot before you use the Q-tips......

I've found this to work well with lots of other areas as well. For one, on the G, the spot in front of the rear wheels were the film is to protect the paint.
On my G, the brake dust builds up on the seam.....The only way to effectively remove it is WD-40, and then follow up with some wax on a soft brisell (sp)toothbrush.

Give it a try....it really breaks down the contaminants, so it should work around the emblems as well....
Good luck

 

Wd-40 can also loose up the sticky residue off the emblems

 

And the adhesive that secures the badge / emblem

 

I use spray-away glass cleaner and q-tips...the glass cleaner foams up and loosens the dirt and it really shines the chrome up nice...GL

 

Well actually you can also use windex to clean up chrome too and invisible glass too.

 

agreed

 

WD-40 may be an idea. I will give it a try.


I think some of you may not really understand what dirt I am talking about. I wash like crazy and it is still there. It is a grime that takes cleaner wax or a light compound to get it off. Its not something that just Washes off...

 

Have you used a paint cleaner ??? like ZAIO or KAIO

 

anyone know how to get wax off rubber/plastic trim? I waxed my car every other month, and the last time i did it, i was tired so I rushed it, and ended up getting some wax around the bottom grill of the car, and a little on the rubber trim around the window.... How do I get it back to normal?