How do I keep it clean

[Juiceman74]

So I just got my car cleaned yesterday and it was looking great. Had it all shined up and everything. I walk out this morning and it still looked good but when I left work this morning and the sun was hitting it all you could see was dirt and dust. Like I just cleaned it yesterday! Is there anything special I can do? I live in an apartment and theres no real cover spots but cmon really after 1 day!!

 

[08HoeCD]

The following is my (somewhat) simple recipe for best overall results in vehicle appearance:

At least twice per year---I like early spring and early fall---do a full paint detail including deep washing, followed by clay bar, followed by thorough rinse, followed by paint correction with DA buffer and a good-quality light compound (such as Meguiar's Ultimate Compound), followed by paint sealant (optional) and finished with good-quality wax (such as Collinite 845, since it's so easy to use and last a long, long, long time).

At least once per month, do a deep wash and follow with a quick detailer spray and quick spray-on wax (again, I like Meguiar's products such as the Ultimate Qwik Detailer and Ultimate Qwik Wax).

At least once per week, do a rinseless wash (I like Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine since it's very easy to use and extremely effective---you mix it in a bucket and you do not need to drag out a hose at all to wash the vehicle).

Take 5-10 minutes daily to do a wipe-down with Meguiar's Ultimate Qwik Detailer spray.

It may sound like a lot, but other than the twice-per-year paint correction procedure, it's very easy to maintain outstanding results.

 

[05Single]

It's called the California duster. Just keep it in the car and when you see that thin layer of dust just wipe it down. Great for all that junk that's floating in the air and lands on your paint like dust, pollen, exc...
Obviously won't work for heavy dirt and mud.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Californ...2626&wl11=online&wl12=110006960&wl13=&veh=sem

 

[Fosscore]

^^ this man has it nailed. The daily wipe down can prolong your time between washings if the weather is good. I use almost all the products he mentions. Nice write up @ubervic

 

[08HoeCD]

Thanks @Fosscore !

I used to drive a Pitch Black Challenger, and almost every day a coworker or even a stranger would tell me how good the paint looked. I drive a Gold Mist Tahoe now, so the demands of the color are much, much lower, and I don't do as much as I listed above. But the program works!

 

[Juiceman74]

Thanks man @ubervic I will definitely have to get all these products ordered to do this. The only problem I have is living in a place that I can't really ever do a deep clean without paying someone to do it. May have to phone a friend to borrow their driveway.

 

[NeverSatisfied]

the car duster is the way to go. If the weather holds up around here I dust my truck off twice a day. Once at lunch and once when I get off work. Then on the weekends if i have time I do a quick detail on everything

 

[Fosscore]

Saw this on one of he detailing forums copied from someone else's post.

Thought it would be perfect for this thread.

"I own a silver vehicle and a black vehicle owns me. The black one demands attention, washing, detailing, waxing and an occasional dinner out at a nice restaurant.

The silver one demands nothing and it looks just fine. I think the black vehicle is taking advantage of me, and the silver car is more my style.

We can go out for a drive without her makeup and she looks fine. If I want to take the black one out, it is three or four hours in the "bathroom" to get ready."

 

[Juiceman74]

@Fosscore luckily I have a champagne colored vehicle. Kinda like grey lol

 

[Fosscore]

Yessir. Lol

I suffer from the (black) Dark Ming Blue Metallic and (silver) White Diamond Tricoat.

Funny enough the Suburban is easier to wash and dry than the Tahoe.

Complicated OCD formula.

 

[08HoeCD]

Saw this on one of he detailing forums copied from someone else's post.

Thought it would be perfect for this thread.

"I own a silver vehicle and a black vehicle owns me. The black one demands attention, washing, detailing, waxing and an occasional dinner out at a nice restaurant.

The silver one demands nothing and it looks just fine. I think the black vehicle is taking advantage of me, and the silver car is more my style.

We can go out for a drive without her makeup and she looks fine. If I want to take the black one out, it is three or four hours in the "bathroom" to get ready."

Hahaha!

I don't know----I might be driving a black Tahoe had I not tumbled across the great deal on this Gold Mist one. Hell, my wife's Audi is black. To me, keeping a black vehicle looking good is a fun challenge and a test of skill & technique.

 

[Juiceman74]

I'm not that determined. Rather have a vehicle that's easy to keep clean. Was walking through the parking garage after work and the sunlight was hitting my wheels just right and had to stop for a second until I saw my body then wanted to throw up.

 

[ronkh]

It's called the California duster. Just keep it in the car and when you see that thin layer of dust just wipe it down. Great for all that junk that's floating in the air and lands on your paint like dust, pollen, exc...
Obviously won't work for heavy dirt and mud.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Californ...2626&wl11=online&wl12=110006960&wl13=&veh=sem

Here is a post I made on a different car forum. It might be of some help.

Well, it's pollen season here: And I've seen a lot of suggestion just to use a duster.

This is after 1 night/day after being cleaned.

This is 1 hour after being washed for a car show:

So what do you think? A quick sweep with a duster ?!?!?! (oh so gentle sweep?)

Before you think you can do it scratch free............ This is what pollen looks like

It is just my opinion, that no matter how light a touch you have, that this WILL induce scratching/marring.
My suggestion = Wash it, or rinseless wash it. IF it were less, I might even consider a waterless wash, but I like to be more careful.

 

[05Single]

Anything that touches your paint will scratch it....even the cleanest fingers and softest micro fiber.
If you come out of the mall or wherever after a few hours and you have a thin layer of dust or pollen a micro fiber duster works the best.
Can't always have an air hose or a bucket of water everywhere you go. Or time to wash/rinse it a 2nd or 3rd time that day even if you are at home
Plus youre most likely threw on a sheet of wax which is helping to protect that nice clear coat finish.
In the end enjoy your ride, if you're so meticulous about pollen particles then you should keep it in the garage. That's just my opinion, and I'm ocd , if I start to worry about that miniscule particles in the air that are 100% unavoidable my head would explode lol

 

[PG01]

I'm not that determined. Rather have a vehicle that's easy to keep clean. Was walking through the parking garage after work and the sunlight was hitting my wheels just right and had to stop for a second until I saw my body then wanted to throw up.

Lmao

 

[adventurenali92]

I have a driveway and hose and don't always use it. Lol. Alot of times I take my rig over to the self car wash in town and just use the hot water to rinse off all the crap. Like I did this afternoon. Nice that my wash hot water and high or sure in the winter time. If it's really dirty after a snowstorm, I'll take my own wash mitt and soap and soap it down and then rinse to get it really clean. And then in between washes with good weather I just towel it down. I use Lucas oil slick mist quick detailer and a big fluffy microfiber. Works quite well to keep everything clean. In between washes I usually towel mine down every two days.

 

[bigrhino]

I go to the car wash twice a month. I also use Meguiars wash and wax spray, synthetic spray way and car duster. I envy you guys who have garages.

 

[PG01]

I go to the car wash twice a month. I also use Meguiars wash and wax spray, synthetic spray way and car duster. I envy you guys who have garages.

Ha, i have a garage....

 

[HiHoeSilver]

Ha, i have a garage....View attachment 77027

You also throw a plow on your NNBS Tahoe. Just sayin. Lol!

 

[PG01]

You also throw a plow on your NNBS Tahoe. Just sayin. Lol!

Exactly