Spring Cleaning (Salt...)

[Brahsbrah]

Hi Guys,

Winter is almost over up here in the great North and I need to do a really thorough cleaning of my car.

I have never done a clay bar cleaning before, however I feel like this spring will be a good time to do so. Also going to seal it after, and I have a bottle of Maguiar's Ultimate Liquid Wax that I will finish off with.

What is everyone's Spring process, especially those living in areas that use salt on the roads?

[headlikeahole]

Inside

1. Use paint brush to clean out dust and crums from dash and tricky corners
2. Vaccuum everything
3. Carpet cleaner.
4. Inside of windows

Outside

1. Wash with something harsh to strip down to bare paint.
2. Rainx
3. Clay bar
4. Fix minor chips and scratched from the last 4 months
5. Polish
6. Sealant. I like Chem guys Factory Sealant (green bottle) not the best shine but great seal, low static and long lasting. It's a great base if you like to layer. I'll be giving Chem guy LAVA a try too, I've heard bad things but I bought it anyway
7. Tire shine / 303 Aerospace on plastic bits.
8. Go get it dirty

I'm sure I'm forgetting something

[Muskokan]

is it required to clay bar and such before fixing paint chips with touch up paint?

[headlikeahole]

Originally Posted by Muskokan

is it required to clay bar and such before fixing paint chips with touch up paint?

You don't have too, as long as you clean the chip itself. Make sure there's no dirt/rust in there and you can use a cleaner/leveler product.

[Brahsbrah]

Originally Posted by headlikeahole

Inside

1. Use paint brush to clean out dust and crums from dash and tricky corners
2. Vaccuum everything
3. Carpet cleaner.
4. Inside of windows

Outside

1. Wash with something harsh to strip down to bare paint.
2. Rainx
3. Clay bar
4. Fix minor chips and scratched from the last 4 months
5. Polish
6. Sealant. I like Chem guys Factory Sealant (green bottle) not the best shine but great seal, low static and long lasting. It's a great base if you like to layer. I'll be giving Chem guy LAVA a try too, I've heard bad things but I bought it anyway
7. Tire shine / 303 Aerospace on plastic bits.
8. Go get it dirty

I'm sure I'm forgetting something

Awesome.

What do you suggest for the harsh wash?

Also what do you use for sealant? And do you use the touch up paint for chips?

[Model Citizen]

Undercarriage undercarriage undercarriage,

I find a wash with a good undercarriage spray and go there every couple weeks through the winter, also at the end of the season I put a yard sprinkler under vehicles moving it around for awhile. Actually just came in from doing it on a couple cars.


Nothing else matters if the car rusts away on you

[Teclis]

Get a good Kärcher prssure washer with this awesome thing! http://www.karcherresidential.com/us...eaner+packaged

[OICU812]

Salty? The nets latest word rage lol..

[headlikeahole]

Originally Posted by Brahsbrah

Awesome.

What do you suggest for the harsh wash?

Also what do you use for sealant? And do you use the touch up paint for chips?

Honestly I use dish soap if I'm stripping my car. Dish soap is great for dissolving oils and wax, and wont harm your paint. Just remember its super concentrated so you only need a few drops in a bucket of warm water. As for chips I use the Toyota paint pen from the dealership.