Car Detailing questions

[Kona Bear]

I have had the GTI for just over a month now, and detailing it and keeping it looking as new as I can has been going well but
A couple of things have been frustrating for me & I was looking for tips and suggestions:

1)How do you clean the inside of your windows?
I know that using windex is a bad thing. I have tried everything from automotive foaming class cleaner, to just water. I have used microfibre clothes to newspaper to spead the cleaner around but I'm still getting streaks.

2) How do you clean the plastic lens that cover the speedo/rev gauges?
That stuff is pretty soft and scratches easily.

Any detail guru's out there that would care to share some ideas?

Thanks!

[Danaldson]

Re: Car Detailing questions

1) Vinnegar + lots of newspaper = tons of win for the windows.

2)refer to number 1 above

i know it sounds weird, but it works.

[Kona Bear]

Re: Car Detailing questions

So straight vinager, or do you water it down a bit?

[Geobmx4life]

Re: Car Detailing questions

I use stoner invisible glass on all the windows, it's tint safe too, and armor all on the gauge plastic

[Danaldson]

Re: Car Detailing questions

invisible works good too, but i just find vinnegar a bit better. yeah you can water it down a tiny bit, but honestly not much. you dont need use much either.

[Luvzvag]

Re: Car Detailing questions

invisible works good too, but i just find vinnegar a bit better. yeah you can water it down a tiny bit, but honestly not much. you dont need use much either.

I use invisible glass for the windows as well but am gonna try vinegar next time. We recently switched to vinegar for general household cleaning over the winter and I'm amazed how well it works on windows and mirrors. Newspaper is a new trick Ill have to give that a shot too.

I use meguires detailed for interior plastics and it does a nice job without leaving a shines residue.

[Kona Bear]

Re: Car Detailing questions

I like to use 303 aerospace for the interior plastics. No shine and makes it look like the day we bought it. Now to find who sells it since crappy tire doesn't stock it anymore.....

[Natty54]

Re: Car Detailing questions

I brought in some samples of a bunch of Sonax products including the glass cleaner. I have to say every product I have tried works awesome.

[kujiwara]

Re: Car Detailing questions

Invisible glass is great, spray like one strip across the window and spread it out with a microfiber and wipe clean, no streaks as long as you don't spray a lot of it. The area of the strip should be less than 30% of the window area, I found this the best ratio to clean the window

[witchcraftz]

Re: Car Detailing questions

For windows go to canadian tire and get Bon Ami, also using newspapers is the single best thing, the fibers are soft and clean streak free, but be careful to not use them if they are over saturated with cleaner.

[Canadian Turbo]

Re: Car Detailing questions

For windows go to canadian tire and get Bon Ami

This was my cleaner of choice as well!

[flipstah]

Re: Car Detailing questions

1) Vinnegar + lots of newspaper = tons of win for the windows.

2)refer to number 1 above

i know it sounds weird, but it works.

Newspaper absorbs a lot of oil but what does the vinegar do?

[sabbySC]

Re: Car Detailing questions

The acid in vinegar assists in breaking down the oils and others compounds that build up on your vehicles glass.


At any rate, use any windows cleaner you want that doesn't contain amonia, and clean with newspaper. The end result will be spotless windows.

For plastics, use water and mild soap if they are really dirty, and rinse again with straight water. Some plastics will break down with exposure to the wrong chemicals (of course this may taqke a very long time but it will happen).

Finally when all complete use 303 protectant on all plastics, it will prevent damage from UV rays.

[resolute]

Re: Car Detailing questions

I like to use 303 aerospace for the interior plastics. No shine and makes it look like the day we bought it. Now to find who sells it since crappy tire doesn't stock it anymore.....

Lots of places have it. Auto Value for one. Check out:
http://www.wheretobuy303.com/index.php?tab=CA