What are the best cleaning supplies today?
 

I was going to go to the local auto store and pick up some new cleaning supplies. The only problem is there are so many to choose from. Can anyone provide a list of what they use to clean their car?

such as wax/wash, wheel cleaner, windows, lights, tire shine, interior, chrome polish etc

griotsgarage.com

I am no expert, but based on other members suggestions (namely kenchan), I ordered the following items:


Amazon.com: The Original California Car Duster with Standard 15" Cleaning Head: Automotive
It's a California Duster. It's to gently take off dust and pollen from your vehicle without scratching the clear coat. I keep one behind my seat.

Good microfiber towels: Amazon.com: Cobra Deluxe Jr. 600 Microfiber Towels 3 Pack: Automotive
Griot's car wash caddy: Amazon.com: Griot's Garage 67260 Ultimate Car Wash Bucket: Automotive
Griot's MF wash mitts: Amazon.com: Griot's Garage 10268 Micro Fiber Wash Mitt - Set of 2: Automotive
Viking waffle-weave drying towels: Amazon.com: Viking Microfiber Waffle Weave Drying Towel - 9 Square Feet: Automotive
Meguiar's NXT car wash soap: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ls_o00_s00_i01
Mothers Wheel cleaning brush: Amazon.com: Mothers Wheel Brush: Automotive


This kit includes a lot of general purpose cleaners including a claybar and some wax: Amazon.com: Meguiar's Complete Car Care Kit: Automotive

The local auto store wont carry anything of a high quality at all. Mostly they will carry low level stuff.

Zaino Store

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so the meguiars products at autozone are considered low level? :confused:

I use eagle one spot cleaner and spray/wipe wax. I purchase my microfiber towels at publix and they work just fine for me keeping my car nice and clean.

That is simply not true. Just because one can find a product in an auto parts store or Walmart does not mean it is necessarily low-end. Conversely, products one purchases from on-line only sources does not necessarily make them high quality. I have been using Meguiars products almost exclusively on my cars for more than 25 years and get excellent results.

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Chemical guys
Warner chemicals

on a scale of 1-10 10 being the best they are a 6

there are much better products out there.

Wolfgang pre-wax paint polish followed by deep gloss paint sealant then a optional s100 or p21 wax would have made your car look liquid.

I like using Adams Polishes, really good stuff. I used to use Meguiars products and those work really well too.

I got the Maguiars car wash and i was pretty amazed at how easily it removed the yuck-even off my poor neglected Civic which hasnt been washed since probably last YEAR! Dirt seems to melt away...IMHO.

Turtle wax ice for car wash, Polish, synthetic wax, etc. Adams and griots garage for microfiber towels. An expensive price doesn't always mean its better.

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In my opinion ZAINO is the best wax in the market, but you need to keep in mind that prepping the car is just as important as the wax it self.
here is a list of what I've been using over the years.
WAX:
ZAINO Z-5, ZFX, Z-6, Z-8

Interior:
For all of the plastic: 303 Aerospace Protectant
Carpet: Adam's Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner

Windows in and out : Adam's Detail Spray

Leather: Z-10 Leather in a Bottle

Tires: 303 Aerospace Protectant
one more thing i would strongly recommend buying some grit guards.
I hope this helps.

I'll have to second that. The Wolfgang products, especially their polish enhancer and deep gloss paint sealant are amazing.

Support Phil at Detailer's Domain or Adams Polishes they are both sponsors of this forum. You'll find everything you need at those places. Phil is quick to respond to emails and very knowledgable. I also like Auto Finesse, Martin at Auto Finesse is also super fast with responding to emails. I've had great customer service from all of the places I've mentioned.

Most of the stuff in stores aren't that good. Even Meg's has a lineup you rarely see in stores. The waxes and materials available in store, while there are exceptions, is somewhat of a hassle to find out which ones actually work. If you go to the Adams' website or Detailers Domain, you know just about all the products they have is high quality stuff. I'm not just saying this because they sponsor this site, I've tried stuff from them and everything works as they say. If anything, I've saved money. I no longer have bottles of unusable products on my shelf.

Here's some stuff I use or have used in the past the yielded great results.

Car Shampoo:
Adam's Car Wash Shampoo w/Adam's wash pad

Pre-Cleaner/Clay:
Adam's clay bar with Detail Spray as lubricant
Aquartz Iron Cut

Polishes:
Adam's Polishes & Pads
Meguiar's M205 & M105

Wax:
Adam's Machine Superwax
Adam's Americana
Swissvax Onyx (Fantastic shine/depth, but pricey)

Detail Spray:
Adam's Detail Spray & Waterless wash
ONR

Glass:
Adam's Glass cleaner
Adam's Glass sealant

Wheels & Tires:
Adam's All purpose cleaner (grear for cleaning tires)
Adam's Wheel cleaner (works okay, but could be better)
Adam's Super VRT (for tires)
Sonax Full Effect (The best stuff for cleaning wheels, but pricey)

Interior:
Adam's Interior cleaner (works great but be sure to use Leather Conditioner afterwards)
1Z einszett Cockpit Premium (great product & doesn't leave the surface shiny)

Towels:
Adam's microfiber towels & drying towels (best towels I've owned, hands downs)

Other Equip:
Porter Cable 7424XP Orbital Polisher
(2) Buckets (got them as Sears and bought grit guards online)

I have been using Adams products since I bought the Z a year ago. Amazed at the difference. I used to use random stuff I bought at the local auto store.

Although, I now spend a whole lot more time washing/waxing the car...and money. And I am paranoid someone is going to touch my car with their dirty hands.

Great list -- Meguiars 205 and 105 are excellent.

My car's a working Z. Drive it to work daily. Park in a lot where there's a lot of wind, pollen, and dust. First highway trip got a tiny window chip and a small paint chip on the hood from stones kicked up by trucks in Charleston, West Virginia. Wife's perpetual garage sale prevents garaging any of our vehicles. Virginia sun is scorching, but no significant snow, slush, and no salt on the roads. So I've given up on keeping it super pristine.

1) Any wax is better than none. I note that, using mostly quick spray waxes, my 2004 Infiniti G35X which I just sold had a quite nice shine even though it suffered the same harsh working-car treatment detailed above.
2) Just got a CoverKing car duster which is copy of the California Car Duster, I assume. I don't know what the mop head is impregnated with, but does a fine job of taking off dust, can't notice any tendency to scratch at all, and it leaves a quite nice shine.
3) Washing with any of several car wash products seems equally effective in cleaning.
4) Have decided against going to the local swirling -brush car wash, though it has worked well with no auto paint damage on two other cars and they have hired some very cute young ladies in yellow t-shirts and black shorts to do the drying and wheel cleaning.
5) Keep sunshade in all the time that I'm parked. Can't decide yet how to deal with mixture of synthetic and real leather on the seats. Anybody have any ideas?

+1 ^ Who makes a nice leather conditioner/cleaner?

Leather Masters, Auto Finesse, Swissvax, Adams...

just had my 2011 Opticoated, now using the Adams 2 Bucket Wash Kit for washing. Seriously *** kicking combo!!!!!!!!!!!!

detailers domain and autogeek are 2 places I frequent.

Stay Fresh Car Care

hands down the only thing ill ever use!

Chemical Guys Citrus wash and gloss
Meguiar's clay and quick detailer spray
Chemical Guys polish V36 and V38
Chemical Guys JetSeal 109
Chemical Guys Lava
Poorboy's World QD+/Detailer's Domain Last Touch
Armor all leather care.
Tarrago Nano protector
Buy lots of high quality mf towels.

yah, i lol'ed when i went to my local parts store the other week to recycle old oil... i saw griots on the shelves. :ugh:

not a good way to market their product. now appears like just another
generic junk sold at walmart or something. :shakes head:

:icon17:

The Wolfgang products is all I use. Wolfgang is some excellent stuff !

OP. After reading all these post don't you feel like your back to square one? Any one above mentioned will work for you. Our lists is based on our experience. Any one should work. Try on line before going to your neighborhood discount store.

I'll second the Chemical Guys stuff. I use a variety of their products. Lava is great wax, the V series hybrid polishes are great too. Their Citrus wash and gloss is some of the best shampoo I've ever used.

try some of it out. they run tons of specials on their site.

How the fuck did this get dragged out from the pit of obscurity and Limeybastard is not involved?

I totally agree - I've used ZAINO for years, its a very high quality product. Not to say that there aren't others that are equal, but you won't find this quality in a local auto shop. At least I haven't - only online.