My Favorite Detailing Products

[stream]

This is a subject where you'll get many opinions--like what's your favorite color--but here's a list of my favorite detailing products.

I used Zymol on my cars for 15 years. It has a beautiful depth of color and shine, and smells like a day at the beach , but I got tired of the difficult application/removal process and lack of durability (didn't seem to last more than a month or 2). And has anybody ever looked at you funny when they see wax in your refrigerator??!! A few years ago, I heard good things about One Grand Blitz wax, so I tried it and love it. Very easy application/removal and lasts a very long time (I generally wax every 3 or 4 months):
http://www.carcareonline.com/detail....oduct_id=10201

To prep the car before waxing, I wash it with a sheepskin mitt. Start from the top and work your way down and toward the rear, rinsing the mitt frequently:
Sheepskin Dust/Wash Mitt - Cleaning Tools - Car Washing - Car Care - Griot's Garage

I use Zymol Clear auto wash--not cheap, but a bottle lasts forever:
ZYMOL CLEAR 8.5 oz

I dry with a high quality chamois. Many now prefer microfiber towels, but I continue to use a chamois...isn't this a great country?
AutoSport Catalog - Double-Thick Chamois - Double-Thick Chamois 800-953-0814

I wash the wheels with a wheel brush I got from Pep Boys. I don't use any special wheel cleaners, only the same bucket of sudsy water--as the last step--after I've washed the rest of the car.

Twice a year, I clay the surface with Clay Magic after washing (be sure to wax after, since it removes the wax), which removes the surface contaminants that washing won't remove--it leaves the surface silky smooth:
Clay Magic Perfect Finish Kit

I apply the wax with a foam pad--apply to entire car, then buff off with a microfiber towel.

To minimize brake dust sticking to the wheels, I apply RejeX a few times a year. It also works great at minimizing windshield bug splats and exhaust tip discoloration:
RejeX®: So Slick, Bugs Can't Stick!

I use Sprayway glass cleaner on the windows--gets them squeaky clean (I get it at Ace Hardware)

Between washings, I use a California mini duster to remove brake dust from the wheels:
CCCC - The Original California Mini Duster^TM

I use the California car duster on the painted surfaces between washing--works great. Also use a dash duster on the interior--gets all the dust off the black interior.
CCCC - Auto Detailing Kit

I've used Lexol leather conditioner and leather cleaner on the leather interior parts for years with great results.

303 Protectant is great for the tires--keeps them black with a matte finish (I don't like shiny tires!) and lasts several washings:
303 Protectant, 16 oz Spray

[liverbomb88]

Here are my favorites, although my Zaino collection is slowly starting to be displaced by Duragloss:

Exterior
1. Clay: all about the same. I use Dawn detergent solution as lube.
2. Polish: Menzerna PO203S and 85rd.
3. Cleaner/AIO: ZAIO (Zaino is expensive) or Duragloss 501 (reasonably priced, available locally at CarQuest).
4. LSP: Zaino Z2/Z5 (expensive) or Duragloss 105. Can also use DG105 to seal alloy rims.
5. Shampoo: Meguiars Gold Class (wet wash) or Optimum No Rinse (ONR;conserves water).
6. Quick detailer: Zaino Z6, Duragloss 521, or ONR.
7. LSP maintenance spray: Duragloss Aquawax (AW) -- can also spray onto rims.
8. Glass cleaner: Stoners Invisible Glass.
9. Tire dressing: Zaino Z16, Duragloss 253, or Chemical Guys VRP.

Interior
1. Meguiars Natural Shine or 303 Aerospace for dash/doors.
2. Woolite for fabric and carpet.
3. Zaino Z9/10 or Duragloss 441/221 for the leather.

The three products I would consider necessary and sufficient are ONR, AW, and 303. You can pretty much get away with everything and look good doing so with just those three.

[TheForce]

I'm a fan of Zaino even though I'm lazy and dont like to do all the work. I do like the Meguiars spray on tire gloss better than the Zaino stuff.

[yardman 49]

I like NuFinish (crosslinked polymer polish) for the exterior painted surfaces. Supposedly good for a year, but I think that at least twice a year is better; goes on very easy, keeps bugs and stuff from sticking, beads water for a long time, protects the clear coat.

[sdtundra]

You should try the Meguiar's new for 2009 Supreme Shine for the interior....my interior looks brand new now...nice glossy black without the greasy feeling.

[PriusCrazy]

I think I'm obsessed with waxing my new Prius.

Anyway, I've waxed my new Pearl twice with Meguiar's NXT Generation Tech Wax 2.0 and it's an "easy on, easy off" sealant that has gotten good reports around the Net. Looks real nice, but I'm not sure how much newer than new it can look.

I had considered Zaino (thanks to Paradox) but wanted to do something quick and the NXT is readily available at local retail shops.

[Paradox]

Originally Posted by PriusCrazy

I think I'm obsessed with waxing my new Prius.

Lol, join the club! I have 6 coats layered of Z2 with Z8 sprayed on in between each coat and finalized it all with a coat of Z-CS last night.

I've heard nothing but good things about the NXT 2.0 so keep layering on more whenever you get a chance haha.

As for my favorite detailing products I use Zaino products on the exterior paint and for everything else such as interior, wheels, tires etc I use Griots Garage products. I also only use their micro fiber towels for drying, buffing etc.

Zaino Store

Car Care, Detail Supplies, Garage Organization, Car Accessories - Griot's Garage 800-345-5789

[dbacksfan]

Per recomendations by Jabber and Paradox, I decided to try Zaino on my new car.

I used Zaino Z-7 Show Car Wash to wash off two weeks of road grime and dust.

I dried the car with microfiber towels that were purchased from Costco in a bulk package that contained 20 or so towels. We have very hard water and these towels do very good job of removing all the water.

I waxed the car with Z-5 PRO Show Car Polish. Using the Zaino Custom Polish Applicator, applying the polish was very easy. I applied the polish on black trim pieces as well as the rear wing. Zaino is supposed safe on all non-porous surfaces. I applied the polish to the entire car first. The instructions said that it was okay to leave polish for more that 15 minutes. I wiped the polished off using two new fresh microfiber clothes.

Lastly, I used Meguiar's Quick Wax to clean the door jams, inside of doors, etc. I also used it to clean excess wax in places where I got a little sloppy or around the rear bumper applique. I purchased the Quick Wax from a local auto parts store some time ago.

I purchased the Zaino products from a local retailer.

The car not only shines but the finish feels very hard. Overall, I'm very pleased with the results. By the way, the entire process took 3.5 hours. Now on to the interior...

Originally Posted by Paradox

...As for my favorite detailing products I use Zaino products on the exterior paint ....

[Paradox]

Looks great! Glad you had results you really liked with the Zaino. After detailing for almost 20 years, I won't use anything else on my paint...

Also, going with z5 was a good choice imo, as z5 hides swirl marks better thus it is better suited for dark colors whereas z2 i prefer on light colored vehicles such as white and silver etc...

[liverbomb88]

Did you strip off all previous waxes/sealants with a Dawn wash? If you didn't and just used Z7 for the wash, you may have reduced bonding efficiency of the Z5pro to the clear coat. No big deal though...all it means is that you will have to reapply the Zaino after a few weeks instead of 6 months. You can make the Zaino last longer with regular spraydowns with Z8 after interim washes. Zaino is awesome stuff, and your Gen3 looks gorgeous!

Originally Posted by dbacksfan

Per recomendations by Jabber and Paradox, I decided to try Zaino on my new car.

I used Zaino Z-7 Show Car Wash to wash off two weeks of road grime and dust.

I dried the car with microfiber towels that were purchased from Costco in a bulk package that contained 20 or so towels. We have very hard water and these towels do very good job of removing all the water.

I waxed the car with Z-5 PRO Show Car Polish. Using the Zaino Custom Polish Applicator, applying the polish was very easy. I applied the polish on black trim pieces as well as the rear wing. Zaino is supposed safe on all non-porous surfaces. I applied the was to the entire car first. The instructions said that it was okay to leave polish for more that 15 minutes. I wiped the polished off using two new fresh microfiber clothes.

Lastly, I used Meguiar's Quick Wax to clean the door jams, inside of doors, etc. I also used it to clean excess wax in places where I got a little sloppy or aroung the rear bumper applique. I purchased the Quick Wax from a local auto parts store some time ago.

I purchased the Zaino products from a local retailer.

The car not only shines but the finish feels very hard. Overall, I'm very pleased with the results. By the way, the entire process took 3.5 hours. Now on to the interior...