roadrunner
Full Access Member
Here are some products and tips that work pretty well in the exterior cosmetic department:
Polish: I never met a wax I didn't like, but saw an excellent comparison recommending "Zymol Natural" liquid. ( http://www.nsxsc.com/nsexcitement/waxtest.html ) I tried some and agree.
A word about glazes-- there are some great products out there (like Zaino), but glazes tend to have lots of steps, cost more, and last about the same amount of time as a quality wax. They're good for car shows and quality older paint jobs that you want to spend the time to bring back to "new". On a newer paint job, you can get virtually as good a result with wax for much less time and money.
Sport plastic bumpers/flares, etc.: Just tried Mother's "Back to Black". It does a nice job; feels a lot like Armorall.
Raised white letters on your tires: Get a new Brillo pad (complete with built-in soap), scrub the heck out of the white portions. Before rinsing, take a scrub brush and spread the soap around to the whole (wet) wheel. Hose off -- the tire will look brand new.
Glass: Coated half of my glass with "Rain-X" glass cleaner. The glass looked new. Drove around in the rain and it actually minimizes distortion from rain on the windshield. Excellent visibility, even without wipers in light rain. Went ahead and did the other half!
Tire cover: Found some old Turtlewax Convertible top/landau top cleaner. Works great. Upholstery cleaner, or even warm soap and water would also probably work fine). I hadn't realized how dirty that cover had gotten.
Utility coat: Go to the nearest mud bog or large puddle. Drive back and forth until textured to your satisfaction. Let it age on the vehicle for a couple of weeks. Provides excellent "Journeyman" appearance. Re-apply as necessary.
Polish: I never met a wax I didn't like, but saw an excellent comparison recommending "Zymol Natural" liquid. ( http://www.nsxsc.com/nsexcitement/waxtest.html ) I tried some and agree.
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It gives an excellent luster without killing yourself and seems to have better longevity than the Maguire's that I've been using. Additionally, it's not nearly as messy if you get some on your black plastic parts (Sport fans). It's widely available for about $8. +/-. The cleaner is not as aggressive as, say, Maguire's, though, so it will take a little more work if your paint is not in good shape. Overall, you get a lot of bang for the buck (and time) with this product. Remember to harden it off with a damp rag/chamois when done. It adds a little deeper shine and "sets" the wax. (This is an old trick -- works on most waxes).A word about glazes-- there are some great products out there (like Zaino), but glazes tend to have lots of steps, cost more, and last about the same amount of time as a quality wax. They're good for car shows and quality older paint jobs that you want to spend the time to bring back to "new". On a newer paint job, you can get virtually as good a result with wax for much less time and money.
Sport plastic bumpers/flares, etc.: Just tried Mother's "Back to Black". It does a nice job; feels a lot like Armorall.
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It does tend to streak and get a little shiny for my taste. If that's a problem for you, here's how to tone down the sheen and eliminate the streaks: Wet your application rag first with water and wring it out. Add the product. Before it dries, chase with a damp clean rag (washcloth works great). You'll get a nice deep matt finish that looks brand new! With a little scrubbing, it also removes old wax gubers.Raised white letters on your tires: Get a new Brillo pad (complete with built-in soap), scrub the heck out of the white portions. Before rinsing, take a scrub brush and spread the soap around to the whole (wet) wheel. Hose off -- the tire will look brand new.
Glass: Coated half of my glass with "Rain-X" glass cleaner. The glass looked new. Drove around in the rain and it actually minimizes distortion from rain on the windshield. Excellent visibility, even without wipers in light rain. Went ahead and did the other half!
Tire cover: Found some old Turtlewax Convertible top/landau top cleaner. Works great. Upholstery cleaner, or even warm soap and water would also probably work fine). I hadn't realized how dirty that cover had gotten.
Utility coat: Go to the nearest mud bog or large puddle. Drive back and forth until textured to your satisfaction. Let it age on the vehicle for a couple of weeks. Provides excellent "Journeyman" appearance. Re-apply as necessary.