Ask the Detailer

For your correcting, start with the HexLogic orange....do a test spot and see if you need to step it up to the yellow. I've only ever used the HexLogic white for polishing.....so can't really help you decide between the green and the white. The black pad will work fine for your sealant or wax. Before I switched to thinner pads, I ran the HexLogic Quantum pads......believe it or not, the hole in the middle really does help with heat dissipation

 

I mask off stripes...whether tape or painted.....I don't know if everyone does, because it can leave you with some very narrow areas to work on. Yes you can work those areas with the stone guard, but I've never compounded it. For the record, I hate that stuff.

 

Thank you!

 

I removed my pinstripes right after I got my truck, and haven’t done vehicle that has them, so I’m not sure. I’d probably tape them off just in case.

 

I might remove them, I'm sure a teenager loves pin stripes.

 

Interior cleaning question. What do you all for the electro-magnetic attraction of dog hair on the dash?

 

No clue on this one.

 

If I knew how to keep dog hair off stuff I'd be very rich.

 

Dont let the dog ride...that’s about the only way

 

Well fat lotta good you guys have been...sheesh

 

I've never had a dog ride in my truck, but I have detailed vehicles with plenty of dog hair. I've not really seen too much on the dashboard. I reached out to a couple of friends who are detailers (full time), and they drew a blank too. One thing you could try....but its not a cheap option.....would be to use a coating on your dashboard. They're said not to attract dust when used on paint, so maybe that would help. A product like Gyeon Can Coat would be your least expensive and most user friendly. I've seen it used on plastic trim on exteriors....so I can not see a reason why it couldn't be used on interior plastic.

Being a dog person myself, the suggestion of not allowing the dog to ride in the truck wouldn't fly with me either.

 

On the line if coatings...what about a coating like optimum tire coating? Just a thought...

 

If you're talking about using it on the dash.....dunno about that one. Tire coatings are finicky as it pertains to the tire itself needing to be surgically clean for the best results. I've no idea how that would play with a dashboard. I'd not even have made the Can Coat suggestion if I'd not seen Dave from Apex Detail using it on the interior of a convertible.

 

I'm starting to realize I may over stated my question. I was looking for something to keep on hand to help wipe or dust it off. I was at AutoZone today and picked up a Griot's mini brush. It works better than just a microfiber so far.

 

Yeah, this thread will pull any problem apart at the molecular level to find the answer. Light weight questions will be crushed under the weight of meticulous and OCD cleaning fanatics in here. That's why I love it. I can just browse through and learn more about keeping my rig clean than I ever thought was possible.

 

Swiffer duster

 

We aim to please

 

Rabbit holes all about it around here.

 

Some many reasons to love this thread. Btw I have been using griots interior detailer and CarPro inside. I love both these products for interior.

 

A couple questions...

I cleaned my tires about 10/11 days ago, I noticed today one of them didn't look close to clean as the other 3. So I washed it off today, scrubbed w my tire brush w soapy water, all that...and when it dried, same thing. Still had brown bloom and looks really dirty.
Btw, I used Gyeons Tire Express and wow, I love that stuff and love the smell. Looked amazing. Is it that I didn't put enough dressing on it? That it went back to looking dirty sooner than the other 3?? I have no idea, bc i sure as hell scrubbed enough. Pic is after using Gyeon...

 

Other question...what is a good quick detailer for drying off the car after a quick "wash" with? Griots Speed Shine? I like to hose it down quick to get all the f-ing pollen off, but can't let it dry without wiping down bc of hard water. So would be good to use a detailer as I dry, right?

Last question...removing bugs/tar/birdshit from grill/bumper area. I saw a spray for that. Do you really need a spray? Ive just been spraying the area down with water and then scrubbing it off with a bug sponge. I'd think thats enough....

 

And one more...I'm way more into and fervent in cleaning the interior. I've already got a couple of scuff marks that won't come out on the hard plastic w a regular cleaner and micro towel. Its not the end of the world, but anyway to get those out?

 

I use CarPro elixir for a qd wipe down.

 

Probably not. Toyota interiors have some of the worst plastics of any manufacturer....maybe even the worst. SEM makes trim paint to match, if it really gets to you.

 

Firs of all....love the color of that truck. I've seen different tire brands take dressing better/worse/differently than others, and I guess a slight difference in the tire compound within the same brand could explain the difference. When I need to do a deep clean of tires......I use Optimum Power Clean at full strength and a Tuff Clean tire brush. I continue washing until the cleaner comes up white. How old are those tires? And has that Gyeon product lasted 10-11 weeks?

 

I keep hearing great things about Carpro. I will check it out, thx.

Ty, green is my favorite color, between that and wanting to get the 5.7 NA V8 before they mess around w it, it worked out well for me.
I will check out optimum. Maybe my brush isn’t aggressive enough? But the other three held up pretty well.
I’ve had the truck since 1st week of April or so.
And in terms of the Gyeon lasting, it was perfect for a week until I had to drive in a freaking monsoon for an hour. Took almost all of it off. Three still look pretty good though.
But this was literally the first time I’ve ever cleaned/dressed tires and wheels so maybe I didn’t apply enough. I’m new to owning a vehicle that deserves a lot of attention, haha.

 

I second that truck color it is sick!!! Optimum ap is a great product. Good sales right now for the holiday.

 

Sure this is somewhere in the thread but I have to ask. You guys think it's advisable to use the two bucket method for washing? Meaning I should buy another bucket and grit guard, or keep using one bucket method with grit guard?

 

Most here seem to like the 2 bucket method