Detailing tips
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 643
Likes: 38
From: LA = Louisiana
Thought I would share a couple of mine............
1) 303 Aerospace Protectant -- This stuff is awesome to wipe down vinyl, leather, dash, and all the poly black bed rail protectors, tailgate cap, mirrors, XL/XLT door handles, etc. Natural shine ...... no greasy residue like Armor All. It has UV protectant and is primarily marketed at the higher end marine industry. I have bought mine at West Marine but the link above is at Wal Mart. I also saw it listed at Home Depot, etc. Not sure if these box stores stock in store or if they just make it available online ......... but...... it's great stuff. I learned about it years ago reading in a Jeep forum. (NOTE: You can prolly do your tires with it but I don't shine tires..... it's just not me. I use it simply for general wipe down cleaning and UV protection.)
2. Scrubbing Bubbles -- I recently purchased a replacement leather drivers seat bottom cover. I purchased it from The Seat Shop. Since I had never replaced seat covers before I watched a few of their videos on youtube. In order to restore the leather seat back cover to look as close to showroom as possible, they suggested cleaning the seat back (they did this in the process of replacing the bottom cover). They indicated that Scrubbing bubbles was the best thing they had found. Well, my seat back was fine but my adobe/tan door armrest was stained and with numerous attempts to clean it was still stained looking...... until I tried Scrubbing Bubbles. My driver side arm rest finally looks almost brand new (after 187,000 miles and 11 years). I have since tried it on the vinyl trim/seals on my garage doors where Clorox or nothing else would clean them. But...... Scrubbing Bubbles did. So if you have stained/mildew/etc area that nothing else will clean, try Scrubbing Bubbles. And it works real well on the leather soiled seat covers. Just spay, let set a few seconds, and elbow grease a 6"-8" square at a time. It works wonders.
That's about all I have but I would like to 2nd two previous mentions.
--Fabric Softer Sheets (Bounce, Downy, Dollar Store brand, etc.) - take one to the car wash next time you go. Once you wet the surface........ the dryer sheet can be used to remove every bug on the grill, bumper, headlights, etc. It is effortless. Learned this and been doing it for years.
--Invisible Glass - stuff works. The also sell some lint free shop towels in the roll at WalMart, O'Reillys, etc. that work well to keep from leaving so much debris behind cleaning windows. Newspaper works well for this purpose as well.
1) 303 Aerospace Protectant -- This stuff is awesome to wipe down vinyl, leather, dash, and all the poly black bed rail protectors, tailgate cap, mirrors, XL/XLT door handles, etc. Natural shine ...... no greasy residue like Armor All. It has UV protectant and is primarily marketed at the higher end marine industry. I have bought mine at West Marine but the link above is at Wal Mart. I also saw it listed at Home Depot, etc. Not sure if these box stores stock in store or if they just make it available online ......... but...... it's great stuff. I learned about it years ago reading in a Jeep forum. (NOTE: You can prolly do your tires with it but I don't shine tires..... it's just not me. I use it simply for general wipe down cleaning and UV protection.)
2. Scrubbing Bubbles -- I recently purchased a replacement leather drivers seat bottom cover. I purchased it from The Seat Shop. Since I had never replaced seat covers before I watched a few of their videos on youtube. In order to restore the leather seat back cover to look as close to showroom as possible, they suggested cleaning the seat back (they did this in the process of replacing the bottom cover). They indicated that Scrubbing bubbles was the best thing they had found. Well, my seat back was fine but my adobe/tan door armrest was stained and with numerous attempts to clean it was still stained looking...... until I tried Scrubbing Bubbles. My driver side arm rest finally looks almost brand new (after 187,000 miles and 11 years). I have since tried it on the vinyl trim/seals on my garage doors where Clorox or nothing else would clean them. But...... Scrubbing Bubbles did. So if you have stained/mildew/etc area that nothing else will clean, try Scrubbing Bubbles. And it works real well on the leather soiled seat covers. Just spay, let set a few seconds, and elbow grease a 6"-8" square at a time. It works wonders.
That's about all I have but I would like to 2nd two previous mentions.
--Fabric Softer Sheets (Bounce, Downy, Dollar Store brand, etc.) - take one to the car wash next time you go. Once you wet the surface........ the dryer sheet can be used to remove every bug on the grill, bumper, headlights, etc. It is effortless. Learned this and been doing it for years.
--Invisible Glass - stuff works. The also sell some lint free shop towels in the roll at WalMart, O'Reillys, etc. that work well to keep from leaving so much debris behind cleaning windows. Newspaper works well for this purpose as well.
Senior User
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 129
Likes: 1
Thought I would share a couple of mine............
1) 303 Aerospace Protectant -- This stuff is awesome to wipe down vinyl, leather, dash, and all the poly black bed rail protectors, tailgate cap, mirrors, XL/XLT door handles, etc. Natural shine ...... no greasy residue like Armor All. It has UV protectant and is primarily marketed at the higher end marine industry. I have bought mine at West Marine but the link above is at Wal Mart. I also saw it listed at Home Depot, etc. Not sure if these box stores stock in store or if they just make it available online ......... but...... it's great stuff. I learned about it years ago reading in a Jeep forum. (NOTE: You can prolly do your tires with it but I don't shine tires..... it's just not me. I use it simply for general wipe down cleaning and UV protection.)
2. Scrubbing Bubbles -- I recently purchased a replacement leather drivers seat bottom cover. I purchased it from The Seat Shop. Since I had never replaced seat covers before I watched a few of their videos on youtube. In order to restore the leather seat back cover to look as close to showroom as possible, they suggested cleaning the seat back (they did this in the process of replacing the bottom cover). They indicated that Scrubbing bubbles was the best thing they had found. Well, my seat back was fine but my adobe/tan door armrest was stained and with numerous attempts to clean it was still stained looking...... until I tried Scrubbing Bubbles. I have since tried it on the vinyl trim/seals on my garage doors where Clorox or nothing else would clean them. But...... Scrubbing Bubbles did. So if you have stained/mildew/etc area that nothing else will clean, try Scrubbing Bubbles. And it works real well on the leather soiled seat covers. Just spay, let set a few seconds, and elbow grease a 6"-8" square at a time. It works wonders.
That's about all I have but I would like to 2nd two previous mentions.
--Fabric Softer Sheets (Bounce, Downy, Dollar Store brand, etc.) - take one to the car wash next time you go. Once you wet the surface........ the dryer sheet can be used to remove every bug on the grill, bumper, headlights, etc. It is effortless. Learned this and been doing it for years.
--Invisible Glass - stuff works. The also sell some lint free shop towels in the roll at WalMart, O'Reillys, etc. that work well to keep from leaving so much debris behind cleaning windows. Newspaper works well for this purpose as well.
1) 303 Aerospace Protectant -- This stuff is awesome to wipe down vinyl, leather, dash, and all the poly black bed rail protectors, tailgate cap, mirrors, XL/XLT door handles, etc. Natural shine ...... no greasy residue like Armor All. It has UV protectant and is primarily marketed at the higher end marine industry. I have bought mine at West Marine but the link above is at Wal Mart. I also saw it listed at Home Depot, etc. Not sure if these box stores stock in store or if they just make it available online ......... but...... it's great stuff. I learned about it years ago reading in a Jeep forum. (NOTE: You can prolly do your tires with it but I don't shine tires..... it's just not me. I use it simply for general wipe down cleaning and UV protection.)
2. Scrubbing Bubbles -- I recently purchased a replacement leather drivers seat bottom cover. I purchased it from The Seat Shop. Since I had never replaced seat covers before I watched a few of their videos on youtube. In order to restore the leather seat back cover to look as close to showroom as possible, they suggested cleaning the seat back (they did this in the process of replacing the bottom cover). They indicated that Scrubbing bubbles was the best thing they had found. Well, my seat back was fine but my adobe/tan door armrest was stained and with numerous attempts to clean it was still stained looking...... until I tried Scrubbing Bubbles. I have since tried it on the vinyl trim/seals on my garage doors where Clorox or nothing else would clean them. But...... Scrubbing Bubbles did. So if you have stained/mildew/etc area that nothing else will clean, try Scrubbing Bubbles. And it works real well on the leather soiled seat covers. Just spay, let set a few seconds, and elbow grease a 6"-8" square at a time. It works wonders.
That's about all I have but I would like to 2nd two previous mentions.
--Fabric Softer Sheets (Bounce, Downy, Dollar Store brand, etc.) - take one to the car wash next time you go. Once you wet the surface........ the dryer sheet can be used to remove every bug on the grill, bumper, headlights, etc. It is effortless. Learned this and been doing it for years.
--Invisible Glass - stuff works. The also sell some lint free shop towels in the roll at WalMart, O'Reillys, etc. that work well to keep from leaving so much debris behind cleaning windows. Newspaper works well for this purpose as well.
Regarding all the plastics on the truck such as mirror caps, top of front bumper and all the plastic along the top of rear bumper and size rails etc, use this plastic cleaner/restorer. It will keep it bright and shiny and you'll only need to apply once every few months where armor all will fade after 3-4 days.
Good luck!
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 643
Likes: 38
From: LA = Louisiana
Regarding all the plastics on the truck such as mirror caps, top of front bumper and all the plastic along the top of rear bumper and size rails etc, use this plastic cleaner/restorer. It will keep it bright and shiny and you'll only need to apply once every few months where armor all will fade after 3-4 days.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Good luck!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Good luck!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,784
Likes: 8
From: Tomball, Tx
Thought I would share a couple of mine............
1) 303 Aerospace Protectant -- This stuff is awesome to wipe down vinyl, leather, dash, and all the poly black bed rail protectors, tailgate cap, mirrors, XL/XLT door handles, etc. Natural shine ...... no greasy residue like Armor All. It has UV protectant and is primarily marketed at the higher end marine industry. I have bought mine at West Marine but the link above is at Wal Mart. I also saw it listed at Home Depot, etc. Not sure if these box stores stock in store or if they just make it available online ......... but...... it's great stuff. I learned about it years ago reading in a Jeep forum. (NOTE: You can prolly do your tires with it but I don't shine tires..... it's just not me. I use it simply for general wipe down cleaning and UV protection.)
1) 303 Aerospace Protectant -- This stuff is awesome to wipe down vinyl, leather, dash, and all the poly black bed rail protectors, tailgate cap, mirrors, XL/XLT door handles, etc. Natural shine ...... no greasy residue like Armor All. It has UV protectant and is primarily marketed at the higher end marine industry. I have bought mine at West Marine but the link above is at Wal Mart. I also saw it listed at Home Depot, etc. Not sure if these box stores stock in store or if they just make it available online ......... but...... it's great stuff. I learned about it years ago reading in a Jeep forum. (NOTE: You can prolly do your tires with it but I don't shine tires..... it's just not me. I use it simply for general wipe down cleaning and UV protection.)
I've been using it on our motor coach tires....to prevent if not eliminate UV damage, and by all accounts it works.
I buy it by the gallon from ....you can buy a gallon (128oz) for about 40 bucks...thats about the same money as 2 sprayers (64oz) of 303 will cost you.
That's about all I have but I would like to 2nd two previous mentions.
--Fabric Softer Sheets (Bounce, Downy, Dollar Store brand, etc.) - take one to the car wash next time you go. Once you wet the surface........ the dryer sheet can be used to remove every bug on the grill, bumper, headlights, etc. It is effortless. Learned this and been doing it for years.
--Fabric Softer Sheets (Bounce, Downy, Dollar Store brand, etc.) - take one to the car wash next time you go. Once you wet the surface........ the dryer sheet can be used to remove every bug on the grill, bumper, headlights, etc. It is effortless. Learned this and been doing it for years.
save the old (used) dryer sheets and use them instead.I find that using a fresh/new dryer sheet makes the soap bubbles in my wash bucket diminish quickly.
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 643
Likes: 38
From: LA = Louisiana
I always get a new one. I wet/spray the front end first........ then I wipe/scrub bugs with dryer sheet....... then rinse. I never put it in a bucket.
Yes it makes a soapy like area where you're scrubbing..... but you just rinse that off. I find that once it looses the soapiness that it does not work as well. But....... willing to try it your way to check it out. Thanks!!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,784
Likes: 8
From: Tomball, Tx
I saw your note on that earlier and want to try it.
I always get a new one. I wet/spray the front end first........ then I wipe/scrub bugs with dryer sheet....... then rinse. I never put it in a bucket.
Yes it make a soapy like area where you are scrubbing..... but you just rinse that off. I find that once it looses the soapiness that it does not work as well. But....... willing to try it your way to check it out. Thanks!!
I always get a new one. I wet/spray the front end first........ then I wipe/scrub bugs with dryer sheet....... then rinse. I never put it in a bucket.
Yes it make a soapy like area where you are scrubbing..... but you just rinse that off. I find that once it looses the soapiness that it does not work as well. But....... willing to try it your way to check it out. Thanks!!
the effectiveness of bug removal with a dryer sheet is not based on its fabric softening & anti static ingredients. The effectiveness in bug removal is because the fabric sheet material (weave?) has an ability to pick up the bug when the cloth runs over the paint...kinda like a "clay bar".
dryer sheets is an old RV'ers trick for removing bugs off campers etc....use an old one, lubricate the dryer sheet w/ soapy water and you'll see that it is just as effective as a new/fresh dryer sheet.
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 2
From: Hatfield's side of river
For getting bugs off a chrome bumper and windshield (anything not painted), I take Dawn dish detergent on a soft wheel brush that is wetted and slobber it over them, then leave it soak while I wash the wheels and tires. By the time I get to them, they are softened and easy to remove with the same brush.
For the black trim around the bed and on the bumper. If it gets tired looking, I tape them off and shoot them with a dust coat of SEM brand bumper paint. They look brand new again. One can will last the life of the truck.
Be sure to clean the plastic parts well before dying them. Adhesion promoter makes it stick better.
For interior parts that are black but faded, the "SEM brand, Landau black paint" (its just black lacquer paint) works great. It has a nice sheen for interior parts. (satin) If you have black carpet that has turned light in spots. Just take this paint, shoot it on the spot and scrub it with a small brush. It brings the black coloring right back into the carpet. (great for baby puke stains and spilled baby bottles)
SEM also makes all the colors of our interiors, so you can re-dye door panels that are faded to look like new. Keep the coats very light, giving plenty of flash time between coats. Only use enough to make the color even, then STOP! The thicker it gets the less durable it is. Remember, this is nothing more than Lacquer paint. Lacquer dries very fast.
For the black trim around the bed and on the bumper. If it gets tired looking, I tape them off and shoot them with a dust coat of SEM brand bumper paint. They look brand new again. One can will last the life of the truck.
Be sure to clean the plastic parts well before dying them. Adhesion promoter makes it stick better.
For interior parts that are black but faded, the "SEM brand, Landau black paint" (its just black lacquer paint) works great. It has a nice sheen for interior parts. (satin) If you have black carpet that has turned light in spots. Just take this paint, shoot it on the spot and scrub it with a small brush. It brings the black coloring right back into the carpet. (great for baby puke stains and spilled baby bottles)
SEM also makes all the colors of our interiors, so you can re-dye door panels that are faded to look like new. Keep the coats very light, giving plenty of flash time between coats. Only use enough to make the color even, then STOP! The thicker it gets the less durable it is. Remember, this is nothing more than Lacquer paint. Lacquer dries very fast.
Cross-Country
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 91
Likes: 4
From: Capital Region, NY
Any good tips for sap removal? Glass is easy, a razor takes it right off, but obviously won't work with paint.
This year has been crazy with sap, must be all the rain I've been getting over the last 6 weeks.
Currently I've been trying Turtlewax Bug and Tar removal with mixed results. Some spots came off easily and others are not.
This year has been crazy with sap, must be all the rain I've been getting over the last 6 weeks.
Currently I've been trying Turtlewax Bug and Tar removal with mixed results. Some spots came off easily and others are not.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,382
Likes: 13
Any good tips for sap removal? Glass is easy, a razor takes it right off, but obviously won't work with paint.
This year has been crazy with sap, must be all the rain I've been getting over the last 6 weeks.
Currently I've been trying Turtlewax Bug and Tar removal with mixed results. Some spots came off easily and others are not.
This year has been crazy with sap, must be all the rain I've been getting over the last 6 weeks.
Currently I've been trying Turtlewax Bug and Tar removal with mixed results. Some spots came off easily and others are not.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 295
Likes: 3
Any good tips for sap removal? Glass is easy, a razor takes it right off, but obviously won't work with paint.
This year has been crazy with sap, must be all the rain I've been getting over the last 6 weeks.
Currently I've been trying Turtlewax Bug and Tar removal with mixed results. Some spots came off easily and others are not.
This year has been crazy with sap, must be all the rain I've been getting over the last 6 weeks.
Currently I've been trying Turtlewax Bug and Tar removal with mixed results. Some spots came off easily and others are not.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
From: Olive Branch, MS
Any good tips for sap removal? Glass is easy, a razor takes it right off, but obviously won't work with paint.
This year has been crazy with sap, must be all the rain I've been getting over the last 6 weeks.
Currently I've been trying Turtlewax Bug and Tar removal with mixed results. Some spots came off easily and others are not.
This year has been crazy with sap, must be all the rain I've been getting over the last 6 weeks.
Currently I've been trying Turtlewax Bug and Tar removal with mixed results. Some spots came off easily and others are not.
use a clay bar
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 12,339
Likes: 4,349
From: SW VA
An old Motorcycler's trick for removing bugs: Furniture Polish (Pledge or similar brand)
Go to the dollar store and buy the off brand (Homebright) Lemon scented furniture polish ('bout $1/can), spray on the bug spots and let it sit for a bit. Use a shop rag, dryer sheet, or microfiber to remove. It foams, so it will stay where you spray it.
Go to the dollar store and buy the off brand (Homebright) Lemon scented furniture polish ('bout $1/can), spray on the bug spots and let it sit for a bit. Use a shop rag, dryer sheet, or microfiber to remove. It foams, so it will stay where you spray it.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,834
Likes: 25
From: Middle Tn.
An old Motorcycler's trick for removing bugs: Furniture Polish (Pledge or similar brand)
Go to the dollar store and buy the off brand (Homebright) Lemon scented furniture polish ('bout $1/can), spray on the bug spots and let it sit for a bit. Use a shop rag, dryer sheet, or microfiber to remove. It foams, so it will stay where you spray it.
Go to the dollar store and buy the off brand (Homebright) Lemon scented furniture polish ('bout $1/can), spray on the bug spots and let it sit for a bit. Use a shop rag, dryer sheet, or microfiber to remove. It foams, so it will stay where you spray it.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 183
Likes: 2
Some of us are always looking for a decent car wax that will both protect the finish and will last. I'm willing to pay a little more for a good quality wax, however.... $2,499.99 for an 8oz can of automotive wax and paint coating? This might be pushing the limits...
Chemical Guys WAC314 - Innovate Paste Wax and Paint Coating (8 oz)
Chemical Guys WAC314 - Innovate Paste Wax and Paint Coating (8 oz)