Detailing: Where to Start?

[JonFull2015QX70]

In my continuing mini-blog posts of returning my (new to me) CPO 2015 QX70 to showroom glamour, er quality; where do you start "detailing" once you've brought your new babe home? Well, truth be told, I literally started not far outside the parking lot of the dealership...lol.

I'm a bit OCD, so first thing I did was to pull into a vacant lot and immediately went to work on cleaning the steering wheel first with Lexol Leather Cleaner to remove all the grime I knew was there, but hard to see with a naked eye. Following this, I used Lexol Leather Deep Conditioner. to recondition the leather. shine, soften and add a layer of protection I just knew was lacking. (use your favorite leather cleaner/conditioner; I've used Lexol products for 15 yrs; a mid-level product that I've found to be moderately priced for the quality).

The photos attached are first close-ups of the left/right side of the steering wheel, the microfiber cloth I used to clean the steering wheel with a little elbow-grease.

Amazing how much grime is own a vehicle for sale from the dealership, even after it's 175+ point-inspection! Enjoy detailing!

 

[jumbosrule]

So you already know a lot about detailing?

I got lost on autogeek.com for a couple years. Now, I have a chemical guys pretty close to me so I've been trying out some new stuff.

First thing you should do - totally my own opinion - is wash the whole car with a wax stripper (like dawn dish soap). Then clay-bar every inch of it, do a full polish and a full sealant.

Then, start your normal wash/wax routine after that. Once a year, I try to repeat this whole cycle.

 

[JonFull2015QX70]

Now, I have a chemical guys pretty close to me so I've been trying out some new stuff.

First thing you should do - totally my own opinion - is wash the whole car with a wax stripper (like dawn dish soap). Then clay-bar every inch of it, do a full polish and a full sealant.

I agree; I didn’t want to do the dawn wash and clay at yet because the vehicle had a good coat of wax from the dealership, so once I strip it off and claybar, I want to have enough time left to paste-wax as well; I’ve mainly been concentrating on those items not typically care for well by owners, such as the seals and channels to all openings of doors, hood, lift gate, gasoline cap interior, wheel-wells, behind the wheel spokes, etc.

What’s Chemical Guys? Like an Autozone, which is what I have near me; and I agree with you, I’m trying out some new products too, like 303 Cleaner & Protectant. I’m trying to find a product that doesn’t leave streaks on interior black plastic on the dash. Any suggestions?

Just never enough time...lol!

 

[AlabamaDan]

You will be amazed at how the paint feels after a clay bar. I thought mine fresh from the dealership felt good, then I clay'd it and now it's like WOW.

 

[jumbosrule]

Chemical guys is a real brick and mortar store entirely dedicated to detailing products; they just opened multiple stores across the US.

Car Wash, Wax, Polishes, Microfiber Towels and Best Auto Detail Supplies - Chemical Guys Professional Car Care Products - Wholesale and Retail

Some of the synthetic sealants work better than the waxes for protection and longevity, so many people do both. Sealant as the protective layer, then a paste wax or other wax as a sacrificial layer and also for gloss.

I've dabbled with many different products and I did like the way Klasse AIO protects and makes my next wash easier. I like SONUS products for how easy they are to apply and remove. I like Meguire's back to black for all the dark trim peices on the car, and I use Lexol in the interior like you.

 

[JonFull2015QX70]

Hoping to do some this weekend to either my QX or the other half’s Lexus. Also need to get there oxidation off my headlight covers; the toothpaste trick only lasted a few weeks, and the WD-40 onl

 

[JonFull2015QX70]

Awesome to know; Appears only one location in Atlanta and a good 40 kind from me; that’s. Good thing! Used a quick-clean ClayBar today (Mother’s Claybar 2.0) on the other half’s Lexus sedan; all I can say is wow! You are so right, jumbo!! The difference is incredible (to touch); I actually was just stripping off the old wax, grime and crud off (washing with Dawn!) tinready for paste wax this weekend; was shocked the claybar removes some serious black marks on the lower trim, plus old paint splatter from the windows and doors on right side; incredible! Amazing what it could do to the wheel-wells and fenders/trim that wraps into the wheel-wells. I’ll post photos later when home.

 

[AlabamaDan]

I told you, the clay bar process is amazing!!