Perth-WRX.com - Cleaning Products Comparisons

So, thought I might try to contribute something that may be of benefit to others for once.
I have done another thread similar to this some time ago, but that was limited to polishes
and I have tried some more products since then.

I like to keep my cars clean, and as such I try out a variety of different products for
different applications. There are some members here who will swear by certain products,
some more expensive than others.

I am looking for the best products for a consistent finish that I deem acceptable,
whilst being readily available for a decent cost.

Here goes...

[COLOR="Blue"][b]Car Wash[/b][/COLOR]
[img] http://members.iinet.net.au/~david.christian/cleaning/Cleaning%20Products%20021.jpg[/img]

[i]Amour All Heavy Duty Car Wash[/i]
[i]Auto Glym Bodywork Shampoo Conditioner[/i]

I have in the past used generic dishwashing liquid when all else fails. Doesn’t really do
any harm, but I don’t recommend it. Leaves bad streaks if you don’t get it all off. I
generally use the two products pictured here. The Armour All does a fine job and you
don’t have to use a lot of it, but I prefer the AutoGlym. The AutoGlym seems to go
further and it is easier to wash all the suds/foam off with less streaks. I use a Karcher
high pressure sprayer with foaming attachment for both of these.

[COLOR="blue"][b]Polish[/b][/COLOR]
[img] http://members.iinet.net.au/~david.christian/cleaning/Cleaning%20Products%20001.jpg[/img]

[i]Kitten Cream Polishing Wax No.1[/i]
[i]Meguiars Deep Crystal System Polish[/i]
[i]Auto Glym Super Resin Polish[/i]
[i]Auto Glym Ultra Deep Shine[/i]
[i]NuFinish Liquid Car Polish[/i]

The key things I looked at when using each of these was
1) Ease in which the polish went on, and how far a 20c sized squirt went,
2) How easily is polished off again, and how much residue it left and
3) Smoothest finish to the touch.

Firstly I washed the car with the Karcher High Pressure Cleaner and the
Autoglym Bodywork Shampoo Conditioner.

[i]Autoglym Super Resin Polish[/i]
Glides on without much effort without having to use too much.
Comes off with very little effort and no residue leaving a great finish.

[i]Auto Glym Ultra Deep Shine[/i]
Glides on without much effort without having to use too much.
Comes off with very little effort and no residue leaving a great finish.
Pretty Comparable to the Autoglym Super Resin Polish.

[i]NuFinish Liquid Car Polish[/i]
Very similar to the Autoglym, again it glides on without much effort but
probably uses a bit more for the same amount of surface area.
Comes off with very little effort and no residue leaving a great finish.

[i]KITTEN Cream Polishing Wax No. 1[/i]
Goes on easily enough, spreads well, but takes a fair bit of effort to get it off.
Leaves a good finish but not a good as the previous two.
I went back over the areas where I used this with the Autoglym.

[i]Meguiars Deep Crystal System Polish[/i]
Goes on easily. Spreads well. A bitch to get off cleanly.
Leaves a chalky residue everywhere. Left faint swirl marks on the paint.
Needless to say I went back over the areas where I used this with the Autoglym.

[i]The Verdict[/i]
The Auto Glym's are pretty comparable to the NuFinish. Both left the car looking great.
The Kitten does a decent job, but takes a lot more work. The Meguirs is a waste of time.
Don’t bother with that particular Turtle Wax pictured either.
My pick is the Auto Glym Ultra Deep Shine.

[COLOR="blue"][b]Waxing and Scratch Repair[/b][/COLOR]
[img] http://members.iinet.net.au/~david.christian/cleaning/Cleaning%20Products%20016.jpg[/img]

[i]Mothers Pure Carnuba Wax[/i]
[i]NuFinish Scratch Doctor[/i]
[i]Kitten Polish + Touch Up Paint[/i]

For waxing I use Mothers Pure Carnuba Wax. It is easy to put on and take off.
Leaves a great finish everytime. Never had a need to try anything else. For
scratchs I use NuFinish Scratch Doctor. It is a great product which has given
me some really good results on light scratches.

Another technique I have found that works well is to use the Kitten Polish and
mix some touch up paint with it, then polish out the scratches. The Kitten polish
works well for this as it is a thicker paste style polish, rather than a liquid type.

[img] http://members.iinet.net.au/~david.christian/cleaning/Cleaning%20Products%20027.jpg[/img]

[COLOR="blue"][b]Rubber and Vinyl Cleaning[/b][/COLOR]
[img] http://members.iinet.net.au/~david.christian/cleaning/Cleaning%20Products%20004.jpg[/img]

[i]Armor All Protectorant Original[/i]
[i]Auto Glym Vinyl and Rubber Care[/i]
[i]Big Wipes Automotive Exterior[/i]

Like most I have used the usual Armor All Protectant for years. I then tried the Auto Glym.
The Auto Glym is a far better product. Works well and leaves a nice finish that doesn’t seem
as greasy as the equivalent Armor All Protectant product. It left a much more even and
consistent finish all the plastic/rubber surfaces. Smells better too.

The elcheapo Big Wipes are as expected...shit. They are realy only a cleaning product not
an ongoing protective product, so I use these mainly for mudflaps, inside wheel arches type work.

[COLOR="blue"][b]Wheel Cleaning[/b][/COLOR]
[img] http://members.iinet.net.au/~david.christian/cleaning/Cleaning%20Products%20006.jpg[/img]

[i]Meguiars Hot Rims Non Acid Wheel Cleaner[/i]
[i]Auto Glym Custom Wheel Cleaner[/i]
[i]Armor All Wheel Cleaner[/i]
[i]Meguiars Hot Rims Mag and Aluminum Polish[/i]

As most know I have OZ Racing Superturismos on my car. Usual story, whilst they look great,
they are a bitch to clean.

For general brake dust residue I can t go past the Armor All Wheel Cleaner. Simply spray on,
leave for a minute of two, spray off with the Karcher High Pressure. The brake dust just glides
off. The other work, but not as well. I finish off by adding Armor All Wheel Protectorant as well.

[img] http://members.iinet.net.au/~david.christian/cleaning/Cleaning%20Products%20012.jpg[/img]

I have some caked on brake dust that was on the rims when i purchased them, none of the
sprays or the polish will budge it.

[img] http://members.iinet.net.au/~david.christian/cleaning/Cleaning%20Products%20023.jpg[/img]

Next option to remove it with out damage/scratching the finish on the wheels is this...

[img] http://members.iinet.net.au/~david.christian/cleaning/Cleaning%20Products%20024.jpg[/img]

[COLOR="blue"][b]Glass[/b][/COLOR]
[img] http://members.iinet.net.au/~david.christian/cleaning/Cleaning%20Products%20003.jpg[/img]

[i]Amour All Glass Cleaner[/i]
[i]Auto Glym Fast Glass[/i]
[i]Windex[/i]

The Armor All and Windex work as expected. They clean fine, but trying to get a streak
free finish is painful. The Auto Glym Fast Glass is brilliant. It works so easily with absolutely
no streaking first time. Just make sure to use a soft clean dry cotton cloth or a microfibre
cleaning cloth.

DO NOT APPLY ANY OF THESE TYPES OF PRODUCT TO THE INSIDE OF YOUR WINDOWS
IF THEY ARE TINTED. The ammonia found in these will aid in the destruction of your tint film.
Just use a soft clean dry cotton cloth.

Some other cleaning products I have used that work well are...

[img] http://members.iinet.net.au/~david.christian/cleaning/Cleaning%20Products%20014.jpg[/img]

[i]Auto Gylm Leather Care Cream[/i]

[img] http://members.iinet.net.au/~david.christian/cleaning/Cleaning%20Products%20012.jpg[/img]

[i]Armor All Windscreen Wash Additive[/i]

For applications/buffing etc I use microfibe cleaning cloths and/or cheese-cloth.
I use a electric buffer to APPLY the polish, but remove by hand to make sure I get into
the difficult spots. Drying a generic synthetic chamois.

[img] http://members.iinet.net.au/~david.christian/cleaning/Cleaning%20Products%20028.jpg[/img]

Anyway, these are just my thoughts, by no standard a scientific measure, but may be
of use to someone, sometime, somewhere. Keeps my cars looking reasonable :D

[url]http://www.perth-wrx.com/vb/picture.php?albumid=13&pictureid=1544[/url]

Opinions/experiences welcome.