[Sirius Pipes]

Hey everyone! I've been a long-time reader but very recent register of the forums. I just bought a 3.5L 2007 Black Charger, and absolutely love it! I'm not going to ask what I should use to detail the car because I know you'll all say Adam's.

I'm new to cleaning cars to such extent as most of the people on this forum but I definitely want to take good care of my car. Until I can order some products from Adam, does anyone know of good waxes, polishers, clay to use on a black charger that I can purchase from Walmart or Autozone?

Remember I'm a pretty big newbie.. I've been looking over Adams videos to get a taste of what to do.

Thanks!

 

[CHARGERTREV]

I dont use adams(yet...), but get a nice soap and dont be drawn too all the "super wash your car once and never again" soaps. I like gold class soap, used it about the whole time I have had my car. And then use ICE on just about everything else.

 

[dellagratti]

id use meguirs tech wax 2.0 cuz the blk paint and micro fiber applicator, i get get concentrate simple green n a water bottle n do 50/50 mix with water. 2 wash mits- 1 micro-fiber for paint 1 whatever for wheels/wheel wells. tire brush. tire shine and a sponge applicator. several micro-fiber towels and regular towels. and an ABSORBER chamois

wash car with micro mit, rinse, then simple green wheels and wheel wells then scrub rubber with tire brush use other mit for rims and wheel wells. do a second rinse then dry with absorber. use reg towels to dry tires and door jams including trunk and gas door. apply wax accordingly, remember not to get it on blk plastic. let sit take off with micro towels then use a seceond 1 to buff and remove wax from door jams, handles, hood etc.. then use tire shine on sponge to put on tires. to shine rims i use windex, yep it works.

 

[y2kduc]

Welcome to the forums! I personally have used Mothers,Meguiars and Eagle One products all of which are available at the stores you mentioned. I am also a fan of the Absorber chamois and have had the same one for almost 10 years. One thing to always remember when cleaning/detailing a black car do it in the shade and make sure the car is cool to the touch,will make everything much easier. Good luck and enjoy the car!:bigthumb:

 

[Junkman2008]

The only thing I can tell you to look for is to make sure that whatever soap you buy, make sure it says that it contains wax. Other than that, I would not be much help.

 

[lovin' it]

The Meguiars or the Mother's products are nice.

 

[Junkman2008]

The Meguiars or the Mother's products are nice.

I would tend to agree that out of all the OTC stuff, I would stick with those names.

 

[Bunky]

Meguiars Gold Class soap has a good reputation. Be sure to mix it to the right dilution. WalMart does not many Mothers products. If you have a Pep Boys or O'Reillys nearby you have a lot more selection (Mothers brands).

For wash mitts, I like the genuine wool mitts sold by Advance Auto but the mf chenille (dreadlock style) are good too. As you wash, just be sure to keep them clean. Ideally you should use a second rinse bucket.

For microfiber, Kmart and O'Reillys carry the Viking brand. They have good mf towels and a large drying towel. The Absorber has a lot of fans but purists think the fact that it has no nap it can mar paint if there is ANY dirt remaining so you have to be sure to the paint is very clean unless you use the blotting drying method. You can add a detail spray (like Meg's or Mothers Showtime) to help minimize marring while drying.

For wax, Meg's NXT is a good OTC synthetic wax. It has very mild cleaners so should be used on paint that does not need any prep. My favorite OTC is Mothers Reflections but hard to find. Be sure to apply it thin as possible. I prefer good foam applicators to apply wax but they can be hard to find OTC.

Mothers has a nice detail guide at their web site that goes through good washing practices but the steps really apply to any brand.

I would be careful about some all purpose cleaners. Some react with some uncoated metals. It is best to test first especially on certain wheels. I recommend using a dedicated all type wheel cleaner since they are safer. Avoid the ones with acids intended for Chrome, etc.

Enjoy your new ride.

 

[Junkman2008]

... For microfiber, Kmart and O'Reillys carry the Viking brand. They have good mf towels and a large drying towel....

Now those things are total garbage and WILL scratch your paint. You're be better off ordering a few MF towels. At a price of two for $15 or even less if you use the forum discount, anyone can afford those. Everything else is all good.

 

[Midlife Crisis]

The only thing I can tell you to look for is to make sure that whatever soap you buy, make sure it says that it contains wax. Other than that, I would not be much help.

Really? could you explain please?

 

[Junkman2008]

Really? could you explain please?

The soaps that contain some form of carnuba are not as harsh to your paint and are less likely to strip the wax off your paint that you may have on the paint.

 

[Midlife Crisis]

Thanks for educating me :bigthumb:

 

[Leadfootluke]

Meg's Ultimate Compound and SwirlX [I believe] are a nice 1-2 combo for OTC paint correction. Since Adams Polishes nor Meg's professional line are available at Walmart, this will be a very close alternative.

 

[Junkman2008]

Meg's Ultimate Compound and SwirlX [I believe] are a nice 1-2 combo for OTC paint correction. Since Adams Polishes nor Meg's professional line are available at Walmart, this will be a very close alternative.

I would venture to say "alternative". I'd leave out the "close" part. :lol:

Meguiar's professional line (Mirror Glaze) is heads above their OTC stuff.

 

[07CHRGRSRT8]

Other than that, I would not be much help.

Never thought I'd see that coming from you, Junkman! All anybody has to do is search this forum or go on the Adam's website and you're there helping, so you're helping whether you try to or not!!!:bowdown:

 

[NightMare R/T]

I would just save up for Adams man. I kno you dident want to hear that but it's the truth. Your gonna spend X amount of $ on whatever you buy tgen spend Y on Adams later so your gonna waste X in tge long run.

 

[07CHRGRSRT8]

I would just save up for Adams man. I kno you dident want to hear that but it's the truth. Your gonna spend X amount of $ on whatever you buy tgen spend Y on Adams later so your gonna waste X in tge long run.

X2, and a little bit goes a long way if you use it correctly.

 

[Junkman2008]

Never thought I'd see that coming from you, Junkman! All anybody has to do is search this forum or go on the Adam's website and you're there helping, so you're helping whether you try to or not!!!:bowdown:

It's been so long since I've used OTC products that the only stuff I remember is what destroyed the chrome on my wheels (Eagle 1), and all the drippy wet wheel dressings that faded and damaged my paint around the wheels. There's quite a few products out there that fall in that category.

On the bright side, I always pick up a bottle of Armor-All and smell it when I see it. It reminds me of my first new car and all the fun I had in my 20's back in the 80's when the world was a lot less complicated.

X2, and a little bit goes a long way if you use it correctly.

 

[370 HEMI]

The sad thing about the stuff off the shelf is that they are manufactured with materials that really are not that great for you car at best, and detrimental at worst.

Junkman is right when he sais that things from Walmart are less than ideal. Silicone oils, petroleum distillates, n-propoxy propanol cleaners that are damaging to plastic to rubber and even the glue/backing on your carpet.

Obviously we make some products that are head and shoulders better than basically any others, but I am not going to hi-jack this thread.

Suffice it to say that what you pay for is what you get, and there is 2 levels of quality out there for your car. Retail and Commercial.

We and Junkman sell industrial materials that are worlds better than anything off the shelf!! On a car like a Charger or any LX, going cheap is very expensive indeed!

Regards,
Brian
BND Automotive LLC:driving:

440-821-9040

 

[Sirius Pipes]

I bought the only name brand microfiber towels I saw... They were made by Turtle. Should I return them? If it's actually going to damage my paint I don't want to use it...

As far as everything else I took your guys recommendations. I have a question though. What is the real difference between your Wax Paste and Buttery Car wax? I'm not really sure what the difference between paste and liquid is in the first place, but isn't paste of higher quality? And do manufacturers make special wax for black paint?