Pre polish prep, interior dressing?

[mwemaxxowner]

Hi guys. I have a few questions.

1) I am gearing up for my first ever polish. I have 5.5" lake country pads, and plan to use McKee's AIO. My plan for prep is Ironx foam cannon soap and a nano skin mitt. There are some stubborn bug guts, and something like tar or sap in a few places. I have been told mineral spirits are good for those tough stains and safe for the paint prior to the polish.

What says the experts?

2) I really love the look of armor all. But I know it's rough on plastic long term. What is an AGO quality product I can use on the interior as a dressing that is safe. Not super oily looking, but maybe just a satin esque dress.

3) What should I do in these intricate areas? Around the grille, inside those headlights, tricky spots on painted bumper? I bet the 5.5" pads will be tough. I've thought I might just hand polish there? Those spots aren't in too bad o' shape, and won't be as visible as the swirls in the paint on open panels.

Thanks for any and all tips guys. I'm nervous, but I can't swallow $600 to pay for something I know I can do. It doesn't have to be show quality. Just a nice looking daily driver that doesn't show water spots and swirls in bright light.

 

[Italiano]

I'm a BIG fan of the Stoner Car Care line of products. Tarminator works on the bug guts and tar, while their Trim Shine works wonders on my interior.

 

[GSKR]

For the interior there are two products in mind.Chemical guys silk shine or meguairs hyper dressing which is versatile on engines tires wheel wells and interior.comes in a gallon so you can dilute it for your liking.Hd speed will work great on that project,then top it off with Gyeon can coat you will be very happy with the durability.

 

[briarpatch]

Meguiars Natural Shine.....low shine, water-based...dries quickly. Available at your local WallyWorld for 5.00 for 16 oz bottle....to me, one of the best values in an interior dressing

 

[mwemaxxowner]

Forgot to mention in the OP, but I'd also be interested in products to maintain a black appearance on exterior trim.

 

[briarpatch]

I've had success lately with Blackfire Total Trim Sealant...using it on mud flaps...its holding up well

 

[mwemaxxowner]

Thanks everybody.

What about #3? That's really my biggest concern.

 

[custmsprty]

The Armor All thing is an "Urban Legend."

Think about the average person who pics up bottle of Armor All at the local discount store. hey probably sell hundreds of thousands of bottles a year. If it were "bad" for interiors surely after all these years their would be a few class action lawsuits out there for damages.

The AA urban legend is on par with "Dawn Dish-washing Soap" Urban Legend.

However, that being said, I prefer Chemical Guys Silk Shine Dressing. I have at least 15 different interior dressings and it's still my all time favorite.

Buy a gallon you'll be happy in the long run:

Chemical Guys Silk Shine Dressing & Protectant

And BF Trim Sealant is excellent and easy to use. I have plastic trim all the way around my Rogue. It lasts months even in the summer rains down here in Florida.

http://www.autogeek.net/wolfgang-trim-sealant.html

 

[mwemaxxowner]

I don't know. I've seen some pretty dried out old interiors that were always treated with a silicone based spray. One can argue that it would have anyway.

I'm not sure how someone with a 10+ year old car could truly prove in a lawsuit that a dried out interior was due to the silicone based product.

 

[custmsprty]

I don't know. I've seen some pretty dried out old interiors that were always treated with a silicone based spray. One can argue that it would have anyway.

I'm not sure how someone with a 10+ year old car could truly prove in a lawsuit that a dried out interior was due to the silicone based product.

This is a 5+ year old article on silicone and the role it plays in detailing products written by none other than our resident guru Mike Phillips.

This should help debunk the "Urban Legend"

Thanks Mike.

 

[briarpatch]

Thanks everybody.

What about #3? That's really my biggest concern.

I'm unfamiliar with how much of that front end is grille and how much isn't....my guess is you'll have to invest in smaller pads/backing plate or do them by hand for now

 

[CC268]

Ewww Armor All! Nooooo! I love the McKees Interior Cleaner and Protectant...awesome stuff. I use Wolfgang Trim Sealant or 303 Aerospace for exterior trim...both are great.

 

[Ancient1]

On my brothers truck I did a 1st step with Menz sf4000 with a white pad and topped that with a essence followed with reload. For the grill and wheels I used hydro2 and all the plastic trim and windshield I used WG uber coating the running boards got some sonus motor & trim kote. For the tires I used some Tuf shine coating. I wish I had a few more pictures of it but when I was getting close to done I jumped off the tail gate and aggravated my back so final pics are missing just have a few while close to done. The picture of the front end I took just to show my bro I could fit it in the garage. The interior was done with WG Cockpit Trim Sealant

 

[mwemaxxowner]

This is a 5+ year old article on silicone and the role it plays in detailing products written by none other than our resident guru Mike Phillips.

This should help debunk the "Urban Legend"

Thanks Mike.

Now you're gonna make me SEARCH! Oh the HORROR!

Haha. I'll look it up for sure. It'd be real nice just to pick armor all up off the shelf.

 

[mwemaxxowner]

On my brothers truck I did a 1st step with Menz sf4000 with a white pad and topped that with a essence followed with reload. For the grill and wheels I used hydro2 and all the plastic trim and windshield I used WG uber coating the running boards got some sonus motor & trim kote. For the tires I used some Tuf shine coating. I wish I had a few more pictures of it but when I was getting close to done I jumped off the tail gate and aggravated my back so final pics are missing just have a few while close to done. The picture of the front end I took just to show my bro I could fit it in the garage. The interior was done with WG Cockpit Trim Sealant

Hey that's a nice truck .


All of the front end is painted, even around the grille and inside the lights.

The only thing not to polish is the horizontal bars.

Is there a coating I can use over the McKee's AIO? I know it coats