Need a deeper clean, just don't want to claybar

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kevreh

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What are the options for a "deeper" clean beyond a hand wash but not as in depth as a claybar? My '15 F100 has that slightly rough, not silk smooth feel. This is after washing and using Chemical Guys Butter Wet wax the other night. Is there a recommended cleaner that will help remove a lot of the crud sitting on the top coat?

FWIW, a few years ago I bought McGuiars Ultracut 105 and 205, and a Griots Random Orbital Polisher for another car. Could one or both Ultracut be used with minimal risk (swirls, halos, ...)?

Its been a while since I've read up on detailing, I've forgotten a lot of the techniques. I do remember that things like clay bar were very effective. Truth is, I just don't have the time right now.

Thanks!
 
There's really no such thing as a "deeper" clean. It's paint. You have surface contaminants bonded to the paint. Clay bar.
 
Ok, deeper isn't the right word. Maybe something along the lines of "more thorough". Is there a type of pad or soap that's more aggressive?
 
It's not the words, it's the idea. No, there's no soap that will more aggressively remove bonded surface contaminants. Get synthetic clay and clay it when you soap it. It really doesn't take that long. Most of your heavy contamination will be on the up facing surfaces.
 
there are plenty of clay 'pads' or 'towels' on the market now. They are somewhat tacky rubber-y material that replaces traditional clay and are faster/easier.
 
I don't like the Clay either. I just use a medium pad on a griots 6" polisher set at medium speed and use something like M205 meguires. That gets it clean enough for me, not interested in whats "detailer right". I do this about once a year, apply a si02 Wowa product every 3 4 months and i'm done. This is good enuf, my days of all day detailing are over:
 
Yes, sounds like you’re looking for something like McKee’s Coating Prep Polish, Pinnacle Paint Cleanser, basically any of those polishes that say they’re “paint cleaners”
 
I just used one of the clay mitts this past weekend, and I can tell you, I'm never going back to a clay bar again. I tried to do a fair evaluation, and I am estimating that the mitt did 90 - 95% as good a job as the clay bar, in about 1/3 the time. There's less chance of dropping the mitt, and although I didn't need to try this, as I understand, if you do drop it a thorough rinse will restore it to "safe" condition, while dropping a clay bar means tossing it out. I also feel I did a better job on the rocker panels and low on the front and rear bumper than with the clay bar.

I'm not an expert, believe me. But for me, your answer is a clay mitt. If you don't like that but are considering using a polisher, they make clay pads as well.

Good luck to you!
 
glen e said:
I don't like the Clay either. I just use a medium pad on a griots 6" polisher set at medium speed and use something like M205 meguires. That gets it clean enough for me, not interested in whats "detailer right". I do this about once a year, apply a si02 Wowa product every 3 4 months and i'm done. This is good enuf, my days of all day detailing are over:
Click to expand...

Looks like that works really well considering that Camero(?) Do you think the M205 could be done in addition to (before or after?) the synthetic clay bar (see below)? Guess I could do a test. Just worried about swirls with the 205 but that shouldn't really happen (?) since its for finishing.

Found this synthetic clay bar/pad (thanks for the idea Howard!): Griots Garage Brilliant Finish Synthetic Clay
 
Clay mitts are definitely the way to go. They're a H U G E time saver. I still use actual clay in tight spots where the mitt physically won't fit or trouble spots, but for the most part I just use the mitt. The one I have is designed to attach to a DA, but I just use the strap and attach it to my hand.
 
kevreh said:
What are the options for a "deeper" clean
beyond a hand wash...
Click to expand...
glen e said:
...something like M205 meguires.
Click to expand...
^^^:iagree:

Also, IMO:
A quality AIO/[Cleaner-Wax (or Cleaner-Sealant)]
is another option that will not only “deep” clean, but
will also remove many swirls, scratches and water-spots.


Bob
 
Have you used an iron-x type product to decontaminate your paint yet? This should remove the iron contamination that is causing some of the “bumpiness” on the paint.
 
I sure am glad I posted my original question. In a matter of an hour or two I learned about a number of products I wasn't even aware of. Really thrilled there's the clay towels and mitts that work almost as good as the bar but a lot less time consuming. 80/20 rule strikes again, lol.

Looks like I'll buy;

- A medium grade clay pad for my Griot polisher
- and/or a medium or fine grade clay mitt
- Probably a "cleaner wax". Don't really know what makes them clean exactly, looks like I'll be doing some forum searches and reading.

I really appreciate everyone's feedback.
 
A cleaner wax is just not necessary and an infefficient compromise Just use a finishing polish like 205, pinnacle, menzerna or a blackfire product. It's more effective and cleaner, it won't swirl anything,
use a softer pad if you're worried about swirls, speed around 2-3.

So wash, clay, rinse , polish and apply whatever wax or sealant you like......done for 6 months if you use a sealant, wax wont last anywhere near that long.
 
A fine grade clay mitt is what most people talk about liking. [I tried one once and IMO it was too fine and kind of weak for what I run into sometimes so I got rid of it]

Speedy Prep Towel is in between fine/med. grade and IMO is the best clay alternative for vehicles which are yours or aren’t too badly contaminated.

Med grade clay mitt works great and can power through moderate/heavy contamination way faster than regular clay. I wouldn’t be without it but that’s only it you’re working on other peoples vehicles at least once in a while. [because other peoples vehicles tend to be trashed when it’s time to clay]

Med grade clay pad. IMO thing should be reserved only for the super thrashed [think worktruck] vehicles and you can be almost guaranteed it’s going to marr the paint and marr it hard. I’ve never seen 1 used where it didn’t marr it extreme. I wouldn’t use that thing, certainly wouldn’t ever think to use it on my vehicle. It’s overkill.
 
Claying is not something you should be doing all the time. Keep in mind, I typically don't clay or use a nano-skin fine grade mitt unless I'm "prepared" to do some form of correction.
There are two types of washes - Aggressive and Gentle

The Aggressive Approach to Washing a Car

Typically my aggressive is:

- Wheels / Wheel Wells, engine bay
- Decon to remove tar, bugs etc along front of vehicle, lower rockers - This can be with McKee's Bug Scrubber and Tarminator
- Iron-X or McKee's Iron Decon ---> Don't rinse off, go right to the foam cannon.
- Wash
- Clay - Nano Skin Clay Mitts or Griot's Garage Clay Mitts
- Inspect paint
- Test spopt ---> there is nothing worse than spending time to do the entire vehicle using a polish or cleaner wax, only to find your correction was minimal
- Polish as required, could be a cleaner wax, or dedicated polish such as 205. Or, depending on inspection and expectations, it may be a two step as required.
- Wipe Down
- LSP


For maintenance, there is the Gentle wash: How to wash a coated car - The Gentle Approach for Washing a Car by Mike Phillips

Every every week or so, a wash and blow dry should suffice, perhaps a topper of an LSP... --> Maintenance washes

Honestly if your thorough on the major, your maintenance washes should be quick and easy and if gentle enough, you should not require majors less than annually.
 
rlmccarty2000 said:
Have you used an iron-x type product to decontaminate your paint yet? This should remove the iron contamination that is causing some of the “bumpiness” on the paint.
Click to expand...

Now admittedly, in my area we deal with very little iron fallout. Mostly on cars we do that came from the midwest. But I've found that often times the iron x type product will remove the iron but not necessarily remove the tiny imperfection in the clear. We still have to lightly clay.
 
In addition to all the synthetic clay suggestions, don't overlook the Nanoskin sponges for tight areas. :xyxthumbs:
 
glen e said:
I don't like the Clay either. I just use a medium pad on a griots 6" polisher set at medium speed and use something like M205 meguires. That gets it clean enough for me, not interested in whats "detailer right". I do this about once a year, apply a si02 Wowa product every 3 4 months and i'm done. This is good enuf, my days of all day detailing are over:
Click to expand...

It takes 3x longer to polish a car then it does to clay it.

Edit 10x longer
 
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