Recent content by iroc86

A few years ago, I posted a question about cleaning a vehicle in a harsh desert climate. You all offered some great suggestions, and since then, I have upped my game around my detailing process and also learned a bit more about the water composition in my area. I'm following up to ask about...

I'm battling a similar issue since moving to the desert. Hard water, increased UV at high elevation, and constant sunshine has made it very difficult to keep up with the water spots on my vehicles. I agree that avoiding the root cause is probably the best solution. I've essentially had to do the...

Yeah, I've had a love-hate relationship with the water blade over the years. Scratching has always concerned me, but when I don't use one, I end up saturating five or six oversized MF towels with water (and leaving thin water streaks which evaporate/spot really fast). Here in the desert, I've...

The rear wheel wells in my VW are also felt lined. I think they do it for sound dampening, although it does make cleaning a bit difficult. I typically spray some APC on the felt before I clean my wheels, letting it sit and absorb into the fibers. Then, a few minutes later, I'll rinse it with the...

Lots of great tips and suggestions--thanks so much everyone! Sealants and coatings have been on my radar since moving here, although I had no idea that my "go-to" carnauba waxes wouldn't hold up in this environment. I've never used sealants or coatings before (aside from Sonax BSD, which isn't...

Another update here. I've been using ONR rinseless washes for the last month or so in an effort to combat the hard water in my locale. So far, this has worked fairly well with the suggested ratio (0.5 oz/gal) and distilled water from the supermarket. I'm fairly certain that this process is not...

Thanks for the tips, guys. Glad to have some options here! I'll report back when I've had a chance to try out some of the ideas. As much as I'd like to have the dealership fix this, I don't think it's going to happen. I bought this car from out of state (due to a lack of availability in my...

I can also attest to the 303 Automotive Trim Restorer being a pretty decent product. It takes a little care to apply, though--when the instructions say about wiping off any excess with isopropyl alcohol that happens to get on a non-trim surface, they mean it. It does not come off paint without...

Having lived in Pittsburgh myself, I clayed my daily driver about once a year, as well. It seemed like a acceptable interval in that environment. I also don't do the baggie test, instead just rubbing my hand over the surface of clean paint and feeling for inconsistencies. As a reality check...

I'm curious if anyone has tips for fixing or hiding buffer "burn" marks on plastic trim. I recently took delivery of a new car and noticed a pretty conspicuous mark on the plastic fender cladding, most likely caused by the dealership during delivery prep. It's clearly from a rotary buffer. I...

Just thought I'd post back with an update. I reached out to a few companies that sell pro detailing products and they all pretty much agreed that the tap water here is the big enemy. The sun is obviously brutal too, but without a good contaminant-free baseline, there's not a whole lot I can do...

I must have missed your questions when I responded earlier, sorry! Good thought. There's a small municipal airport nearby, but it's just small prop planes. No jets or anything like that. Very low use. For an LSP, I have two coats of 3M Show Car Paste Wax on each vehicle. Probably not the...

Thanks for the ideas so far! I did try a coat of wax on the glass after polishing, but it didn't have any effect. I was using 3M Show Car Paste Wax, which I know is a lot different than a sealant, but I figured it was worth a shot. This is the same wax that's currently on the paint where I'm...

Without polishing: Wash car with shampoo (currently Meguiar's Gold Class). Rinse and dry car. Clean glass separately (currently Sprayway Glass Cleaner, but I bought some Sonax to try the next time around). With polishing: Wash car as per the above. Rinse and dry car. Polish glass with foam...

I recently moved to northern New Mexico and I'm having a tough time keeping my cars clean. I read a few posts about detailing in the desert, but the climate here is a bit unique compared to the stereotypical "desert." I'm at high altitude (7000+ feet) with mountains, pine trees, wind, and lots...