How to correctly use an AIO or Cleaner/Wax by Mike Phillips

M

Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.

Active member
Joined
Dec 5, 2022
Messages
51,004
Reaction score
6
How to correctly use an AIO or Cleaner/Wax by Mike Phillips


I type about this topic all the time so while I'm thinking about it here's a dedicated article on how to use a one-step cleaner/wax also called an AIO or All-in-One.

Just to note, an AIO and a Cleaner/Wax are they same thing or same category of product.


It's real simple....

You use a one-step cleaner/wax the same way you would use a compound or a polish.


That is, you use the product heavy or wet. Not PEA SIZED DROPS --> that's ridiculous. You need some amount of product simply to lubricate the surface AND have both enough abrasives and any other cleaning agents ON THE SURFACE working for you as you correct paint.


Amount_of_CW_01a.JPG


Amount_of_CW_02a.JPG


Amount_of_CW_03a.JPG


Amount_of_CW_04a.JPG




Lots of pads
You also need lots of pads. Just like using a compound to correct a car's paint, when using a one-step cleaner/wax you need a lot of buffing pads. When using a product heavy or wet the pads are going to become wet or soggy fairly quickly. When a foam pads become wet it becomes USELESS. This means you're wasting time and in most cases destroying the pad as a wet pad hold in heat more than a dry pad. It will also take you longer to buff out a car because the pad is no longer doing correction work. And to top it off, your results won't look as good than had you switched to a clean dry pad often.

I recently used a jeweling wax, (like a cleaner/wax only finished out better and more consistently on a wide spectrum of paint types), and look how many pads I used to do the job a fast as humanly possible while working safely and maintaining pro results.

71_Vette_007.JPG




I cover this topic in all my classes, yes, even the boat class. See my Sig Line and click the link for more info...


:)
 
I have been lurking on Autogeek for almost 2 years but I have never posted before. I have wanted something easier to keep my daily driver looking the good but am not striving for perfection. Due to overwhelmingly positive reviews I recently bought Blackfire one step. I have the Griots 6 inch polisher and am wondering what pads you feel are best with this all in one. The griots orange foam or black foam? I have a 2015 Honda Accord with black paint that scratches if you look at it. I plan on going over with the griots sealant that I have.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Autogeekonline mobile app
 
jschleezy said:
I have been lurking on Autogeek for almost 2 years but I have never posted before.

I have wanted something easier to keep my daily driver looking the good but am not striving for perfection. Due to overwhelmingly positive reviews I recently bought Blackfire one step.

I have the Griots 6 inch polisher and am wondering what pads you feel are best with this all in one. The griots orange foam or black foam?

I have a 2015 Honda Accord with black paint that scratches if you look at it. I plan on going over with the griots sealant that I have.
Click to expand...


I'd get the Griot's Orange pads. Once you break one in it will soften it down and it should work perfectly fine on the paint on your Honda.


Thanks for finally joining in on the fun!


:)
 
When it comes to a cleaner wax type products verses and all in one, they are similar or the same type of thing, correct? Would an over the counter Meguiars cleaner wax or Mothers California Gold cleaner wax still be able to be used like an all in one on a DA polisher?
 
lovenhim said:
When it comes to a cleaner wax type products verses and all in one, they are similar or the same type of thing, correct?
Click to expand...

A cleaner/wax and an AIO are the EXACT SAME THING. Both of these products will do 3 things,

1: Clean or "correct" the finish.

2: Polish the finish to create gloss and clarity.

3: Protect - This means the product will leave something behind that is NOT water soluble that will protect the finish and hold up at least fro some measure of time to water. Water means washing, the rain or wiping with a spray detailer, waterless wash or rinseless was.



lovenhim said:
Would an over the counter Meguiars cleaner wax or Mothers California Gold cleaner wax still be able to be used like an all in one on a DA polisher?
Click to expand...

Yes. Both Meguiar's and Mothers make great one-step cleaner/waxes and unlike MOST of the products on the shelves of you local auto parts store, they actually state in the words on the label what they are and by doing so they tell you what they do.

Most product don't use the words cleaner/wax or cleaner/sealant or AIO on the label but then again, most of the masses don't know half as much as you so it doesn't matter.

For example - Nu-Finish is a one-step cleaner/sealant but the NAME on the label doesn't state this... if you read the description it does tell you it removes oxidation and this is a sign of a cleaner/wax or cleaner/sealant.

Make sense?

I have a very in-depth article on this topic and you'll never find this kind info on FB


:)
 
Mike Phillips, how would you work a Cleaner Wax "Past " type .
 
Steelman said:
Mike Phillips, how would you work a Cleaner Wax "Past " type .
Click to expand...

Same way, paste wax version don't work as well by machine in my opinion and experience.

With past you don't have "liquid" versions of the lubricants, cleaners, solvents, etc., whatever is in the liquid version.

The liquid versions are simply better at the correction portion of the process.


What are you using that's in paste form?


:)
 
Hmmmmmm.......... Looks like around 20 Mike??

I feel vindicated in my past posts about using upward of 20 pads now. :dblthumb2:

My results come out SO much better when I swap pads like a mad man. Just sayin'.
 
Mike I'm using Mothers Brazilian Carnauba Cleaner Wax (Past). I have put it on like regular past wax. Will now buy the liquid Cleaner/Wax. Thank you Mike.
 
PaulMys said:
Hmmmmmm.......... Looks like around 20 Mike??

I feel vindicated in my past posts about using upward of 20 pads now. :dblthumb2:

My results come out SO much better when I swap pads like a mad man. Just sayin'.
Click to expand...
That does sound like a crazy amount. With you thought - as soon as my pads look too dirty or start to get that packed-with-product look I swap them. Could be 1/2 panel depending on how dirty the paint is. I tend to brush my pads as I go. My average is probably ~8 per vehicle.
 
Hazcat said:
Man, I have to get more pads.
Click to expand...


Stevedotmil said:
Don't we all? Don't we all?...
Click to expand...


I do think that pad quantity is one of the most under focused on portion of proper correction work, as least when it comes to foam pads.

Pads work better for correction, polishing and when using an AIO when they are dry. As they become wet they become dramatically less efficient at whatever it is you're trying to do.


:)
 
So Mike a quick question

previously you stated to a Honda owner with soft black paint to use an orange pad, I have a 15 Black Mustang Gt would you recommend orange pads as well?

My car looks good from 10 feet away but when you get up on it you can see the swirls. I have a GG Da with a 5.5 backing plate.

I currently have 3 orange foam pads, 4 green and 4 white but will be getting additional before I buff out in a couple of weeks.

Thanks
 
Start by doing a Test Spot.

Test a polishing pad and then a cutting pad.

:)

bodavenport said:
So Mike a quick question

previously you stated to a Honda owner with soft black paint to use an orange pad, I have a 15 Black Mustang Gt would you recommend orange pads as well?

My car looks good from 10 feet away but when you get up on it you can see the swirls. I have a GG Da with a 5.5 backing plate.

I currently have 3 orange foam pads, 4 green and 4 white but will be getting additional before I buff out in a couple of weeks.

Thanks
Click to expand...


66242d1554134392-how-correctly-use-aio-cleaner-wax-mike-phillips-hydro-blue-jpg
 
hdspeed recommends the drops. what's with the discrepancy? Similarly I've done 3 to 4 drops for mk360 with great results. Now I'm not using pea size drops (more like quarter sized blobs), but also nowhere near what you have on that second pic.
 
Belo said:
hdspeed recommends the drops. what's with the discrepancy?
Click to expand...

Could be the way 3D formulates their polishes? I believe they say similar with their 3D/HD Polish. From using that one, I use a few drops, no priming, and start buffing. Seems to work for me.

With Poorboy's World Polish with Sealant, I do more like Mike's picture with the circle of product. That polish seems to work that way.

If in doubt, test by trial!!! :)


Here's a pic of the 3D guys using 3d Speed. Not quite 3 to 4 drops. Not quite a full circle.

 
There's lot of rainfall in my area. I have white car and I am sick of traffic film.
So I usually use two either finishing polish to remove traffic film before applying finishing wax/sealant.
Other times I just use cleaner wax when I am in hurry.

But this worries me a lot related paint thickness. So my question is how often cleaner wax could be used? Can we use it every month on daily driver? Won't it reduce paint thickness if we use it with such regularity?

There is lot of information about AIO and cleaner waxes on the internet. Everyone explains how to use it. Best technique, pads, etc but no one discusses how often could it be used.
 
Mike Thank you for the thread. It makes sense. I have been using an AIO like a wax; I'll try using it more like a compound with more pads. Thank you you again.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top