Starting Over - Help Me Build a Kit!

[AfroPope]

Hi folks,

I used to be quite into auto detailing and was absolutely militant about, if nothing else, keeping my own car clean. Unfortunately, I moved into an apartment with nowhere to wash my car, life caught up with me, started a business, etc etc etc, and now all of my product is at least 3-4 years old, most of it probably needs to be tossed, and I am embarrassed to say that I don't think my car has been washed in about two years. Fortunately it isn't HORRIBLE, I've kept up with minimal amounts of dusting, vacuuming, stain removal, etc, but it definitely needs some work.

I will likely bring it to a professional to get me started with a clean slate, but after that I'd like to get enough stuff together that I can start doing the maintenance work again.

So, I'd like help picking whatever products are the best bang-for-the-buck. I am a hobbyist, not a professional, and will in all likelihood not be doing any machine polishing, ceramic coating, etc etc - it's a Ford Fiesta with 70,000 miles on it that I drive around in the woods and mountains a lot and haul music gear around in. I just don't have the time or energy to fight against entropy to the degree that would be necessary to keep it pristine. I would also like to buy local where possible, but I have access to a lot of great stuff locally, including Adam's, Griot's, Koch-Chemie, Gyeon, and of course the usual OTC stuff like Meguiar's, Mother's, TW, and Duragloss.

Here's what I am thinking, but if there are new latest-and-greatest since I got back into the game let me know.

Car Wash: Thinking I'll just go with Adam's, though I've heard good things on here about the Turtle Wax Slick-n-Slide Pure Wash, which is $20 a gallon vs $40 for Adam's.
Pre-Soak: Given how filthy the thing is, I'm thinking I will need a pre-soak in the foam gun. Bilt Hamber Touch-Less? Something else?
Interior Cleaner: Koch-Chemie Pol Star. I have the Fiesta ST with the leather Recaro seats, which are incredibly temperamental, and I've heard good things about this stuff.
Interior Protectant: 303, as always.
Glass Cleaner: Invisible Glass, as always.
Wheel Cleaner: Sonax? Is that still the gold standard?
Iron/Rust/Fallout Remover: I definitely need one as I live between two train tracks in the industrial district, but I don't know what the good ones are these days.
Clay Lube: ONR? I've also heard good things about ADG Wipeout.
Clay Bar: Are people still using those kind of abrasive sponges? I could buy another. I was satisfied. Whatever. Let me know.
Wax: Poorboy's Natty's Blue (or black? The car is dark grey and is parked on the street).

Any recommendations for the "open" categories like Pre-Soak, Clay Bar, and Iron/Rust remover? Anything I'm forgetting? Anything I put on the list that I can do way better for the money?

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[dlc95]

If it were me, I'd do somethings simple and fun, like DIY Detail, or Optimum.

I use Optimum for both personal and business purposes, I would probably do the same with DIY.

Meguiar's and Duragloss was my favorite back in the day, and I'll still use them from time to time.

CarPro also has a really nice set up for the more traditional style of maintenance. I loved their Clean Slate, Reset, Multi X, and Ech2o. I prefer rinseless, personally so I just use ONR in place of soap. If I need to presoak I use Power Clean 5:1, or sometimes 3:1. They have the clay towel that works great with ONR or Ferrex. It's a very gentle towel too.

That's just a bit of my experience. There are guys here with way more experience, and probably better results than I get too. I'll enjoy reading their suggestions too.

P.S. nothing wrong with your proposed liste either. Looks great!

 

[Coatingsarecrack]

For iron remover I usually would buy a name brand on sale. I stayed away from Adam’s because although cheap I hear it’s weaker than most.

My favorite right now is Blackfire because they actually recommend using on dry car and I get alot of purple.

DIY is popular as you can use as clay lube.

I have Labocosmetica Sidero and think it will be my new go to because it attacks limescale as well.

Clay bar I use both real and synthetic. I like Griots synthetic clay puck and just got the Rag Company ones as I’ve heard good things. For regular clay I use Meguiars or Mothers whatever available close… otc.

For pre wash yeah I’d look at BH Touchless (alkaline) periodically. For more often use Griots Surface wash is probably best PH neutral. It’s also cheaper than my PH neutral bucket soaps (CP Reset,Tac system mystic bubble BH auto wash).

I liked all those soaps better than the Adam’s blue but it was good stuff.


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[Coatingsarecrack]

Oh also if seats are finicky try leather honey or leather masters cleaner. I have semi Aniline seats and what I settled on. Both have work well.


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[Uncbrs]

If you wanted to try to keep it all to one brand for simplicity, I think you could look to something like

Armour Detail Supply

They cover about every needed category. However, they don't have a wax offering. That said they do have some sealant and ceramic spray options. They also offer a clay mitt over over traditional clay.

I've used most of their stuff and it all works well. It's fairly easy to navigate but I don't know if it's the best priced. I'm sure they'll run a sale sometime soon (Father's Day or July 4) and do have a free shipping threshold if you spend enough.

It's hard to stay to just one brand but they've simplified it quite well over the past 2yrs.

EDIT - Sorry, not sure it'll be local unless you live in Florida. Sounds like you've got some good brands locally though!


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[AfroPope]

Alright, well, here's what I ended up with.

Koch Chemie Green Star and Pol-Star for the interior, Green Star will also be used in the engine bay and as pre-soak at a different dilution
Gyeon Tar Remover and Spray Detailer/clay lubricant for my nanoskin sponge, which as best I can tell still works fine
Chemical Guys Medium Clay Kit for extra "oomph" - CG generally sucks, I know, but I've been very satisfied with their clay in the past.
Adam's VRT Graphene, Wheel and Tire Cleaner, Graphene Tire Dressing, and Iron Remover (I'm aware it's weaker than others but I'm thinking combined with the clay bar and Gyeon tar remover I'll be fine).
Turtle Wax Hybrid Slick and Shine PH Neutral Soap
Leather Honey
Natty Blue Paste Wax
303

and a bunch of towels, brushes, and applicators from the Rag Company, who presumably did not mean for their 20% off july fourth coupon to stack with their 40% off clearance bundles.

All told I'm in for under $200, or about $150 shy of what a pro detail would set me back without machine polishing. Oh yeah, plus $4.50 for a vinyl decal of a bandaid to put over the big scuff on the front bumper.

On a daily-driven Ford Fiesta with 70k on the clock, I can live with that.

Stoked to have the car cleaned up. Doing a bunch of work on Thursday - brakes, fluids, spark plugs, re-installing the mudflaps, doing the filters - and then cleaning it up next week when it's not 100+F in Portland. Might post some before/afters.

Stay cool everyone!

 

[Coatingsarecrack]

Nice hall. All looks good. Some peeps here don’t think an Iron remover is necessary so I think you’ll be fine with the Adam’s


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[Uncbrs]

Down the rabbit hole you go! You'll be filling up a cart at PolishAngel in no time...

Only thing left now is to share pictures once completed. Have fun!

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[AfroPope]

Alright, here's a few before/afters. I wish I'd taken some REAL befores, but I did a pretty big interior detail job last month and did some cleaning-as-I-went when doing a brake job last week. But still, I'm MORTIFIED that I let my car get this dirty as I used to be militant about keeping it clean.

Not perfect - there's definitely some etching and contamination that would need to be machine polished out and I need to take care of two rust spots on the roof that are very common on this car (around the antenna and at the top of the rear hatch) but overall, pretty big difference. Also, my mother generously allowed me to use her shady driveway and asks nobody judge her messy garage as she's in the middle of several landscaping and renovation projects.

BEFORE:

AFTER: