What products do you use to clean you cx5?

B

bbtfastback

Member
:
2016 CX-5 GT Tech
Specifically I'm looking to clean the following and looking for options including product and products to apply it with (shammy, etc)
Interior
- dash
- gps screen
- gps housing
- leather seats
- windows

Exterior
- wheels
- plastic trim (bottom of car) - I use magic eraser
- metallic car body
- windows
- grill
- lights

Thanks guys!
 
bbtfastback said:
Specifically I'm looking to clean the following and looking for options including product and products to apply it with (shammy, etc)
Interior
- dash Meguiars All Purpose cleaner to clean and 303 Aerospace protectant to protect. Optimum protectant plus is another nice protectant with some mild cleaners in it
- gps screen A mist of water and wipe with a clean Microfiber towel
- gps housing Not sure exactly what you mean but either the protectants listed above or the water and micro fiber
- leather seats Again the 303 aerospace protectant or the optimum Protectant Plus. The seats are a bonded leather, meaning they have a coating on them to add longevity to the leather so treat it just like vinyl. Any leather conditioner would work as well but won't actually get into the leather because of the coating
- windows A light mist of water and a clean mirco fiber towel works amazing. For really dirty windows some general purpose ammonia free glass cleaner. Do the windows first with a clean microfiber so you don't smudge the windows as cleaning

Exterior
- wheels Meguairs All Purpose cleaner for light duty and Meguiars hot wheels for heavier duty, spray on, agitate with a wheel brush and rinse off. I also wax my wheels once or twice a year but they are the painted 19' wheels on the GT
- plastic trim (bottom of car) - I use magic eraser Meguiars All Purpose cleaner to clean (APC) and 303 protectant to protect. Turtlewax Jet black endure shine is great for restoring faded trim and I regularly use either turtle wax Ice wax or Meguiars Ultimate Liquid wax, both of which are fully synthetic polymer sealants and safe on the trim (no white residue) on the trim when "waxing" the car.
- metallic car body Im a big fan of the synthetic polymer sealants, although most are labeled as a "wax" for marketing reasons. The synthetics tend to last longer and are easier to apply then natural Carnauba waxes. Carnauba Waxes give a nice deep shine but don't last long and can spell trouble if you get them on the trim. A little peanut oil or a pencil eraser will get it off though. I'm really liking the Meguiars Ultimate liquid wax right now. very easy to put on and gives the closest finish to a carnauba wax from a synthetic that I've found. For Carnauba I like Meguiar's Gold Class wax. But I highly recommend staying with the ultimate liquid wax, it's so much easyier.
- windows Clean with water and a micro fiber or glass cleaner, same as for the inside. Rain-X isn't bad but I find that the Trico View glass treatment works better and lasts longer. It use to be called aquapel, its the same stuff just rebranded since trico bought aquapel
- grill Same as the rest of the body, what ever wax you decide to go with.
- lights Mequiars headlight protectant or the synthetic waxes work well. any of the headlight restore kits are pretty decent.

Thanks guys!
Click to expand...

I will also add that the Meguiar's gold glass car wash is pretty decent stuff or the Duragloss Car wash, both can be found locally. Use a soft microfiber mitt or a good quality sheep wool mitt and the two bucket wash system when hand washing the car. A good quality waffle weave drying towel or a large high pile microfiber towel for drying. I would not use one of those water blades to dry anything but the windows, never on paint and stay away from leather chamois as well, they can scratch. The platinum series drying towel at walmart is what I use along with the Meguiars water magnet towel.
 
A tip for cleaning windows, is to use news paper to wipe! Comes out smudge free.

For dash/plastic part (not windows, or GPS screen) I use Armor All Detailer. It doesn't leave that over shiny look, and wont dry things out like normal Armor All.
For the seats I use Meguairs leather/vinyl quick wipes once a month to just pull up dirt.

The out side; I kind of gave up years ago trying to constantly hand wash/wax my cars. Twice a year I will hand wash with Meguairs car wash, and apply Prima Epic.
 
Car washing: Meguiar's Ultimate Wash & Wax. A wash brush hooked up to a hose. Wheel brush. Bug sponge. Microfiber towels. Car wash bucket.

Drying: Leaf blower to remove water in intricate spots such as grille, tires and wheels, emblems, and inside doors/hatch. Microfiber Towels.

Waxes: Collinite 845 wax diluted in reverse osmosis water in a spray bottle. Sprayed onto car while still wet from washing. Wiped dry with microfiber towel.

Windows: 3M Glass Cleaner-08888. Those free harsh paper towels from gas stations intended for use with their grimey squeegees.

Interior/plastic trim: 303 Aerospace Protectant.

Tires: Armor-All Extreme Tire Shine Gel, tire gel foam applicator.

Wheels: Post-wash microfiber towels get soaked into bucket. Rinsed with hose to get clean. Repeated after cleaning each wheel. After cleaning all wheels, towel is thrown away.

Vacuum: Eureka Mighty Might.

Other: Mother's Claybar kit.

Future products to be used: Optimum No Rinse wash and wax. Magic eraser on windows.
 
CX-5um said:
Car washing: Meguiar's Ultimate Wash & Wax. A wash brush hooked up to a hose. Wheel brush. Bug sponge. Microfiber towels. Car wash bucket.

Drying: Leaf blower to remove water in intricate spots such as grille, tires and wheels, emblems, and inside doors/hatch. Microfiber Towels.

Waxes: Collinite 845 wax diluted in reverse osmosis water in a spray bottle. Sprayed onto car while still wet from washing. Wiped dry with microfiber towel.

Windows: 3M Glass Cleaner-08888. Those free harsh paper towels from gas stations intended for use with their grimey squeegees.

Interior/plastic trim: 303 Aerospace Protectant.

Tires: Armor-All Extreme Tire Shine Gel, tire gel foam applicator.

Wheels: Post-wash microfiber towels get soaked into bucket. Rinsed with hose to get clean. Repeated after cleaning each wheel. After cleaning all wheels, towel is thrown away.

Vacuum: Eureka Mighty Might.

Other: Mother's Claybar kit.

Future products to be used: Optimum No Rinse wash and wax. Magic eraser on windows.
Click to expand...

So good tips there, I forgot to mention clay bar in my first post. I also use Meguiars Endurance Tire shine gel on the tires applied to a foam tire applicator. The ones at Walmart are the same as the Carrand ones from amazon FYI.

And Magic Eraser for the windows? Really, I've never heard of that, does it work well? I also have a bottle of Optimum No Rinse waiting to be used during the winter months so I can still wash the car when It's cold outside and I don't have a hose.
 
Here's a good video explaining proper technique for washing a car. It's a bit lengthy but gives a lot of good pointers on how to properly wash a car and why you'd use some of the products and tools. I will admit that some of what the guy uses can get a bit excessive and expensive. The Lug nut brush is $60 and I don't think I'd ever get a water filtration system for my hose to wash the car. Maybe is I owned a high end Ferrari or something but I don't ever see that happening.

http://www.ammonyc.com/detailing/best-carwash-technique-15-steps-tools/
 
Ride92 said:
And Magic Eraser for the windows? Really, I've never heard of that, does it work well?
Click to expand...

I just came up with the thought while posting. I used it to polish up chrome fixtures in bathroom and remove soap scum from shower glass door (with CLR). I figure hey lets see if it makes the windshield cleaner. Specifically old water spots, bug guts, bird poop, ect. Sure enough folks in detailing forums had been using it on windshields for years now.
 
bbtfastback said:
Specifically I'm looking to clean the following and looking for options including product and products to apply it with (shammy, etc)
Interior

Dash - California Car Duster (mini for interiors), Meguiar's Kwik Interior Cleaner, or Lexol Vinyl Cleaner, 303 for UV protection
Gps screen - spritz of Invisible Glass sprayed on a microfiber, wipe down
Gps housing - 303
Leather seats - Zaino Z-10 Leather In A Bottle or Lexol
Windows - Invisible Glass (sprayer bottle)

Exterior

Wheels - Meguiar's Hot Tire Wheel & Tire Cleaner, Zaino AIO to protect
Plastic trim (bottom of car) - Lexol Vinyl Cleaner, 303 to protect
Metallic car body - Clay bars, Zaino Z-7 (car wash) Zaino AIO, Zaino Z-2&5, Zaino CS, Zaino Z6&8 (detail sprays), Menzerna Intensive Polish and Menzerna Final Polish with a Porter Cable orbital buffer for paint corrections. Tarminator Bug & Tar Spray when needed. High Quality microfiber towels for all hand work. It all depends on the condition of the finish what to use.

Windows - Invisible Glass (sprayer bottle)
Grill - same as metallic car body
Lights - Zaino Z-7 car wash, Zaino Clear Seal for protection

Thanks guys!
Click to expand...
 
I give a thumbs up to the Magguiers ultimate liquid wax. I clay bar the car once a year in the spring (after a wash) after our harsh winters before I apply the polymer wax.
 
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Just picked up some 303 protectant, armorall cleaning wipes (to clean before protectant) and glass cleaner. I would like to do some sort of protectant outside, but not sure what. I am not the type to go and wax my car all the time (or even do too many hand washes) so looking for something simple and long lasting. Any suggestions? Fastwax? Nu Finish?

Just posted a new thread for this one here: http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123853002-Long-Lasting-Wax-Sealant
 
Last edited:
holyninja3 said:
Just picked up some 303 protectant, armorall cleaning wipes (to clean before protectant) and glass cleaner. I would like to do some sort of protectant outside, but not sure what. I am not the type to go and wax my car all the time (or even do too many hand washes) so looking for something simple and long lasting. Any suggestions? Fastwax? Nu Finish?
Click to expand...
Collinite 845! Lasts a really long time. Order it off amazon or something. I've really been liking the meguairs ultimate liquid wax. It can be applied everywhere and wipes off super easy.
 
Check out products from Griot's Garage - I like their wash, wax, and polish products, as well as their smudge remover for removing love bugs and bird bombs. I've found their wheel cleaner and leather car products to be pretty good as well.
 
- dash: meguiar's quik interior detailer
- gps screen: meguiar's quik interior detailer
- gps housing: meguiar's quik interior detailer
- leather seats: meguiar's quik interior detailer
- windows: stoners glass cleaner

Exterior
- wheels: meguiar's D114
- plastic trim (bottom of car) - Blackfire all-in-one trim & tire protectant
- metallic car body - meguiar's D114, also coated with opti-coat pro.
- windows: meguiar's D114
- grill: meguiar's D114
- lights: meguiar's D114
 
I recommend optimum no rinse wash and wax (ONE) (green colored ). There are many ways to use it but I find that the two bucket method works well along with having a prewash spray of ONR in a spray bottle with a higher concentration. When I spray that on and wait 30 seconds I can see the dirt and grime melt off my door.
 
1. Migliore Ultimo Clay Towel: For cleaning the car. Although $$$, lasts FOREVER multiple iterations. It lasted me literally 5 years, twice yearly.
2. Migliore Strata Coating: Fantastic finish, extreme hydrophobic. Lasts like new even after 15 months. Best part: dust/water literally falls off the surface and my 8 year old is able to apply it! Bottle lasts 2 to 3 times.
3. If I have to go to some place and I need a really glossy finish (for example: when I take my wife to meet her parents, ugggh) ... Migliore Endurance Spray Quick Detailer
 
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