Hey Team,

I know several threads have been devoted to car cleaning and car detailing but I think there are many of us (or perhaps just me) who would like a streamlined, step by step "quick" (1-1.5 hour or less) solution for making your 911 look amazing. Money's journal is incredible, but I don't have access to a private garage full of 100 chemicals and a hose... I live in a condo with a private shared garage, and frankly I'm just not going to turn my condo into a detailing shop.

I was wondering if y'all could make your recommendations on the best value for an interior vacuum cleaner and any other interior cleaning products you recommend. Also I've seen two websites (chemical guys & auto geek) that sell starter kits including buckets, cleaning cloths, cleaning liquids, etc. for like $ 50-100. Is there one kit that people recommend or are they just huge rip offs? What is the list of "must-have" cleaning equipment?

Basically I'm looking for a "dummy" solution that won't take forever and won't require a hose. I still haven't figured out how people cleaning dirty wheels without a pressure washer, hose, etc so maybe I'm just screwed and need to follow Money's advice.

 

I get a lot of products from The Chemical Guys. Their rinseless and waterless washes are fantastic products. Also, I use a Dyson cordless hand vac for my carpet and interior.

 

Did you pick up your car yet? I know you were going to check it out. Any update?

 

I like to know how people feel in general about rinseless washes. I live in the city and have my car hand washed every few weeks. What I hate is when I get bird crap on it and then have to wipe it off with water until I have time to wash again. I would think the waterless sprays are perfect for that. But I still have a hard time imagining people wash their entire cars with it. It's just psychological maybe, but I imagine dirt being wiped all over the paint and scratching it??

 

I use chemical guys for as much as I can, what they don't have I go to amazon and start searching. Chemical guys is good for Microfiber towels (all the different kinds).

Don't waste your time on the "kits".. Just make a list of stuff you need, order from Chemical Guys (or whoever) and amazon..

Stuff I'd get:[LIST]
- A variety of standard microfiber towels (get an array of colors and use them for different stuff so you don't cross pollinate).
- Waffle weave microfiber towels for doing windows.
- Tire Applicators (to dress tires)
- Streak Free window cleaner
- Large Waffle weave microfiber if you dry with it (I don't see my comment below about Airmax.
- Fine weave microfibers for applying polish/wax etc.
- P21 Total Body wash.. Great degreaser.. Spray in wheel wells, on engine then wash off.
- 303 Aerospace protectant (for tires, rubber and weatherstripping).
- Wheel Brush (although I think a heavy sponge works fine)
- Einzett C0ckpit premium (for cleaning gauges, PCM touch screen, center console. basically anything you touch).

- Vacuum isn't that big of a deal.. Any shop vac with a long hose (and something soft so you don't scuff up car). .Main thing is getting a good wide mouth attachment for carpets and interior as well as thin one so you can get down in places. Home Depot has anything you need here.

- Airmax (or equivalent) So you don't have to wipe the car down. It not only keeps from swirling your paint but it is quick and does a great job of getting all the places you never can get.
- CR Spotless... Once you use this you will never go back.
- Lamb/sheeps wool mit or a good microfiber mit. (I use one from Chemical Guys).
- Two home depot 5G orange buckets.


So here is my procedure. Typically a good clean takes me about 1.5 hours. And if I'm in a hurry I can abbreviate and get a quick external wash in about 30 minutes.


1) Depending on how long its been and if I've driven a lot Spray P21 in wheel wells, engine anywhere you get build up. I usually only do this step periodically. (0 - 5 minutes)

2) Rinse down wheels. Then fill a bucket with same cleanser used for car. Use Wheel brush and sponge to wash. Then rinse off. (5 min to 20 minutes depending on how dirty)

3) Initial Rinse of car, followed by two bucket method of wash using microfiber mitt (or lambs/sheep mit). Work from top of car down to bottom... (10 to 15 minutes)

4) Rinse car (3 - 5 minutes)

5) Use Airmax Blower to dry car dry (10 minutes)

6) Clean external windows with streak free and waffle microfiber. (5 to 10 min)

7) Dress tires with 303 Aerospace protectant and tyre applicator. (5 min)

8) Wipe down of rims with microfiber towel.. The brake dust just seems to leave a film that must be wiped off. (5 minutes).

At this point done with exterior (other than if I am waxing or applying nano-coating).

Interior now

9) Vacuum if needed (1 or 2 minutes) if dirty or been a while remove matts and vacuum (5 minutes)

10) Use Einzett ****pit premium.. spray on microfiber towel and clean PCM touch screen, gauges, steering column, center console. Give a wipe down of steering wheel. (5 minutes)

11) Clean interior windows (if needed 5 to 10 minutes depending on how much).

12) Wipe Aerospace cleaner on weatherstripping, rubber parts in door jams. etc.

That's pretty much my non-wax routine.. I tend to often just hit the outside and if I'm really in a hurry don't even do the wheels. I can do just the outside in about 30 minutes. When I do a complete job about 1 hour. And when I do a nano-coat refresh that's another half hour.

 

I won't do it. Mainly because you have to blot or wipe dry.. I will not put a drying towel on my paint/clear bra surface. I only use airmax/blower.

I minimize any abrasion or touching the surface to the following:

1) Wash Mit (sheep/lambs wool) or microfiber.
2) Claying occasionally
3) When waxying/applying nano-coat refresh..

 

Scatkins -- have you ever tried www.DetailedImage.com?

They are great plus have amazing Pro write ups.

 

No I haven't.. But thanks, I gave them a quick look and they look pretty good.. I liked some of their writeups. They have a nice detailing guide... Saved a link for them to my desktop..

steve..

 

Scatkins - thank you so much that's incredibly helpful!

STG - So I'm flying to Houston tomorrow morning and plan to spend the morning/early afternoon at the dealership checking out the car. My sales rep said that they have replaced the front spoiler lip & fixed the "rash" on the rear wheel. I'm really hoping that I like the car because I have yet to find another CPO 991 with this set of options for 90k. If all goes well they'll ship it out closed container after I leave. I'll definitely post some pictures if I decide to pull the trigger. Even at 34, I still have an overwhelming amount of child-like excitement about getting my first Porsche.

 

www.adamspolishes.com

watch the videos they have on proper washing polishing waxing etc, i have used just about every brand of product on the market including the ones mentioned here and I prefer Adams products to them all.