Subaru Crew - Cleaning Interior & Exterior Surfaces

in Subaru
those cleaning needs of your Subaru.
Bonnie Rick
Town Hall Community Manager, Edmunds.com
Bonnie Rick
Town Hall Community Manager, Edmunds.com
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Comments
I pamper my Acadia Green '98 Forester L pretty well, but I'd be very interested to hear your tips and tricks, and perhaps share a few of my own.
Given that these vehicles tend to last a long time, and hold their value pretty well, how do we go about keeping their appearance up to snuff?
What kind of after-market goodies help keep them clean? Has yours held up well to snow and salt? What about abuse from kids and pets in the interior?
Please join us to share you experiences, and feel free to pose questions.
-juice
Garry from SCOA
www.subaruclub.com
I've also applied Scotchguard on the seats (when it was new). The fabric on my '98 Forester L seems to be water resistant, so you have some time to clean it up before it absorbs much of the spill (usually baby food or doggie puke).
I've used a spoon to remove the bulk of the spill, then a towel to wipe it. If needed, I'll apply some Scotchguard fabric cleaner, let it soak in a while, then wipe it clean again.
Despite regular abuse, the seats look great and there's no odor.
-juice
how often have you done it? Every 6 months? Is it easier to wash afterwards?
I got "the stuff" shortly after I got the Forester. I had intended to get it at the same time, but the expected "8 to 10 weeks" for delivery of the Forester turned into "under 6 weeks". So, I have only been using it for about two months now (all of Feb and Mar). My impression is that a good "coat of Z", if I may call it that, should last about 6 months.
The Forester came waxed with something (I have no idea what). I gave it the same treatment, but there was no obvious difference to my own untrained eye between the "before" and "after" on it. It does have swirl-marks -- I assume the dealer used a buffer to apply whatever it was -- so I should do a few more layers of Z5/Z2 and see if they go away.
Since I actually wash the car so rarely, it is hard to say how much easier that is, either. I did go ahead and apply a second layer of Z6-and-Z2 on the Acura this weekend, with a "Z7 wash" first, and the whole thing took about an hour (spray Z7/water mix from spray bottle, wipe down with towel, do the spray-and-wipe thing with the Z6, apply the Z2, and do one more wipe). The Acura is a lot easier to do than the Forester, though -- less surface overall, no roof rack, and the whole roof is easily reachable without opening the doors or standing on the mini-running-boards. (If I were taller than 5'10", maybe the Forester roof would be easier to reach. :-) )
Chris
Sounds like I wash more frequently, but you're more thorough each time you do it.
-juice
For those who are interested, I wash my Forester about once every two weeks and wax every other month. I always use Meguiar's products. Twice a year, I do the complete three-step process (cleaner, polish, wax). It really makes a big difference.
For those who know juice's homepage, you can find a picture of my black 98 Forester S right after the three-step process:
http://thejuiceman.homepage.com/friends.html
Ken
Now for my question, what have others used to clean the dashboard and window sill areas? The flat, slightly spongy surface is getting marked from my other interior cleaning. I tried just a wet rag, but that left white areas. Afraid to try anything else yet.
Thanks to all for great info.
Brett
People in general seem to recommend Lemon Pledge for vinyl interior surfaces. I do not have any so have not tried it.
Chris
-Howard
CR reviews car polishes in the current issue, but I have not had time to read it yet (all those guests are still here).
-juice
PS It hurt to see that the April NY car show was right near where we stayed and just about a week too late for me!
I usually hold my towel against the plastic near the windows before spraying.
Also, to Ken -- which Maguiar product do you use every 2 months to wax, in between the 3-step process?
Thanks, all.
Don't worry, I think I washed my Forester as much when I first bought it too :-). I now wash at least once every two weeks.
I use the "Deep Crystal System" series of products, including the wax. I use the wax paste (vs. liquid). You can find them at any Pep Boys or equivalent auto supplies store. I'd recommend getting a nice layer of wax on your brand new finish to keep it protected.
I don't use those self-service car washes so I'm not sure, but I would imagine the detergent probably isn't the best stuff available. Do you use any kind of wash mitt at the car wash or do you simply spray on the soap and spray off. Some dirt/contaminants may need a little coaxing to wash off sometimes.
In addition, my interior is beige and the lower door molding gets very scuffed up. I use just a little mechanics' hand cleaner w/ pumice and water. Takes all marks out without damaging molding. Also, those new Swiffer cloths work great for quick dusting of the interior (usually while I'm at a traffic light).
CR rated Zaino the top wax among those they tested, but different waxes had different advatanges, so there was no one clear winner.
For example, the Zaino wax didn't last long.
They didn't rate the 3 step systems, though they briefly wrote about them. They didn't like how much work it involved, though results were good overall.
-juice
I don't think CR tested Zaino.
Francisco
I agree with waxing twice a year. Though I wash regularly, so nothing stays on the paint for too long that could deteriorate the finish.
-juice
I usually end up also polishing my MX-6 once a year. Note that waxing and polishing are two different things. The latter actually takes the top layer off the paint, usually the part that has oxidized over the past year. The polish will help in restoring the lustre. I won't do this on my OB until I think the lustre is starting to deterioate.
I'm a real believer that wax prevents anything from eating into the paint, and it will also help in minimizing chips and "speckles" in the paint.
Waxing is a relaxing thing for me, so I like to do it whenever I have time to.
-- ash
Also, what are these Swiffers that were recommended for the interior? an auto product, or a general cleaning product?
Thanks, all.
The Meguiar's 3-step process consists of: 1)Cleaner, 2) Polish, & 3) Wax
The process takes a good whole days of work to complete. It's something that you'll probably only want to do 1-2 times a year. While it does take a lot of time, the results are better than what you can get with a 1-step cleaner wax, especially for darker colors. I became a believer after I used it on my black Forester last year -- it really deepend the gloss and shine.
I've heard that some two-step products like Zymol work well too. One less step could mean a lot more free time to kick back and enjoy the shiny new coat of wax.
As for Swifters, it's a household cleaning product. You can find it in any supermarket -- it basically a gauze covered with a light coating of wax. It does a great job of trapping dust and dirt.
NE ways, don't use cleaner until your car is more than 2 years old. Otherwise you will end up wiping some of your clear coat away and paint away!
Perhaps that's not the case for Carnauba-based waxes.
-juice
California Car Duster. Picked one up last week...talk about awesome!!! And to think that I wasted so much time washing my vehicles in the past because of dust build up! Now I dust my car in about 60 seconds!! I does not scratch (if used properly).
Stains: Here in Canada, we have a product called Folex. It is a biodegradble product which removes stains. For you Canadians, its available at Canadian Tire Stores. I have used it to remove salt, pen, grease, dirt and food stains from the interior of my vehicle (Geez...sounds like we live like pigs or something...actually...my car is spotless.....I blame any and all stains on my child...he he!). You spray, rub it in with your fingers then dab with a dry absorbant cloth and voila!! It has removed every stain that I have encountered so far. I use it every spring to remove the dirt and salt stains from the carpets in my OB.
thanks, ash
The same company also makes another great product called the California Water Blade. It's a big squeege made from soft silicone. It cuts down on drying time and towel usage.
different things. The latter actually takes the
top layer off the paint...<<
Nu Finish is called the once a year "polish", but it also says that it won't scratch your clear coat.
Dave
California Car Duster is available at Canadian Tire for about $21. I believe it is also available at Walmart but I didn't even think to check....it may be cheaper there.
Zaino is still avail only through mail order. In Canada, it is through Crown Emporium in Guelph. Go to www.zainobros.com and there is a link to the Canadian distributer. There you will find the info, tips, instructions and order forms. Took about 4 days to arrive once I faxed in the order. With tax...cost about $145 for the kit (clay, z1, z2, z5, z6, z7 & applicator). Pricey, but since you apply so little, I figure it will last me about a 3 years. The clay will last me much longer. I think $50 a year is a worthwhile investment for the shine and durability it has shown so far. Afterall, where talking about paying $50 per year to maintain a $30000 investment.
I guess I will know how confident I am about the car once I get it back. I'm willing to give it another chance though because I do miss it!
They have decided to ship the car back to me via Autohaulaway because I'm not about to take another trip down there from Kitchener-Waterloo where I live. Subaru Canada is paying for the transport costs.
My local dealer has offered me a "deal": anytime in the next 6 months I can trade in for any Subaru at invoice cost. (However, they will only give me black book value for my car, so it's not that great a deal really).
-- ash
Hold on the California Duster!!! I used it for the 3rd time last night. Afterwards, I was taking out some garbage and as I was passing by my OB admiring the shine, I caught a glimpse of a fine scratch on the hood. I nearly crapped!! Anyway, upon closer inspection, I began finding fine scratches in different sections of the car. At this point, I am quite confident that the Duster is the culprit. I am really, really pissed!!
I am going to do a test asap on a section of the car with no scratches. If some appear after dusting, the company is going to be hearing from me. BTW, I used it exactly according to instructions.
car with no scratches. If some appear after
dusting, the company is going to be hearing from
me. BTW, I used it exactly according to
instructions.<<
I've always thought that sounded like a risky way to clean a car. However, is it possible that it's just marks, and not scratches that you are seeing?
Dave
-juice
-juice
I've been using the CA Car Duster on my vehicles for quite some time now without any problems. One thing I always do before and after using it is to give it a good shake to remove any dirt that could potentially scratch the finish. Also, I use a pretty light touch (that's all you really need to get rid of dust).
Are you sure the scratch is from the duster?
I just discovered that some careless rear seat passenger has left an ink pen mark on the seat cover of my '00 Forester S. The mark is about 1/4 inch long and in light blue ink. Does anyone here have experience in removing ink stains from Soob seats? Any recommended approach(es)? Should I anticipate a problem with colorfastness? Thanks in advance for your help.
Ink: I use a product called Folex. Its biodegradable and takes out every stain, including inc. You see, my wife has long hair and often uses a pencil or a pen to hold it in a bun (this is one of my beefs). So after 6 months or so, I have to clean the pencil and ink marks off the headrest. Spray Folex on, rub it in with your fingers and watch it disappear. Then soak it up with a dry absorbant cloth by dabbing. I live in Canada...not sure where or if it is avail in the US.
-juice
Dave
I was very happy with the results, took about 2 hours or so.
Tried Armor All Wax on my wife's car (had it in a gift pack) and hated it. Consumer Reports had rated it highly, 4th overall, well ahead of the Meguiar's wax I used on my Forester. No comparison, what were they thinking? The Armor All is hard to apply, flakes off, and doesn't look half as good. Imperfections actually are MORE apparant than before.
I'm sticking with Meguiar's.
-juice
The verdict -- it works well. I was impressed with the way it got rid of fine scratches and deepend the gloss of my black Forester. I've always used Meguiar's products so I was a little skeptical on it's performance, but I'm now convinced it's a good product for regular maintenance of your paint.
Zymol seems more effective than the one-step Meguiar's Cleaner/Wax and a hell of a lot easier than the three-step process (cleaner, polish, wax). I think I'll keep using it for my monthly waxing and save the three-step jobs for once or twice a year.
Ken
Lucien: don't sweat it, that always happens. The local weather forecasters call my house and ask me if I washed my car to determine if it's going to rain. If I washed it, 60% chance of rain. Wax? Thunderstorms on the way!
Actually, it's a nice test of how well you applied it. Did it bead up nicely, and roll off the paint? I love seeing that. We've got so much pollen my Forester is filthy, filthy already.
What's that duster called again?
Denice: I believe paint needs up to 3 months to fully cure, but that's from the date of manufacture, so you're ready for the first application.
Let us know what you use and how you liked it.
-juice
The ink stain I reffered to in post #42 came out using Resolve fabric cleaner. Easy job.
As for waxing, I waxed my '00 Forester S last weekend for the first time (bought it mid-January) with Mother's Pure Carnauba. I'd like to avoid using any waxes with silicones in them if I can. There weren't really any scratches on the car to speak of, though I did get a tiny door ding in the LR door. The white paint came out easily with Meguiar's #26 Yellow Wax, but the miniscule indentation is still there (urgh!). Ah well, had to happen sometime, and as I've read elsewhere on the web, Soobs are like sneakers and hiking boots - best when dirty!