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Subaru Crew - Cleaning Interior & Exterior Surfaces

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  • dan2001dan2001 Member Posts: 17
    I have my new 2001 LLBean and I accidentally let my shoe hit the inside door. Now I have a scuff, I really barely touched it. Any suggestions on cleaners? I really love the car and don't want to ruin it.
    Thanks in advance!
    Dan
  • evilizardevilizard Member Posts: 195
    Is it dirt or is it a scratch?

    If its dirt good old soap and water should do. Mix a little in a bowl and use a sponge. If its persistant try a toothbrush.

    If its got some oils in it try Alchohal based windex (the green stuff) or a diluted concentration of Simple green. I usually use the windex since I have tinted windows. I have found that simple green can leave a film on clear items. No prob on plastic though.

    If you want to be kind finish the job off with a little Vinyl treatment/conditoner of your choice.
    Don't forget to rub down your leather seats every now and then!

    On my VDC I discovered that I was getting the trim on the bottom (the part you step over to get into the car) dirty all the time. So I got some clear contact (shelf) paper and applied it. had to stick to to the paint and carpet around the trim as it won't stick to the trim itself. Too bad thats not an option with the door.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I've used a product called Super Clean IIRC, and it seems to clean the plastic bits in the interior pretty well. I get an old sock and turn it inside out and wear it on my hand, and by the time I'm done it looks filthy. So it must be working.

    -juice
  • brekkebrekke Member Posts: 304
    does anyone use the California Car Duster(or whatever it's called) I picked one up at KMart but now I'm having second thoughts about using it.
  • originalbitmanoriginalbitman Member Posts: 920
    I have two and love them. My GT wagon doesn't get the garage so I have a car cover for it. After a wash whenever I park it on the driveway and it is still clean but dusty I give it a quick once over with the duster before I put on the cover. Keeps dirt and dust from getting embedded in the cover and the rubbing on the paint. I also use one for my Stude PU which is in the garage and seldom gets real dirty. They work great for picking up dust and light dirt without rubbing on the paint. They are also great for interiors. Plus along with being OCD I'm in California and they are required by law.

    bit
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    I'm also another law-abiding CA resident and can vouch for the Duster's performance. It works best when the weather's been dry and you have a good coat of wax on your paint -- it just lifts the dust right off.

    Just remember to take it out of it's packaging and let it sit out overnight before it's first use. There's a very light coating of wax on the Duster that needs to dry.

    Ken
  • brekkebrekke Member Posts: 304
    thanks for the tips.

    (I'm sorry, but I haven't been able to figure out what "OCD" means. D'oh!)
  • 1subydown1togo1subydown1togo Member Posts: 348
    Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
  • mrdetailermrdetailer Member Posts: 1,118
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I believe he was joking. Since he's OCD, he has to have one. Get it? :-)

    -juice
  • originalbitmanoriginalbitman Member Posts: 920
    Obligatory California Duster.
  • stiv1stiv1 Member Posts: 3
    Just wondering if Klasse is available in auto stores or is it
    by mail order only. I searched around a bit and cannot
    find it locally thus far. I was hopping to wax the ride this
    weekend...
  • yellowbikedonyellowbikedon Member Posts: 228
    Steve,

    Klasse All-in-One #M661 ($22.95) and High-Gloss Sealant Glaze #M662 ($19.95) or the Concours Kit (both) #M663 ($39.95) can be ordered from Herrington in New Hampshire. Their number is 1.800.622.5221 for all orders. From what I can gather, shipping is an additional $8.95.

    Just happened to receive their catalog the other day!

    Don
  • mikenkmikenk Member Posts: 281
    Lots of discussion plus links to buy stuff is over at autopia-carcare.com. The detailing forum is amazing as to the level of detail on alternatives, what to get, and how to use it. I have decided to go the Klasse route on my new VDC; a next week project.

    Mike
  • speterson1speterson1 Member Posts: 228
    I think most of the internet prices for Klasse are roughly the same, I know www.properautocare.com also has three different sizes bottles of Klasse you can buy if you want to check them out. Also may want to check out the CrystalGlo product I mentioned in post #595, much less well-known than Klasse but cheaper and supposedly the same type of product.

    Steve
  • mrdetailermrdetailer Member Posts: 1,118
    Klasse, and other products are basically a type of plastic. Won't it yellow in a real world, vs a show care scenario?
  • hciaffahciaffa Member Posts: 454
    I do alot of auto detailing and it is true that some specialty waxes that have or leave an acrylic base can yellow in the sun or over time especially on a lighter paint. Try to use a wax or polish that has a polymer. Better protection and vertually no yellowing
  • mrdetailermrdetailer Member Posts: 1,118
    I've been using Meguiar's Gold Class, or more often lately, the Meguiar's Hard Yellow #26. It works well on 2 cars with good quality finishes. My white Subaru is as smooth as glass and shines even when dirty. My Gray Dodge was recently repainted. The Hard yellow holds up for months on these cars even with weekly washing.

    I recently ordered the 3M Perfect-it waxes for a red car with a formerly abused finish.

    What brand would you recommend that would be tough to last in the winter months on a vehicle that is outside all of the time.
  • miksmimiksmi Member Posts: 1,246
    bit (and anyone else), you mention you use carnauba wax. I've been following this topic (really!) but I must say I'm confused with the myriad of choices.

    The wax I used as a kid was a paste (Turtle Wax) that I let dry to a haze, then buffed off. I've been using Meguiar's Gold Class Clear Coat Car Wax, a liquid, whose bottle makes no mention of carnauba. It never seems to dry to a haze as hard as the Turtle Wax I used as a kid (don't know if it had carnauba). Curiously, I notice Consumer Reports tested no pastes in the May 00 issue on auto polishes.

    When you mention carnauba, do you mean a paste wax? I'd a wax that lasts long but won't scratch, perhaps contradictory requirements.

    ..Mike

    ..Mike

  • subearusubearu Member Posts: 3,613
    has carnuba it it. probably not as much as others. and it smells nice too. I don't think it lasts as long as the non-carnuba stuff though. shines nice, at least on our metallic red and winestone vehicles. goes on easy, buffs off easy.

    nu-finish was what my dad always waxed his cars with when I was a kid. that's a non-carnuba wax and it lasts long.

    I used gold class liquid on our OB last year. I didn't like applying it - it was hard to remove. the shine was good however. just too much work to get it off.

    -Brian
  • originalbitmanoriginalbitman Member Posts: 920
    I use a liquid from Griot's Garage. Probably overpriced but it applies easy, looks fantastic and lasts long. I know I am from the old school that doesn't care for the polymers but you will finds lots of folks here who swear by them. My carnauba gives a nice deep shine both on my white GT and my darkish green Stude pickup. For more info see Griot's site at http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?L1=L1_1000&L2=L2_1005


    bit

  • rochcomrochcom Member Posts: 247
    It is a long time since I took chemistry, but acrylic IS a polymer, polyacrylate or some variation, I believe. The paint on many modern cars also has an acrylic base. It seems logical that modern paints would do better with a different type of protective coating than the old enamels that used to fade and chalk so badly.
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    OCD. is alive and well, I have not been in for a few weeks and I had a good laugh at some of the posts.

    BTW. have you noticed on your GT that the rubber moulding around the rear window and above the doors where the drip rails used to be is very fragile and easily scratched?

    Mine has several scratches already and I am extremely careful, I have had to use back to black to disguise the marks, this is a bummer when you are afflicted with OCD.

    Cheers Pat.
  • originalbitmanoriginalbitman Member Posts: 920
    Yeah. I have been carrying the OCD torch in your absence. Welcome back. I was wondering what happened to you. As for the trim... nope. Just checked and no scratches. Thanks for the heads up.

    Speaking of OCD I was having a cord of firewood delivered last Thursday at 10AM. Took the dog for a walk, got coffee and strolled home by 9AM with plenty of time to move my GT off the driveway. I got there in time to find the firewood guy showed up early and had just finished dumping the load right next to my Soob! I tried not to look too freaked. But no worry as after very close inspection it appears he was a pro (or lucky). Not a scratch or dent.

    bit
  • armac13armac13 Member Posts: 1,129
    How's the cabin in all of you heat? Hope your having a great summer. You've been missed.

    Ross
  • miksmimiksmi Member Posts: 1,246

    ..Mike

  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    I tried some Klasse Sealant Glaze for the first time today. I had been using the All-in-one product for some time and wanted to see how much more the glaze would do.

    The glaze does add quite a bit more sheen. It's a bit harder to remove compared to All-in-one, but I guess that's the trade off for a more durable coat. The paint now feels extremely smooth. I'm going to see how long it lasts under the hot CA sun.

    Ken
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    $23 for a bottle of that stuff?

    For that much, does a company rep come over and apply it on my car for me? ;-)

    -juice
  • mrdetailermrdetailer Member Posts: 1,118
    Miksmi It is the hardest known natural wax substance. It grows on a Brazilian palm tree to protect the leaves from the sun. However in it's natural state it is the consistency of a brick. Other substances are added to the wax to soften it. And yes, Paste wax is definitely more durable. It leaves a thicker coat and adds more depth to the shine. I always use it on my horizontal surfaces where more abuse occurs.

    Your Meguiar's gold class wax does have Carnauba. In fact Meguiar's as been rated as one of the finer natural wax lines. Consumer Reports listed the shine as high, but listed durability as much lower. I have found this to be absolutely true with Gold Class. It's a brilliant shine that doesn't hold up too long.

    This spring I didn't use Gold Class at all. I stuck with a #7 glaze, then Meguiar's #9 Hard Yellow, a liquid coat applied by machine followed by a paste coat applied by hand. On my white and silver cars it still behaves like it is brand new. On my blaze red one it is still in good shape, but not brand new. Last year, I used gold class and it would normally last 4-6 weeks. This has lasted 4 months and is still going.
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    juice -- Yeah, $23 is pricey compared to off-the-shelf Turtle Wax, but hey, it's for my baby. :-)

    Henry -- I applied it on cool paint in the shade using a damp microfiber applicator pad. Waited until the glaze turned hazy white (~1 min or so) and buffed with a clean towel. I found today that going over the areas with Meguiar's Quick Detailer spray helped remove the residual stuff.

    Ken
  • stevekstevek Member Posts: 362
    The product is ok but you can purhase other ones at a fraction of the price that are as good as Klasse is, don't waste you money, I did.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    8 years? Well, if someone comes out an waxes her every 6 months for 8 years, well, then it's a bargain! ;-)

    Holy cow! $444? Are they serious? For that you could REPAINT some cars!

    -juice
  • miksmimiksmi Member Posts: 1,246
    Re: mrdetailer Aug 13, 2001 8:56am Thanks, mrdetailer. ..Mike

    ..Mike

  • stevekstevek Member Posts: 362
    Far as the cleaner/glaze goes I have used CarBrite product, purchased from auto body shop supply stores. CarBrite also have a liquid cleaner called Bluemax which you can use to get all the wax/dirt off the car in the spring.
    The Klasse cleaner worked well for me but the CarBrite was much less money. For wax I used the orange bottle (I think it is either NewFinish or Finish2000), which also worked well.
  • speterson1speterson1 Member Posts: 228
    Hey henryk,

    Hondafriek has mentioned another product he likes a lot that sounds just like the Klasse and is much cheaper. It's called CrystalGlo and I have a link for it in this topic, post #595.

    Steve
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Henry,

    Thanks for the tip. I'll try applying SG on a dry pad next time and sparingly too. BTW, how did you arrive at 20 minutes?

    Ken
  • miksmimiksmi Member Posts: 1,246
    Crystal-Glo Manufacturing
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    www.Crystal-Glo.com (place holder)
    800-263-0887 905-760-0006v 905-760-0008f

    ..Mike

  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    Okay, here's one I haven't seen on this board: how do you remove dried wax residue form the finely grained, unpainted exterior plastics on your Subarus? For example, the door handles and side view mirrors.

    Historically I have used a worn out fine toothbrush (being very carful of course, not to return it to the toothbrush rack). What do you all use?

    Ed
  • kenskens Member Posts: 5,869
    Ed,

    Try using a plastic eraser (ie. Staedtler Mars Plastic). Won't scratch either.

    I recall someone talking about peanut butter once -- honestly.

    Ken
  • evilizardevilizard Member Posts: 195
    Toothbrush with windex squirted on it.
  • originalbitmanoriginalbitman Member Posts: 920
    It works great. Just don't use chunky. Same for wax on rubber.

    bit - 2001 GT Wagon
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Jiff. Creamy.

    Plus you can eat whatever you don't use! :-)

    -juice
  • 1subydown1togo1subydown1togo Member Posts: 348
    Skippy's, and pass the Polaner, please!
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Would ya pleeeez pass the jelly? ;-)

    -juice
  • originalbitmanoriginalbitman Member Posts: 920
    Where do you buy it?

    bit
  • lark6lark6 Member Posts: 2,565
    Many of my kayaker friends in the mid-late 1980s used it on their boats. Good stuff.

    Ed
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    Cottage life has been just great my wife retired this year so we have just been hanging out like a couple of teenagers but the weather has been bloody hot.

    Bit, will be bugging you shortly for instructions on the seat back pockets.

    Cheers Pat.
  • miksmimiksmi Member Posts: 1,246
    Good to hear from you. hanging out like a couple of teenagers Not gonna touch that one. :)

    ..Mike

    ..Mike

  • originalbitmanoriginalbitman Member Posts: 920
    Okay Pat. As you seem to be quite the inventive sort you should have no problem.

    bit - 2001 GT Wagon
  • hondafriekhondafriek Member Posts: 2,984
    Did I miss something? your wagon looks great but I would need to be clairvoyant to deduce how to make the pockets from this scant information, inventive I am but this is above and beyond even for me. Ha!hA!.

    Cheers Pat.
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