'Had the same problem. I finally decided to use one of my smaller ("hand sized") towels. You know, the 100% cotton ("Fieldcreast") ones. Even while using it, I kept thinking that this was a waste of a good towel. But the results were well worth it.
Was over at the Corral 'Body Shop' forum and there was a great post from CobraManic!. It's the first post (April '00) Sounds like he would be a welcome addition here with us!!
I am not sure of your geographic area or access to certain stores, but WAL MART also sells the sheepskin wash mitts. (6 to 8 bucks) The cheaper solution is by far, 100% WHITE cotton, being careful to not let the stitching touch the finish.
If you have access to "clothing manufacturer's" sometimes they have unstitched 100% cotton panels and will sell it by the # or just give it away to be rid of the fire hazard.
jjccrv - Suggest you call or e-mail Sal Zaino and find out if there's a local Zaino distributor nearby. Faster service and many of them deliver -- mine does and even volunteered to demo the products.
Claying - After all the pro-claying posts, I may give it a test after the weather warms up. But it will be difficult to improve on the shine and smoothness of my car -- I may decide I'm happy enough without claying. Will report back with a later post.
Yep, I wait 'till spring and I pick a good weekend day. Then I do the whole thing: claying, the annual Z1 coat, and (to start the new season) a coat of Z5. If the next day looks good, I also lay down a coat of Z2.
I'll be on jury duty for about a week, so I won't be Z'ing my car or in this topic for a few days.
Have Zainoed my white car (Z-1, Z-2, then Z-2 again). I use Z-7 to wash and Z-16 for tires. The shine and dirt removal has been pretty impressive - enough that I will continue to use Sal's products. Here's my question - while washing my car today, I noticed that the back panels are filled with either grease or tar. I do not have back mud flaps...but I can tell you that I will as soon as the car goes into the dealer again! I scrubbed and rubbed and could not get off the reminding gunk. Any suggestions? Thanks!
The claybar would work great. But to use a brand new one would be kind of a waste. I have one used clay bar that I keep for areas like wheel wells and areas that I am not too concerned about scratches.
You might look for a product that is meant for bug and tar removal.
Another suggestion I have and plan on trying myself is to put the Z7 on the areas (full strength) and let sit for a few hours. I am not sure how big an area you are talking about but I plan on using a cotton swab to apply it to the affected areas. A foam paint brush might work for a larger area.
To really make white shine put another coat of Z1 on after you have put your initial 3-5 coats of Z2. Many people have reported significant improvement of shine on light colored vehicles after doing this.
Dennis:
Z16 tire gloss can be used on interior vinyl, plastic and rubber. Be careful not to put on areas that you do not want too slippery or shiny. Interior floor mats might get too slippery unless you are just talking about the outside edges. Start with small test areas to see if you like the look and slipperyness. It was Sal who recommended it to me to use on the interior: I was suprised because from reading the directions it sounded like it was just for the exterior. I used it on all the flat black plastic areas around my dash and doors using a thin foam paint brush and the plastic trim looks better than new and the shine lasts and does not attract dust.
A very handy product that will soften and remove most grease and tar is good old WD-40. I use it all the time for that around the house and car. It should not remove Zaino, but will dissolve regular waxes. Spray it on, rub lightly, wipe it off.
I had road tar on my white car (I now have mud flaps), and I noticed the wierdest thing - when trying solvents and other stuff, I seemed to have to rub real hard, without much luck. Then I tried a regular old Z7 wash to clean everything up before "attacking" the tar, and it washed right off. Try a Z7 wash, or as suggested earlier, try undiluted Z7 on a swab. Might just work for you, too.
I'm convinced. BUT I was told if I used this type of product, I won't be able to paint in down the road, if I need to. True or False? Also, I have a new Caravan Sport Red Inferno, how much of what do I need to order? It takes me forever just to wash the thing now-need a step stool and everything. Not looking forward to all the initial work but I understand it will save me work in the long run, right? I have the form in front of me but am not sure what to get other than 2 clay bars for sure-one for the yucky parts and one for the rest? I don't have leather inside on the seats so I don't need the leather stuff but what else. This is what I have so far: 2 clay bars, 1 Z-1, 1 Z-2, 1 Z-5, 1 Z-6. This is $97.50 so far-does this seem right? (Not including the dawn and the new towels I need to buy.) Do I really need the Glass(z-12), plastic(z-14) and tire(z-16) cleaners? What do I use on the front dash to keep it nice? Is just one of each enough for this big vehicle? Thanks in advance.
I have an Odyssey and have done Z1 once and Z2 4 times. With the same bottles have done on my Accord Z1 once and Z2 3 times and an old Escort Z1 and Z2 once. Still have more than 1/2 bottle of Z1 and about 1/4 Z2. Z7'd and Z6'd I don't know how many times but still have plenty left. Remember, put it on thin.
I am going to get Z5 this year to use (terrible winter) as well as some Z2 and Z7. I did not get any of the other stuff other than the clay as am happy with the leather, tire, and glass dressings I now use.
If your van is new, the number of swirls should be minor, you may want to skip the Z5. The inferno red is a beautiful color and will look great when done. Don't forget the Z7 car wash.
My white Odyssey took me close to 8 hours to do the whole thing but that included waiting for dry times. Claying will take some work, but once you get it down, it goes fast. I did my Ody within a month of ownership and the claying didn't seem as bad as I expected. Best of luck.
If you need to paint down the road you will be able to. Zaino can be removed with Isopropyl Alcohol or Dupont Prepsol.
When you say you are going to order two Claybars...I hope you mean one container which contains 2 claybars. One container is all you need. After you have used one claybar and it has become contaminated, knead it and use it for wheel wells, etc. The rest of your order sounds fine. I use lots of Z6 and it is by far my favorite product so I ordered 2 bottles. I use it on the glass too.
For your inside dash Z16 works great, but leaves some shine which you may/may not like. I used the Z16 on the interior plastic too and it leaves a nice shine which I do like. My vinyl dash is slightly shiny but I have not had much chance of driving with lots of sun glare so far. Z10 leather conditioner is said to work well on vinyl too.
Wiping down the dash with the towel you use to remove the Z6 works well at removing dust and keeping it clean.
I would suggest you order just what you need. You can always place another order later.
Caravans have lots of glass; there is not much paint area. I use a stepstool too and can get to the whole roof shifting the stepstool 4 times.
The key to applying the polish products is to apply them thinly, almost streaky in appearance when applied.
I think you don't need the plastic products. The window polish may be nice since almost 2/5 of the Caravan is window. As for the tire dressing, I think their Perfect Tire Gloss is pricey. You can get similar results from Meguiar's Rubber & Vinyl Conditioner (tan spray bottle) or Lexol Vinylex. You can use both of them on the dash but I don't reccomend it because once you use it, you need to keep on using it.
Don't get the Zaino glass polish unless you need it. If you have difficult to get out water spots and you have tried vinegar(acetic acid), Coca-Cola, and regular window cleaners with no success...Zaino glass polish will get them out. Z12 is an abrasive product that does require some effort. It is not a product you would ever want to use on a regular basis.
For regular glass cleanings there are many cheap methods that cost next to nothing.
I prefer Sprayway Glass cleaner available in supermarkets for about $3.00 a spray can. I also use Z6 on the windows and you get a rain-x effect with it.
Sending off my order which I've changed thanks to joebob6-1 clay and 2 of the z-6! I didn't realize the glass cleaner was abrasive so I will skip that. I am so new to this I can't even imagine what this clay stuff will look like-LOL-but I know you are all here if I get stuck! I can hardly wait...will let you know if my arm falls off.
My van is inferno red so I guess I'll see some good results. It only has 4K miles so far but has picked up a lot of road gunk/tar that I haven't been able to get off at the wheel wells-tried all sorts of stuff. I guess the clay will take care of that too. It just seems like such a huge task but I am hoping it will save time in the long run. Thanks for the clay descriptions-so it is a hard bar that you just rub all over(like a bar of soap)? Does it get soft and "melt" or stay together? Is it dark colored? Thanks again.
The clay is yellow and its not real hard but not really soft either.One of the cars I clayed was 1 month old and I got more junk off of it then the other so I am glad I clayed it.I just rubbed it tell the paint is smooth,I put about 2 capfulls of the carwash in a spray bottle with water and used it to lubricate and it worked good.After the 3rd caot of Z2 your van should really start getting a glow almost ,do at least 3 caots and you will love it.After its Zed its alot easier to keep clean.
Do the real hard to get out dirty areas with the clay last. Also for a lubricant DO NOT USE DAWN. If you do, the clay will disintegrate. Use Z7 Car wash mixed with water(about 2 capful per 12-16 oz water in a spray bottle should be sufficient).
My stating that Zaino Z12 glass polish is abrasive is not to mean I think that is a bad thing. It is a great product if you have water spots and/or light scratches in the glass. Sal has told me that it will not distort the glass. I have imbedded water spots and have been doing one window at a time over a few months. It takes a lot of work but leaves the windows looking excellent. I am just pointing out that it is not something you would use on a regular basis to clean your windows.
on this product called zaino. first of all i have a black truck and i do live in a somewhat dusty area at times. based on the feedback i have read in here, do you folks reccomend this product for my truck or am i wasting my money?
I can't think of a reason for NOT recommending Zaino. If the area is dusty, Zaino will not repel all the dust. It WILL provide you with a great shine for the days when it's not dusty, and it WILL provide protection for several months at a time. Zaino isn't a "miracle" product...if it's dusty, your truck's going to get dusty, just like it would if you used the $3 bottle of turtle waz or some $150 per can of imported wax.
The question is - how much do you want it to shine on those days when it's just been washed and the dust is low? IMHO, Zaino can't be beat.
for hours about all the previous posts! Do I clay the windows? Do I use z-1, z-3 and z-6 on the windows and the silver hub cap things but not the tires? Do I do the headlights and rear view mirrors? One of the mirrors has a tiny scratch-should I z5 it? Remember I have a Caravan-big! In the wheel wells there are these black plastic things that cover the lights and kind of wrap around the wheel well-I always wash and wipe these down-do I clay and z these too? The car is sooo hard to dry-what will happen if there are a few wet spots when I z-1? Everytime I wash and dry it, 2 hours later water is running down the sides where the doors slide open, from the door handles, from the roof rack down the back hatch, side view mirrors and the fog lights. Is it better to just wait because if I drive it around to dry (like some of you) it will just get really dusty here? I can't wait to get the stuff but honestly my car is about 9 mths old and has around 4K miles and still shines and beads up just like when I got it new. I guess that factory/dealer wax job was pretty good but I do keep it in the garage-only drive about 1 hour/day. Thank to all of you posters who have patiently answered all these questions countless times-we newbies really appreciate it!!
Interesting board, so much so that I am considering trying this Zaino stuff. I have a silver clear coat paint job on my SUV. Does Zaino give the same results on this type of finish??
Lighter color paints will not give you as deep of a "wet look" as darker color cars will, however it WILL shine better than similar colored cars. I own a white car and the shine stands out compared to the other white cars in the parking lot at work. Z2 is designed for clearcoat finishes.
I only clayed the paint ,never thought about the rest but I wouldn't think you need to do the glass,clay or the z1,2 or 5.I hear somepeople use the z6 on the glass and it acts like rainx.I haven't tried that yet but I am going to.I think you want it to be pretty dry before the z1.Put it on very thin,all of the zs go on very thin.You will get instructions with your order.You will be very happy with the 3rd coat so be sure and do at least 3,I know at the third coat of both my black vehicles the shine is incredibale.ENJOY!
Do I clay the windows? You can but it is probably not necessary...I wouldn't.
Do I use z-1, z-3 and z-6 on the windows and the silver hub cap things but not the tires?
Do not use Z1 on any non-painted surfaces.
Z3?..I think you mean Z2...can be used on glass and hubcaps if you want to...I don't...I use Z6 on these areas.
Do I do the headlights and rear view mirrors?
I use Z2or Z5 on the headlamps and rear lights because it is easy to do when polishing the rest of the vehicle...my mirrors are plastic and I do not use Z2 on them but I could.
One of the mirrors has a tiny scratch-should I z5 it? Z5 does not remove scratches, it covers them up if they are not too big...Z5 may or may not work but certainly worth a try.
Remember I have a Caravan-big! In the wheel wells there are these black plastic things that cover the lights and kind of wrap around the wheel well-I always wash and wipe these down-do I clay and z these too? Don't clay them. Since I don't know what they are like I am not sure if they can be polished with Z2 or Z5. If they are not painted or perfectly flat you probably should not polish them with Z2 or Z5.
The car is sooo hard to dry-what will happen if there are a few wet spots when I z-1? Difficult to say since I have no experience with that. Maybe you can get an electric leaf blower to reduce drying. Be careful...it will scratch if it touches the paint. I have heard good and bad things about the Absorber and the California water blade...might be good for you.
Everytime I wash and dry it, 2 hours later water is running down the sides where the doors slide open, from the door handles, from the roof rack down the back hatch, side view mirrors and the fog lights. Electric leaf blower might help here too.
Is it better to just wait because if I drive it around to dry (like some of you) it will just get really dusty here? If it gets real dusty you are probably better off waiting.
I can't wait to get the stuff but honestly my car is about 9 mths old and has around 4K miles and still shines and beads up just like when I got it new.
I guess that factory/dealer (dealer--factory does not wax) wax job was pretty good but I do keep it in the garage-only drive about 1 hour/day.
If your car is only driven 1 hour/day and mostly garaged the Zaino will last a long time. I think Zaino will improve its appearance...remember apply the coats of polish thin...real thin...should look like streaks...kind of like the way windex looks right before it evaporates.
Use 100% white USA cotton towels. The outlet store has pretty good prices.
It sure is nice of you to take the time to answer all my questions. I really do have a better understanding of this now and can wait for the stuff to arrive! I do have a blower so I might have to try that too-LOL. My neighbors already think I'm crazy just washing my car-they all do the drive throughs-wait until they see me doing the clay thing.
You may THINK your car is a shiny as it was new, but the degradation is so slow it is not apparent, espcially for someone that cares for their car as regularly as you do. Wait until you have your second coat of Z2 on - you will find a remarkable difference! And - your neighbors may think twice about using the drive-through paint destroyers!
I have brilliant silver with clear coat paint on my 9-month old car and used Zaino from the start. You'll be amazed by the results. The finish is super-smooth and so slick that water just runs off. The shine is deep and "wet looking" and increases with each subsequent coat.
The best part is that Zaino requires no buffing, rubbing or hard work once the initial procedure is done. Just wipe on, let dry, wipe off! And no white residue.
We've had some nasty weather here in midwest this winter. I put a coat of Z5 on my car in early November, but since then, I've only been able to hand wash it about 3 times. We had a couple of nice "February thaw" days Monday and Tuesday, but since I had to work, hand washing, much less applying another coat of Z, was out of the question. The car's dirty, and it's raining pretty hard right now (going to change to ice and snow tonight - oh joy) - but when I went to my car at lunch, it was the ONLY one in the parking lot that was beading water. A little over 3 months of neglect, and the Zaino still beads. That more than anything else is why I like this stuff. Thought you newbies and other's who are thinking about Zaino would like to know. Using this stuff is the best thing I have ever done for my cars.
My car is 3 years old with a Perma Plate coat applied on it when it was new. There're swirls developing and they can be seen at an angle. I was told not to use any wax (since that coat supposed to serve as a lifetime wax layer?) Do any of you have any experience in removing the swirls off a car that has somekind of wax treatment? Thanks in advance!!
Perma Plate Coating was a ripoff way for the dealer to line its pockets. If the stuff is a life time wax layer it should have some kind of guarantee. Maybe the dealer who sold you it can help you.
Do you use machine car washes? Those will definitely give you swirls over time.
I recommend Zaino products for ease of use and excellent results, you need something on your finish in a hurry. There is no such thing as a lifetime wax layer. Your wax treatment is long gone by now. Your finish is now in direct contact with the elements. At best..if your car is garaged you might possibly had 9-12 months of protection, 6 months at the most if not garaged. I am not going to tout the benefits of Zaino in this post you can wade through the posts above.
I have a new Pot. 2001 GAP witch leather seating. Which Zaino products should I use on it? Where can I buy the stuff? Since it's a new car I'm looking at re doing all my car wash stuff so if anyone has a complete recommendation list from soap, wax, cleaners, conditioners to mist let me know.
Just yesterday applied Z1,Z2 and Z6 for the first time on my silver 2000 Accord. The shine is the best that I have ever had. I will add another coat of Z2 today to further enhance the shine. If the shine lasts, then I will be a Zaino convert.
For comparison I applied Zaino to one side of the hood on my wife's heather mist 97 Accord and applied Brand X to the other side. Shine is about the same. I just want to see how long the 2 last side by side on the same car.
Go to the Zaino web site: www.zainobros.com and review all the info there to learn how to use and for some great tips.
For starters, suggest Z-1, Z-2, Z-6 and Z-7 for the paint. Order the products for leather, tires, glass, etc. as you see fit -- but the paint treatment stuff is the important part. If you develop swirls and very minor blemishes in the paint, add Z-5.
Also suggest that you e-mail or call Sal Zaino with particular questions. He responds quickly and frequently answers the phone himself. And ask him if there's a Zaino local distributor in your area. If so, try him. I did, and mine is super!
Be sure to report back the results of the longevity test. BTW what is Brand X? Don't worry, we don't mind if you discuss other products here. And in terms of application/removal did Zaino or Brand X require the most effort?
Application of the Zanio was more time consuming because of the multiple steps. It did, however, go on and buff off very easily. No dust or residue. Just took more time.
I forgot to mention that I tried the Zaino on the tank and fenders on my motorcycle, which is dark blue. It REALLY brought out the color and shine. I think this is why those who have dark colored cars like Zaino so much.
You know, the "right" thing to do is start a comparo topic. For example, "Over the Counter Waxes vs. High-end Mail Order Waxes". A discussion geared for all interested to learn, discuss and post different opinions on detailing the painted surfaces of are beloved vehicles. PJ, IMHO you need to get that discussion started here at Maintenance and Repair. You are creditable, well spoken and fair. Just my 2 cents. Life is short, how about a good debate?
I'm flattered by your kind words, and I agree that there ought to be a topic where the merits and flaws of all kinds of products can be discussed. But I am afraid that I have discovered an addition to an old rule my dad passed on to me - don't ever discuss religion or politics - and apparently car waxes.
This issue is very subjective - and many of us are adamant supporters of "our brand", whatever brand that might be. There is a lot of good information in both of the current forums. I think that's why all of us seem to "lurk" in each others forums.
I'd be tempted to start a "Detailing Products from A to Z" topic, but I would hate to see it turn into some sort of "smack down" between Zaino and the world. What do you other Zaino zealots think - would it be possible to bite our tongues if someone were to post in a "common" forum that they weren't impressed with Zaino, and accept that as being their opinion, which they have every right to hold? Can the "other" group accept that many of us are very impressed with Z products without accusing us of having some kind of financial stake in the product? And even if they DO have a financial stake in the product, as long as they don't say "call me" in their sales pitch, who's really being hurt? Some of those distributors have offered some excellent advice on these boards.
I guess that's what it all boils down to...advice. Heck, I drive a Chrysler, and I've read more than my share of disparaging remarks about those cars in these forums. I also find a fair share who like them, just like me. Despite the negative or positive posts, the ultimate decision rested with me, the reader, and I am the only one to rejoice or weep at the results of my choice. Whatcha all think?
I really like your idea about starting a new "A to Z" forum. Like you and many others, I also lurk in the other one and have learned a lot.
But I can't recall many (or even any) car nuts who actually have TRIED Zaino who aren't converts. If I recall the last "war," the other guys were really the bad ones, and things got out of hand. And most of the juvenile insulters (you know their handles) admitted that they had not tried Zaino and said they never would. If we could keep things civil (from both sides), I think it would be beneficial to everyone.
I own a Honda CBR1100 XX, it's a 1999 and for those who've never seen this bike, it's black, black and some more black. The only thing is that the paint is notoriously soft and fades quickly. It also seems to show lines from the towel easily. Well last night I fired up the heat in the garage and washed it down and did the Z1 and Z2 per the directions and already, there is an amazing difference. I have a feeling though that I might not have gotten the best results as I don't think I waited long enough for it to dry. Can I wash with dawn again this spring and start over? Or should I just put more z2 on when it gets warmer? I bought a black truck this winter and I am looking forward to seeing what kind of results I get on that.
I agree with some of the above posts. Some people in "the other topic" seem to get upset that you guys have had such success. I don't think I've read one post about anybody switching from Zaino to something else, that's why I tried it. You read in the other section about how their store bought waxes have left swirl marks or hazing or other durability issues and I haven't read any of those issues here. Maybe we're all lying?
You do not have to redawn. I would use a damp towel to get rid of the marks you have now and then z-2 again in the spring. From what I understand the main difference between z-5 and z-2 is that 5 fills in swirls and may not be as optically perfect as 2. I have heard some people mix 1/2 5 and 1/2 2 in a bottle and are very happy with the result. Those two z items are compatible, therefore you don't have to re-dawn or take off what you have already done.
I didn't have any streaks or anything afterwards, just nice shine but it was rather humid in the garage and I don't think I waited for it to dry completely. I'm just wondering if I removed it beofre it dried. Does dawn remove Zaino?
Comments
Thanks
If you have access to "clothing manufacturer's" sometimes they have unstitched 100% cotton panels and will sell it by the # or just give it away to be rid of the fire hazard.
Claying - After all the pro-claying posts, I may give it a test after the weather warms up. But it will be difficult to improve on the shine and smoothness of my car -- I may decide I'm happy enough without claying. Will report back with a later post.
I'll be on jury duty for about a week, so I won't be Z'ing my car or in this topic for a few days.
The claybar would work great. But to use a brand new one would be kind of a waste. I have one used clay bar that I keep for areas like wheel wells and areas that I am not too concerned about scratches.
You might look for a product that is meant for bug and tar removal.
Another suggestion I have and plan on trying myself is to put the Z7 on the areas (full strength) and let sit for a few hours. I am not sure how big an area you are talking about but I plan on using a cotton swab to apply it to the affected areas. A foam paint brush might work for a larger area.
To really make white shine put another coat of Z1 on after you have put your initial 3-5 coats of Z2. Many people have reported significant improvement of shine on light colored vehicles after doing this.
Dennis:
Z16 tire gloss can be used on interior vinyl, plastic and rubber. Be careful not to put on areas that you do not want too slippery or shiny. Interior floor mats might get too slippery unless you are just talking about the outside edges. Start with small test areas to see if you like the look and slipperyness. It was Sal who recommended it to me to use on the interior: I was suprised because from reading the directions it sounded like it was just for the exterior. I used it on all the flat black plastic areas around my dash and doors using a thin foam paint brush and the plastic trim looks better than new and the shine lasts and does not attract dust.
Spray it on, rub lightly, wipe it off.
I did the whole Dawn, Z18 (clay), Z7, Z1, Z2, Z5, and Z2, with Z6 in between.
I may do more coats later.
http://www.alumni.caltech.edu/~taisont/S500
2 clay bars, 1 Z-1, 1 Z-2, 1 Z-5, 1 Z-6. This is $97.50 so far-does this seem right? (Not including the dawn and the new towels I need to buy.) Do I really need the Glass(z-12), plastic(z-14) and tire(z-16) cleaners? What do I use on the front dash to keep it nice? Is just one of each enough for this big vehicle? Thanks in advance.
I am going to get Z5 this year to use (terrible winter) as well as some Z2 and Z7. I did not get any of the other stuff other than the clay as am happy with the leather, tire, and glass dressings I now use.
If your van is new, the number of swirls should be minor, you may want to skip the Z5. The inferno red is a beautiful color and will look great when done. Don't forget the Z7 car wash.
My white Odyssey took me close to 8 hours to do the whole thing but that included waiting for dry times. Claying will take some work, but once you get it down, it goes fast. I did my Ody within a month of ownership and the claying didn't seem as bad as I expected. Best of luck.
When you say you are going to order two Claybars...I hope you mean one container which contains 2 claybars. One container is all you need. After you have used one claybar and it has become contaminated, knead it and use it for wheel wells, etc. The rest of your order sounds fine. I use lots of Z6 and it is by far my favorite product so I ordered 2 bottles. I use it on the glass too.
For your inside dash Z16 works great, but leaves some shine which you may/may not like. I used the Z16 on the interior plastic too and it leaves a nice shine which I do like. My vinyl dash is slightly shiny but I have not had much chance of driving with lots of sun glare so far. Z10 leather conditioner is said to work well on vinyl too.
Wiping down the dash with the towel you use to remove the Z6 works well at removing dust and keeping it clean.
I would suggest you order just what you need. You can always place another order later.
Caravans have lots of glass; there is not much paint area. I use a stepstool too and can get to the whole roof shifting the stepstool 4 times.
The key to applying the polish products is to apply them thinly, almost streaky in appearance when applied.
Why?
For regular glass cleanings there are many cheap methods that cost next to nothing.
I prefer Sprayway Glass cleaner available in supermarkets for about $3.00 a spray can. I also use Z6 on the windows and you get a rain-x effect with it.
My stating that Zaino Z12 glass polish is abrasive is not to mean I think that is a bad thing. It is a great product if you have water spots and/or light scratches in the glass. Sal has told me that it will not distort the glass. I have imbedded water spots and have been doing one window at a time over a few months. It takes a lot of work but leaves the windows looking excellent.
I am just pointing out that it is not something you would use on a regular basis to clean your windows.
thanks
rick
The question is - how much do you want it to shine on those days when it's just been washed and the dust is low? IMHO, Zaino can't be beat.
Do I clay the windows? You can but it is probably not necessary...I wouldn't.
Do I use z-1, z-3 and z-6 on the windows and the silver hub cap things but not the tires?
Do not use Z1 on any non-painted surfaces.
Z3?..I think you mean Z2...can be used on glass and hubcaps if you want to...I don't...I use Z6 on these areas.
Do I do the headlights and rear view mirrors?
I use Z2or Z5 on the headlamps and rear lights because it is easy to do when polishing the rest of the vehicle...my mirrors are plastic and I do not use Z2 on them but I could.
One of the mirrors has a tiny scratch-should I z5 it? Z5 does not remove scratches, it covers them up if they are not too big...Z5 may or may not work but certainly worth a try.
Remember I have a Caravan-big! In the wheel wells there are these black plastic things that cover the lights and kind of wrap around the wheel well-I always wash and wipe these down-do I clay and z these too? Don't clay them. Since I don't know what they are like I am not sure if they can be polished with Z2 or Z5. If they are not painted or perfectly flat you probably should not polish them with Z2 or Z5.
The car is sooo hard to dry-what will happen if there are a few wet spots when I z-1? Difficult to say since I have no experience with that. Maybe you can get an electric leaf blower to reduce drying. Be careful...it will scratch if it touches the paint. I have heard good and bad things about the Absorber and the California water blade...might be good for you.
Everytime I wash and dry it, 2 hours later water is running down the sides where the doors slide open, from the door handles, from the roof rack down the back hatch, side view mirrors and the fog lights. Electric leaf blower might help here too.
Is it better to just wait because if I drive it around to dry (like some of you) it will just get really dusty here? If it gets real dusty you are probably better off waiting.
I can't wait to get the stuff but honestly my car is about 9 mths old and has around 4K miles and still shines and beads up just like when I got it new.
I guess that factory/dealer (dealer--factory does not wax) wax job was pretty good but I do keep it in the garage-only drive about 1 hour/day.
If your car is only driven 1 hour/day and mostly garaged the Zaino will last a long time. I think Zaino will improve its appearance...remember apply the coats of polish thin...real thin...should look like streaks...kind of like the way windex looks right before it evaporates.
Use 100% white USA cotton towels. The outlet store has pretty good prices.
http://store.yahoo.com/fieldcrestcannonoutlet/royalvelvet.html
The best part is that Zaino requires no buffing, rubbing or hard work once the initial procedure is done. Just wipe on, let dry, wipe off! And no white residue.
Hope this helps.
Do you use machine car washes? Those will definitely give you swirls over time.
I recommend Zaino products for ease of use and excellent results, you need something on your finish in a hurry. There is no such thing as a lifetime wax layer. Your wax treatment is long gone by now. Your finish is now in direct contact with the elements. At best..if your car is garaged you might possibly had 9-12 months of protection, 6 months at the most if not garaged. I am not going to tout the benefits of Zaino in this post you can wade through the posts above.
For comparison I applied Zaino to one side of the hood on my wife's heather mist 97 Accord and applied Brand X to the other side. Shine is about the same. I just want to see how long the 2 last side by side on the same car.
For starters, suggest Z-1, Z-2, Z-6 and Z-7 for the paint. Order the products for leather, tires, glass, etc. as you see fit -- but the paint treatment stuff is the important part. If you develop swirls and very minor blemishes in the paint, add Z-5.
Also suggest that you e-mail or call Sal Zaino with particular questions. He responds quickly and frequently answers the phone himself. And ask him if there's a Zaino local distributor in your area. If so, try him. I did, and mine is super!
Hope this helps.
And in terms of application/removal did Zaino or Brand X require the most effort?
Application of the Zanio was more time consuming because of the multiple steps. It did, however, go on and buff off very easily. No dust or residue. Just took more time.
I forgot to mention that I tried the Zaino on the tank and fenders on my motorcycle, which is dark blue. It REALLY brought out the color and shine. I think this is why those who have dark colored cars like Zaino so much.
Respectfully;
Larry
This issue is very subjective - and many of us are adamant supporters of "our brand", whatever brand that might be. There is a lot of good information in both of the current forums. I think that's why all of us seem to "lurk" in each others forums.
I'd be tempted to start a "Detailing Products from A to Z" topic, but I would hate to see it turn into some sort of "smack down" between Zaino and the world. What do you other Zaino zealots think - would it be possible to bite our tongues if someone were to post in a "common" forum that they weren't impressed with Zaino, and accept that as being their opinion, which they have every right to hold? Can the "other" group accept that many of us are very impressed with Z products without accusing us of having some kind of financial stake in the product? And even if they DO have a financial stake in the product, as long as they don't say "call me" in their sales pitch, who's really being hurt? Some of those distributors have offered some excellent advice on these boards.
I guess that's what it all boils down to...advice. Heck, I drive a Chrysler, and I've read more than my share of disparaging remarks about those cars in these forums. I also find a fair share who like them, just like me. Despite the negative or positive posts, the ultimate decision rested with me, the reader, and I am the only one to rejoice or weep at the results of my choice. Whatcha all think?
But I can't recall many (or even any) car nuts who actually have TRIED Zaino who aren't converts. If I recall the last "war," the other guys were really the bad ones, and things got out of hand. And most of the juvenile insulters (you know their handles) admitted that they had not tried Zaino and said they never would. If we could keep things civil (from both sides), I think it would be beneficial to everyone.
I agree with some of the above posts. Some people in "the other topic" seem to get upset that you guys have had such success. I don't think I've read one post about anybody switching from Zaino to something else, that's why I tried it. You read in the other section about how their store bought waxes have left swirl marks or hazing or other durability issues and I haven't read any of those issues here. Maybe we're all lying?
Thanks for the info guys.
Also, how is z5 different than z2?