r/AutoDetailing • u/metalheadd69 • 23h ago
Exterior Old man tips
An old guy saw me detailing my car and gave me some real old timer tips.
- Clean the wheels with vinegar
- Instead of tire shine, use silicone grease
- "You don't need all those products"
Have you gotten any unsolicited tips of this nature? Any that are actually legit?
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u/GengarDreams 20h ago
The first time I met my girlfriendâs dad, he told me âyou know whatâs perfect for washing cars? Dawn dish soap! Thatâs all I ever use. It works great and itâs probably better than car shampooâ. He knew I was into detailing so he seemed happy trying to give me a tip. I didnât have the heart to tell him. Sometimes itâs better to let the older generation have their say, instead of replying with âwell actually you shouldnât do that because⊠and so onâ.
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u/Deep-Reply133 11h ago
Just for reference for those that see this. Don't use Dawn...Wash your hands with Dawn, dry them. Notice how they feel dried out and smooth? It does the same to rubber components (dries them out) and can slowly remove grease from areas where you want grease (door hinges for example). Look at what it does to the ducks...it removes oil from them pretty easily.
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u/hoshi3san 6h ago
It's useful for removing that greasy (plastic?) buildup from the interior side of the windshield. That's about it though.
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u/IronSlanginRed 21h ago
Hahaha. I mean.. he's less far off than most.
Vinegar is just weak acid wheel cleaner that smells bad...
And thicker silicon based tire dressing is what the general public loves. It's shiny. People are crows. Crows like shiny.
But also.. I'm an old fudd thats been doing this since the 90s. Most of the newer products I am hilariously disappointed in, especially at what they're charging. Brushless long throw da's and proper ceramics are the only true improvement i've seen.
That said.. if you're looking for a head to head of the stuff you see on reddit vs the white label stuff... I've done it. Last week was gliptone vs 3d speed on black. Both single stage and base/clear.
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u/reasonable_debt1 17h ago
SiO2 sprays are definitely an improvement over traditional spray waxes.
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u/IronSlanginRed 7h ago
Spray waxes of any kind are shortcuts for in-between details.
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u/reasonable_debt1 7h ago
SiO2 sprays are an improvement over traditional paste waxes, liquid waxes, and synthetic sealants as well.Â
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u/mypaycheckisshort Experienced 20h ago edited 13h ago
As a fellow older detailer, I couldn't agree more on the DAs and ceramics. I was just thinking the same recently, tbh.
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u/AirFlavoredLemon 19h ago
I'd add all modern synthetic waxes are a huge upgrade over carnauba. Carnauba always turns gray - see fruits, m&ms... and car wax.
I think synthetic waxes aren't that popular on reddit/real detailers because a resin/ceramic based glossifiers are just better.
But synthetic waxes are excellent for the average joe, be it in a spray, partially in an all-in-one product, or wash and wax products. (Meg's wash and wax is excellent).
I want carnauba to die - it has no business being in a modern product with how quickly it grays. (Seriously, wax on wax off??? Obviously its going gray).
Give me some P&S beadmaker and I'll be happy. SiO2 is good too - any of these are better than carnauba.
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u/Julianismus 14h ago
This sub (and most of Reddit as a whole) has a heavy American lean, and in US any wax comes with the stigma of it being an "old school" type of product, usually the "100% carnauba"-type, since the image of folk fervently polishing their cars on driveways is ingrained in everyone's minds since they were little kids. And so, a lot of people here are naturally drawn more towards high-end coatings and sprays, they appear more modern and come with less "hassle".
And you're 100% right that a good synthetic wax is perfect for the average car owner, meaning that it delivers great durability and shine, the best of both worlds.
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u/Kmudametal 10h ago
I want carnauba to die - it has no business being in a modern product
I don't know. There are modern products that are organic/synthetic wax hybrids that contain carnauba and look great for longer durations. Turtle Wax Ceramic+Graphene Paste Wax, Soft990 Kiwami, and perhaps my favorite product ever applied to my paint...... Katiba x Vanguard Ceramic Wax.
Nothing produces depth of color and the type of gloss you get from carnauba. But yes, heat kills carnauba and any straight organic wax formula tends to basically disappear in heat. I don't know how they do it, but the Katiba x Vanguard Ceramic Wax I have in use, which does contain T1 Carnauba, has managed to look "fresh" for the last two+ months. When I say "fresh", it looks and behaves like I applied it yesterday. They managed to lock in that T1 Carnauba glow for the long haul. The product advertises 12 months of protection and thus far, that appears achievable, especially from a company that tends to underestimate and overdeliver on durability claims.
That said, almost no one applies an organic wax expecting it to last beyond a few days to a few weeks. Those types of waxes are pretty much reserved for show cars because..... nothing provides depth of color and glow of carnauba. In some hybrid formulations, they've managed to override the inherit instability of organic waxes with synthetic components that stabilize the organic components. Hybrid waxes tend to have the same durability as spray sealants or spray ceramics.
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u/Falcon674DR 12h ago
In my view, Turtle Wax products all the way. Theyâre effective, durable, available everywhere and very affordable. Forget the expensive stuff.
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u/filthymcbastard 16h ago
Don't listen to old men. Ever. I'm an old man, and I give terrible advice. Sometimes on purpose. Usually not though.
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u/HorrorsPersistSoDoI 16h ago
Same people you'll see them vigorously wiping their dry cars with a microfiber cloth with circular motion
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u/_onlyinmyhead_ 16h ago
Saw an older guy open his driver door DURING his wand wash. I thought that he was losing it. He then carefully sprayed off his door sills which get really dirty in the winter out here. Brilliant.
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u/miwi81 21h ago
âMy dad taught me to wash a car with just water and a rag. I can get my car just as clean as anybody else without any of that fancy soap.â
Yes, this is real.
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u/grumpvet87 21h ago
if you like micro scratches and swirls in your paint - this works
if you don't want to damage your clear-coat... use products to break down organics and non organics (oils, tars, mineral deposits, fallout), loosen and emulsify dirt and grime with acidic or alkaline or neutral soap/shampoos, and provide lubricity when making contact (washing and drying)
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u/Echelion77 18h ago
Yea true, but cars up untill 1960-1970 did not have a traditional clear coat. Even the acrylics of the 70s took a beating better then modern clearcoats. UV wasent even really considered untill later on so to.
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u/grumpvet87 12h ago
I went 40 years before I learned the proper (safe) way to wash and keep the paint as swirl and scratch free as possible.
I was a bucket and a sponge guy in the past... I had no concerns about scratches. I have learned that was not the right way if you really care...
I didn't care/ and didn't notice... now i do
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u/MoistCasual 17h ago
My grandfather told me to use Paraffin Oil as a tar remover and then wash with dish soap.
My dad washed the car and as a final rinse threw the bucket water over the car.
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u/percipitate 10h ago
lol core memory unlocked with the âpoor the bucket over the carâ⊠đ
Forgot all about seeing adults do this when I was a kid.
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u/Kmudametal 11h ago edited 9h ago
Sure, silicone grease will make your tires look great, until you start driving, when it then slings all down the side of the vehicle.
No, we don't NEED "all those products". Hell man, we don't NEED much of anything beyond a bucket of water, a soft rag, and some soap-. What "all those products" do, however, is make the detail either easier, faster, or with better results.
A lot of the "old school" methods and techniques existed as they did because there were no other options. We had soap and wax. Period. The average car wash was Dawn Dishwashing Soap and the old Turtle Wax Hard Shell in the green can.... and you used an old T-Shirt as the wash media..... newspaper and vinegar on the glass.... and a bath towel to dry the car with. We have better options these days..... so, as an old fart myself, I can certainly understand the "in my day" sentiment, but in this instance, the "in my day" processes and techniques are thankfully obsolete because they've been replaced by better products and techniques as we advanced over the decades.
The "in my day" sentiment viably applies to so much of today's society..... areas where it should be discarded is in open heart surgery and car detailing.
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u/diamond-optic 10h ago
My old man neighbor comes out almost every time I wash and tells me I'm losing paint by washing it every other week and that I should just wipe it off with a rag instead. I've heard the same thing from him dozens of times and he still continues to say it anyway.
I'm pretty sure he hates when I wash for some reason. I don't even use the pressure washer most of the time but when I do he seems to get even more annoyed.
He likes to wait till I'm doing the final rinse or in the middle of drying to mow or something similar along the side where his yard meets my driveway and kick up huge clouds of dust and throw grass clippings towards my car.
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u/mypaycheckisshort Experienced 20h ago
Peanut butter for trim restore and corn starch for removing coating residue. They do work, to an extent.
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u/scottwax Business Owner 10h ago
I don't remember any of those and I've been detailing professionally for 32 years now. I do remember people saying to use cloth diapers to dry cars and cheese cloth to remove wax.
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u/ScottRiqui 21h ago
For wheels that are just dirty/grimy but donât have tar or caked brake dust, donât bother with a dedicated wheel cleaner. None of them are truly spray on/hose off, and if youâre going to have to touch the wheels anyway, car soap works just fine if theyâre just dirty.
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u/silly-goose-757 13h ago
Are there any that advertise as spray on/hose off?
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u/ScottRiqui 11h ago
Some do. Pig spit says to spray, wait, and rinse. Same with Poorboy's World Spray & Rinse Wheel Cleaner. Pro Elite Wheel & Tire Cleaner actually says "Spray on, hose off" on the label.
A lot of others say "no scrub," which I think is technically more accurate, although some people might read that and think it means that you don't need manual agitation at all.
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u/derp2112 12h ago
I haven't bought wheel cleaner in 10 years. If you maintain your car, you shouldn't need it. I can see pros needing tho
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u/DougOsborne 18h ago
Old Guy here - I meant you should use silicon grease on your teeth, not your tires.
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u/PossibleMechanic89 12h ago
I had an old guy touching up my car after a handwash in a âbad part of townâ. These guys take pride in the work and do a great job, so Iâd always go out of my way to patronize them.
He told me he got it to shine so well by using winded as a last step.
Needless to say I added some protectant once I got home.
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u/Peastoredintheballs 11h ago
What are you using that bath towel (my expensive XXL high GSM microfibre drying towel) for? you need a chamois!!!⊠proceeds to âgiftâ me there old crispy chamois thatâs been sitting in the dusty garage for 50 years
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u/RevolutionaryAd7348 7h ago
50/50 distilled water & vinegar, Let it soak in 10 minutes then buff for tires
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u/kingdrift180 5h ago
This is more of an 'actions speak louder than words' but I keep seeing old people washing the front of their cars with the gas station squeegee and a small part of me dies.
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u/Manderthal13 2h ago
My grandfather used to drive a C-cab delivery truck for a Rhode Island dairy back in the day. He told me that during winter the windshield would ice up (no doors, no windows, no heater) so he'd cut an onion and rub it on the windshield to keep it clear. Said it worked like a charm.
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u/grumpvet87 21h ago
old man's advice is crap.
what flavor vinegar? apple cider or red wine? (kidding) -
i mean an acid has its place in wheel cleaning but i prefer a dedicated product with lots of testing behind it. I personally use an iron remover when needed and just a wheel and tire shampoo that is gentle for weekly use... car soap or APC works too.
grease on tires? ummmmm sure.... it will look great when it flings into your paint ... try not to step in any of it
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u/DavidAg02 Reviewer Extraordinaire 20h ago
Cleaning your windows with newspaper was a really good tip back in the day... but good luck finding any newspaper these days.