Like most everyone on here, I enjoy keeping my Z as spotless as possible inside and out! That being said, I have done some research on cleaning products including wash, wax, polish, clay bars, tire shine, etc. What I have found is mostly, IMHO, out of date seeing that it is 2013 and one of the most recent threads on this topic is from 2010. I understand some of the best products have been around for years and even decades, meaning that they may still be the best products. I am personally curious as to what everyone's opinion is on their favorite products, whether it is a new product or an old and "stay true" product. I hear a lot about the excellent quality of Zaino products, but have no personal experience with them. So, I would like to hear everyone's experience with products and possibly get an idea of what products I may purchase in the future. Also, to throw a little fun into the mix, what is your favorite beer?

I will start first.

Wax: Turtle Wax Ice (Paste)
Wash: Turtle Wax Zip Wax Car Wash [I mainly use this for the price/quality]
Tire Shine: Meguiar's Endurance High Gloss Tire Gel
Polish: [not enough personal experience to choose]
Interior: ArmorAll Original Protectant
Leather: Kiwi Saddle Soap
Beer: Left Hand Nitro Milk Stout


If I missed anything that you would like to add, I would like to hear about it. Also, if there is a product that you have had troubles with/hate, let us know.

 

Wax: Chemical Guys Butter Wet Wax
Wax Prep: Chemical Guys Vertua-Bond 408
Polish: Chemical Guys Black Light Hybrid Radiant Finish
Wash: Chemical Guys GlossWorkz Shampoo
Tire Shine: Tuf Shine Tire Clearcoat
Glass: Stoner Invisible Glass

 

great thread!

Wax: Meguiars
Wash: idk some random one from autozone, doesnt matter to me as much
Tire Shine: ArmorAll
Polish:????
Interior: ArmorAll spray
Leather: Meguiars wipes and gel
Beer: (seasonal fav) Uinta Punk'n
Otherwise its Dogfish head Theobroma which translates to brew of the gods!

 

Wax: Blackfire Wet Diamond + Dodo Juice Supernatural
Wax Prep: Claybar (They're all the same under Claybar Magic's patent), Pinnacle Paintwork Cleansing Lotion (Super easy to remove tire marks from track day)
Polish: Menzerna SF4500
Glaze: Chemical Guy's EZ-Creme Glaze
Wash: Meguair's Gold Class, Chemical Guys Wash & Gloss
Tire Shine: Optimum Opti-Bond Tire Gel
Glass: Stoner Invisible Glass
Interior:303 Aerospace

 

ArmorAll on your interior? Is it still the 1980's?

 

^^^ Lol seriously... Poorboy's World Natural Look Dressing FTW.

Does no one use dusters and/or quick detailers?

Duster: The Original California Car Duster
Quick Detailer: SONAX Brilliant Shine Detailer

 

That duster just looks like a micro swirl creating disaster...

 

Truth.

 

actually, no. I thought the same thing until my dad picked one up for car show use. as long as you take proper care of it & use it as intended, no problems...

 

Wax: Chemical Guys Butter Wet Wax
Wash: Meguiar's Gold Class
Polish: Chemical Guys Pro Polish 3n
Leather: Poorboy's Leather Stuff
Quick Detailer:Meguiar's Ultimate Quik Detailer
Beer: Chocolate Stout

 

Wax: meguiars ultimate wax; probably going to go to something else soon maybe Wolfgang
Wax prep: claybar, whatever I have (mothers, meguiars)
Wash: meguiars gold class or ultimate
Polish: variety of meguiars product depending what is needed
Interior: 303 aerospace
Leather: meguiars, want to try something else
Tires: meguiars something
Glass: rainx
Quick detail: meguiars
Beer: lots of water I'm in for a long day in the heat

 

It sure does appear everyone has their favorite car detailing products.Over the many years I've owned cars,I must have tried e'm all.You have to factor in longevity of the product,waterspots and how often you wish to work on your car.I really don't wish to be waxing my car every week.
Some do.
So,after a lot of trial & error,here are my current favs:
WAX:Auto Glym high definition
WASH:Auto Glym bodywash/conditioner
TIRE SHINE:any gel
POLISH:Meguiar's or a "secret weapon",Turtle Wax Color Magic-especially black.You can use this on all exterior surfaces incl plastics.
INTERIOR:Auto Glym vinyl&rubber care.Ubelievable!Why use Armorall,it leaves behind a film?If you use the Auto Glym product,you'll never go back to anything else.It also,lasts
forever.Works on engine parts too!
Glass:Mother's water spot remover.Cleans& polishes glass.
Leather:Zymol leather conditioner
PLASTICS ETC:210 Plastics Cleaner.Fantastic on headlites.My 03 Touring has over 90k,the headlite
covers look new.

 

Wash, Chemical Guys Wash Super Suds II

Wax, meguires Gold class, BlackFire Wet Diamond

Polish, Meguires 105 & 205

Spray wax, Chemical Guys P40Pro Detailer with Caranuba Wax

Interior, damp microfiber towel, shop vac, bissel steam carpet cleaner.

Engine, P21S

I need to buy some interior stuff for the plastic bits. My favorite beer is one I don't pay for ha! Seriously my go to beer right now is Yeungling but if cost no object it would be anything from Belgium.

 

My interior leather is dirty and nasty from use- what is best to clean it with?

 

Wax: New Favorite - Wolfgang Fusion, Old Favorite - S100
Wash: Detailers Prep Foam Wash and Chemical Guys Super Suds !!
Tire Shine: Meguiar's Endurance
Polish: Meguiar's M105/M205
Interior: Blackfire Interior Protectant
Leather: Lexol Cleaner and Conditioner, or when I am lazy, Blackfire Interior Protectant
Beer: Stella, Corona, Dog Fish

Added a few

Sealant: Klass Twins
Engine: P21S Citrus Wash
Surface Coating: Opti-Coat 2.0 for the Z, Car Pro Hydro for the SUV and Mini-Van
Chrome Trimmings: Mothers Chrome Polish
Wax Prep: GTechniq Panel Wipe

 

Warm water and soap should do the trick. Agitate with a soft brush. Follow it up with Lexol Leather Conditioner. You can also try the Lexol Leather Cleaner as well.

I'm not recommending this, but on my old Acura Legend I used to use SimpleGreen on the tan colored leather and it would always get all the dirt and stains out. Simplegreen is cheap too

 

+1 on the Lexol stuff, I used that on my '97 GST and it made the leather look new. I also use that stuff on my Sequoia.

 

I see a lot of you using Chemical Guys. It looks like they have a very wide selection to choose from. How did you guys choose which product will work best for you? Have you used them all or was a certain one recommended by a friend?

What are the benefits of using a quick detailer and/or dusters? I have no experience with them, but it does interest me.

I also hear Lexol products are amazing for doing leather right. I think I am going to try that one soon.

 

NinerZ...

Poorboy's World and Chemical Guys are two of the best brands for car detailing, just try out some of their products you can't really go wrong with those names.

Autogeek is a great site to learn more about car care overall: http://www.autogeek.net/

As for quick detailing/dusting, I don't know about NC but here in Southern CA my Z gets dusty. every. day. The air here is slowly killing us all, especially since I work in Los Angeles; so a quick wipe-down with a duster and quick detailer on any bee sh*t every other night keeps my Z looking freshly washed between actual full details/washes (which is about every other week at most for me)

 

I like poor boys wax (paste), been using it for years and my paint still looks new for it being a 6yrs old black car.