Car Detailing - What products are your go to?

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by prydey

Keen to hear about the dab dab. My bowdens shagtastic wash pad is getting a bit second hand looking.

I believe there is a wash media thread in the car care forum that I'll also browse.

I've mostly used TRC Cyclone and Cyclone Ultra wash media for the last 5 - 6 years. The standard size is more manageable, but I do like the 10X versions for larger vehicles.

https://detailingshed.com.au/collect...fiber-wash-pad
https://detailingshed.com.au/collect...43065039093975
https://detailingshed.com.au/collect...crofiber-towel


I also have a couple from Microfiber Madness, the DeliPad and IncrediPad. To be honest, they are little over priced.

https://store.primefinish.com.au/col...ess-incredipad
https://store.primefinish.com.au/col...ess-delipad-xl

Wash media thread here -
https://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11499496

[fordomatic]

I love the DabDab, holds the suds really well.

[DFB FGXR6]

Koch Chemie GS Green Star and Koch Chemie PO Pol Star

I’ve decided to highlight these as a pair. I suspect many don’t know where or when to use these two similar looking products.

PO Pol Star-

https://www.waxit.com.au/collections...antara-cleaner

Pol Star is a dedicated textile cleaner which was primarily designed for fabric, carpet and leather. It can also be used on Alcantara and suede materials. Overall, I’ve found Pol Star to be an excellent general interior cleaner as well, meaning it could be a one-stop-shop interior solution.



What I like about Pol Star is the pH neutral formula, so it’s safe to use across multiple interior surfaces compared to an alkaline all-purpose cleaner. It’s also highly dilutable, meaning that 1-litre bottle will last you for years! Koch Chemie recommend dilutions between 5:1 for heavy cleaning, right out to 20:1 for light duties. I tend to have it mixed pretty strong at 6:1.

I originally bought this for its carpet and fabric cleaning abilities as I didn’t have such a product in my arsenal. I’ve since found it to be an exceptional leather cleaner, especially dealing with un-maintained vehicles that require the use of a lot of product, Pol Star’s economy makes a lot of sense in that regard. Teamed with the VLB brush or a medium leather brush, its an extremely capable leather cleaner.











Another aspect I love about Pol Star is how it will lather up under agitation when using a brush or scrub pad. This aspect helps when it comes time to wipe off the product/dirt emulsion. You can also put Pol Star in a small finger pump foamer, which can be useful when dealing with Alcantara or suede as it prevents oversaturation of the material.



Something to remember when cleaning fabrics is that the removal of the cleaning solution is as important as the cleaning solution itself. If you fail to remove this chemical/dirt emulsion, well the dirt doesn’t actually go anywhere, rather you’ve just moved it around. Usually, you follow with a clean, damp towel to lift this emulsion into the towel, but extractors, steam or a wet-dry vacuum can also be used.

GS Green Star –

https://www.waxit.com.au/collections...mie-green-star

Green Star is one of the many all-purpose cleaners in the KCx lineup. With a pH value of 12.5, this product is considerably stronger than the pH neutral Pol Star. While Green Star can be used for interior cleaning, I would suggest restricting it’s use to exterior surfaces due to that alkaline nature. KCx even suggest using it as a workshop floor cleaner as well.



Green star is phosphate and solvent free and will easily break down and lift away dirt, oil and other greasy substances. It also contains corrosion inhibitors, making it safe for a variety of metal materials. Like Pol Star, Green Star is highly concentrated and can be used at the following dilutions -

Minimum dilution: 3:1
Automotive exterior: 5:1 - 30:1
Automotive interior: 10:1 to 20:1
Workshop and industrial floors: 40:1 to 120:1



For me, I don’t use a lot of APC. In fact, I probably use it more to clean my cleaning tools than I do cleaning cars. Thing is, when I do use APC, I want it to pack a punch. For that reason, I have Green Star mixed at 6:1 and use it for engine bay cleaning, removal of tyre dressings from my brushes and general surface cleaning. What I love most about Green Star is how it lathers up under agitation, which is both a practical and phycological thing, to me, it just makes it look and feel like you are achieving something.



I know many use it for interior cleaning. I prefer not to use it on interiors as alkaline products like this can be too harsh on sensitive materials, and frankly, pH neutral interior cleaners do everything I need without posing that risk.

For professionals, an all-purpose-cleaner like Green Star would be a staple of their routine. Why? Because they can buy one product, then mix it up at a couple of dilution rates to serve multiple roles, thus negating the need to stock different products. This could include the following -

- Pre-treating dirty lower panels
- Tyre cleaning
- Wheel Cleaning
- Bug removal
- Interior cleaning
- Engine bay cleaning
- Wheel arch cleaning
- Added to a pH neutral soap to create a decon/strip soap
- General workshop/floor cleaning



Final Thoughts -

Hopefully that explains the difference between these two. While you can interchange these products, I think there are benefits to having both. For example, I would never clean leather with Green Star, but then I would never use Pol Star to clean tyres. Both are non-scented, meaning they are purely designed to get the job done without fuss or fanfare.

[DFB FGXR6]

Koch Chemie GUF Gummifix

I love super-specific products like this! Gummifix was designed to provide protection and enhancement to plastic surfaces that are prone to becoming slippery. Where would this be necessary? The most obvious would be rubber all-weather floor mats and cargo trays, or even SUV/Ute side steps with a plastic or rubberised footing. When these area’s are treated with a typical rubber and plastic dressing, this can make these surfaces a slip hazard.

https://www.waxit.com.au/collections...r-plastic-care



Gummifix is not unlike isopropanol alcohol in how it smells and acts. The beauty of the product is how it flashes away to provide a subtle enhancement without creating slickness. I will say though, if you want a more noticeable before and after, then this probably isn’t the product for you. In which case, I’ve found P&S Swift to provide more enhancement while remaining slip free. Having said that, I’ve found all rubber mats to respond differently, so use these suggestions as a guide not gospel.

How To Use -

The first thing you need to do before applying Gummifix is to thoroughly clean the surface. Sticking with the Koch Chemie theme, this would be a great use for Green Star. Personally, I much prefer to use Mckee’s Floor & Cargo Mat Cleaner. I don’t know why, but after using a variety of APC’s and even tyre cleaners, this McKee’s product is the best I’ve found for the job.

1. Remove the mats from the vehicle, shake off the debris, then rinse.

2. Apply your cleaner generously, then scrub with a firm brush. I’ve found the medium stiffness Detail Factory tyre brush to be a perfect pairing here.





3. Thoroughly rinse, then dry. You can use your blower here, but I just put the mat in the sun while I clean the rest of the vehicle, but the time you are ready to put the mats back in the car, they are usually dry by that stage.

4. Working with a clean and dry mat, apply Gummifix. You can spray it directly and work in with a towel, or add to an applicator and spread across the surface. I’ve found you need to be generous with the product to get consistent coverage, especially if you have a surface like these Maxtrac items pictured here.

5. Once applied, allow to dry. Gummifix flashes away and self levels, but you can go back with a towel to remove any high spots if you wish.





Usage Notes –

- When it comes to cleaning rubber mats, I think the combination of the McKee's with the specific bristles of the Detail Factory brush make the difference here.

- I tend to prefer spraying directly onto the mat and working in with a towel, this seems to provide superior coverage. However, you can also use a foam or microfiber applicator, or even a brush.

- Koch Chemie ship this product with a dispensing bottle insert, which would suit the brush or applicator application method. You can also remove the stopper to fit a spray head, but you need to order that separately or use one you already have.

- Speaking of spray heads, this product kills them so choose wisely. I ruined a nice Kwazar spray head, which also turned the soft rubber pickup tube rock hard. It even killed the Koch Chemie spray head. Therefore, I’d use a cheap spray head knowing you will need to replace it often, and/or empty the sprayer back into the bottle and run some water through to purge the lines.

- Know that this product has a strong IPA aroma, so I’d apply in a well-ventilated area. If you can, let the product fully dry before re-installing the mats.

- Know that the finished result is an “as new” appearance. If you are looking for something more prominent, then consider using Capro Perl at 6:1 (heavily diluted) or P&S Swift, both remaining slip-free.

- You can also use Gummifix for refreshing the appearance of your pedals.

Final Thoughts -

Gummifix is not a product everyone will need. However, if you have rubber floor mats, I think its well worth having both this and the McKee's cleaner on hand.