Cleaning and care of your car
Digging in dirt to plant trees or a vegetable garden is a favorite hobby of many of us. The smell of mother earth and loving the dirt under your fingernails brings a feeling of great peace and satisfaction. Let dirt cling to the side of a vehicle though and watch its appeal bring out the worst of the grumpiest old men.
When it comes to cleaning a vehicle we tend to turn to the experts. Ask a hundred of them what products they use, or don't use, how they treat the new paints or their opinion on tire treatments and their various answers will send you to the store for a bottle of aspirin. The unfortunate part of cleaning your vehicle is trying to decipher whether or not you can believe what you see in advertisements for cleaning products. Are microfiber cloths really safe to use on your vehicle? What about this stuff called petroleum distillates? Will car wash products ruin the finish?
That confusion is precisely why I have spent hours talking to various companies who manufacture the products that go into making your vehicle. Companies from paint and sealant manufacturers to fiberglass siding manufacturers, metal companies and the tire folks have all spent time on the phone answering my probing questions. Those answers are compiled here so you now clean your vehicle with the confidence that 10 to 20 years from now it will still look brand new.
Using Microfiber to clean your car: Those answers mean I step on a few toes, even my own, when it comes to products. Many of the products that were safe to use on a vehicle 3 years ago are not safe on newer cars due to a change in paint. Many of the products being sold to clean a vehicle will damage the sealant on your vehicle over time. Unfortunately by the time it's noticeable the damage has already happened and there is no undo key built into a vehicle.
Washing your car: Wash your vehicle in the morning or evening to avoid water spots. Once they form, it only takes a week or so for them to begin etching into the surface making it difficult at best to buff them out. Wash the top first then section wash and dry your vehicle.
Our Lambswool Wash Mitt cleans and polishes your vehicle safely without scratching. Lambswool mitts, not the polyester imitations, are best if you wish to avoid swirl marks or scratches that can happen with brushes. Our CleanEz is 100% natural and does not contain harmful phosphates. You can wash your vehicle without damaging the sealant and without toxic chemicals running into the streams or sewer systems. Use just half a capfull to clean your vehicle. Steer clear of harsher detergents like Simple Green and Mr. Clean. They can damage your vehicle's finish.
Add one-third cup of distilled white vinegar to your bucket of wash water to boost the cleaning action and help prevent water spots.
Caution about cleaning with microfiber: Industrial paint and sealant manufacturers warn against washing your vehicle with the popular microfiber products. They are made from 80 to 85% polyester, which is plastic. Plastic scratches and over time and repeated use they will scratch the sealant off your coat and then start on the paint. Your car will begin oxidizing even though you have taken excellent care of your vehicle.
Due to VOC regulations, paint is now being changed from lead based to water based. The paint is not as hard as it has been in the past. Even though sealants are applied over the paint to protect it, if the sealant is scratched off due to microfiber or the wrong kind of petroleum distillate being used in a wax, the paint is then left venerable to rapid oxidation, rust and deterioration. I sell microfiber cloths and do not want you using something that I know will damage your sealant over time. At a large industrial trade show I had microfiber manufacturing companies verify this information.
If your vehicle is a 2002 or prior to 2002 using 100% cotton is safe and does a great job cleaning safely without scratching. If your vehicle is newer than 2002 then 100% Lambswool is recommended. It is even softer and gentler than cotton.
- Removing bugs from your windshields and front of your car: Ignoring bugs will cause pits in the paint. Look at the front where the paint has samll chips. You thought those were rock chips. Those are caused from bugs being left on the vehicle.
When you clean your car, wipe down the front with a heavy cotton towel or our Sof Wash if you have a van, truck or RV, dampened in warm water with CleanEZ added. Let that set for several minutes while you wash the top. Then wipe it down a second time. Given a bit of time the bugs soften and are much easier to remove.
To help with bug removal on the front of your car, apply Advantage twice a month until you have 5 or 6 coats of a protective layer built up. The polymers leave a slick surface on your vehicle. Bugs and dirt wipe right off. Then apply 3 to 4 times a year to rejuvenate the coating. When time is tight and you need to speed clean your car, that slick surface will cut your cleaning time in half. Dirt, grease, grime and bugs have a hard time clinging to a slick surface. Apply Advantage to your rear view mirrors and car headlights as well for a fast cleanup. The five minutes of extra time you spend will save you an hour of scrubbing each time you wash.
- Cleaning your tires: Tires require regular cleaning. Rubber naturally oxidizes with time. That oxidization causes the tire to appear like they are cracking. Scrub tires four times a year with TerraPlus and our Red Scrub Pad to remove the oxidation.
If after scrubbing, the tire still appears to be cracked and is under warranty, take them in to be inspected. If you apply a tire treatment before doing so, the dealer will blame the problem on the tire treatment and your warranty will not be honored. Warranties only cover manufacturing defects. Tire treatments are not part of the manufacturing process.
- Cleaning Wheels: When Wheels get to spinning they do collect brake dust on the rims. Our TerraPlus again will quickly clean your wheels. For wheels that are not sealed (sealed wheels are very shiny with a coat of what looks like polyurathane) TerraPlus does an excellent job removing the oxidation. Coming in March of 2007 we will have a cleaner that will not only clean the wheels but shine them as well. Sealed wheels need nothing more than cleaning with our TerraPlus. Do not use metal polish on sealed wheels. It will ruin the sealant and they will be very difficult to clean.
Waxes, Sealants and Protectants
A word of caution when applying any product that contains petroleum distillates: The new generation of paints used on cars is now water based. This means the paint itself is a softer based paint.
The problem comes into effect because there are different grades of petroleum distillates. Some will not deteriorate the sealant while others will do just that. Only you have no way of knowing which type of distillate is in your product until your vehicle begins oxidizing. This means the distillates have dissolved the sealant leaving the paint to oxidize.
Also if your vehicle contains adhesive backed decals or stripping, or signs, 3M and Avery who make the material for these products specifically state not to use a product containing petroleum distillates. They dissolve the adhesive causing the decal to pull away from the side and also cause them to oxidize or loose their color.
Be cautious about using any wax or protectant containing silicone if the product contains petroleum distillates. If the product contains the wrong kind of petroleum distillate, it will deteriorate the gel coat. Only the vehicle cannot be repainted because nothing sticks to silicone. An acid remover can be used but it rarely removes 100% of the silicone leaving you with an oxidizing vehicle that cannot be repainted.
Advantage has been specially formulated for Mary Moppins. It contains no petroleum distillates, carnauba wax or Teflon. Click on the link for detailed information. Use Advantage on any vehicle surface without fear of deteriorating the sealant, scratching the finish or damaging the decals, stripping or signs or lettering on your vehicle.
If your vehicle is oxidizing then you need a sealant. Look for a treatment that says for heavy duty cleaning or "for removing oxidation." Our Advantage removes mild to medium oxidation.We are also working on a product specifically designed to remove even heavy oxidation.
Answers to your questions:
- My dashboard and leather seats are feeling dry and the seats are not coming clean. I also have an ink mark I can't remove. Can you help?
Yes. You will love the way our Leather/Vinyl Cleaner and Conditioner not only deep cleans but also softens your dashboard and seats. Use it on the steering wheel to remove buildup there as well. For general cleaning and conditioning apply it using a soft damp cloth. For ink apply it full strength, wait an hour then wipe to remove. Repeat if a bit of ink still remains.
Our Pure Ayre removes any odors permanently including smoke, oil, mold or urine.
- The bugs on my windshield are almost impossible to remove. I live down south and they are especially bad when the "love bugs" are flying around. Is there any hope?
Yes hope is spelled Advantage. Bugs are difficult to remove because glass is porous. When they hit the windshield the "juices" all bake into those open pores from the heat of the sun.
Apply a very light coat of Advantage to your windshield by pouring a very small amount of Advantage on a damp cloth. Apply too much and your windshields will smear which can blind you when the sun shines directly on it. Advantage contains a polymer, which leaves the surface slick. It also gives your vehicle the protection against sun ray damage. That coating prevents the bugs from being able to bake into the glass making removal very easy and improving visibility when it rains. Ice and snow glide off easier as well.
- It seems like I'm constantly replacing my windshield wiper blades. Are they really wearing out that quickly?
Clean the windshield wiper blades monthly with sudsy water to prevent them from smearing the windshield. It will extend the wear of the rubber which will save you the cost of frequent replacements. If they smear after cleaning then it is time to replace them.
- Mary, I have heard my friends rave about your Advantage and I have to admit, their RVs and cars look better than any brand new car on a lot. I have been using another product. Will there be a problem if I start using Advantage?
Use Advantage with confidence. Advantage has been specially formulated to remove the prior petroleum distillates leaving your RV and car with a rich deep color and stunning shine. It will remove the impurities, oxidation and help restore the color - if the paint has not begun to wear. It sometimes takes two applications for the true shine to show. After that carry sun glasses with you!
- This is not a cleaning question but you have solved so many problems for me I thought you might have a solution. My engine seems to be sluggish and my gas mileage is not as good anymore. With the cost of gas, I've been trying to get by with the economy gas but it may have been the wrong choice. Do you know of anything I can use that would help solve these problems and give me better gas mileage?
Engine sluggishness can be caused by many things such as water in the gas, particle emissions, carbon deposits and micro-biological growth. A good fuel additive adjusts and solves these problems. I have used a product made by Filtakleen called ILFC Ten35 for five years now.
The 14% increase in gas mileage keeps me adding it to my tank every time I enter the gas station. I've gone from 15 mpg to over 18 saving at least 140 gallons of gas with every bottle. My engine runs smoother and my emissions have drastically reduced.
Filtakleen reduces engine emissions. It eliminates sludge buildup in your tank, protects your tank from corrosion and is ideal for engines that are stored for any length of time. It removes the water from gas and contains stabilizers making long term storage safe for airplanes, boats, tractors, lawnmowers, race cars and show cars or any kind of engine or motor that is stored for any period of time.
The best part? One 16 ounce bottle treats 1250 gallons of gas!
Mary Moppins is dedicated to offering the highest quality products for the best possible price. We constantly strive to help our Mother Earth. After using Filtakleen for five years with consistently high results, I felt it was time to extend this incredible product to my customers at a greatly reduced price.
Be sure to sign up for my free bimonthly email newsletter for more of tips then grab your copy of "Whistle While You Work." It's fast and easy to read yet packed with as much information as you need to clean just about anything. When you do you will receive my free speed cleaning article by email. It is full of helpful hints a schedule and quick tips to reduce your clutter and give you back your time.
Please see the Floor Care Guide for cleaning any hard surface flooring
Now take a tour of my Stain Removal Guide - it's free to print out then stop by the Archived Newsletter section for even more hints.
This article may be reprinted only with proper credit
given to Mary Findley, owner of Mary Moppins, Co.
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