Best Tire & Wheel Care Products
This formulation is also effective and safe for use on painted wheels and will not deteriorate clear coats. Safe on painted; anodized and clear coated wheels.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I sprayed this on dry wheel, let it sit for 5 minutes till it turned blood red, used a toothbrush for about 2 minutes per wheel."
"The forums recommended Sonax as the best way to clean stubborn brake dust from alloy wheels and they were right."
"After i rinsed the wheels off, i went on and two bucket washed the car as usual and cleaned the wheels as i normally would."
"I recommend getting a spray bottle to try and following the directions to the T on the back of the bottle."
"wow this is the first decon product i have used... coming from chemical guys wheel cleaning products.. stick orange and diablo and a third product that doesnt come to mind at the moment... this product wins hands down!!!"
"If I go two weeks, my rims will take on a gun metal color because of the heavy brake dust."
"Some cars produce more brake dust than others and some produce brake dust that does not cause it to turn purple."
"The rims had so must dust and grime on them you couldn't tell that they are chrome."
Enter your model number to make sure this fits.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The bristles are very soft and safe on my painted wheel surfaces while still managing to loosen most of the crud."
"I was hoping to be able to clean up my Audi wheels a little but the brush head is too big to really get in between the large spoke spaces."
"POSITIVE: > This wheel brush has an excellent grip that allows for maximum control when cleaning your wheels."
"Mothers Wheel Brush is both a well designed and well made wheel cleaning brush."
"I used this today on rims on my truck which have not had proper attention in over two years...........it got the job done, just on the first cleaning."
"Bristles are soft and effectively clean the factory painted and alloy wheels I've used it on."
"After brush cleaning my wheels, the wheel brush bristles have maintained their shape."
"Due to the nature of the bristles, this brush will not scratch your wheels as long as you keep it clean between cleaning each wheel!"
Exact formula as the already popular Sonax Wheel Cleaner Full Effect 500ml version. Sprays on as a green, flourescent foam; turns red as dirt & grime is penetrated.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I sprayed this on dry wheel, let it sit for 5 minutes till it turned blood red, used a toothbrush for about 2 minutes per wheel."
"The forums recommended Sonax as the best way to clean stubborn brake dust from alloy wheels and they were right."
"After i rinsed the wheels off, i went on and two bucket washed the car as usual and cleaned the wheels as i normally would."
"I recommend getting a spray bottle to try and following the directions to the T on the back of the bottle."
"wow this is the first decon product i have used... coming from chemical guys wheel cleaning products.. stick orange and diablo and a third product that doesnt come to mind at the moment... this product wins hands down!!!"
"If I go two weeks, my rims will take on a gun metal color because of the heavy brake dust."
"Some cars produce more brake dust than others and some produce brake dust that does not cause it to turn purple."
"The rims had so must dust and grime on them you couldn't tell that they are chrome."
Best Automotive Tire Care
Specially formulated lubricants lift dirt off the surface so you can safely wipe it away.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Used this product on my motorcycle and car and absolutely love the finish it provides."
"I've been using Speed Shine weekly for about 5 years. Safe on clear coat and older, classic cars."
"I keep my "pleasure" car in the garage 100% of the time when not in use."
"Seems to be every bit as good as Meguiar's Quick Detailer which was my go-to."
"Used this with the Griot's clay on my 01 Electra Glide and the results were awesome."
"I have used Griots products for over ten years on everything from an early Porsche to a new Ford super duty (even an old trctor) with fantastic results."
"Works great!"
"The reviews here do not lie, The gallon is a bargain considering it will last you forever."
Best Automotive Wheel Care
Sprays on as a green, flourescent foam; turns red as dirt & grime is penetrated.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I sprayed this on dry wheel, let it sit for 5 minutes till it turned blood red, used a toothbrush for about 2 minutes per wheel."
"The forums recommended Sonax as the best way to clean stubborn brake dust from alloy wheels and they were right."
"After i rinsed the wheels off, i went on and two bucket washed the car as usual and cleaned the wheels as i normally would."
"I recommend getting a spray bottle to try and following the directions to the T on the back of the bottle."
"wow this is the first decon product i have used... coming from chemical guys wheel cleaning products.. stick orange and diablo and a third product that doesnt come to mind at the moment... this product wins hands down!!!"
"If I go two weeks, my rims will take on a gun metal color because of the heavy brake dust."
"Some cars produce more brake dust than others and some produce brake dust that does not cause it to turn purple."
"The rims had so must dust and grime on them you couldn't tell that they are chrome."
Best Glass Care Products
The 3M Headlight Lens Restoration System lets you shine and restore plastic lenses, including headlights, taillights, fog and directional lights. Features 3M abrasive technology and a polishing compound to restore hazy and dull headlight lenses, as well as other plastic lens surfaces on your vehicle. System is intended to restore two headlight lenses.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Having come into possession of two different products for auto headlight restoration, I thought I would try a head to head comparison, The two products are the 3M Headlight Restoration System (PN 39008) and the Meguiar's Perfect Clarity Headlight Restoration Two Step Kit (hereafter know as Meguiar's)."
"I am the type of buyer who does a lot of research before pulling the trigger on a purchase and the case of buying a headlight restoration kit was no exception. I couldn't for the life of me figure out the difference int he kits, so I went with the cheapest, the 3M 39008 Headlight Lens Restoration System. 3M headlight lens polish sample. - The 3M 39014 Lens Renewal Kit includes all the above plus: 1 - 3M Masking Tape PN 0000 25 ft. - The 3M 39045 Lens Renewal Kit with Protectant includes all of the above plus: 1 - Container of protectant formula. I had making tape, so no biggie there, and I just used a high quality automotive wax on the lenses when I was done, so I didn't need the 3M "Protectant formula". I would say the lights came out at 99-100% I'm not sure what those who wrote negative reviews were doing wrong, but if you follow the directions and take your time, the results are great. - Finish up with a nice high quality wax on the lens to protect your work!"
"I used the rubbing compound and sponge attachment to get rid of the haze on my wife's 6 year old car headlights."
"There is a lot of elbow grease involved, so if you're not into the idea of putting in an hour or two of sanding (depending on your car's headlight size), this isn't for you."
Best Interior Care Products
BETTER THAN THE REST Leather Honey rejuvenates and conditions old leather, protects and softens new leather. Other leather conditioning products merely sit on the surface, creating a superficial conditioned appearance that requires frequent applications. USE WITH LEATHER HONEY LEATHER CLEANER Our leather cleaner, also available on Amazon, is a powerful, non-toxic concentrate to remove dirt, grime and tough stains from your leather before conditioning. Deeply penetrates into the leather's pores to protect new leather and rejuvenate old leather. THIS LEATHER CONDITIONER PROLONGS THE LIFE OF ALL TYPES OF LEATHER, including leather furniture and upholstery, automobile and motorcycle seats, boots, gloves, purses, saddles and tack. Use with Leather Honey Leather Cleaner, also available on Amazon!
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Great conditioner, but be aware it may darken your lighter leathers substantially."
"Because the bottle indicated this is a natural product, and it was totally free of any odor that might indicate presence of solvents, I used my bare hands and the applicator cloth to massage in a generous coating then placed the cushions aside to allow the conditioner to be absorbed. Undeterred, I applied a second generous coating to each cushion and laid them aside before treating the lower facings, arms, sides, and backs of each piece. However, as a bonus to my project, I'd just bought a 3 pack of cowhide work gloves that needed to be "broken in" and oiled to make them flexible and form-fitting enough to wear while doing carpentry. So, each time I took a break, I put my oily hands inside one pair, liberally applying leather honey to all surfaces of the thumb and forefinger, and wore them each in turn. But after absorption, the scuffs and scratches provided by the dogs, located on the top surfaces and outer edges of the cushions and the arms were reappearing - much less obvious but still leaving room for doubt. The surrounding leather stopped absorbing any further conditioner, and did not darken, so I continued spot applications - following along each crease or scratch with a generous layering."
"I like leather products, and I like to take care of my stuff, so the right leather care product is critical. Leather Honey: Leather Honey has a unique effect, making leather somehow feel denser and more hydrated. It is hard to explain, but it is very different than the effect of more lotion-like products, and I've tried a lot of them. Here's my experience on different things: On my favorite ten-year-old leather jacket from North Beach Leather, Leather Honey soaked in quickly in certain spots, and I added some more. On a new black leather jacket, it didn't take as much nor was the effect as dramatic, but it gave the leather a more supple feel. On my five-year-old black Tumi briefcase, it was quite inconsistent in how much soaked in right away and how much stayed on the surface. For example, on the Sebagos, an area that was a bit dirty was just the same, but the leather under it was clearly treated. In every case, it did exactly what I wanted, making the leather softer, more suppler, and feel great. Note, however, that 303 makes the leather more slick. (303 is great stuff anyway for anything plastic or rubber or teak, but that's another review ...)."
"I found it much easier to massage it into every nook with my fingers. I warmed it up a bit in the hot tap water. Then after 30 minutes the leather soaked up the honey and it looked great. And, an American company family owned to boot."
"I conditioned about 15 pairs of leather shoes, slippers, flip flops and boots. I found a pair of boots in the basement with an 1/8" or more of mold on them... on my way to the trash I remembered Leather Honey... That gooey leather product saved my boots..."
Best Exterior Care Products
Removes embedded grains of metal, tree sap, airborne environmental deposits and paint overspray for "new" look.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It was the very first time my car had ever been clayed so it only made sense to me that it would take so long. Tips: ***EDIT: NOV 2016 Please Read. -I suggest using a bucket of water or a spray bottle with SLIGHTLY SOAPY water for lubrication. If you're water is too soapy the clay starts to melt, but yes, slightly soapy water does work- I've experimented a couple of different times. I still don't use the spray (I've now clayed about 6 different cars multiple times each), but find, as other suggested, soapy water to be a better fit. -Your car's body must be spotless before you clay it (wash the car but don't dry it) dry it after you clay it and rinse it. -you can clay the windows too! -Polish then wax your car after you have clayed it to seal out any debris and to bring out the best shine in the paint. The clarity and texture of the paint on my car was greatly improved after claying it :)- I don't think my paint could be clearer. ________________. **1st pic of 05' Mazda clayed only, 2nd pic of '05 Mazda clayed then polished, 3rd pic is a '08 Sebring clayed and waxed, and finally the 4th picture is of a Porsche 968 95' after being clayed, polished, and waxed."
"I also had little rust specs all over the back of the car from pulling a rusty trailer for years."
"I have a white Kia Optima, and the trunk door was very rough to the touch with lots of little dirt specs that seemed impossible to clean."
"Tree sap on my car had been there ever since I bought my lexus used 3 years ago. I broght it to a local detail shop, and they said it will cost $200 to remove all the tree sap. I tried to just set my mind to ignore all the rough surfaces on my car's body. When I found this item on Amazon, I watched their ad video, and bought it. Took about good 30min to shave all that gunky sticky(mine was almost permanently hardened)tree sap, Dried good and applied those quick liquid wax then buffed. Oh, remember, if you happened to drop the clay on the floor while you are working, just throw it away."
"The included bottle of bar lube is plenty to clay even a large, four door sedan."
"The only thing that did it was the clay bar system."
Best Finishing Products
Apply at 8-10 mils wet for 200-250 sq ft per gallon coverage.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"No doubt the best product i have ever used. I purchased a fixer uper Bush Hog for my tractor which had some pretty heavy to light rust recently."
"We wire brushed the frame and applied the Corroseal and the metal turned black in a couple of hours."
"It does indeed turn the rust back to metal before the rust would flake and bend break easily now wont move very strong it is metal again."
"Covered the bottom of my wrangler in this stuff, definitely did a good job converting rust in some spots."
"After I used it on rusted metal laundry tub legs, I looked around and found lots of other rusted things (mostly outdoors) to use this on."
"Had an extremely tricky situation with some rust on my metal storage building."
"This is the second product I have tried for controlling rust on my undercarriage."
"I followed the instructions to the letter, and applied this to clean, tight rust and then painted over it."
Best Tools & Equipment
AmazonBasics Cotton WashclothsAmazonBasics cotton washcloths offer the perfect combination of softness and strength - ideal for anything from gentle face cleansing to general house cleaning. Made of 100% looped-terry cotton for strength, high absorbency, and fast drying. Soft enough for use on the face and strong enough for general household cleaning.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Each washcloth has a little adhesive sticker on it. Buy the washcloths, but take a few minutes to remove the little sticker from each washcloth before laundering them the first time!"
"After washing and drying with nothing more special than Charlie's soap and the dryer's energy saving cycle; they shrunk evenly to 11 inches X 11 inches. Now they feel a little thicker and so soft that I'm wondering if I should mark several to keep as actual washcloths for us - the people. I told my husband that the new washcloths' brand was Amazon Basics."
"I have been buying several Amazon "brand" products recently and I'm very happy to report that it has all been of high quality. UPDATE: I am downgrading to 3 stars because after about the fourth wash five of the cloths started raveling(?)."
"I was tired of buying washcloths at our local big box stores and franchises: they didn't wear well; even in the middle price range they are often finished with overcast stitching of a raw edge that ravels and loses bits of thread and pile in use and washing."
"It seems like every time I put a batch through the laundry another one comes back with the hem unstitched."
"22 are unstitched, including the ones that were already unstitched. We like them but 3 became unstitched after just one wash."
"The hem on nearly all of these unraveled in the wash. My washer is less than a year old."
"I bought 60 of these in March 2016."
Best Cleaning Kits
Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo and Conditioner Meguiar's Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo and Conditioner is a rich and luxurious product designed to both wash and condition paint in one easy step. Gold Class Liquid Wax Gold Class Clear Liquid Wax is a premium blend of carnauba and polymer conditioners that nourish and enrich paint, creating clear, deep reflections for the ultimate show car shine. Quik Detailer Meguiar's Quick Detailer is the easiest way to give a car that "just waxed" look. Quik Interior Detailer Quick Interior Detailer is the fastest way to clean interior surfaces, leaving them looking natural and revitalized. With the proper use of the claying bar and Meguiar’s Quik Detailer (included in the Smooth Surface Clay Kit), the clay will quickly, but gently remove bonded contaminants on a vehicle’s painted surfaces. Meguiar’s Microfiber Wash Mitt is an essential tool in creating and maintaining a show car perfect finish each time the vehicle is washed. Supreme Shine Microfiber Towel Meguiar’s Supreme Shine microfiber towel is an indispensable tool in maintaining a car’s appearance. The Meguiar's Complete Car Care includes 16 oz. Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo and Conditioner, 16 oz. It includes one 16-ounce bottle of Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo and Conditioner (G7116), one 16-ounce bottle of Gold Class Liquid Wax (G7016), one 16-ounce bottle of Gold Class Endurance High Gloss Gel (G7516), one container of Quik Detailer (A3316), one 16-ounce bottle of Quik Interior Detailer (G13616), two 50-gram clay bars with a clamshell container (R30-60-008, R30-60-120), one container of PlastX (G12310), one container of ScratchX (G10307), one microfiber towel (M9910), one foam applicator pad (R30-60-241), and one microfiber wash mitt (X3002). Endurance Tire Gel provides a long-lasing, high gloss protection keeping tires black with a rich, dark gloss shine for weeks longer than ordinary tire shine products.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"My car is white, and people who own white cars know how difficult it is to take care of (besides a black car of course). Buy the Mequiars White Wax and wax your car with it AFTER you clay bar and you'll be shocked at the way your car looks..it will look EVEN BETTER than the day you bought it."
"I've been a Meguiar's user for over 10 years, and this is a great starter kit for anyone that is interested in taking the time to detail their own car versus taking it to a car wash or giving to someone as a gift. Some people can't find the time or would rather take their vehicle through a car wash than spend a couple hours washing, waxing and detailing their car. So here's what you get: 16-ounce Gold Class wash shampoo and conditioner, 16-ounce Quik detailer, 16-ounce Quik interior detailer, 16-ounce cleaner wax liquid , 24-ounce Hot Rims all wheel cleaner, washing sponge, foam applicator, and Supreme Shine microfiber towel. 16-ounce Gold Class wash shampoo and conditioner: Just add a few capfuls to a bucket and it provides a sudsy and silky cleaner for your car that won't remove the wax that is on your car. Supreme Shine microfiber towel: This 16"x24" towel is best used to remove the wax you've applied to the car or for use with the Quick detailer. Again, don't use the same microfiber towel for the interior detailer as you do for the wax removal."
"The Meguiar's 11-piece car wash kit, with bucket, is loaded with the premium products you need to gently maintain your car's surfaces including paint, glass, tires, and interior. Ultimate Wash and Wax gently cleans the paint while leaving a deep, glossy finish with additional wax protection. Ultimate Quik Wax is a quick and easy spray that provides a spectacular shine, lasting protection, and relentless water-beading. Perfect Clarity Glass Cleaner is a gentle professional grade formula that provides streak-free clarity while Quik Interior Detailer Cleaner Wipes provide safe cleaning on all interior surfaces. Premium accessories and Meguiar's Yellow Bucket give you the tools to gently wash, dry, protect and maintain your vehicle properly. I usually take my car to the car wash, but I still tend to clean the inside of my care, detail it and wash my windows and windshield."
"Worked great at giving me a smooth and clean surface to begin a full detail with on my Milano Red Honda Fit."
"I will make sure to recommend them to everybody who has a love for their car and I will continue to buy from them for gifts and myself."
"I bought / used this for my 2002 Subaru Outback that had thousands of tiny orange surface rust spots on the exterior paint."
Best Undercoatings
Protecting your vehicle with an application of rubberized undercoating is advised for long-term protection of the undercarriage. Enter your model number to make sure this fits.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Just used 7 cans to spray the majority underbody of my crew cab truck."
"To test the difference I sprayed 8"x8" 18 gauge sheet metal, one with 2 coats of QK the other with 2 coats of 3M. (I sprayed another sheet with Rustoleum truck bed coating, big thumbs down.). Although the Rustoleum truck bed coating goes on thin and runs easily I checked the sheet a couple days later and it produced a hard smooth coat, so I sprayed a second coat on it. Very little sound dampening but the coat has harder than the the other two and relatively smooth, and as tough if not tougher than the 3M when scratched with a screw driver,"
"Worth the additional expense!!!"
"Very good coverage in one coat."
"Good prod, fast ship, No Prob!"
"Used to deaden the sound on my Phanteks Evolve ATX case; the front aluminum panel rings for some reason."
Best Solvents
Chemical Guys nonsense is the invincible invisible all-purpose Super cleaner nonsense is colorless and odorless for maximum cleaning power on any surface. engine bays, dirty wheels, undercarriages, and filthy carpets don't stand a chance against the transparent cleaning power of nonsense the invisible low-foam formula gives nonsense the highest level of cleaning power possible with no residue. Low foam for more effective cleaning power.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I would go behind with a dry towel or a damp cloth with only water if I was worried about paint on a car."
"i had dark scuff marks and some dirt buildup on areas of my headliner on the a pillars, b pillars, and the sun visors. despite this, my seats have a nice clean look to them, and i can make those "suede tracks" in them again- you know, they look a certain shade when you brush up on them, then look different when you brush down on them. Trust me, i probably sprayed close to 16oz of diluted solution all over my interior by the time i was done cleaning."
"It instantly removed dark stains on my light tan carpet."
"it really is amazing I use it in my truck on my hats with sweat marks, even removed Sharpie from fabric on my hat."
"It was filled with stains, oily leather seats, skin residue on handles and steering wheels."
"It leaves surface well cleaned wtih a matte finish, making it look like a new car."
"I used it full strength to clean upholstery of my 2009 Accord and it was able to take out stains and dirt, which other cleaner did not."
"You just spray some on the tire and go spray the others and by the time you're back at tire one just scrub it up with a brush and goodbye dirt."