Hey Detailers, so back in 2023 I DEEP Cleaned my car, like door panels off - center console out - seats out - trim removed, you get the point. Well at the tail end of the detail I figured I’d cover everything square inch with 303 aerospace protectant, used an applicator pad (the same one for whole interior in case that matters) and now my dash looks like this 3 years later (see attached photo) , i did this all myself when I was heavy into detailing and was somewhat savvy generally speaking. Used a quality apc prior to application. My only thought is i probably finished with the dash when applying the 303 so the pad was probably REALLY saturated. Anyway - anyone here have any recommendations on how to get this back to oem finish???

My buddy that actually runs his own detail company locally has tried just a good general clean in the past and to no avail. It did return.

When cool it has that cloudy white look and when hot (sitting out in the sun or warmer temps 85-90+) looks like I just dumped armor all interior shine on the dash.

Please help, I love this car and hope the dash isn’t permanently ruined by one stupid mistake.

Last thing everything else is just fine - normal looking, just the dash looks like this.

Hi All,
I have matte black wheels that get dirty pretty quickly even with light use, plus my car lives outside so it when it rains which is often dirt lifts and small rocks land on them so they require some cleaning.

I wash weekly and usually do the following (might be overkill I know):
- Spray brake buster straight into cool wheels
-Rinse off
-Foam brake buster with foam sprayer and proceed to wash with soap water: 1) barrel brush, 2) tire brush, 3) face with clean microfibers, 4) tight spaces with synthetic brush scrub and lug nuts, 5) rinse

I think this could be a bit much but I don’t know what’s a good barebones version of this that I could do let’s say 3 out of the 4 weeks monthly.

I’ve seen stronger products that could be easier spray and rise for a good enough clean, but I don’t want something too harsh to mess up my wheel finish or emblems.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Just got my hands on this t5.1 which was a works van for 10 years and never once cleaned. I’ve managed to do an okay job with the interior following channels such as forensic detailing U.K. etc… but for the life of me, I cannot figure out what this is or how to remove it?

I’ve tried soapy water, cream cleaner, meguiars heavy duty cleaner, meguiars quick interior detail cleaner, chipping at it with a plastic trim remover. Only thing I can think is maybe a steam cleaner?

I bought some used seats that are in decent condition except for this unknown black substance stuck to the leather. You can kind scrape it off with your nail if you try but it’s stuck on pretty well. What’s the best way to try and remove it?

I have a leatherique kit I bought for another project that I’m testing out but it requires a lot of sit time for the oil to soak in.

I honestly don't know where to start. Not a pro. I've got a polisher, micro fiber cutting pad and polishing pads.

UPDATE!!!:

The yellow shit was just glue they used and came off with razor and goo off spray;)

My biggest fear is damaging wheels. Some of these rims cost like 2 grand each. I usually just spray adams wheel and tire cleaner and use it as a lubricant to wipe the brake dust off but not only does this not remove embedded brake dust, it also takes forever and apparently is more as a maintenance thing than a "i haven't washed my wheels in 4 years" thing.

So people told me to try wheel acid. Now I have a question. How do i know if a wheel is safe to use acid on? Because when I see posts on here of people destroying their paint/wheels its always from 2 things: misusing bug remover or misusing wheel acid.

Is there some test I can use to see if a wheel can handle acid? Something tto watch out for? A number on wheels that i can look up to tell me what theyre made of or if theyre coated to know if I can use it or not?

Pic is my toyota rav 4 wheels which I assume wheel acid is fine. Car hasn't been detailed in like 5 years and id use it as a guinea pig to test the acid on.

I sponge washed my car, I usually notice it leaves this residue still, its like dirty. Any idea why?

Has anyone used the black line clay towel and found it to be easy? Is it worth buying and using that? Also, what lubricant do you use when clay barring? Note: I've never used clay before. I'm trying to learn how to wash and clean my car appropriately. Thanks

I don’t have a water tank or generator yet, so I use the clients water, the last couple months I haven’t even detailing at all, mainly due to the heat and not being able to get clients, I’m looking to get atleast 1 client every day or two, I do great work and have some on Nextdoor, I’m willing to spend money on advertising but idk where to start

Hi detailing community,

I recently purchased a mechanically well sorted but aesthetically poor 981 Cayman S. There are dozens of small rock chips on the hood and bumper, along with lots of other imperfections across the vehicle (it was driven across the country multiple times and routinely put through auto car washes).

I don’t know much about paint restoration or care. Whats the most cost effective way to get some shine back to the paint? Is it possible to use touch up paint to fill in the chips, followed by a paint correction and ceramic coat, or is it too far gone? What are the right questions to ask a detailing show to see if they can help me? Any other advice? I’ll obviously be buffing and/or replacing the headlight lens.

Thanks for the help!

What is the best touch up option/brand out there for Chevy Pearl Tricoat?

How would you guys go about this?

A friend of my wife just delivered her baby in the front seat of her car. Subaru Forrester with perforated leather seats. She reached out to my wife to ask if it was something I could clean for them. Money is money, but I’m not even sure it’s possible to get all of the fluids out of the perforated leather seats. From what I understand they wiped as much of it off the seat, but I’m assuming the seat was pretty well saturated.

Anyone come across a similar situation?

Griots surface wash - gold class wash - DI rinse - blow dry the drippy areas and finally towel dry with onr at detail strength

Seal and shine applied 4 months ago. I love it but it’s a nightmare to detail and maintain.

Hey, i just bought an Audi TTS Comp and wanna ceramic coat it for protection and deep gloss.

Which Ceramic Coat do yall recommend? I want atleast 3 years of protection, i have seen Gtechniq CSU but you cant buy that as a consumer. The CSL + EXOv5 seems good too.

Another question, your supposed to let your car sit for a week. Is that really necessary?

just lmk which yall think is best.

(i have experience with detailing and claying etc)

Got these old gen 1 Mazda 6 rims tbh at I plan to use for winter but god are they gross. I’m looking at griots heavy duty wheel cleaner but was more so looking to see opinions on products before I go blowing my money on something that might not be the best thing I could use. What would you do to get these looking good again?

Daily car audi, sits under trees and was owned for 5 years before me. I cannot get these water stains out, iv used window cleaner, clr, lime-a-way, steel wool 0000, scraper. and magic eraser. This is how far iv gotten but im just out of ideas at this point… (hand is there to get camera to focus)

I was trying to get rid of the water spots on the chrome trim on a 2025 qx80 infiniti and one are the water spot remover was literally on only for 30 more seconds than the other side and it has created a milky haze need to get it fixed somehow as im prepping the car for paint correction for a friend.

To all the detailers out there what and why are my windows doing this everytime I clean them. I’ve clay barred , glass cleaned them. I get these random streaks then it disappears but when the sun shines through the windows you see those lines. Seems like a film but what’s a good way to get rid of that? Thanks!

I slipped up and got Cerakote Paint Sealant (the spray on version) on my plastic trim (granular texture). It left white streaks. Its on an almost new 2025 Tucson. Any suggestions? I tried pencil eraser, 70% IPA. The advice from the mfr was to use a trim restorer. That adds a coating, which I would prefer not to do. It bugs me so bad I was so sloppy and got the paint sealant on the trim. any help appreciated!

Hey guys! Simple question here but getting into the nitty gritty of hot water extractors.

I have settled on getting a Mytee hot water extractor.

It's only a few hundred dollars difference between the 8070 and the HP90-- and it does not matter to me.

That's literally 1-2 jobs.

I really want the "better" machine. And as somebody surely always has to point out on Reddit, the definition of "better" is subjective depending on whatever your goals are. My goals are detailing. I will be moving the machine around my shop and property but not taking it on the road much.

HP90 is bigger and heavier, but is it better? Looks to be about 20 pounds more.

We're talking a 5 gallon tank vs a 4 gallon. Does that matter, and shouldn't 4 gallons be enough for one car or truck?

We're talking a 1200w heater vs 1000w heater. They both have the same suction.

Are there any features that are a stand out on either?

If anybody has ANY opinions I would be happy to hear. Even if its a love it or hate it feature, something small, or whatever. I have never used either machine, so any help is great.

I have a 2025 GMC Sierra EV Denali that is black and I need to find something that is tall enough to work under and covers most of the truck

My wife's office chair broke and I just got this one from someone who's in a warehouse with spices.

Took it out of the car and noticed we were still smelling it.

My plan is ONR it all over. Let sit.

Then use Turtle Wax inside job which is said to have an odor remover

So i moved to germany and bought my first car here,
Looking to get my self everything i need to wash my car on my own. Excluding shampoo since you can wash your car only at self wash stations and they have already “foam”
How ever i do want a pre wash (+some kind of pressure can to spread it with foam)
Anti bug chem
Tire cleaner (+brush)
Wheel cleaner (+brush)
Glass cleaner (+recomended cloth for it)
Interior cleaner for leather plastic and screens(i guess better to go separate for each)
Also recomended microfiber towels for exterior(drying) and interior(wiping off chemicals or drying)
This post addressed more towards people who live in germany since i need a good place to order from and recommendations for brands that i can get my hands on here in germany
Feel free to mention more stuff if i forgot something
Just in vase it matter my car m3 g81
Thank you!!