Wheels and tires are the only part of our cars that actually make contact with the road. This in turn causes dirt and grime build-up over time. In addition, brake dust and fine shavings from the brake rotors end up on your wheels as well. What is brake dust? Brake dust is a residue which is a combination of iron particles, carbon, and fraction material that makes your wheels look filthy. What’s worse than dirty wheels and tires? Regardless of if your car is using aftermarket wheels or factory OE wheels, cleaning your wheels (and tires) is one of the...

There is nothing more frustrating than the sound of bugs hitting your clean windshield, or the sight of the front of your car that’s littered with bug splatter. Worse yet, your windshield wipers do close to nothing to wash away the bugs. If you drive your car often, chances are you’ve encountered insect remains all over the car’s front bumper, side mirrors, headlights and windshield. Bug splatter is one of the toughest stains to clean off the surface of your car, and the longer it sits, the more difficult it becomes to get rid of. Modern cars are painted using...

Summer can be rough, not only on people and animals but our cars as well. While it’s easy for us to take shelter indoors and turn the air conditioning on, our cars aren’t always that lucky. The sun emits harmful UV rays that can accelerate the oxidation process of your car’s paint. This oxidation gives the paint on your car a dull and dated look. This is especially true when the car is left outside under the sun for extended periods of time. When the summer season rolls around, it’s important to make sure you’re properly protecting your vehicle. Regardless...

The most common question about waxing your car goes like this, How often should I wax my car? The answer depends on two things.  1: How do you use your car? 2: How do you wash your car?   Let me address both of these variables in two segments. 1: How do you use your car? What this means is, what kind of environment is your car exposed to? Do you drive your car back and forth to work Monday through Friday?  Or do you work from home? Or are you retired and no longer driving your car back and forth...

4 types of water stain spots There are different types of water spots when it comes to water spot stains and etching on car paint and car glass.  These include,  Type I Water Spots – Mineral deposits on the paint surface. Type II Water Spots – Imprint etching in the paint. Type III Water Spots – Crater etchings in the paint. Type IV Water Spots – Whitish discoloration stains on and in the paint. Type I water spots are simply called hard water spot stains.  This means that there were dissolved minerals in the water and after the water evaporated,...

I’ve been detailing cars since the late 1970s.  I am the only detailer in our industry that has had 2 TV shows, authored 5 car detailing books and 1 boat detailing book.  Have written over 1000 articles on the topic of car and boat detailing and have taught and documented more car and boat detailing classes than any other detailing class instructor on planet Earth.  So, for what it’s worth, below are my favorite and must have car detailing tools.  Tools for detailing the exterior of your vehicle The FLEX XC 3401 VRG aka the BEAST - All brawl, zero...

I’ve been detailing cars for over 30 years.  That’s a long time and I’ve seen a lot of products come and go and I’ve also seen a lot of products endure the test of time.  With the introduction of the Internet and the World Wide Web, we all have access to the latest and greatest products around the world.   The downside of the Internet is there are just as many mediocre products as there are truly great products and sometimes the only way to separate the good from the bad is to either purchase and use the product yourself or...

Question: Which shines the longest, a paste wax or a liquid wax? Answer:  If you choose a quality brand of wax, the shine will last about the same time no matter what form the wax comes in. The more important question is how long will the wax last?  And the answer to how long any wax will last comes down to how well was the paint surface prepared to accept the wax?  Just like getting a custom paint job for your car, the final results always depend on the prep work performed before applying the wax.  If you’re working on...

Before After Cosmetic Engine Detailing When it comes to most modern cars, when you open the hood you don’t see an engine but instead, see lots of plastic covers and cladding that cover the engine.  For the most part, due to better technology, the engines don’t become covered in oily sludge like they did in the old days, thus there’s nothing to clean or degrease. The plastic covers and plastic cladding inside the engine compartment does become dirty and neglected looking over time but the good news is - it’s fast and easy to clean and then restore that factory...

Maintaining the cleanliness of your engine and engine compartment is essential for several reasons. First, it helps to keep the engine running cooler. Heat is one of the primary enemies of your engine and drivetrain, so keeping it cool will help it last longer. Second, a clean engine is easier to diagnose when there are problems. If there is a leak or a broken component, it will be much easier to see and fix if the engine is clean. Finally, a clean engine simply looks better! It will make your car look more polished and well-maintained. Unfortunately, the engine bay...

What are Ceramic Paint Coatings? Ceramic paint coatings are defined as any paint protection product that contains nano-sized particles of SiO2 or Silicon Dioxide.   True ceramic paint coatings use nano-sized particles of Silicon Dioxide to create a paint protection product that dramatically outlasts and out-protects conventional and traditional car waxes and synthetic paint sealants.  Due to their pure concentrated form and the fact when exposed to air they will solidify, most real or true ceramic coatings come in tiny glass vials. What is SiO2? SiO2 is the abbreviated element name for Silicon Dioxide, and it is one of 118...