Cheap detailing alternatives that are as good or better than expensive products

[Diamond Dog]

Thought I would start a thread for people to post their products and solutions that work as good or better than the expensive versions. I will start

Detailing spray. - Optimum Warterless Wash & Shine. 2 ounces to a quart of distilled or reverse osmosis water. 32 ounce bottle for 17 bucks makes 4 gallons of detailing spray that works great. I like it a lot better the CG synthetic detailer as it tended to streak

Sap remover. - gel hand sanitizer.

Window cleaner. - 1 quart of distilled or RO water. 2 drops Lemon Joy dishwashing soap, 2 capfuls of rubbing alcohol. 70 percent. Huper optik window tint guys gave me this tip and it works great

Wheel cleaner. - had my wheels Opticoated a few months back for $150. Just use regular car soap and my wheels are spotless and have not used wheel cleaner since

Vinyl, leather, tires. - Car Pro PERL. Dilute it 2 to one for tires. 3 to 1 for leather and vinyl. See my posts in this forum about how leather is plastic coated. Only need to apply to exterior every 3 months, interior every 6 months tires every month. In between I just use detailing spray

[b8audis4]

Very good tips! For the sap remover I probably wouldn't use that but I would use all purpose cleaner or clay.

[B G 8er]

A Pharmacist turned me onto Denatured Alcohol which is available inexpensively at your nearby drug store. Quickly removes the thickest, stickiest tree sap with ease. Just use on a clean, cool surface and rinse or follow up with detail spray. You will also have to re seal that spot since it is a "solvent".

[CLEANA3]

Meg 105 is allmost half the price of fg 400 and still does one hell of a good job

[B G 8er]

Meg 105 is allmost half the price of fg 400 and still does one hell of a good job

FG400 may have a bit of an edge over Meg105 on our rock hard Audi paint though.

[helix139]

FG400 may have a bit of an edge over Meg105 on our rock hard Audi paint though.

Meg105 cuts slightly better IMO, but FG400 finishes down MUCH better.

[milesed]

For windows cleaning paper, go to your local newspaper and ask for an endroll. It's the free, blank unused newspaper that comes on a large cardboard roller. My current one has lasted 10 years.

[B G 8er]

For windows cleaning paper, go to your local newspaper and ask for an endroll. It's the free, blank unused newspaper that comes on a large cardboard roller. My current one has lasted 10 years.

LOL don't use this on your tint film!

[milesed]

Sorry- Should've specified^- exterior windows or untinted only.

[DetailersDomain]

Have you all looked into the NanoSkin line we have just brought it in and its priced cheaper than some of the items mentioned as well as some of the over the counter type products.

Nanoskin at Detailer's Domain

[Diamond Dog]

Have you all looked into the NanoSkin line we have just brought it in and its priced cheaper than some of the items mentioned as well as some of the over the counter type products.

Nanoskin at Detailer's Domain

I would be very interested in learning more about this line of products. Specifically interior, vinyl, leather, rubber products. Please tell us more or point us to some reviews. Bonus points if you can show us some comparisons with some products listed in this thread

[DetailersDomain]

Sure thing so far we tested everything on our site and we like them, look out for some others.

Nanoskin

For leather I feel Leather Masters is great.

[B G 8er]

Leather seats in "most" production cars (except for ultra high end) are "coated leather" meaning the pores are basically sealed with a thin plastic like color and finish. For antique cars or ultra high end with open leather pores I have read many rave reviews about a product called Leatherique. Personally, I have been using the Zaino Leather in a bottle on my B8. Not convinced it does much to retain the supple moisture but it goes on matte and smells like new leather seats! I also like browsing on Autogeek.net or even Amazon because you can get some really great feedback if you take in the consensus of the individual product reviews from actual purchasers. Thus, from reading what others have posted, I am about to pull the trigger on some Microfiber Madness Crazy towels and an Incredisponge from Carpro-US.com.

I know this thread was originally intended for cheap detailing alternatives. Cheap isn't usually going to give you the best results. One cheap alternative however is using Denatured Alcohol to remove tree sap.

[Diamond Dog]

Leather seats in "most" production cars (except for ultra high end) are "coated leather" meaning the pores are basically sealed with a thin plastic like color and finish. For antique cars or ultra high end with open leather pores I have read many rave reviews about a product called Leatherique. Personally, I have been using the Zaino Leather in a bottle on my B8. Not convinced it does much to retain the supple moisture but it goes on matte and smells like new leather seats! I also like browsing on Autogeek.net or even Amazon because you can get some really great feedback if you take in the consensus of the individual product reviews from actual purchasers. Thus, from reading what others have posted, I am about to pull the trigger on some Microfiber Madness Crazy towels and an Incredisponge from Carpro-US.com.

I know this thread was originally intended for cheap detailing alternatives. Cheap isn't usually going to give you the best results. One cheap alternative however is using Denatured Alcohol to remove tree sap.

I am glad someone else brought this up. No one seems to dispute this. I bought into this whole "leather is live, needs to breathe....so use these expensive products to feed it" thing until someone told me what you posted. I love Car Pro PERL and it is inexpensive if you consider that you dilute it. I pretty much dilute 3 to 1 and use it for everything.

I posted this on another thread:



Here is something unexpected and affordable as you dilute it due to the application.

Leather is plastic coated in most cars so there is a misconception about how to treat leather in many cases.

Vinyl, leather, tires. - Car Pro PERL. Dilute it 2 to one for tires. 3 to 1 for leather and vinyl. See my posts in this forum about how leather is plastic coated. Only need to apply to exterior every 3 months, interior every 6 months tires every month. In between I just use detailing spray

Here is a review

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/...rpro-perl.html

As far as the incredisponge, why not go touchless if you are concerned about scratching. ,I went "touchless" with an AR pressure washer, their foam cannon, a leaf blower and Optimum Waterless diluted 10 to 1 for a detailing spray (talk about inexpensive and works a lot better than Chemicals Guys synthetic detailer IMHO as it doesn't streak) to wipe off any streaks or spots the leaf blower may leave behind. My car is Opticoated so it makes blowing off the water really easy. Also Opticoated the wheels and with the pressure washer and foam cannon, I stopped using expensive wheel cleaners months ago. Just pressure washer, Wheel Woolies, and regular car soap. I scrub wheels as I let the suds sit on my car and then rinse everything off before all the soap dries.



I wrote reviews on the pressure washer as well as the foam cannon on this forum. I wish more people would write reviews.

I think my car looks shinny with the products I use and I have not waxed it once after Opticoating it 8 months ago and using the products and methods I mention. You can click on the pictures and they will enlarge.











those photos above were not retouched and are true depictions of the shine. Here is the glamor shot:

[B G 8er]

Car looks stunning! Yes I've thought about going touch-less. I've actually NEVER run into any issues with using a sponge but I am very careful to do a thorough rinse. I also use a second, separate designated sponge which is the same sponge I use on my wheels and tires on the lower rocker areas, lower rear bumper and exaust tips, etc. . That sponge never enters my wash media. I'm never willing to take a chance using my upper body sponge with those lower areas where grit might be hiding. I guess i just want to try the incredisponge because it sounds fun to use. Ha Ha.