[AFCarolina]

Hi! I'm a new mustang owner and would greatly appreciate some answers to general questions I have about car care and maintenance. I'd like to keep things under control now (cosmetically) so that my car will continue to look new as long as possible!


Basically, I just want to hear some input from fellow Mustang enthusiasts who know a little more (or a LOT more) about car care than I do...


I would love to have some recommendations for products for the following things:
1. window cleaner (something really good at eliminating streaks that show up during night driving or rainy days)

2. a product that removes scuff marks from shoes kicking the car when entering/exiting the vehicle

3. something to clean the upholstery (small stains or spots from grease or miscellaneous stains...)


And, I was wondering:

Does anyone know of the product called 3M Finesse-IT II ( http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0006GBTP8/interactiveda8603-20 ) ... I went to the body shop and the owner used this on some scratches that were on my car after delivery-- it was like magic. So, I am planning to buy it-- does anyone have any objection to using this product?

Do you have any suggestions on what I need to do -- outside of scheduled maintenance-- to make sure my car is well-maintained and happy ?

Any other things I should know?


So, now some suggestions I have:

1. Meguiar's after wash quick detailer-- I love it, was recommended to me by an "expert" and I have not been disappointed...

2. Turtle Wax ICE (waxing compound that does not leave those annoying white marks on black areas) and you can use the product in direct sunlight-- it's pretty awesome! I have not used it on my Mustang yet but I bought it and have helped some friends use it and it is wonderful!

3. The product mentioned above, 3M finesse it II-- worked like magic to remove scratch marks on the exterior that I thought would never go away...


--Any thoughts/comments/suggestions would be so greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[mrvandermey]

Hello and welcome to AFM, glad to have you here.

Yes, I have heard of the 3M finesse, my body shop recommends it. As for polish to make her shaine, I am personally a big fan of Zaino products. But with that said, Turtle Wax Ice and Mcguires NXT are favorites among many and you can not go wrong with those prodcuts.

For interior, again, I recommend Zaino products (for interior), McGuires and evcen Mothers. All pmake nice products to clean any interior, especially ifd you haver leather.

I have found that Windex and newspaper is best dfor cleaning glass w/o streaks. Also Rain-X works well at keeping spots from the glass to begin with.

Basically, it depends on how anal you are about clean and/ore shiney cars. I own a black stang and am know around here as a bit of a clean freak. My black paint almost always looks like wet oil or even like glass. Zaino products are awesome, but expensive and time consuing. TW Ice is beautidul, but that is the onlyproduct that is outstanding and does not have too many other products with it. Both McGuires and Mothers makes all sorts of products for every part odf the car and are recommended by various experts.

[heavy metal]

Welcome to the site,enjoy!!!!

[BullMeister]

For the windows I use a product called Purple Passion (it's purple liquid in a spray bottle). Works much better than Windex or Glass Plus. I get mine at Autozone.

When I wax the car I put blue painters tape on the trim around the windows. That keeps the wax from getting on those pieces and turning them white. Once you get wax on them it's real hard to get it back off. If you ever do get wax where you don't want it, use Ivory or Palmolive dish soap and a toothbrush to remove it. Dishsoap cuts through car wax like a blowtorch (don't use dishwasher soap- it has bleach in it).

On the interior I like to use Meguiars. It just cleans the interior without putting an Armor All type coating on everything (I think everyone learned as a teenager not to use Armor All. Especially on the seats and steering wheel).

I use Meguiars on the outside and use the quick detailer on it even after a fresh waxing.

When I wash the car I use the Mr. Clean Autowash attachment (I hope whoever invented got rich). It makes washing the car a lot easier and uses filter packs to filter the water for the final rinse so there's no water spots. Works like a charm. You can even wash the car on a hot day without getting spots. They're $20 at Wally World (Walmart).

"2. a product that removes scuff marks from shoes kicking the car when entering/exiting the vehicle"
You mean you let people wear shoes in your car?

[RLG34750]

I use Meguiars

the liquid gold car wash is great

Mother's for all metal parts

[gnats02]

Another vote fo Zaino. Even talked my brother-in-law who owns a Ferrari 308GTB to use it. He threw all the other stuff out after that.

zainobros.com

[AFCarolina]

Thanks so far everyone! I am excited to already have some good suggestions! Just wanted to thank you...

[BullMeister]

For cleaning the fabric I use Folex. It comes in a white cylinder shaped spray bottle and is available at several grocery stores and places like Home Depot. My then 3yo used a black Sharpie on the living room carpet to draw roads and it even took that right out.

You wouldn't get those "miscellaneous stains..." if you wore thicker shorts when you stomped the pedal to the floor.

[Guties]

if your talking about getting scuffs on the paint i would recommend using a clay bar and if its in the interior i would just use dishsoap and a rag and scrub it.

[65205]

Welcome to AFM! As mentioned above, Zaino brand car care products are great. You spend a lot up front, but it lasts a really long time.I follow Zaino towel instructions for anything that touches the paint. I never had heard of a clay bar until I bought my Mustang. A clay bar is a must! You must be careful with it though. If you drop it, chunk it. I use rainx for the exterior windows. I remove it with a damp microfiber towel,then a dry one. It usually takes several passes. Interior windows just get a damp microfiber, followed by a dry one.All exterior windows are wiped in a vertical motion, while interior windows get a horizontal motion. (that way, if I see a streak, I know what side of the window needs a touch up)I keep a microfiber towel in a ziploc bag in the car for any quick touch ups.Good luck with your Mustang!

[smokeshow]

Originally Posted by BullMeister

Once you get wax on them it's real hard to get it back off. If you ever do get wax where you don't want it, use Ivory or Palmolive dish soap and a toothbrush to remove it.

I'll have to give that a shot... I got some wax on the black plastic trim around the windows. Thanks!

[BullMeister]

Originally Posted by smokeshow

I'll have to give that a shot... I got some wax on the black plastic trim around the windows. Thanks!

Even with the dishsoap it'll take some hard scrubbing with a stiff bristle toothbrush 'cause those side trim pieces have a textured surface and it's hard to get it out of the bottoms of the craters. Speaking from experience, that's why I use the blue painter's tape now.