Peleg's Guide to Detailing - Page 9

Peleg · 09-11-2006, 05:01 PM

If you're a big fan of P21S Wheel Cleaner (I am

) you can buy 1/2 liter bottles through AutoGeek, which by the way has awesome service. You can then mix some with hot water in another spray bottle and it should last for 1-2 car washes.

* IMPORTANT REMINDER: Do NOT wash the wheels/brakes if they are hot, let the car cool for at least 3 hours or overnight.

And as always, feel free to PM me or email me at peleg79@gmail.com if you have questions or if you're in the NorCal area and need a detailing job done.

Peleg · 09-11-2006, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psuLemon

Peleg, should i re-use polishing pads or waxing pads if i dont wash them first?

Depends on their condition, if they have alot of wax buildup or wax chunks, throw them in the washing machine for a lil bit with a touch of non-chlorine detergent and then off to the dryer.

psuLemon · 09-12-2006, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peleg

Depends on their condition, if they have alot of wax buildup or wax chunks, throw them in the washing machine for a lil bit with a touch of non-chlorine detergent and then off to the dryer.

Thanks, your PM's helped also.

Just to throw this out there. Turtle wax's bug and tar remover works great for front bumpers. I highly recoommend it.

Jeep839 · 09-27-2006, 09:09 AM

hey Peleg can you do a detailing guide for the interior??? Or is there one out there??

Peleg · 09-27-2006, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeep839

hey Peleg can you do a detailing guide for the interior??? Or is there one out there??

Sure can. Is there a specific area in the interior or just the whole interior?

Jeep839 · 09-27-2006, 10:23 AM

your the man!!! Really looking for the whole interior i am the first owner to a 2006 STi and I am not sure how to take care of the different materials in it. The jeep that i used as a daily drive before i bought the STi was really just a beater so it always looked good and I always used mothers but not sure with the STi. Once again thanks alot, your the man for doing this!!!!!

Peleg · 09-27-2006, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeep839

your the man!!! Really looking for the whole interior i am the first owner to a 2006 STi and I am not sure how to take care of the different materials in it. The jeep that i used as a daily drive before i bought the STi was really just a beater so it always looked good and I always used mothers but not sure with the STi. Once again thanks alot, your the man for doing this!!!!!

No problems, I'll take some photos and do a write up on it, should be up in a day or 2.

P.

twp4ever · 09-28-2006, 01:07 AM

thx man.. good write up

Peleg · 09-30-2006, 07:25 PM

Your STi interior is where you spend most of your time, (unless you're installing a short block with a GT30 this weekend..) so it's nice to have a clean, shinny, smell good interior.

First, make sure you're working in a nice cool place, like a garage for instance.

Take out the floormats and examine them. If they are a bit dirty, vaccum them and set them aside. If they are stained, I recommand the stoner carpet cleaner to get the stains out. When you spray it, it looks like a white foamy substance, sort of like shaving cream. Let that sit for a while and wipe it off to see if the stains are gone. (/DO NOT use Stoner stain remover on the alcantera!!!!!!!!!!)

If the floormats are very dirty, consider shampooing them. Autopia car care or Autogeek should have shampoo for the interior. You can simple wet the floormats and scrub them with a brush and the shampoo. Let that sit for a while and wash it off. Then allow the floormats to dry for a day or 2. (Don't let them dry in the harsh sun)

If your floormats are totally stained and are falling apart, consider getting new ones, and I also recommand the clear mats to go over those in order to protect them.

You can get the clear mats (custom fit) at: http://www.autosportcatalog.com/index.cfm?fa=p&pid=3390

Now for the rest of the interior. Vaccum the floors to get all the dirty, sand, mud, stones, etc. away.

Dash ~ Consule area ~ HVAC

To clean the dash from that annoying dust and grim, I like using a product called "Grab it". These are dry, static charged wipes you can buy at the grocery store. They are usually used around the household, but I find that they do a great job in getting all the dust/grip off the dash without using any chemicals or water.

You can use these in the consule area as well as the gauge cluster area, doors, etc. (anywhere there is dust)

Nookes and Crannies

There are places such as the DCCD dial wheel and other switches that get dirt trapped in between them. For these areas, Meguire's makes a special brush that can get into these places.

Your dash should now be dust free. Time for some protection. The sun is the main cause of cracking and a nice interior going bad over time. To prevent this from happening, I like using a water or citrus based dash protectent that is UV rated.

My favorite product is the Sonus Total Eclipse UV-40. It protects and provides awesome shine.

You can apply it with a Sonus towel, or any other interior towel. Avoid paper towels or the common household towels, because they attract dust.

You can also use the Total Eclipse on the vinyal part of the doors, console area, steering wheel, shift knob. Avoid getting it on the alcantera parts, although I don't think any serious damage will occur should that stuff get on it.

Leather Care

For the 07 Limited owners or those who get their seats re-done with leather. Leather will attract dirt overtime and crack/fade if you don't take care of it.

I like the Sonus leather package from Autopia Car Care. It comes with a special 2 side applicator, 1 bottle of leather cleaner and 1 bottle of leather protectant. I recently bought the same kit from Meguire's, but haven't tried it yet, but as with all of their products, I'm pretty confident it's great.

Back to the leather. Work 1 seat at a time. Apply the leather cleaner to the black side of the applicator, and go over the seat. This will lift any dirt, grim etc. off the leather. (Don't worry if the applicator gets dirty, it's doing its job and you can throw it in the washing machine later on)

Let the cleaner sit for a min or 2 and then wipe it off with a towel.

Next, apply the leather protectant to the yellow side of the applicator and go over the seat. Let it sit for 2 min or so and wipe it off. Not only will the leather look great, but will also smell nicely. Keep going until you're done.

You can also give the STi's leather wrapped steering wheel a pass with the protectant for an extra shine.

Last but not least is the smell inside the interior. If you don't like how it smells, Meguire's makes an interior scent spray which works quite well and will get rid of most smells.

As you can tell, it doesn't take any specials skills to get your interior clean. Take your time as you work. It's not uncommon for me to spend an hour on the interior alone.

Your interior should now be looking and smelling great.

Happy Boosting!

If you have any questions or need help in a specific area of the interior, post here or drop me a PM/email.

Peleg.

habitat · 10-01-2006, 04:55 PM

Elbow grease for teh win

ORSTi · 10-01-2006, 05:14 PM

Peleg, thanks for the latest install on detailing. I will have to try those Grab-it cloths. They won't scratch the guage cluster will they? This leads me to my next question. I have (some may call it a fetish) a need for clean glass. Spotless, lint free in all light, crystal clear glass. This includes my guage cluster, stereo display, and my sunglasses. I can never seem to get all the crud off the inside of my windshield. There always seems to be a haze leftover. Any tips?

Thanks.

Jeep839 · 10-01-2006, 07:03 PM

awesome write up, just one thing what types of cleaners should be used on the alacantra? I know that this material is not suede but it looks and feels like it. So would it be ok to use cleaners for that material on the Alacantra???

Peleg · 10-05-2006, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeep839

awesome write up, just one thing what types of cleaners should be used on the alacantra? I know that this material is not suede but it looks and feels like it. So would it be ok to use cleaners for that material on the Alacantra???

That is actually a very good question, which I will research and post about. I usually vaccum mine and being that I barely drive the car, they are very clean.

Glass Cleaner

As for the glass cleaner, myself and quite a few others swear by Stoner Invisible Glass, you can pick up a can or 2 at the local auto parts store.

Best glass cleaner I've seen out there.

Peleg · 10-05-2006, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flatfour5

Elbow grease for teh win

That is truely one of the most beautiful shots of a black STi that's I've seen in quite a while.

Did you polish it before waxing and also, which wax did you use?? I'm putting my $$$4 on Carnauba but thought I'd ask.

Peleg · 10-05-2006, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ORSTi

Peleg, thanks for the latest install on detailing. I will have to try those Grab-it cloths. They won't scratch the guage cluster will they? This leads me to my next question. I have (some may call it a fetish) a need for clean glass. Spotless, lint free in all light, crystal clear glass. This includes my guage cluster, stereo display, and my sunglasses. I can never seem to get all the crud off the inside of my windshield. There always seems to be a haze leftover. Any tips?

Thanks.

Clean glass is one of my fetishes as well. Stoner Invisible Glass should enable you to reach the results you want.

Just as important is what you use to scrub the glass with, I highly recommand specialty microfiber towels for glass by Sonus, Meguire's or any other good name brand. Combine these with the Stoner glass cleaner, and you'll love the results.

09-11-2006, 05:01 PM	#121
Peleg STI Guru Car: 04 Subaru WRX STi Fav Mod: Whooshing sounds Location: NorCal Posts: 5,643 Join Date: Nov 2003 Trader Rating: (11)	P21S on AutoGeek/Contact me If you're a big fan of P21S Wheel Cleaner (I am ) you can buy 1/2 liter bottles through AutoGeek, which by the way has awesome service. You can then mix some with hot water in another spray bottle and it should last for 1-2 car washes. * IMPORTANT REMINDER: Do NOT wash the wheels/brakes if they are hot, let the car cool for at least 3 hours or overnight. And as always, feel free to PM me or email me at peleg79@gmail.com if you have questions or if you're in the NorCal area and need a detailing job done. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

09-30-2006, 07:25 PM	#129
Peleg STI Guru Car: 04 Subaru WRX STi Fav Mod: Whooshing sounds Location: NorCal Posts: 5,643 Join Date: Nov 2003 Trader Rating: (11)	Interior Detailing Your STi interior is where you spend most of your time, (unless you're installing a short block with a GT30 this weekend..) so it's nice to have a clean, shinny, smell good interior. First, make sure you're working in a nice cool place, like a garage for instance. Take out the floormats and examine them. If they are a bit dirty, vaccum them and set them aside. If they are stained, I recommand the stoner carpet cleaner to get the stains out. When you spray it, it looks like a white foamy substance, sort of like shaving cream. Let that sit for a while and wipe it off to see if the stains are gone. (/DO NOT use Stoner stain remover on the alcantera!!!!!!!!!!) If the floormats are very dirty, consider shampooing them. Autopia car care or Autogeek should have shampoo for the interior. You can simple wet the floormats and scrub them with a brush and the shampoo. Let that sit for a while and wash it off. Then allow the floormats to dry for a day or 2. (Don't let them dry in the harsh sun) If your floormats are totally stained and are falling apart, consider getting new ones, and I also recommand the clear mats to go over those in order to protect them. You can get the clear mats (custom fit) at: http://www.autosportcatalog.com/index.cfm?fa=p&pid=3390 Now for the rest of the interior. Vaccum the floors to get all the dirty, sand, mud, stones, etc. away. Dash ~ Consule area ~ HVAC To clean the dash from that annoying dust and grim, I like using a product called "Grab it". These are dry, static charged wipes you can buy at the grocery store. They are usually used around the household, but I find that they do a great job in getting all the dust/grip off the dash without using any chemicals or water. You can use these in the consule area as well as the gauge cluster area, doors, etc. (anywhere there is dust) Nookes and Crannies There are places such as the DCCD dial wheel and other switches that get dirt trapped in between them. For these areas, Meguire's makes a special brush that can get into these places. Your dash should now be dust free. Time for some protection. The sun is the main cause of cracking and a nice interior going bad over time. To prevent this from happening, I like using a water or citrus based dash protectent that is UV rated. My favorite product is the Sonus Total Eclipse UV-40. It protects and provides awesome shine. You can apply it with a Sonus towel, or any other interior towel. Avoid paper towels or the common household towels, because they attract dust. You can also use the Total Eclipse on the vinyal part of the doors, console area, steering wheel, shift knob. Avoid getting it on the alcantera parts, although I don't think any serious damage will occur should that stuff get on it. Leather Care For the 07 Limited owners or those who get their seats re-done with leather. Leather will attract dirt overtime and crack/fade if you don't take care of it. I like the Sonus leather package from Autopia Car Care. It comes with a special 2 side applicator, 1 bottle of leather cleaner and 1 bottle of leather protectant. I recently bought the same kit from Meguire's, but haven't tried it yet, but as with all of their products, I'm pretty confident it's great. Back to the leather. Work 1 seat at a time. Apply the leather cleaner to the black side of the applicator, and go over the seat. This will lift any dirt, grim etc. off the leather. (Don't worry if the applicator gets dirty, it's doing its job and you can throw it in the washing machine later on) Let the cleaner sit for a min or 2 and then wipe it off with a towel. Next, apply the leather protectant to the yellow side of the applicator and go over the seat. Let it sit for 2 min or so and wipe it off. Not only will the leather look great, but will also smell nicely. Keep going until you're done. You can also give the STi's leather wrapped steering wheel a pass with the protectant for an extra shine. Last but not least is the smell inside the interior. If you don't like how it smells, Meguire's makes an interior scent spray which works quite well and will get rid of most smells. As you can tell, it doesn't take any specials skills to get your interior clean. Take your time as you work. It's not uncommon for me to spend an hour on the interior alone. Your interior should now be looking and smelling great. Happy Boosting! If you have any questions or need help in a specific area of the interior, post here or drop me a PM/email. Peleg. Last edited by Peleg : 09-30-2006 at 07:29 PM.

10-01-2006, 07:03 PM	#132
Jeep839 Junior STI Driver Car: 06' WRB on Gold STi Location: Highlands, NJ Posts: 71 Join Date: Mar 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	awesome write up, just one thing what types of cleaners should be used on the alacantra? I know that this material is not suede but it looks and feels like it. So would it be ok to use cleaners for that material on the Alacantra??? Last edited by Jeep839 : 10-02-2006 at 09:30 AM.

09-27-2006, 09:09 AM	#124
Jeep839 Junior STI Driver Car: 06' WRB on Gold STi Location: Highlands, NJ Posts: 71 Join Date: Mar 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	hey Peleg can you do a detailing guide for the interior??? Or is there one out there??

09-27-2006, 10:23 AM	#126
Jeep839 Junior STI Driver Car: 06' WRB on Gold STi Location: Highlands, NJ Posts: 71 Join Date: Mar 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	your the man!!! Really looking for the whole interior i am the first owner to a 2006 STi and I am not sure how to take care of the different materials in it. The jeep that i used as a daily drive before i bought the STi was really just a beater so it always looked good and I always used mothers but not sure with the STi. Once again thanks alot, your the man for doing this!!!!!

09-28-2006, 01:07 AM	#128
twp4ever Professional STI Driver Car: 06 Blk STI Fav Mod: FP' Green Location: Bellevue WA Posts: 426 Join Date: Mar 2006 Trader Rating: (4)	thx man.. good write up

10-01-2006, 04:55 PM	#130
habitat Senior STI Driver Car: 05 OBP/Gold STi Location: 609 NJ Posts: 389 Join Date: Aug 2006 Trader Rating: (3)	Elbow grease for teh win

10-01-2006, 05:14 PM	#131
ORSTi Professional STI Driver Posts: 428 Join Date: Dec 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Peleg, thanks for the latest install on detailing. I will have to try those Grab-it cloths. They won't scratch the guage cluster will they? This leads me to my next question. I have (some may call it a fetish) a need for clean glass. Spotless, lint free in all light, crystal clear glass. This includes my guage cluster, stereo display, and my sunglasses. I can never seem to get all the crud off the inside of my windshield. There always seems to be a haze leftover. Any tips? Thanks.