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Cleaning and detailing


jmdalton15

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I was wondering if a poll could be taken as to what people use on their Fusions to keep them looking shiny and new? I have used Meguiar's products in the past but I know there are some other products that might be better. Suggestions? Methods? Does the color of the car make a difference in what you use?

Edited by jmdalton15
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Meguiars is as good as any for basic care. If you want to go the extra mile there are a lot of new glazes and sealants available that people swear by (Zaino is one but beware Zaino fans are very passionate). There are a couple of detailers over at fordedgeforum.com that have provided a lot of info if you want to look through the forum or do a search.

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Thanks akirby. I'll check out that forum. I know there are some passionate folks out there when it comes to stuff like this. I'm just wanting to keep it looking new and if I can find a good product that won't cause me too much extra work then I'm all about it. Thanks again!

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I have a black 2000 Camaro SS that looks brand new which I attribute to using Zaino since the car was new. But surprisingly my recommendation depends on the color car/truck you have. If you have a light colored vehicle such as white or silver, the shine factor is not as important as the protection factor. But if you have a black vehicle, then a deep dark finish is really important so do your homework first. I can definitely recommend Zaino on black in terms of providing a great shine. Regardless of what you choose, I recommend a good polymer sealant on the car (polymers bond to the paint) such a Meguiars Tech Wax. That will give protection that will last a long time. If you have a darker color vehicle, then the product you use will directly affect your results so do your research if the ultimate shine is important to you. I have not done my Ruby Red Fusion yet but I am leaning towards the Tech Wax because it is easy to use.

 

On a secondary note, check the finish of your vehicle before you put anything on it. When running my fingers across the finish of my new Fusion, it was obvious to me it was covered with contaminants since it felt so rough. I assume this was rail dust picked up when the car was shipped. (If a vehicle is shipped by rail those minute particles of metal coming off the wheels of the freight cars get on your car and stick.to everything, including the glass.) To get rid of those contaminants you should first Clay Bar the entire car. I did mine this week and now the paint and glass are real smooth and ready for wax/polish.

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I like the ease of use part of the Tech Wax. The fusion will be the Platnium White so I will concentrate on the protection part as you stated. I have used a clay bar before but wasn't sure about using it on a new paint job. I'll make sure the surface is prepped properly. Thanks for all the info guys!

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  • 2 weeks later...

You didn't mention cleaning the interior, but I have 3 products that I have used for years with success and without a problem. The first is Stoner Invisible Glass spray. It is a great glass cleaner that also works on other surfaces without ruining them. I use it on all my glass, hard plastics, vinyl, and leather (but I condition the leather afterwards). The second is the magic eraser. It quickly takes all the gunk off the frequently touched areas like the steering wheel, switches, door pulls and the like. The third is Folex Carpet Spot Cleaner. I had an ink pen leak all over a cloth seat, and nothing would touch the stain. After repeated tries with other cleaners, and having set in after months, it pulled the ink out of the seat no problem, and looked brand new afterwards.

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Thanks MountainLion. I have been looking for a good carpet shampoo for my truck. I will defiantly look into your suggestion. The glass cleaner sounds good too. I hate cleaning the glass and finding streaks a day later. I don't know if I'll be using the magic eraser too much but it could help with that occasional stubborn dirt.

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Thanks. The Stoner spray to get is the foaming kind in the spray can. I don't bother with Windex anymore, anywhere. The Folex carpet cleaner pulled a nasty liquid ink pen stain out of a passenger seat for me. And I use a carpet machine to suck dry the carpets after I hit it with the cleaner and a stiff brush.

 

Yeah, Dave-S, the magic eraser can definitely scratch shiny surfaces and do some serious damage to leather. But I primarily use it on hidden areas, like the backs of door pulls and the backs of the turn signal switches, or on heavily textured vinyl surfaces, like steering wheels that are not leather. It will take the markings off of the fronts of the switches in a quick fashion.

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