Detailing Tips       

Here are some Detailing Tips that will save you time and money.

When polishing do not apply large amounts on the panel, it only wastes product and makes removing harder. Apply polish in overlapping circular motion, making sure film is spread evenly across surface. Generally it is a good idea to polish the entire vehicle and come back where you started from and remove the film with a soft cloth or microfibre.

Apply Aussie Gold polishes and waxes with an applicator pad or a  clean dry cloth, avoid using moist cloths as this interferes with the drying process and may lead to problems with streaking and uneven deposition on the surface.

Never ever apply polish in direct sunlight or onto hot surface. Surface must be cool and dry to allow the actives in the polish to dry evenly on surface, this reduces smearing and blotching on the paint. Dirty or contaminated cloths can cause smearing problems as well.

Cloths must always be clean and dry and free from any dirt or suspect material. An excellent cloth for application is an absorbent material like cotton or flannelette, or our new applicator pads, this prevents scratching or marring of the surface. Microfibre or flannelette is brilliant in the removal of polishes and waxes. Cloths can be washed, but do not use a fabric softener in the rinse cycle, this prevents the cloth from being absorbent and will make removing polishes more difficult.

Always use the right product for the job, if the paint is oxidised then you will need to choose a product with a cutter to remove the layer of oxidisation from the paint. Applying finishing polish to oxidised paint can result in unsatisfactory results, especially in solids like red, yellow, blue and white.

Aussie Gold Maxi Wax and Showroom Glaze is used on this XR6  Depth of gloss and clarity is astounding.

Clear Off is used on the glass areas and the tyres have been pampered with Enhance.

Click to enlarge

Never ever hand apply a cutter polish unless the label says it is safe to do so, our cutters require a buffing machine and compound pads to do the job correctly  with minimum scratching and swirls. Always read the directions and tips on the label or refer to this site for product information. An exception to the rule is Duragleam Extra Cut which can be safely applied by hand on clears and solids without creating scuff marks.

When buffing, place an old blanket or plastic over the windscreen wipers and vent areas to prevent splatter over them. Believe me, this will save you time and money cleaning this area.

Window Cleaner is best applied in a fine mist, it is quicker to remove and this is usually enough to remove grime from most glass areas. Use Clear Off and an absorbent cloth i.e. soft cotton or flannelette.

Before applying water based Terminator degreaser onto surface ensure area is cool and in a shady location away from direct sunlight. Wet area with water and then mist Terminator over the surface to be treated, leave for 2-3 minutes and wash away with a pressure washer. Avoid leaving Degreasers on painted surfaces for prolonged periods of time as this may streak the paint. In engine bay areas ensure area is cool.

Electronic components should be protected from water, especially high pressure, one simple mistake here could cost you thousands. Throttle control, crank angle, air mixture sensors, distributors and coil packs are the most prone in the engine compartment. Get to know these components and ensure they are water proofed in plastic before venturing on an engine degrease.

Terminator when diluted (or Bugger Off) is excellent in door jambs, boot and bonnet undersides and jamb areas, these products will save you a lot of time and we all know time is money.

Built up grime in and around badges and exterior door mouldings can be be easily removed with a quick spray of bugger off and a rub with a soft bristle toothbrush. This procedure is best done during the wet bay process.

If you have dark coloured cars with swirls from other peoples attempts to polish the car, apply Maxi Wax or Swirl Remover and machine buff at up to 900rpm with a soft foam pad until product is removed. Wipe down area with a soft dry cloth to ensure all product is removed and then mist on Showroom Glaze a section at a time. A fine mist is all that is needed of this product, all remaining swirls or blemishes will be removed with Showroom Glaze. If swirls are exceptionally deep it will be necessary to use Clear Cut or Maxi Cut and machine buff with a foam compound pad at up to 1500 rpm. Be careful not to overheat the surface and ensure you have product under the buff. DO NOT DRY BUFF.

 If you have built up grime on mag wheels a good acid alternative is Terminator, simply wet down the wheels with water and spray product onto surface and allow to penetrate for a few minutes. Wash away residues with a high pressure cleaner. Remember to always apply in a cool and shady location and on wheels that are not hot.

For removing brake dust from painted rims we recommend Bugger Off, follow same directions as with Mag Wheels section. Do not use Terminator unless you intend to remove quickly or you have the product diluted to 30 parts Terminator : 70 parts water.

Painted rims can be polished with Duragleam or Duragleam Extra Cut by hand to protect the painted surface and to make later cleaning easy.

A mist of Showroom Glaze over alloys and painted rims will prevent water spotting.

Upholstery, carpets and trims, Bugger Off is brilliant for these areas also, pulls deep inground dirt and stains right out of fabrics, vinyls and carpets without affecting colours due to the actives ability to penetrate and break down soils and grime while still being soft on the material. Browse through the photos below and see for yourself.

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 Bugger Off was pre-sprayed onto surface to be treated and let penetrate for 1- 2 mins on the fabric and carpet areas. A wet and dry extraction machine was then used to suck up the grime. As you can see, these seats were really bad, looked like someone threw a party in there for a week and shows how well Bugger Off performed.

For carpets and seats that continue to have stains that rise to the surface after drying, this can be attributed to dirt beneath the carpet itself or in the case of seats, embedded deep in the foam structure. For carpets it may be necessary to strip the carpet out and clean the surface beneath, or if there are time and monetary restraints involved THERE IS ANOTHER WAY. Simply spray Bugger Off or Diluted Terminator in a mist direct to the material and let penetrate for a few minutes and then wipe away with a clean dry cloth to lift the dirt off the surface of the material. Make sure the cloth is turned regularly to prevent re-soiling the material. You may use some extra cloths using this method. This does work for really badly soiled surfaces and after you have tried the wet extraction method.

Aussie Gold Car Care Products

PO BOX 3009 LLANDILO NSW 2747 02 47774410  0403 203 892