Automotive Articles - High Performance Automotive Cleaning and Detailing
1. High Performance Engine Care
Help prevent rust, provide leak detection, belt wear detection and really make your engine look great with regular cleaning. First, to soften grease, start the engine, let it warm up for a few minutes and shut it off. If needed cover areas susceptible to water damage (air intake, distributor, coil and oil dipstick are the main concerns). Be sure to check the tightness of all engine compartment caps then cover with some type of plastic and tighten with rubber bands. Spray Bio-Kleen Professional Degreaser over entire engine and allow dwelling time of about 3-5 minutes. Use a Microfiber Towel, a Bio-Kleen Professional Iron Style soft bristle brush or a 100% cotton towel to gently agitate the heavily soiled areas. Re-apply as needed. Rinse thoroughly, but remember, the stronger the spray, the more vulnerable your water sensitive parts; dry any access water and moisture. Remove protective coverings and start the engine allowing it to warm up. This will dry the rest of the engine and evaporate any moisture that may have collected in the sensitive components. Once the engine is dry and has completely cooled, you may wish to apply a coating of Bio-Kleen Professional Protect-It! to any rubber or plastic shields. If the uncoated aluminum areas are dull or have whitish corrosion, Bio-Kleen Professional Metal Polish will restore the finish and make them shine. It is also a good idea to check the battery terminals, to guarantee that they are clean. If not, disconnect the cables and clean both the cable terminals and battery posts with a wire brush.
2. High Performance Wheel Cleaning
Wheel care is more important then most people realize. Certain components of brake dust turn acidic and may etch your wheels when they become wet. The metal filings, during braking, will become red hot and tend to "burn" tiny holes in the finish of your wheels. To prevent this, wheels and rims must be cleaned and protected regularly.
Bio-Kleen Professional Wheel Gel can be used with all wheels and rims, except plastic. To apply, first be sure that wheels are cool and dry. Spray-on wheel, tire and fender wells and let stand 1-2 minutes, allowing longer dwell time and mild agitation with a soft bristle brush for severe build-up.
Bio-Kleen Professional Wheel Kleen can be used on all rims except polished aluminum. To apply, just spray on and rinse off. For severe build-up allow longer dwell time and mild agitation with a soft bristle brush. Re-apply as needed. For removing rail dust from your paint dilute 50/50 with water. Spray on paint finish let stand for 1 to 2 minutes, rinse thoroughly then wash with Bio-Kleen Professional Vehicle Wash.
Probably the most crucial part to maintaining your wheels is an application of Bio-Kleen Professional Polish & Sealant (apply after cleaning wheels and applying dressing to tires). The damaging effects of red-hot brake dust, brake dust acids, pollution and ozone are unleashed upon the sealant instead of your wheel. If you believe your rims need to be shined with a metal polish, first consult the manufacturer.
3. High Performance Washing and Drying
It is now well known that it is not a good idea to use dish detergents to wash your car. These detergents will strip any type of wax or sealant right off your car, along with your hard work and dedication. Another thing to keep in mind when choosing a car wash is that powder car washes could scratch your paint. As the un-dissolved granules can lodge under your sponge or wash mitt and be spread over the surface. We recommend using Bio-Kleen Professional Vehicle Wash liquid.
Pour one ounce of Bio-Kleen Professional Vehicle Wash per gallon of water into a bucket. Hot water always increases efficiency. Make sure the surface of your car is cool enough for you to comfortably keep your hand on it. Give the car a gentle spray to thoroughly wet the surface, high pressure will not be needed and may pound the dirt into the paint and cause imperfections. Apply to surface, using a clean sponge, wash brush or mitt. Start at the top and work down washing and rinsing only one section at a time. Before soap dries, rinse with a flow of water (not spray) so water sheets off vehicle’s surface. Continue on down the car, completing a section at a time. This way, the car wash will not dry on the paint. Dry the car as soon as possible. Wipe dry with a soft 100% terry cloth, a Microfiber Towel or a Bio-Kleen chamois. If using a towel start at the top, lay the towel on the top and then GENTLY blot up the water from the surface. Change to a dry towel and blot any access water.
If you happen to have the unfortunate, but inevitable, bird dropping land on your car, try removing it as soon as possible. Acids in bird droppings are very harmful tend to etch tiny recessions in your paint. Fast removal will help to reduce any harm. Carry around a bottle of Bio-Kleen Professional Qwik Shine to safely remove those damaging bird hits and other touch-ups. This will give enough lubrication so you will not scratch your paint with the gravel contained within these droppings. Yes gravel. Birds use it to digest their food and if not taken care of properly it can scratch your paint.
4. High Performance Polishing
Before polishing it is a good idea to first clean your paint. This doesn’t mean just washing your car; it means removing oxidation and contaminants and smoothing out the surface of the paint. No matter how much you wash and maintain your vehicle there are still contaminants implanted in your paint finish that need to be eliminated. Using Bio-Kleen Professional Correct-It Clay prior to waxing or polishing will leave behind an extra smooth surface that will help waxes and sealants stick and remain longer. This is a very simple process that requires no buffing and very little time. Simply mist Bio-Kleen Professional Qwik Shine onto clay and the surface to be corrected and place the clay in the palm of your hand. Allow the clay to glide over the surface, removing particles. Knead clay after each section and repeat over entire surface. Combined with Bio-Kleen Professional Qwik Shine, this system will give the finish a shine while adding a micro-layer of polymer protection. This will create an anti-static surface deterring water, dust, dirt, airborne pollutants and stains.
After removing all contaminants and creating an extra smooth paint surface, it is time polish and protect. It is significantly wiser to have ultraviolet rays, ozone, acid rain, tree sap, insects, bird hits, road tar, and all the other road hazards attack a coat of polish than attack your paint. By using Bio-Kleen Professional Polish & Sealant the finish of your automobile will have a high gloss shine and a long lasting, protective shield against all of those road hazards. Apply to the windshield or windows and rain beads up and rolls off for an ultimate clear view. Incorporated polymers create and retain the hard, high gloss surface sealing the moisture out. Apply Bio-Kleen Professional Polish & Sealant with a slightly dampened cloth or applicator, we recommend dampening applicator first with Bio-Kleen Professional Qwik Shine. Apply sparingly (a little goes a long way) and evenly by hand or orbital using overlapping circular motions. Your paint will only accept a certain amount of polish and when you apply more than that it is just removed during buffing. After applying, let dry to a haze. Buff a small section with a clean, dry, soft cloth to a brilliant-high gloss; shake out the cloth to remove any access and continue. A change of cloths may also be needed if cloth has been used repeatedly. When the car has been completed, examine the vehicle from an angle to check for any water spots or polish residue; if any remain, rebuff with another clean cloth and Bio-Kleen Professional Qwik Shine. Bio-Kleen Professional Qwik Shine is also a great way to keep your vehicle brilliant looking in between washing and polishing. Bio-Kleen Professional Qwik Shine is a spray-on, wipe-off formula that cleans and shines giving you all of the gloss and protection of a polish in a fraction of the time. You can safely remove dust, smudges, fingerprints, bird hits, rain film and water spots. Just mist Bio-Kleen Professional Qwik Shine on cool, dry finish and buff lightly with a soft cloth. The next day after polishing it is also a good idea to clean your windows with a glass cleaner to removing any access.
TIP: All cloths should be washed using only detergent. Do not add any fabric softener to the water or dryer sheets to the dryer. These contain coatings that are transferred to your car cloths and may cause streaks.
5. High Performance Rubber, Vinyl and Upholstery Care
It is important to protect your rubber and vinyl from harmful ozone, Ultra Violet light rays and oxygen destruction that will crack and discolor these materials. But before you protect, you need to clean. Cleaning will ensure that no stains are set in and the protectant used will adhere better to the surface and last longer.
To clean vinyl, first wipe off dust with a damp towel and dilute Bio-Kleen Professional Car Kleen 16oz per gallon of cold water. Spray on the surface and wipe clean. For major severity dip a soft bristle brush into cold water and scrub in a circular motion (if there is a nasty stain try to not let it spread) until product foams up and lifts stain, then wipe clean.
To clean leather dilute Bio-Kleen Professional Car Kleen 6oz per one gallon cold water, test on a small area first, then follow directions for cleaning vinyl. One frequent problem seen is wax or polish residue stains the exterior rubber or vinyl trim. To remove these stains spray a small amount of Bio-Kleen Professional Car Kleen onto a cloth or towel, using your index finger, wipe clean.
To clean carpet and upholstery dilute Bio-Kleen Professional Car Kleen 12oz per gallon of cold water. Spray on the surface, dip a soft bristle brush into cold water and scrub in a circular motion (if there is a nasty stain try to not let it spread) until product foams up and lifts stain. Blot out access with towel and vacuum dry.
TIP: Apply Bio-Kleen Professional Protect It! to your trim before you polish to help reduce residue and give it that extra shine. This will assist in keeping the polish from adhering to the trim and make it easier to remove if it does happen to stick. Spray a small amount onto a towel, using your index finger, carefully wipe your trim to prevent overspray and runs.
After cleaning your rubber and vinyl apply a coating of Bio-Kleen Professional Protect It! to protect and beautify. To apply, spray onto a cloth to prevent overspray onto glass, which may cause smearing. Wipe onto surface evenly, allowing to penetrate thoroughly, buffing lightly. For protecting tires, spray in a sweeping motion over surface covering entirely and allow to dry. In addition to protecting from harmful ozone, Ultra Violet light rays and oxygen destruction, Bio-Kleen Professional Protect It! will also create an anti-static, micro-thin layer that will deter water, dust, dirt, airborne pollutants and stains. This will prolong the time in between cleaning and will also make it easier to clean the next time. Use on tires, bumper guards, dash boards, vinyl/leather seats and vinyl tops.
TIP: If you enjoy a matt or more natural appearance instead of a high gloss shiny look; use Bio-Kleen Professional Qwik Shine to protect your leather and vinyl. Some people also prefer this method for shining and protecting items such as their steering wheel and gear shifter.
This article was provided by: www.biokleen.com