Thread: Best way to clean a $400 car

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  1. #1 Best way to clean a $400 car 
    GTP Level Member 04lss's Avatar
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    I just bought a 2002 GTP 4door paid 450 out the door. needs some mechanical work, but overall the car is in good shape. The interior is pretty good for a 200k GM, but it is filthy with caked on dirt.
    I broke out my meguiars Cleaning spray, and my detailing sprays, but they don't seem to cut it in certain areas. How do I really clean this thing so that I wouldn't be afraid t eat after touching something inside of it. The dash, seats and carpet are my biggest areas. Any products of techniques I should try?
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  2. #2 Re: Best way to clean a $400 car 
    GT Level Member JamesIvey24's Avatar
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    pull the seats, pull the carpet, find a car wash.
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  3. #3 Re: Best way to clean a $400 car 
    Donating Users EHB's Avatar
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    rent a steam cleaner
    2000 GTP - 3" Catted DP...ZZP Plog...9" Cone filter...Reptile pcm...3.4 pulley...AL104's
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  4. #4 Re: Best way to clean a $400 car 
    GrandPrix Junkie The Guz's Avatar
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    Leather or cloth interior?
    1999 GP GT 18" Boss 353 Concave|SLP CAI|Borla Cat Back|Plog|HV3|HV TB|ER Rockers|Custom Retrofit Projectors|GMPP Lowering|GMPP Handling|MPD F1|Full Diode Dynamic LEDs
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  5. #5 Re: Best way to clean a $400 car 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    i use tuff stuff interior cleaner, stuff great. its good for seats, rugs, door panels, dash and all plastics. ive sprayed it all over lol

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  6. #6 Re: Best way to clean a $400 car 
    I live here. ericspecullaas's Avatar
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    your going to need soapy water and a back bone to clean it right or........ you could replace it all from a donor car
    im a cookie again yay me
    Quote Originally Posted by Bio248 View Post
    please learn to forum better.
    ^^new favorite quote
    Quote Originally Posted by Kilroy View Post
    It is a type of spiced shortcrust biscuit.
    only one person looked it up lol
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  7. #7 Re: Best way to clean a $400 car 
    GTP Level Member 04lss's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by The Guz View Post
    Leather or cloth interior?
    Leather
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  8. #8 Re: Best way to clean a $400 car 
    GTP Level Member 04lss's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ericspecullaas View Post
    your going to need soapy water and a back bone to clean it right or........ you could replace it all from a donor car
    if I got a donor car then id be back to square one
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  9. #9 Re: Best way to clean a $400 car 
    GT Level Member MyLittlePony's Avatar
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    Any pics of said car?
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  10. #10 Re: Best way to clean a $400 car 
    GTP Level Member 04lss's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by LS1Adam84 View Post
    Any pics of said car?
    im in class tonight, and work/class all day tomorrow. I should have some on Thursday.
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  11. #11 Re: Best way to clean a $400 car 
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    Quote Originally Posted by ScottyDoggs View Post
    i use tuff stuff interior cleaner, stuff great. its good for seats, rugs, door panels, dash and all plastics. ive sprayed it all over lol
    Ill give it a shot worst case ill pull the carpet out and power wash it.
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  12. #12 Re: Best way to clean a $400 car 
    I live here. ericspecullaas's Avatar
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    your going to need leather oils
    im a cookie again yay me
    Quote Originally Posted by Bio248 View Post
    please learn to forum better.
    ^^new favorite quote
    Quote Originally Posted by Kilroy View Post
    It is a type of spiced shortcrust biscuit.
    only one person looked it up lol
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  13. #13 Re: Best way to clean a $400 car 
    GTP Level Member 04lss's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ericspecullaas View Post
    your going to need leather oils
    So the seats ARE leather? I thought they were plastic leather?
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  14. #14 Re: Best way to clean a $400 car 
    I live here. ericspecullaas's Avatar
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    more like vinyl or really cheap leather but either way the leather oils works on both so i on that.
    im a cookie again yay me
    Quote Originally Posted by Bio248 View Post
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kilroy View Post
    It is a type of spiced shortcrust biscuit.
    only one person looked it up lol
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  15. #15 Re: Best way to clean a $400 car 
    GrandPrix Junkie The Guz's Avatar
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    The leather is really easy to clean. The leather in the car has a coating on it. That coating protects the leather. It's not like uncoated leather which becomes dry and needs to be rejuvenated with oils. So with coated leather you are cleaning the actual coating and not the actual leather. If the coating has failed, one will see color transfer on the applicator.

    I pulled this from a thread on Autopia car care.



    Caring for pigmented leather is truly about keeping the leather clean. Dirt and particulate will scratch and wear the leather leading to shiny appearance and exposure of the leather hide underneath. Acidic body oils can wear or stain the vacuum frequently and use a gentle, water based cleaner to remove embedded dirt and oil. Use a protectant or conditioner that features protectants (to reduce abrasion and increase sun fade resistance). Over time the leather coating will crack microscopically or stretch in the seams and folds. Conditioners can penetrate the coating through these cracks and openings, keeping the leather underneath soft and supple.

    This is a good reference video




    In regards to products, some All Purpose Cleaner would work on all surfaces. I would recommend something like Meguiar's D101 with the spray bottle mixed at 10:1. It can be used on most surfaces. I have used it on leather and the plastic interior pieces with no issues. It can be used on upholstery as well. I would recommend getting a brush to scrub the leather seats to pull out a lot of the dirt. I have used APC on leather but it can sometimes leave the leather feeling a little sticky. So following up with a damp microfiber towel can help with that. I personally follow up with a leather conditioner to add a barrier between the seat and the person. I use APC for deep cleanings.

    If you are looking to pick up some products locally, Meguiar's Gold Class Leather & Vinyl Cleaner and Meguiar's Gold Class Leather Conditioner work very well. These are strictly leather products.

    Meguiar's Quick Interior Detailer has a light cleaner built in that can be used on all surfaces. I use a lot of this and would recommend it. For a heavily soiled interior, APC is the way to go.

    Here are a couple reviews of some leather cleaner and conditioners that I have done.

    These Blackfire products are great and would recommend them as well.

    http://www.autopia.org/forums/detail...nditioner.html

    These Meguiar's products are only available in gallon sizes.

    http://www.autopia.org/forums/detail...r-cleaner.html
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  16. #16 Re: Best way to clean a $400 car 
    GTP Level Member 04lss's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by The Guz View Post
    The leather is really easy to clean. The leather in the car has a coating on it. That coating protects the leather. It's not like uncoated leather which becomes dry and needs to be rejuvenated with oils. So with coated leather you are cleaning the actual coating and not the actual leather. If the coating has failed, one will see color transfer on the applicator.

    I pulled this from a thread on Autopia car care.



    Caring for pigmented leather is truly about keeping the leather clean. Dirt and particulate will scratch and wear the leather leading to shiny appearance and exposure of the leather hide underneath. Acidic body oils can wear or stain the vacuum frequently and use a gentle, water based cleaner to remove embedded dirt and oil. Use a protectant or conditioner that features protectants (to reduce abrasion and increase sun fade resistance). Over time the leather coating will crack microscopically or stretch in the seams and folds. Conditioners can penetrate the coating through these cracks and openings, keeping the leather underneath soft and supple.

    This is a good reference video




    In regards to products, some All Purpose Cleaner would work on all surfaces. I would recommend something like Meguiar's D101 with the spray bottle mixed at 10:1. It can be used on most surfaces. I have used it on leather and the plastic interior pieces with no issues. It can be used on upholstery as well. I would recommend getting a brush to scrub the leather seats to pull out a lot of the dirt. I have used APC on leather but it can sometimes leave the leather feeling a little sticky. So following up with a damp microfiber towel can help with that. I personally follow up with a leather conditioner to add a barrier between the seat and the person. I use APC for deep cleanings.

    If you are looking to pick up some products locally, Meguiar's Gold Class Leather & Vinyl Cleaner and Meguiar's Gold Class Leather Conditioner work very well. These are strictly leather products.

    Meguiar's Quick Interior Detailer has a light cleaner built in that can be used on all surfaces. I use a lot of this and would recommend it. For a heavily soiled interior, APC is the way to go.

    Here are a couple reviews of some leather cleaner and conditioners that I have done.

    These Blackfire products are great and would recommend them as well.

    http://www.autopia.org/forums/detail...nditioner.html

    These Meguiar's products are only available in gallon sizes.

    http://www.autopia.org/forums/detail...r-cleaner.html




    Thaks for the info, im going to try an APC, then go over the seats with meguiars leather cleaner/conditioner, and the dash/doors with meguiars protectant.
    Not sure what im doing with the floors yet.
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  17. #17 Re: Best way to clean a $400 car 
    GrandPrix Junkie idrivejunk's Avatar
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    Heck I thought it was dog leather, now I know better! When I don't know just how nasty something is, I like to start with warm water and a sponge with plenty of clean towels to dry off. Same on carpet but add in a shop vac. I don't like carpet pads to ever get wet, they take too long to dry. So I sponge on some water (to already well vaccumed carpet) then wipe carpet with dry towel and vaccum. Keep repeating until water isn't helping then switch to TuffStuff for the finish. I've gotten lots of coffee stains out this way, but nothing would beat a good steam clean for carpet. Whether the french fry that just fell on the floor is safe to consume after all that... is anybody's guess!
    All Grand Prix, all the time. 69 Model J, 99 GT & GTP coupes. All junk, haha.
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  18. #18 Re: Best way to clean a $400 car 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    i like that pc brush in the vid.

    tuff stuff has always done well by me. bucket or warm water, spray it on let it sit a minute to soak in, then use a scrub brush like in the vid if need be, wipe off with a dry rag, then with a damp rag with the warm water wipe it all down. 2 bucket system works well for this, one to rinse, one to get more clean water on the rag.

    tuff stuff has even removed tar from the inside door panels. i always got a can on hand lol

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  19. #19 Re: Best way to clean a $400 car 
    GrandPrix Junkie idrivejunk's Avatar
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    Aw yea I forgot brushing, its a nutritious part of a complete cleaning. I use a tire or vegetable brush on carpets.
    All Grand Prix, all the time. 69 Model J, 99 GT & GTP coupes. All junk, haha.
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  20. #20 Re: Best way to clean a $400 car 
    GrandPrix Junkie idrivejunk's Avatar
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    Another bonus tip, sorry: On occasions where a mechanic had stepped in grease and got it on carpet, and I was the post-service detailer, I discovered that paint prep solvent (wax and grease remover) if used sparingly can actually wipe those spots off if caught before its ground into the rug. Never had it discolor the carpet. Using solvent is kinda like what they call dry cleaning for clothes.
    All Grand Prix, all the time. 69 Model J, 99 GT & GTP coupes. All junk, haha.
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