Hey Guys you can tell i'm new to the forum but I wanted to ask someone that loves to keep their car clean. I just bought a brand new 2009 Black Civic EX and I want to buy some supplies to wash the car and clean the car on the inside but I wanted to make sure if anyone had any recommendations on what to buy to make sure that the paint doesn't wear off or the vinyl on the inside doesn't wear off either. Please let me know . Thanks.

 

meguiars is usually a pretty dependable brand when it comes to car cleaning products

 

get a several gal bucket. Your choice of liquid car was soap (dont use dishwashing liquid), I like a microfiber wash mit they all are about the same ( I have 2 one i only use for the upper half of the car and one that i use only for the lower half), a good wax i like meguiers wax but there are so many to choose from, a detailing spray and microfiber towels (take off the little tag so as not to scratch the paint), Clay bar is optional but if you have never used one get someone to help you who has. As far as interior goes armor all your choice of shine level again micro fiber towels to apply. little detalers trick goto a place like Napa that sells auto paint and buy a case of tack cloths there cheep and leave no residue behind and are great for removing dust from the dash before you apply any products. for the wheels and tires hand wash if need use a good wheel cleaner to remove brake dust but if you keep up with it it shouldn't be a problem keeping it clean. I like a liquid gel type tire dressing like black max tir wet ( make sure to let it dry before driving or it will sling all over your paint

 

I have heard that armour all makes the vinyl dry and crack over time. Pine oil is the best way to clean your dash.

As for protecting your paint, rustcheck sells something that they spray on to protect in from fading and such.

Your car is black, it will always look dirty and theres not much you can do about that I owned a black car for 5 years and sadly, it doesn't stay clean.

 

yea for your tires like instructor74 said i like gels and pastes better than the spray on foam stuff. it takes longer to apply but the shine stays on longer and looks much better.

 

Also check out this section of HT:

https://honda-tech.com/forums/detailing-130/

 

Definitely look into the threads and videos about proper cleaning techniques. That is the most important step in making and keeping your car beautiful. Most of the brands and products after that are pretty much personal preference.

I personally prefer Meguiars, but the internet has enough sites dedicated to detailing, that maybe you can decide for yourself. I'd post a link with many helpful pages, but since it is the arch enemy of H-T, the link will not work. Kinda pointless (if you ask me) for a site that is supposed to be about helping people, banning mentioning another site (especially one that has much more info...oh snap) just because it is another Honda site.

 

Black is impossible to keep clean. It's just a fact of life.

I used to use Armor All, and it is fine. Unless you live in Northern Texas, or Arizona, and your car sits in 120 degree weather on a daily basis, you'll be fine.

The whole thing is a myth. If you leave a car out in the bright sun every day for 12 years, yeah it is going to get worn out and crack, even if you never clean the interior. But you don't have to worry about it with a brand new car.

A clay bar is your best friend. I do it about twice a year, followed by a decent wax job.

 

interior lubricants attract more dust and dirt, I clean with a swiffer pad.

 

armour all on interior looks like **** IMO!!! attracts dust, dirt, etc

 

Turtle Wax Ice is the best stuff ive ever used, id recommend it to anyone