Well..
Almost two years ago i got my first truck... Didn't take care of it at first just drove it and rinsed it off at the car washes when it looked as it needed a wash.

Then i got into it, put rims and other stuff on my truck and i started taking "good care" of it.

Little did i know that using dish soap and bath towels were actually just making my life a living hell about a year down the road.

Then i found this site, and look where its got me! $300+ (about to jump up when i buy a DA) and growing in cleaning supplies.

But DAMN does my truck reflect my efforts!



Anyone else completely alter their washing/detailing methods after finding this site? Just a nice friendly topic to chat about.

Hope everyones weekends going good

 

I learned that all the years I used a carwash @ $8 a pop, it wasn't getting my rig clean. I wash by hand, dry by hand, and use Megs products. Wow, what a difference. I am trying not to let the OCD come into play but I find myself reading these threads more and more. I am sure I will find better products and techniques along the way.

 

I too have came from the automatic car wash and self rinse wash. I used to think it was ridiculious at how people would spend all day in their driveways detailing, then I tried it once and noticed how much nicer my Explorer looked and got hooked. Did homework on detailing, bought supplies, and 2 trucks later here i am. My Silverado was practice. I was using Megs Gold Class ever since my first car ( Explorer ) but I was drying it cotton bath towels and lazying on the polishing and waxing. This truck will have a good life with me. Im still learning but i'm making an honest effort to make sure this truck has it better than any of my past vehicles.

 

Guess i'm lucky to catch onto the bug with my first vehicle!

 

Well started out with a taurus (when i was 16) and didn't wash it. Then I got a 2001 Mercury Cougar and started competeing sound quality USACI shows with it and got into just washing and waxing it. Then I got my truck 2 years ago and things went south from there. Now it's $1000 worth of products and equipment, my own detailing company, and 3 detailing forums.

 

That's always good to hear! Btw i love your truck bro

 

thanks. Ya know, i've always respected the fact that your a young guy that takes care of his truck. I know oh so many people (around where I live) that their parents, or themselves, go and buy a real nice vehicle and never wash it. One of my good friends is like that, brand new 2007 Tacoma, and it's already trashed.

 

Yea... I hate that.. I wish people would take care of their stuff especially if its brand new or in good condition!

 

i've been OCD about my truck since I was 16... No one understands it either, and it drives my parents crazy. But hey I have a black truck and you have to be OCD to keep that color clean

Speaking of OCD i even polish and wax my golf clubs ( just the woods)

 

I know how you feel! But the only thing my polish and waxes touch are vehicles. Gotta use this stuff sparingly i'm on a tight budget football seasons kicking up and my $$ making is going downn.

 

In the 6 weeks I've been browsing here, I've gone from thinking a normal wash/wax/trim cycle was a detail to knowing that is was just normal maintence and not even close to a detail
I must be making progress, as my wife commented how the garage is looking like a detailing shop, and she actually knows what clay is and why ou use it...



Spike

 

like most others, i've come from just washing and drying with a bathroom towel..to claying, polishing, and waxing. My f150 is my first vehicle, and i've only had it about a year, but my first full detail on it was about a month and a half ago. It was such a huge difference than before i just wanted to sit and stare at it . now i end up trying to wash it every weekend, and making sure everything is clean inside and out every time i drive it. and to top it all off, yesterday it was pouring down rain and probably for a good 10 minutes i just sat there watched the water bead off of my truck like i just waxed it the day before, it was great

 

I'll add one other thing... I've actualy always liked cleaning/detailing my vehicles. I have gained considerable knowledge from this forum over the past year. I now use much better products and dry my truck with a leaf blower.

I work from my house and when I need a break I find myself going out to the garage and doing some work on the truck. I am always on the lookout for new spots to clean.

 

Hi, my names dustin, and i came to D.A. (detailers anonymous) because when i first got my truck at 15 i used the brush at the diy coin wash every once in a while and when i hand washed i used some old cloth mit that my dad hadnt used for a while, but at least i checked if it was clean. i also used to use beach towels to dry with. im just glad i only used the brush the 3 or 4 times i did and not any more. i would smack the old me around if i could, lol. i had it for a year before i tried waxing it, and that was just an old bottle of hard shell turtle wax that i lathered on way to thick, lol. now over 3 years later i only handwash it myself, only dry with waffleweaves, have clayed, polished, and waxed my vehicle regularly, and only use poorboys and meguiars products!


(you can now clap)

 

i just recently started coming in this section. now i think im hooked. im only 17 but im usually out cleaning my truck every weekend. gotta take care of my investment haha