Just started getting into polishing but it keeps turning my compound black and just drying it out. I did a lot of research on what to do but obviously i’m missing something. Both cutting compound and polsihing turned dark. It’s on older subaru and i know the paint is thin and could be getting the paint itself

Strictly from a design perspective, what's your least favorite/worst vehicle to detail? Not like, what was the dirtiest job you've done, but what vehicle have you cleaned that you said to yourself, "who designed this?"

I'll go first: Our 2025 Hummer EV truck.

It's gigantic. Even at 6'2" I have to get a ladder and still can't reach the middle of the hood, windshield or roof.

There are, what feels like, endless nooks and crannies.

The stock running boards have *just enough* distance to get behind with your hand to clean behind them, but you'll scrape the hell out of yourself doing so.

Clean the back window when you have a bed cover on? Damn near impossible.

What's yours?

Glad to see someone actually call out THOR and crew on their nonsense.

I know Sheepstar did a similar video a year or so ago, but this one seems even more ruthless just calling it out for the bullshit that it is. It's refreshing to see.

Also just glad to see Scott back on YT.

https://youtu.be/3cVs_E9VZYAUiC83aHK-pkrpEKJ

These spots appeared a bit ago that look like dirt spots from rain, but won’t go away. I’ve tried glass cleaner, bug remover and degreaser but nothing worked. Defrost makes them go away temporarily. I really hope I don’t have to polish the windshield.

some random jerk decided to draw this in the dirt on the hood of our truck parked in our apartment complex. it’s been an extremely smoky wildfire season where we are and has rained off and on making a thick layer of apparently very abrasive dirt. this is while it was drying after we washed the area hoping it was just finger oils. we are actively trying to sell it and really need the little bit of money we are selling it for. she’s not the prettiest pickup and her top coat is already sun fading as is, but a giant phallic symbol is way less desirable 🥲

any tips on exactly what we can do to get it out?

This is a two part question. The first question would be for professional detailers.... how many of you, if any, offer undercarriage cleaning and rust prevention? If so, I would be interested in what chemicals and tools you use. Which leads me to my second question.

Historically, going into winter, I get under my vehicles with multiple cans of Fluid Film and start spraying. Unfortunately, my physical condition (I'm an old fart with severe arthritis) forces alterations in how I do things. I still want to provide a measure of rust protection but I can no longer roll around under the vehicles to do it. I am hoping to use an undercarriage spray attachment for my pressure washer to blast some type of rust inhibitor underneath the car. I know Bilt Hamber has Atom Mac... and if that is what I need to go with, that's what I guess I'll go with, but DAMN, they are proud of that product. I don't want to spend $80 for 32 oz of Rust Inhibitor when a gallon of fluid film cost half as much.

The goal? To sit in a chair on wheels using an undercarriage pressure washer attachment to blast rust inhibitor... and to do so without breaking the bank. Surely there is some type of product made just for this purpose but I'll be damned if I am finding it. You would think the market would be flooded with such products but apparently not. I found a product called Salty Captain Chassis Flush on Amazon that appears to be what I am looking for but I've never heard of the either the brand or the product.
https://www.amazon.com/Captain-Chassis-33-8oz-Undercarriage-Cleaner/dp/B0C6WYLWNZ

I'm also aware of Chem-X Eagle Guard, but once again, have no experience with the product or the brand, although I am obviously aware of the brand.

So my primary question is..... is anyone aware of a product that fits my needs. A rust inhibitor that can be delivered with a foam cannon/pressure washer/undercarriage attachment.

And for professional detailers, is this a service you provide? If not, why not? It would seem undercarriage rust prevention would be low effort high value added service, assuming it can be done as I am hoping to do it... as would cleaning undercarriages in the spring.

Started doing a few cars on weekends for extra money and somehow I've reached the point where I'm getting messages from people I don't even know asking for prices and availability.

I was completely unprepared for the business side of this. Everything is currently texts, Venmo payments and appointments I swear I'll remember.

Finally bought a domain and started putting together a little site with Durable so people can see my work/services without me sending the same 15 photos and price list every time someone messages.

For anyone who started detailing as a side hustle and grew from there what did you set up next?

I recently got the roof of my 2020 320i resprayed and the polish seemed to leak under the tape leading to the staining of the windscreen adhesive - zoom in to see the damage!

Any advice on simply and easily lifting it away?

TIA!

Oilfield truck with 235000km of bush life hell. Just did the paint correction and ceramic coating this visit. Booked in for next visit for interior detail, trim, chrome and glass. Pretty happy with how it turned out. Forgot to take a Pic of how it was dropped off but im sure you can imagine on a truck that only ever sees gravel roads and mud!

Just leased a new car with very light gray leatherette seats. What is the best way to protect the seats from my 3 kids - spills and dirt? Don't care about UV protection, the car is garaged and I don't drive a ton. Since this is a lease, I need to protect the seats!

I'm reading about Interior Ceramic Coating and the 303 AEROSPACE PROTECTANT spray.

Is this a DIY or professional job?

I did look at car seat covers but I don't see the same light gray color and I only need to protect the back row. I don't want 2 different colors in the front and back.

Thanks!

Hi everyone. I hope this post is in the right subreddit. I bought this Dodge Charger a year ago used. It had front end damage before I bought it that I know wasn't repaired the best (the hood was crooked for example) and I can tell the difference in the paint between the panels. The smudged hood is really bothering me. Maybe I damaged it more or is it a paint quality issue? This is the first car I've ever tried to keep nice. If I took it to a deatiler for paint correction is this something they could maybe fix? Thank for any advice.

Im 6 years deep in my home garage based detailing journey. 5 star reviews on Google and a pretty robust client base. The economic times we are in are definitely showing teeth for sure. Just an i dustry temp check on How is everyone navigating and staying in the black???

I have a triple 20” x 4.5” big blue filter spotless wash setup with one carbon GAC filter and two MB115 filters. The incoming water is 250ppm and both filters only manage to reduce it to 50ppm..

I’ve tested one carbon GAC filter and one full MB115 filter (under filled from supplier) at 1l/min and it has reduced the tap water from 250ppm to 150ppm.

Should a full 20” resin filter reduce the tds by more than 100ppm?

Thanks

Had my windscreens replaced a few days ago after it became serious scratches after cleaning it. Just noticed it has a few of these patches on it. Looking for advice how to remove it but very nervous after I scratched up my old screen

Hi, all - I recently had full body clear matte ppf done on my Alpine White 2020 BMW M8.

I used a high end shop that is part of a specialty 911 dealership in my city. I've also had my vehicles detailed there for a few years so I trusted them.

I got the car back and they told me the contours on my bumper forced them to apply the ppf as you see in the photo. As expected, you can see dirt accumulates there.

I took the car back today for my one week inspection and told them I'm disappointed in the bumper application. I asked what they would have done if I wanted black over my white car and he said they would have had to remove the bumper, diffuser, etc to get full coverage. He said he didnt remove the bumper in order to save labor and that they would cut some pieces to cover that exposed area to see if that would make it look better.

I spent $10,500 on this and was never given an option to have the bumper removed or to pay more to have fuller, more complete protection.

I'll get the car back in the next day or so but I'm wondering what would you guys do in this situation?

Is this an acceptable way to apply ppf?

Should he have told me the coverage won't be 100% complete unless they remove the bumper and given me the option to pay for that?

For the price I paid should they have removed the bumper and all those clips and done it correctly?

I appreciate any expertise here.

Finally got around to hanging up this reel for my garage setup, everything works great but the reel’s 90 degree elbow leaks. Anyway to fix this? Can it be taken apart? Or do I just need to get a better reel?

I got my car detailed and it was still wet two days later and smelled. It looked real bad as it dried so I took it back and they redid it and it was dry and looked much better. But now a week and a half later, it still smells like soap. Is this normal and the smell will just go away or is there a problem? We live in a city and park in a garage so can’t really air it out.

Hello,

I noticed these spots of my truck today, as well as a couple others past it. Some are brown and some are clear. They appear to be inside the clear coat. I have no idea how they got there, but I’m assuming it was from some sort of chemical or hard mineral water.

Any idea how I should go about this? Compound, then polish?

Forgive my ignorance. This is my first car.

I tend to park it under some trees (there isn't much of an alternative where I live). These trees have a lot of fallout that accumulates. Sometimes I don't drive for a few days, and I can't wash it every time it happens.

Well, I washed it yesterday having been gone a week, and these stains won't come out, even if I rub them. ChatGPT says to use an iron fallout remover, but I wanted to check. What is your opinion? Car is a 2023 Renault Captur, if that is relevant. Thanks.

I’ve been asking this to myself a lot, I hope to get some help thank you guys!

Hey everyone just as the title says!

Whatever it is related to detailing!

I ask because I like products I can stretch.

I'll start by saying my current favorite is luminus Mint shampoo!!

And wheely clean but the 2x industrial concentrate. (Yes I know he's a complete dbag)

Can I hand-polish this? it's on a '22.

Any help on how to proceed?

I plan on clay barring it then polishing. Just have never done it before.

Hi guys, recently just found these water spots, im not sure if its acid rain or not but they dont come off with a wipe. I tried using gyeon water spot as well but they wont come off.

How do I approach getting rid of this without daming the ppf + coat?

I dont leave rain water on the car for a long time so I was surprised to find this. The car just got ppf + coating very recently too so this is very annoying.

Can only notice them if you look at it closely though

Hey. I'm not a car detailing guy. However, I want to keep my truck looking good as long as possible. It stays outside and I use a drive thru car wash about once a month.

I have been planning to get it detailed, include clay bar and polishing, and then immediately put it in the garage and apply a ceramic coating myself. However, in doing some more reading, is it even worth applying the ceramic coating if I usually use a drive thru car wash? Should I use a spray on ceramic coating several times a year instead? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated, including brand names if you have a strong opinion. Thanks!