A Resource of Helpful Cleaning Tips
Auto Exterior Cleaning tips,Auto Interior Cleaning tips ,Vehicle Engines cleaning tips etc
General Information:
It is a great idea to have mats to reduce the actual wear on the contoured interior carpets.
Tools & Technique:
If you have mats remove them, and bang them off. Vinyl mats can be washed with soap and water, and rinsed. To clean automotive interior carpets, remove all large debris. Carpeted mats should be vacuumed. Vacuum the car, using a crevice tool to reach into all of the small cracks. For stains, refer to our quick reference guide describing removal of specific stains.
What’s he best cheapest way to clean an aluminum horse trailer. Mine has lost it’s luster and shine?
Tammy
Nothing to do with horses is cheap. This may not cost a lot from your pocket book, but it will cost in elbow grease.
First wash the trailer as you would your car or truck, scrub and rinse thoroughly.
The next step is to polish the metal. There are three different types of cleaners you can use for aluminum. All of the following cleaners are applied with one rag, and rubbed in, and then polished (buffed) with a different clean, dry, soft, cotton cloth before the chemical dries.
i) Paste type metal polishes. Which would be far to consuming for an entire trailer, however it will offer a much more aggressive polish than the next two types. This is good for areas that have heavy oxidation (near the wheels where salt water splashes up). The finish is usually very good, however it is no more resilient to subsequent marking and soiling.
ii) Foaming type generic metal polishes. These work well, however I find when buffing the metal, there is an over abundance of residue left from the cleaner. My polishing rag quickly becomes saturated with residue, rendering it useless. The finish is excellent, and can be buffed to a very shiny surface. The finish is very resistant to subsequent marking.
iii) Trigger spray liquid polishes. Usually bluish or creamy in color, these cleaners do an effective job of cleaning, and when buffed do not leave excessive residue in your polishing rag. The finish is excellent, and can also be buffed to a very shiny surface. The finish is very resistant to subsequent marking. This is my preference.
I would look for these chemicals at a janitorial supplier, most may be marketed as a stainless steel cleaner, however DO NOT use an aerosol spray type of stainless steel polish that is oil based and clear. If you spray some and it feels greasy, it WILL NOT WORK on aluminum for your purpose. Do a small section at a time (about 3 square feet). Apply some cleaner with a rag, then buff (you can use an automotive polisher) until the shine is restored. Once the entire trailer is done, protect the work you have invested with a high quality paste wax. At least two coats should be applied, buffing the wax between each coat.
General Information:
A cut polish is used to remove old wax, surface oxidation, road grime, and anything else that may be on the surface of a cars original finish.
Tools & Techniques:
Best done by a professional, but to cut polish your automotive finish there are a number of commercially available products. A polishing paste is applied in a similar manner as an automotive wax. The difference between a polishing paste and a wax is that while a wax leaves a protective finish, polishing paste contains minute abrasives that remove surface imperfections and built up residue. After using a polishing paste the vehicle still requires a full waxing, as polishing paste may remove any old protectant, leaving the vehicle more vulnerable to environmental damage.
General Information:
Automotive and Marine battery posts carry a high amperage power to the starter and accessories such as the radio and lights. As a result of the electrical current there will be a tendency for molecular build up on the terminals and cables. When neglected this build up is visible and can even inhibit the current transmission from the battery, resulting in little or no current. The symptoms of a low or dead battery can often be attributed to this simple problem.
Tools & Technique:
To clean automotive and marine battery posts, use a wire brush or battery post cleaner. A mixture of water and baking soda will help neutralize any corrosive buildup. Once the posts are clean, a little petroleum jelly will prevent subsequent corrosion
Tools & Technique:
To clean automobile engines, use a commercially available product. Spray generously onto a cool engine, allow degreasers to work, then hose off, avoiding electrical wires, connections, and boxes.
General Information:
To wax automotive finishes there are a number of commercially available waxes, including pastes, liquids, and sprays. Wax is a very important aspect of your vehicles appearance and longevity. Wax is an effective, very thin, durable, barrier between the painted surface and the environment. Most experts recommend waxing your automobile twice per year once at the beginning of winter and once at the beginning of summer. These are the two most extreme seasons and waxing at these times offers the best protection.
Tools & Technique:
First wash your car thoroughly. Feel the surface if it is rough to the touch after washing you may need to find a proffessional for a cut polish. Apply the wax on a small area, by rubbing in a circular motion. Allow the wax to dry to a haze, then buff to a polish with a clean cotton cloth. Old cloth diapers are the best, but any thick cotton cloth that has been previously washed will polish without leaving lint. Two coats of wax will provide a deeper shine and added protection.
Tools & Chemicals:
Dish soap, bucket, soft cloth, sponge, brush & hose.
Technique:
If the drivetrain is dirty and requires cleaning, clean the drivetrain before the frame.
Using a garden hose or bucket wet down the frame. Do not use spray attachment, it will force water into areas you don’t want it. Wash the bike like you would a car using the cloth for hard to reach areas and the brush for stubborn dirt. Use the hose to rinse off the frame, handlebars etc. again do not use a sprayer just a gentle rinsing action. Dry the frame with a terry towel and apply a wax (car wax will do)this will make future washing easier. To clean the tires use the same technique, washing gives you a good opportunity to inspect for damage and signs of future maintenance concerns.
A good wax to use is a spray type car wax and just spray your clean cloth and wax your frame. Make clean up easier and rinse your bike after you get home from a hard ride in the mud, the extra few minutes will save you 10 times the amount in time if you let the mud cake on.
Wash your bike leaning against a garage wall or some form of solid support to prevent it from falling when washing and causing damage.
General Info:
Be sure to check the helpful hints for the Do’s and Don’ts of stain removal and Six Sure Ways to Set Stains.
Tools & Chemicals:
Dish washing or fine fabric detergent, white terry towels, white vinegar, warm water, measuring cup, spoon, vacuum.
Technique:
Precautions:
Never use a stronger concentration than is recommended. Never laundry detergent or automatic dish washing detergents because they may destroy or dye some fibers.
A bird’s droppings are very acidic (pH 3.5 to 4.5). When bird droppings fall on your paint, the acid begins to burn and etch the paints surface. The longer the bird droppings remain, the greater the damage.
The result of bird dropping damage is a dimple in the paints surface, often as large as an inch or more in diameter. This damage is permanent, but can easily be repaired.
Repairing Damage
The only way to repair the damage caused by bird droppings is to polish the paint. You must use the polish to blending the surrounding paint, bringing it down to the same level as the damaged area. This may sound drastic, but it works very well. The only concern is that you’re making the paint thinner. So you must be careful not to polish all the way through to the primer. Do so, and you’ll have a more noticeable problem than what the bird left behind.
Any good paint polish can be used to fix the damage with a fair amount of rubbing. I’ve found that it’s better to start with a mild compound, as you would find in a scratch remover(Eagle One Scratch Remover is a good example), followed by a good hand polish.
Preventing Damage
While it’s not really possible to keep birds from bombing your car with their dirty little surprises, you can take steps to limit the damage. The most obvious protection is a car cover (please, not while you’re driving). But, even the cover won’t help you when you’re driving. To limit the damage when you get hit, you need to remove the offending slim as quickly as possible. Don’t wait. Get it off of your car.
I’ve found the best way to clean up after a bird is with a good detailing spray and a cotton terry cloth towel. As I’m a clean car fanatic anyway, I keep a little detailing kit in my trunk. It holds a spray bottle of quick detailing spray, a couple towels, and my favorite rubber and vinyl dressing. That’s all it takes for me to keep the car looking great. When a bird gets me, I spray the bird droppings with a few shots of detailing spray and wipe it off with the towel, turning the towel as necessary to keep a clean wipe on the car.
Another way to protect your paint from bird damage is to keep your car waxed. While a standard carnauba wax offers limited protection against a juicy attack, it makes cleanup much easier. Acrylic polymer sealants protect a little better against the harsh acids, but it’s not enough to create a damage-free barrier if the bird poop sits too long. You still need to remove the mess as quickly as possible.
by David W. Bynon Copyright (c), 2000, Autopia Car Care — All Rights Reserved (www.autopia-carcare.com)
Cement and plaster are alkaline compounds. They are easily removed from clothes, woodwork, your body and cars using distilled white vinegar (a mild acid).
Simply soak a sponge with the vinegar and lay it on the cement spots for a few seconds. This will loosen the cement so it can be hosed away. It may take a couple applications to remove the cement from the car. Whatever you do, don’t try to wipe the cement off with the sponge, as this will scratch the paint.
