Ever wonder how used car dealers get those engine compartments clean and looking like new? Maybe the prior owner was a little old lady that used to drive the car only to church on Sundays? Not likely.

It used to be that you needed a steam cleaner, or the other option was go to the local parts store and get a solvent based de-greaser cleaner, like Gunk. Well, there is a better alternative and only takes a few quarters at your local self-serve car wash.

Years ago, since I didn’t have a steam-cleaner, I chose the Gunk route to clean up the engine compartment on my 1956 Chevy pickup. The problem I had was that some of the solvent-based product splattered on the inner fender walls and I ended up having to re-paint them. At the time, I didn’t know about citrus-based cleaners and the wonderful job they do in knocking out grease, grime and crud WITHOUT hurting the finish! In addition to being safe for the finishes, citrus products are also biodegradable and flat out work better.

Cleaning an engine compartment is easy – and can be done for a couple of bucks. Other than looking better, it is a lot easier to detect any fluid or oil leaks and other problems. Additionally, if you are selling the car it really is a difference maker. You will have prospective buyers look under the hood even if they don’t know how to check the oil. You can also “dress” the engine to make everything look like new and shiny.

Getting Ready

You don’t need to own a pressure washer to clean your engine compartment – the high-pressure rinse at the local car wash will do just fine. Get a spray bottle of Jax Wax Super Citrus Cleaner and quarters for the wash bay. And if you want to dress your engine, get a small bottle of Jax Wax Shine All water based dressing. As a precaution, I recommend soaping the exterior of the car down first, around the fenders and hood. This is for the rare case that any overspray from the Jax Wax Super Citrus cleaner should dry on the surface.

Cleaning

Facing the front of the vehicle, raise the hood. Using Jax Wax Super Citrus, select a “Stream” setting on the spray instead of a “Spray or Mist” start coating the entire engine and compartment from the back to the front, left to right, working your way to the front.

Go to the passenger side of the vehicle and repeat the same process. Start at the point farthest away (driver’s side) and work your way back and forth to the passenger side. Then go to the driver’s side and repeat the spraying process working your way from the passenger side to the driver’s side. The engine compartment has a lot of nooks and crannies where dirt and grease build up – but by spraying from three different angles, you’ll ensure that you have the entire surface covered.

Now the fun begins! Throw your quarters in the machine, and select the high-pressure rinse. Start at the back and work your way to the front. Note: Use care and do not DIRECTLY spray any exposed electrical or electronic parts! The force of the spray will rinse away any dirt, grime, grease and oil. Once your done, close the hood and rinse off the outside of the vehicle to remove any cleaner solution from the from the finishes. It IS that simple!

Dressing Anyone?

If you would like to dress the engine compartment – now is the time to do it while it is wet. Select “Stream” on the Jax Wax Shine All spray bottle and coat the entire compartment from back to front. You won’t need to do it from each side like you did the Super Citrus. When you go on a “dry off” drive the Shine All will dissipate and evenly coat the entire surface. Shut the hood.

Dry Off Drive

Start the car (I’ve never had one not start) and go for about a 3-4 mile ride. I have had one “sputter”, but it cleared up after a short time. If a freeway is close by, jump on it – the higher speed will aid in quicker drying. When you get back, open up the hood and check it out – it will look brand new, squeaky-clean and all the surfaces will be dressed. Depending on your personal preference, you can even wipe the surfaces to dull down the shine a bit.

Scott Ellis is from Jax Wax Distribution Systems and is responsible for distributing Jax Wax Car Care Products retail worldwide. Jax Wax Car Care Products are widely used in commercial businesses such as detail shops, body shops, and auto dealers. Jax Wax is now packaging its products in smaller quantities for the consumer market. You can get fast, commercial quality results by doing the detail work yourself. For more information, go to www.jaxwax.com or call 877-7JAXWAX.

Unless your ride is a trailer queen or a museum piece, most of us spend the majority of our time behind the wheel. Isn’t it a great feeling sliding into a seat of a clean and detailed vehicle regardless if you are a driver or a passenger?

Well, instead of interior cleaning being strenuous and time-consuming, make it easy and get professional results yourself with some of these tips. Other than a great feeling of accomplishment, it’s much easier to keep clean, look “showroom fresh” and will protect your interior from getting worn. And just like anything, using the right products for the right job makes all the difference in the world.

Here are some tips for Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning, Cleaning Vinyl and Plastic Surfaces, Leather Care, Dressing and Protecting Vinyl and Plastic, and everyone’s favorite (not) – Glass Cleaning.

Carpet and Cloth Upholstery Cleaning

After vacuuming out your ride, ever get bummed after noticing dirt, grime or stains? Don’t let it bring you down - cleaning the carpets and upholstery is a snap with the right product! It’s relatively easy using a professional grade product like Jax Wax Heavy Duty Carpet and Fabric Cleaner. This foamy product is designed to lift the soil, dirt and grime to the top with minimal effort. If using on carpet, agitate with a brush after spraying the area. Wipe dry with a towel and you’re done! Jax Wax Heavy Duty Carpet and Fabric Cleaner is designed to leave the surface clean and dry.

If there are some major stains that still will not come clean, use Jax Wax Carpet Spot Remover. This product is designed to immediately remove most stains, including dirt, grease, cola stains and even lipstick without scrubbing. Simply spray the product and blot with a clean towel.

Always, always check the carpet and upholstery for color-fastness in an inconspicuous area first to ensure that no discoloration or fading will occur!

Cleaning Vinyl & Plastic Surfaces

Depending on how dirty the surface is to be cleaned, a damp microfiber towel might be all that is needed. For dirtier surfaces, use a cleaner like Jax Wax Vinyl & Leather Cleaner. Simply spray and wipe, being careful to wipe off any overspray off any glass surfaces. For best results and to make things easier, use a microfiber towel – they are designed to pick up and hold dirt in the fibers and work like a charm!

Leather Care

The key to keeping leather surface nice is to keep it supple, like your skin. If leather is not conditioned it will dry, crack, split and the finish will wear. The easiest way to clean and condition leather surfaces is to use Jax Wax Leather Magic. It is a wipe on, wipe off cleaner and conditioner in one step, and is scented like leather. To use, take a towel about 16 X 16 inches, fold it in half twice. Shake the product, and douse the towel. Lather and wipe it on the leather surfaces and replenish with product as you go. Then go back with a clean towel and wipe off any excess product not absorbed into the leather and your done! Cleaned and conditioned in one step – it doesn’t get much easier than that.

Dressing and Protecting Vinyl and Plastic

Have you ever used some retail products to dress and protect vinyl and plastic and ended up with a greasy or tacky surface that just seems to collect dust? Or maybe the finish that it left was too shiny for your taste? Well, not all Vinyl and Plastic dressings are like that!

Jax Wax Shine All is a professional grade dressing that actually dries, won’t end up being tacky or greasy and is designed to give you the exact finish you want. Straight out of the bottle, Jax Wax Shine All leaves a high gloss. If a high gloss isn’t your thing, mix Jax Wax Shine All with water to get less shine for your exact preference. Instead of spraying Jax Wax Shine All directly on the surface, we recommend spraying it on an applicator pad first, then wiping the product onto the surface. This allows you to control how much product is applied, and makes clean up a breeze eliminating any potential over spray. Just as putting wax on your paint, Jax Wax Shine All also makes it much easier to keep your surface clean and at the same time provides excellent protection from the sun on delicate interior parts.

For hard to reach areas such as dash vents, crevices where an applicator can’t reach easily, and rubber door seals use Jax Wax Dash Vent Magic – it is an aerosol spray and let dry dressing that is designed for those hard to reach places.

Cleaning Glass

One of the most challenging cleaning chores can be glass cleaning, but doesn’t have to be. Using Jax Wax Streak Free Glass cleaner with a microfiber towel makes it easy – all with no streaks. As well, Jax Wax Streak Free Glass Cleaner does not contain any ammonia and is safe for tinted windows. Simply spray and wipe for a streak-free finish.

Scott Ellis is from Jax Wax Distribution Systems and is responsible for distributing Jax Wax Car Care Products retail worldwide. Jax Wax Car Care Products are widely used in commercial businesses such as detail shops, body shops, and auto dealers. Jax Wax is now packaging its products in smaller quantities for the consumer market. You can get fast, commercial quality results by doing the detail work yourself. For more information, go to www.jaxwax.com or call 877-7JAXWAX.

A common question that we hear is “My finish looks great, but when you look at it up close you can see all these fine scratches. How do I get rid of them?” These are especially noticeable on black or dark finishes. If you have ever had a black or a dark colored finish, you know what I mean!

You will hear these referred to as “Swirl Marks or “Swirls”. Swirls can be caused by virtually anything that comes in contact with your finish. Washing, drying and wiping, commonly causes swirls. Fortunately, there are some steps that you can take to reduce the likelihood of introducing new swirl marks on your finish. There are also a couple of ways to get rid of them and or reduce their appearance.

Avoiding Swirl Marks when Washing
Many people use sponges when washing their vehicle. The problem is that sponges have many pores that trap dirt and grime which inevitably scratch your finish. Instead of a sponge, use a Lamb’s Wool Wash Mitt with a long nap. Refresh your mitt with new soapy water often during the wash process to release any grit introduced into the mitt. Another tip is to start at the top and work your way down to reduce the amount of dirt building up in the mitt, since that is usually the least dirty and grimy part of the vehicle. One cool product from Grit Guard is an insert that fits inside the bottom of your wash bucket that allows the grit to sit in the bottom and not be introduced into the rest of your soapy water. The Grit Guard also acts as an agitator when dunking your mitt into the bucket, which actually releases the grit, grime and contaminants to provide scratch free washing.

Avoiding Swirl Marks when Drying and Wiping
Another source of swirl marks is wiping or drying your finish. For example, many people use a chamois or terry cloth towels to dry their finish. A chamois works great, but not many people wash their chamois after wiping a vehicle dry. Consequently, the dirt builds up in the chamois and ends up scratching the finish. Terry cloth towels, although absorbent, can also scratch your finish. One solution is to use Micro fiber Towels. Micro fiber towels are less likely to scratch the finish and are more absorbent than terry cloth. Micro fiber Towels hold up to seven times their weight in water, which makes them ideal for drying and wiping. They can also be laundered and reused hundreds of times. My personal preference is to use 2 smaller micro fiber towels when drying. I ring one out as I go and immediately follow with another for a final dry.

Your Two Options for Eliminating Existing Swirls – Polish or Fill
Since Swirl Marks are really fine scratches, there are only two ways to reduce the appearance of them - either polish them out or fill them in. Polishing is really like “micro-sanding” or leveling the surface to blend the high spots in with the low spots using a high-speed rotary buffer. This requires skill and practice, and unless you have experience and skill buffing on a regular basis, I usually recommend hiring a professional since it is easy to ruin your finish without the proper experience, tools and knowledge. For example, the clear coat on today’s finishes is only about as thick as a sheet of paper.

Another option to reduce their appearance is to “fill” them in. This is something that virtually anyone can do, with products especially made just for that purpose. What these specialty waxes actually do is to fill the low spots of the swirl marks to reduce their appearance. Used just like a regular wax, the products will reduce the appearance of swirls, darken and improve the overall appearance of your finish and protect it at the same time! It is often said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – that is the case here. By using these products you are reducing existing swirl marks and protecting against new ones.

Additional Tips for a Swirl Free Finish
When applying wax on don’t use circular motions – instead just wipe it on lightly and go back and forth, slightly overlapping each stroke. Think or applying wax like painting a wall, a couple of thin coats are better than one thick coating. Use a professional product that is easy on and easy off and doesn’t require undo pressure on the surface. Let the product do the work! Remove the wax the same way – and go easy wiping it off! Always use micro fiber towels and turn them over frequently. Always use clean wax applicators and micro fiber towels in good, clean condition.

Summary
To prevent swirls take care in washing, always use micro fiber towels to dry and wipe, and keep a good coat of wax on your finish. Other than making your finish look great and being easier to clean, wax is great protection against swirls. Wax is the barrier between your finish and the environment. A couple coats of a professional grade carnauba wax will conceal most swirl marks that are already there and help prevent new ones from occurring. And most of all – keep it fun!

Scott Ellis is from Jax Wax Distribution Systems and is responsible for distributing Jax Wax Car Care Products retail worldwide. Jax Wax Car Care Products are widely used in commercial businesses such as detail shops, body shops, and auto dealers. Jax Wax is now packaging its products in smaller quantities for the consumer market. You can get fast, commercial quality results by doing the detail work yourself. For more information, go to www.jaxwax.com or call 877-7JAXWAX.

One of the most common questions we hear at car shows when we have clay bars displayed for sale is - “So that is clay – I’ve heard of it - How do you use it?”

When I hear that – I get excited. Not necessarily to sell someone a clay bar – but I love teaching people about detailing and sharing information. We like to keep things simple – and a clay bar is one of the easiest things to use, and is one of the most beneficial things you can do to maintain and bring out the richness, beauty and depth of your finish.

Clay is very similar to “Silly Putty” that you played with as a kid – but it is very “sticky”. What a clay bar does is virtually “lift” or “pull” things from your paint that doesn’t come off with regular washing. To get the ultimate looking finish, you need to start with the most smooth and cleanest surface possible – and a clay bar will do that for you. The better the surface to start with, the better it will look when you apply wax. It’s like painting a wall – the better the surface preparation the better the end result looks.

Think your finish is “baby-butt” smooth? Try this on your ride – even if you have a show car that doesn’t go out in inclement weather and stays covered 90% of the time. Wipe your hand over the surface – feels pretty smooth, right? Then take a plastic baggie, put it over your fingers then feel the surface. Feel all those little bumps? All the plastic did is enhance your feeling of touch - what you are feeling is contaminants from the everyday environment that ends up embedded in your finish.

A clay bar will remove those contaminants without being aggressive like polishing with a high speed buffer - and will leave a silky smooth finish. It will also remove overspray from paint. A word to the wise – there are different grades of clay, just like any other tool. You will want to use a professional grade clay bar that the pros use – you will get better results in less time. I use an analogy of comparing a quality tool from Snap-On compared to Chinese socket set from the dollar store. Remember - you get what you pay for.

Your clay bar should have come in a plastic container – usually like a soap bar container. Remove it from the case, and tear off a piece about an inch or so. Immediately put the rest of the bar back in the case. This is extremely important! If the clay bar falls on the ground, it will pick up containments and will scratch the paint – do not use it. You only need a piece of it at a time.

Knead your piece of clay bar and flatten it out. Lubricate an area with a quick detailer product about 18 inches square or so. I prefer to use a quick detailer for lubrication – some people use soap and water. While the surface is wet simply rub the clay bar back and forth over the wet area. Do not press down hard on the clay bar! Resist our natural tendency to treat anything in our hand like a piece of sandpaper – not so here – let the clay bar do all the work. If you do put undue pressure on the clay, like anything - it can mar your paint. If you feel the clay bar start to “drag” – add more lubricant.

You will more than likely “feel” the surface getting smooth. Once that area is done, use a micro fiber towel (they won’t scratch your finish) and dry the area. Now feel the surface with and without the plastic bag on your fingers – it should be smooth as a baby’s behind. While you are using the clay bar on your finish keep kneading and folding into itself to get a “fresh” sticky surface. Once you deem the piece of clay too contaminated or full of junk you lifted off the surface, simply discard and tear off a new piece and start again.

One more word to the wise – keep it fun! Don’t make it monotonous – do a section at a time. For example if you have some time to kill or feel like playing with your ride – go do a fender or the hood. Remember – a section at a time keeps it fun and light! And this is my favorite part - put a coat or two of wax on it afterward for protection and admire how awesome your finish now looks!

Summary

Using a clay bar is probably one of the most beneficial things you can do help maintain, protect and increase the beauty and depth of your finish. Remember to keep the surface area lubricated, don’t treat the clay bar like a piece of sandpaper, and return it to the container after use. Use a professional grade clay bar to get the best results. And most of all – keep it fun! . .

Scott Ellis is from Jax Wax Distribution Systems and is responsible for distributing Jax Wax Car Care Products retail worldwide. Jax Wax Car Care Products are widely used in commercial businesses such as detail shops, body shops, and auto dealers. Jax Wax is now packaging its products in smaller quantities for the consumer market. You can get fast, commercial quality results by doing the detail work yourself. For more information, go to www.jaxwax.com or call 877-7JAXWAX.

Are you amazed at how many specialty cleaners that are available to clean your vehicle? Wheel and rim cleaner, tire cleaner, brake dust remover, engine degreaser, white wall cleaner, tar remover - the list goes on. Ever wonder what the pros in Dealerships and Detailing Shops use? In those businesses, concentrated citrus cleaners have replaced them all and taken the center stage.

Why? Simple – they work, and work extremely well where time and results matter. Citrus cleaners work as well or better than the caustic counterparts that we are all used to using. Citrus cleaners are also cost effective and versatile. For example, a good professional-grade, concentrated citrus cleaner now replaces a lot of specialty products that professional detailers needed to use in the past. Citrus cleaners easily dissolve and lift grease, oily residue, grime and dirt without harming or discoloring the surface.

The principal component of a good, professional grade citrus cleaner is something called d-limonene. D-limonene is extracted from the oil found in peels of citrus fruits, a natural solvent that is also biodegradable. As with any product, the quality and performance difference is related to how highly concentrated the ingredients are, including d-limonene. For example, more “orange” cleaners are showing up on retail shelves, some of which are scented or colored orange, or both - and aren’t really suitable for heavy duty cleaning tasks. A good professional grade citrus cleaner is highly concentrated and is able to be diluted all the way down to 1:50 for general cleaning tasks.

Other than simply working better, there are many reasons detailing pros use citrus cleaners. Citrus cleaners replace dangerous, flammable solvent-based products, are safer to use, environmentally friendly, non-caustic, and much more economical and cost effective. Citrus cleaners degrease, clean and deodorize at the same time while leaving behind a clean surface with a pleasant scent.

For example, cleaning and degreasing under the hood is a snap with a good citrus cleaner at the coin car wash. Here’s how: Simply pop the hood, spray the cleaner from front to back, left to right, then right to left - getting coverage in all the nooks and crannies. Throw in some quarters, select rinse and spray away all the crud. Once you’re done, shut the hood and rinse off the excess from the outside finish. Go for a short drive to dry it off and it will look like brand new.

If you’ve owned a utility trailer, RV or camper, you undoubtedly experienced those dreaded black streaks that run down the sides from the roof, which can be a real challenge to remove. To easily remove them, substitute a good concentrated citrus cleaner as you would for soap. Wash as normal and rinse. The results will be a clean shiny surface with no black streaks. Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? It really is that easy with a good citrus cleaner.

Cleaning and removing brake dust from wheels, and tires with a citrus cleaner is a breeze. Make sure the wheels are cool first - if not, spray some cool water on them. Liberally spray a concentrated citrus cleaner directly on the surface and select high-pressure rinse and you’re done – usually no need for scrubbing. Citrus cleaners also do a great job at removing adhesive residue, cleaning concrete floors and countless other uses.

Try a professional-grade citrus cleaner next time in your cleaning regimen. Other than getting better results, it will make things a lot easier on you and your wallet.

Scott Ellis is from Jax Wax Distribution Systems and is responsible for distributing Jax Wax Car Care Products retail worldwide. Jax Wax Car Care Products are widely used in commercial businesses such as detail shops, body shops, and auto dealers. Jax Wax is now packaging its products in smaller quantities for the consumer market. You can get fast, commercial quality results by doing the detail work yourself. For more information, go to www.jaxwax.com or call 877-7JAXWAX.