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DFB's Detailing Garage

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Thanks Deyon
I read few reviews and asked AI. ONR was always rated. If not #1, among the best.
I will refine my technique and your advice on my sons’ Hyunda and Kia before I touch a Mustang.
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DFB's OVER & UNDER 2026

The following is list 5 overrated and 5 underrated detailing products on the market in 2026. Depending on how you see it, this could also be a do and don't buy list, or just a jaded detailer having a rant. I'll leave that up to you.

OVERRATTED –

Bilt Hamber Trace-less –


I’m not going to fully document my struggles with this product, but this is easily the most disappointing detailing product I have tried. After hearing all the hype, how this was the greatest glass cleaner ever made, when it finally arrived in Australia I bought the large 5-litre bottle, I was that confident.

And on first acquaintance, Trace-less is certainly a wow product, namely how quickly it flashes. Afterwards, you assume its left a perfectly clear glass surface. But then you notice light ghost marks in certain light, then you drive into the sun and you see all of the wipe marks. So………….Trace-less is NOT traceless. And trust me, I tried everything to make this product work, be that different towels, different application methods, different temperatures. Nope, it streaks.

My big problem with Trace-less is the dream I was sold at a considerable price, then having it completely fall well below its promise.............................it’s not actually "traceless". Maybe I expected too much? Maybe I'm too critical? Maybe I see what others don't? Maybe I've tried and compared to many products and brands? All I know is that I'm not the only one who has had trouble with Traceless, be that in AU or the USA.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-2390


McKee’s N-914 -

Several years ago, N-914 became the MUST HAVE rinse-less wash product. At the time, it was marketed as a product that “left nothing behind”, something certain people though was important. Compared to something like the polymer-based Optimum No Rinse (ONR), N-914 is surfactant based. Some of the early ONR competitors were simply watered down soaps (surfactants), however N-914 wasn’t and that’s where it gained a foothold over the former benchmark, ONR. But that notion of “leaving nothing behind” is flawed, especially how hybrid products with Si02 have become so popular, or the fact people would then go and spray a ceramic-spray sealant all of the car and called it a “drying aid”. Can you see where I find the nothing behind thing ridiculous?

To be fair to McKee’s, N-914 is a nice product. But I don’t think it's markedly better than the competition to warrant the hype, then or now. I found it lacking slickness, to me it had a sticky surfactant feel under the wash media. And despite the claims, you ARE leaving something behind, its simply unavoidable unless you follow with a prep spray or rinse the car afterwards (which defeats the purpose of a “rinse-less” wash).

The funny thing is, I’m seeing multiple suppliers drop the product from their stores.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-7528


Koch Chemie GUF –

This is another product that came to market with lofty claims. GUF is a dedicated dressing/protectant for rubber floor mats, one that doesn’t create a slip hazard. As far as I can tell, it’s the only product of its type. So, as soon as it became available in Australia, I ordered a bottle.

Prior to application, you clean the floor mat as usual, then dry. From here, you liberally mist with the product and then level with a towel. GUF has a strong solvent/alcohol aroma, which would explain why it flashes off the way it does. And yet, I can never really see an enhancement after using GUF……………which to me is a complete waste of time and money. And because of that IPA content, I’ve had it kill spray heads.

For rubber floor mats, I have much better luck using a product like P&S Swift, which contains a very mild dressing, so mild it doesn’t cause slipperiness. But at least you can see an improvement.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-3959


Koch Chemie Motorplast -

This will be a controversial one, simply because everyone seems to like Motorplast. This product was designed for easily dressing an enhancing engine bays, of which can be applied to a freshly cleaned and still wet surface. Koch Chemie would have you believe that this self-leveling wet application is unique to Motorplast………………but it isn’t, Meguiar’s and other companies have offered something similar for decades.

So why don’t I love this product. Look, its super easy to apply, smells nice, levels off well. But its too glossy for my taste. In theory, you’d just dilute it down………….which defeats the purpose of buying a RTU product. No, something like Megs Hyper Dressing does this task just as well, if not more so than Motorplast, and can be tailored to your taste. For the record, Hyper Dressing at 5:1 (4:1 is considered “natural”, so I go even further than recommended) is my preferred engine bay dressing for a “barely there” look.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-4378


P&S Pearl -

Right, so this one is probably relevant to a specific buyer type. On face value, Pearl looks like a screaming deal, easily one of the cheapest high-volume soaps on the market, and one that’s made by an industry favourite. As such, it’s sold as a value proposition, in theory ideal for professional use or those who want their money to go further. For example, 946ml sells for $29.95 ($14 USD), 1-gallon is $57.95 ($26 USD), and 5-gallon is $190.95 ($86.40 USD). But dig a little deeper and that value prospect is flawed.

Pearl is poorly concentrated, which means using 2 to 3 times more soap per application. And even then, it doesn’t foam or provide meaningful suds, lacks slickness, so-so cleaning ability, and the mild lemon scent is desperately dated. What annoys me most is how P&S claim Pearl is a “high foaming shampoo”………………..it’s not even close to that claim, no matter the dilution.

So even if Pearl was more concentrated, it still sucks to use. And that’s not “value” in my book. And those who do, well they obviously failed maths at school.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0698


Dishonorable Mentions -

- The entire Labocosmetic brand, sexy bottles with a sexy Italian accent, but waaay too complicated.

- Sonax Perfect Finish, laced with fillers to mask the less than perfect finish it leaves behind.

- Gtechniq CSL + EXO coating combination, a so-so base coating that needs another coating to make it slick and hydrophobic, in turn doubling the price to coat your car.

UNDERRATED -

Armour Detail Supply Adapt –


This might be a surprise to have an ADS product listed here, mainly because the brand has rapidly grown to be an industry benchmark. And yet so many sleep on Adapt, which is actually one of my favourites from ADS. I think being classified as a “water-less wash” boxes Adapt into a corner and turns buyers away.

I absolutely love Adapt as a drying aid, the added lubrication for safe water-less washing proves useful here too. It’s great on door jambs and light interior dusting or cleaning gloss trims. I also think Adapt smells nicer than Amplify, and has a slicker feel under the towel.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-5899


Meguiars Hybrid Ceramic Detailer –

Also sold in the Detailer range as M799 Pro Ceramic Bead Booster, this is a product that I’ve loved using over the years. And yet it doesn’t really get mentioned. And that's a shame because it really is a great product, super easy to work with, available everywhere.

In my case, I use HCD as a drying aid, which provides excellent gloss and slickness with minimal effort required. It’s only failing is the dated fragrance, and the price at full retail. Great product shunned by the brand snobs, which included me before I decided to give it a shot.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-2545


Opti-Coat No Rinse –

I believe this is the most underrated rinse-less wash product on the market. In recent years, Si02 infused rinse-less washes have become increasingly popular, and yet Opti-Coat No Rinse has existed long before this fad took off. As with the rest of the Opti-Coat Maintenance Line, this yellow version of Optimum No Rinse was designed to maintain Opti-Coat ceramic coatings, although you can use it on any LSP. I love the slickness of this product, both under the wash media and the final result, and I prefer the mango scent compared to blue ONR.

There are three reasons why Opti-No Rinse isn’t more popular. Firstly, up until recently you could only buy the maintenance line from Opti-Coat installers, usually sold as an add on sale to a professionally applied coating. Secondly, its only available in a small 473ml bottle. And thirdly, its more expensive, which relates to lack of a bulk quantity bottle size. Still, I really enjoying using this product, its waaay better than some of the more popular options on the market.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-1760


Carpro Reload 2.0 –

Reload was one of the first ceramic spray sealants to hit the market. Like any new and pioneering product, there were some peculiarities with Reload. What many don’t know is how Carpro subtly updated the formula over time, which addressed some of the application quirks. And with the latest Reload 2.0, it’s a night and day difference to the original. And yet, people completely sidestep Reload because someone somewhere once had it be a little streaky. Then there is the supposed lack of durability. I think people expect too much from a spray and wipe product like this, especially those who are hammering down with alkaline pre-wash soaps, then wondering why a sealant doesn’t last long enough.

Reload 2.0 fixed the application quirks, boosted the longevity, while remaining one of the slickest and glossiest spray sealants available. I also love Reload on trim, it producing subtle but long-lasting enhancement and protection without the potential risks that come with a ceramic coating on these surfaces. And I say long lasting because it takes the same effort to apply as a trim dressing, but won't wash off in the rain or at the next wash. And while Reload isn’t as hydrophobic as a full ceramic coating, it’s hardly a disappointment in that department.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-7529


Gtechniq Tri-Clean –

Most of what I’ve tried from this brand has been average at best, Tri-Clean is different. In response to the Covid pandemic, Tri-Clean was developed in conjunction with Biocote®, who are said to be a leader in anti-bacterial technology. As the name suggests, Tri-Clean does three things –

- Provide strong cleaning ability
- Provide disinfectant and anti-microbial properties
- Provide odour-absorbing properties that eliminate rather than cover up odours

Tri-Clean is pH neutral, meaning it can be safely used on all interior surfaces, including leather and Alcantara. I like the way this product wipes on, then flashes away to clean, non-greasy residue free finish. The only thing I don’t like about Tri-Clean is the Pine O Clean/Lysol-like scent, it is a disinfectant after all.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0073


Honorable Mentions -

- Opti-Coat M-Wash, such an amazing soap that no one talks about. Expensive though.

- Optimum Power Wheel & Tire Cleaner, extremely capable, well above some the go-to's in this class.

- Opti-coat Clean & Protect, unlike similar products, this one actually delivers streak free results.
 
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Wash day for the Jaaaaaaaag.

Having sat in storage uncovered for a few weeks, it was super dusty. Both the wheels and body were cleaned with Reset, Amplify the drying aid, interior via Pilot, glass done with Eraser.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0518


For the tyres, these were initially scrubbed with Wise Guy, followed by a pass with Eulex. I then applied two layers of Ghost.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0523


S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-E0526


These are the factory fitted Dunlop Sport Maxx RT from 2015, which really need replacing even with only 15,000km on them. Ideally, I'd put Michelin Pilot Sport 5 on the car, or maybe Continental Sportcontact 7.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0503
 
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Easter Musical Cars continues.........................

Mustang was given it's first wash in months.

Washing -
Tyres- Shine Supply Wise Guy
Wheels - Brake Buster (foamed) + Hydr02
Rotors - Atom Mac

Details -
Paint - Carpro Reset
Drying Aid - ADS Amplify (paint, exhaust tips, door jambs, engine bay)
Glass - Rupes Reveal Lite (so good)
Wheels - ADS Amplify
Tyres - OG Tire Dressing
Black Trim - Carpro Reload 2.0

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-8210


From there, Mustang swapped places with Old Blue, back under its cover. Then the Ranger came back home, Jag back into storage.

That all means my long weekend is done with, back to work tomorrow.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0536
 
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Microfiber purge!

These towels and wash mitts have been taking up space in my cabinets for too long. Some of them were set aside for trashed vehicles, I'm not sacrificing my good stuff for use on someone's hacked up car. Some were sidelined because they didn't suit my preferences and therefore rarely used. Some are being replaced with something different/better. Some had reached a wear point I wasn't happy with. Some were odd-bods that I bought to sample or were sent as freebies.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0542


S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0545


Not pictured, but several made it into the rag pile for dirty jobs, maintenance, servicing ect. What is pictured has been listed for sale.

With towels, I want uniformity rather than a messy assortment from different suppliers, different weave type and different colours. For each detailing task, I want a matching set of towels in the same colour, then stored together in a sealed storage container. This includes Bulk Drying, Drying Aid, Door Jambs, Glass, Polish Removal, Coating Removal, Interior, Engine Bay, Wheels, Beater/Multi-Purpose................... all of the same type and from the same brand. Matching sets.

You may question my sanity by wanting/having that, but it helps keep everything consistent and organized. It also helps with recognition, be that during use, when laundering, or when folding and storing. So, there is method to my madness.
 


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As planned, I got a few hours of bliss in the garage today.

The first job, applying the ADS Clean label to its own Pressol bottle, then mixing up a batch to use on the Wildtrak.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0647


Clean is a citrus-based All-Purpose Cleaner. Most APC's on the market are heavily alkaline, but Clean is pH balanced and considered non-caustic. The cleaning power comes from the orange oil formulation, and it certainly has that orange-like aroma to it. Clean was designed to have a generous lathering effect, which means it can even be used in a pump action foamer or foam cannon. The lathering ability doesn't necessarily corelate to cleaning performance, but its a nice visual indicator as you scrub.

Clean is supplied as a concentrate and must be diluted before use. Which dilution ratio you go with will depend on the level of cleaning performance you need, and the surface material it will be used on.

Heavy Duty Cleaning - 4:1
This would be suitable for cleaning wheels and tyres, engine bays, bug removal, rubber floor mats and wheel wells.

Medium Duty Cleaning - 10:1
This mid-range dilution would suit dirty door jambs, heavy leather cleaning, dirty carpets and plastics, and spot stain removal.

Light Duty Cleaning and Maintenance - 20:1
This heavily diluted solution would suit mild interior cleaning.

I personally don't use APC on interior surfaces, so my use of Clean would be restricted to exterior use at the full strength 4:1 dilution.

First test subject, the rubber floor mats from the Wildtrak.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0676


S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0677


S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0682


As you can see, Clean lathered up nicely when agitated with a brush. After rinsing and drying, the mats were misted with P&S Swift and wiped with a towel. Certainly not as-new condition, but that's not because the products used were lacking, rather the result of being 7 years old. For this task, Clean worked very well.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0698


I also used Clean on the tyres and wheel arches. The tyres weren't too dirty, but the wheel arches were. For tyres, the lather is very important as it's a strong indicator as to how clean or dirty they are, while also giving the impression you are achieving something. My benchmark here is Brake Buster, which lathers up so nicely. Clean doesn't quite hit that benchmark, but its not far off and managed to do exactly what I needed here.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0687


S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0684


S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0691


S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0692


S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0695


It's important to note that Clean doesn't replace a dedicated tyre cleaner, it's more geared towards well maintained sidewalls, hence not turning brown on this occasion. If you needed more than what Clean offers, that's where the dedicated tyre cleaner would shine. The key here is using the appropriate product for the level of cleaning required.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0700


To finish, I went with the excellent 3D Ceramic Matte Tire from the GLW Series. I think when you have such big sidewalls like this, you want something that isn't too glossy as it ends up being visually too much. This 3D stuff easily fulfills that requirement.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0706


The wheel arches here might look dirty, but they are just beaten up after 7-years on the road. Wildtrak's used a different wheel arch liner to the rest of the range, they have a glossy grey finish instead of black.
 
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Going back to 2019, I bought four new buckets from Waxit. These were sold with either standard grit guards or the Dirt Lock type. Well, I bought two of each because I couldn't decide which one to get.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-3405


The concept of the Dirt Lock grit guards is they better trap dirt at the bottom of the bucket. Where a standard grit guard merely stops the wash mitt from touching the bottom of the bucket, the Dirt Lock's allow dirt to fall through but prevents it from being drawn back up to the surface as you dunk. Sounds like the perfect solution.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0667


S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0668


S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0670


That theoretical perfection didn't pan out. The whole concept of a grit guard is that it sits at the bottom of the bucket. And yet, these Dirt Locks would not stay at the bottom, they'd just float to the top. Didn't matter how hard I wedged them into the bucket, as soon as it filled with water and started washing, they would just float to the top of the water. I persisted with this for quite a while till I gave up and went with a standard grit guard. Doesn't matter how fancy and superior this Dirt Lock design was, its meaningless if they don't actually stay in the bucket.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage may122


S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage may123


This was quite frustrating, especially considering the price difference.

Dirt Lock Grit Guard - $26.95
Standard Grit Guard - $13.95

The only saving grace was the pad cleaning kit attachment that worked with these Dirt Lock items. This is basically a paired down version of a Lake Country Pad Washer. Ever since, I've had two of these things sitting at the back of the cabinet, virtually useless.

It's telling that Detail Guardz redesigned the rubber feet to help keep them wedged against the side of the bucket. This applied to new Dirt Lock's, as well as a retrofit kit, of which has only just gone on sale in Australia. So, I thought I give the Dirt Lock's another try.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0650


S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0658


S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0660


The original foam grips.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0652


"Improved" rubber feet.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0665


S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0674


Installed with a firm push, I filled the bucket with water and got on with the job...........................................................................and..................................................

Yep, as Taryl Dactal would say, Junk Junk Junk.........................



S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0703


So, another fail, and more disappointment. It's telling Waxit no longer sell these things. I don't know, maybe my buckets are junk? Yet a standard grit guard doesn't float. Meh, junk is junk.
 
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I recently read a post regarding 303 Protectant as a tyre dressing, something I've tried before but a very long time ago. So, today I thought I'd revisit it after Ranger's weekly wash.

303 don't market this product as a tyre dressing. Instead, they market it as an enhancement and UV protectant for interior plastics, leather, vinyl and exterior black plastic trim. But they also say it can used on rubber, and tyres are rubber so.....................

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0873


In this case, I applied using a Curveball-style brush. It lays down very wet, similar to other runny dressings like Perl, Hyper Dressing and Shine All. Once on the tyre, leave it to absorb for 5 - 10 minutes, then come back and level off with a towel.

The beauty of 303 Protectant is the subtle finish it leaves behind. So, if that's your preference for tyres, 303 is going to be a fantastic product to use. And unlike the boutique brands, 303 is available in pretty much every automotive store.

Is this my preferred tyre dressing? Absolutely not. But is it a great product to use on tyres? Yes, absolutely.

By the way, in the photo above, can anyone tell what I forgot to do?
 

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By the way, in the photo above, can anyone tell what I forgot to do?
sure I'll play

not put a rust inhibitor for the rotors?
cover the rotors?
gloves?
put the bottle back to off?

just joking around here so take no offense
i dont do any of that most times lol
 
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I took this image to accompany an article I wrote the other day. Every different towel here serves a separate role. As the old Castrol GTX ad said, "oil's aint oils", well, microfiber aint microfiber...............

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-E1019
 
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Yesterday, Mr. Olly decided to have an impromptu swim while on a play date with his bigger friends. Without even hesitating, he stepped off the edge of the pool and onto the plastic leaf cover, a few wobbly steps later he plunged straight into the water. I plucked him out in seconds, the accompanying roll on the grass turned him into a wet, muddy mess that earned him a bath once we got home.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-0824


Wet, muddy dogs and freshly detailed interiors aren't a happy combination. Annoyingly, last week I had properly deep cleaned the leather and reapplied a conditioner. :facepalm:

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-1136


Now, you'd assume in this situation a heavy-duty interior cleaner would be required. However, I didn't want to strip and reapply the leather conditioner that went down last week. So, after a vacuum, I grabbed my bottle of pre-mixed ONR, dampened the towel, then sprayed directly on the affected areas and went after it. ONR did a splendid job, no need for scrubbing, no need for a stronger interior cleaner, just a rinse-less wash that encapsulated and removed the dirt without sweat. Without a surfactant base, in theory ONR would leave the leather conditioner untouched. And on plastic and leather surfaces, it doesn't impart gloss, just a fresh clean surface.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-1138


I also decided to give the Wildtrak's front windscreen some love. After washing the car, I clayed the glass using the soapy water from my bucket (Reset) as lube. Once dry, it was time to polish using a new product from Carpro.

CARPRO GofX 150mL Kit | Glass & Polish Cleaner Kit – Waxit Car Care
CARPRO GoFX | Glass Traffic Oil Film Remover

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-1127


GofX is a step down from Carpro's sledge hammer glass polish, CeriGlass (cerium oxide). While CeriGlass is about your only avenue for diminishing scratches in glass, it's an absolute pain to use, messy, dusty, brutal wipe off. GofX is said to be more of deep cleaner and clarity improver that's also able to remove water etchings and mineral deposits.

"At its core, GofX is a specialised glass polish that combines micro-abrasives and chemical cleaners to deeply cleanse exterior glass surfaces. GofX is designed to eliminate the bonded contamination that builds up over time, things like oily traffic film, baked-on bug residue, hard water spots, and old sealant or coating layers."

Carpro offer GofX as a standalone product in 250ml, 500ml and 4-litre bottles, or as a kit that includes a 250ml bottle, the new BUFF Applicator Handle with corresponding rayon glass pad, and a microfiber towel.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-1132


S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-1129


On this occasion, I decided to use GofX by hand with the supplied applicator and pad. Sadly, I wasn't impressed with this product. If there was a pictorial example of the old "rocks in a bottle" saying, GofX would be it. I found it to be super gritty, the working time was too short, and the wipe off terrible. I get the feeling they made the consistency thicker to prevent sling when using GofX with a machine, something that affects CeriGlass and my usual glass polish, P&S Clarity Creme. But even then, that doesn't excuse the short working time or the wipe off.

I asked Sandro about GofX in the comments section of his latest video -

"GofX does seem to work well, especially with water spots and etchings - even used it on my glass shower screens with great results. But it is a bit messy and dusty, and the wipe off can be a bit of work. So good and capable, but the user experience could be better."



So, it wasn't just me. I actually decided to go back over the glass, this time using my EB212, a Lake Country SDO blue, and another new product, P&S Rehab Correction Creme.

P&S Rehab Correction Creme - Detailing Shed

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-1143


And what a contrast. Where GofX left me cold, Rehab was a revelation. In terms of where it sits, Rehab is considered a 1-step compound, similar in concept to Scholl S20 Black and Sonax Perfect Finish. What I loved about Rehab is the lotion (creme) like consistency, which provides a super lubricated feel and a long working time. The wipe off is excellent as well, no fighting residue, no dust. And to cap it off, they put a scent in Rehab, so no petro-chemical aroma here.

I can't wait to put Rehab on paint. From what I've seen, it's been winning a lot of fans for its performance and super easy wipe off. In other words, Rehab scores highly for user experience. For me, I can see this replacing Perfect Finish and S20 Black.

After polishing, the windscreen was wiped down with Rupes Reveal Lite, then followed by 99% IPA. I then applied NV Glass Lite, which is no longer available as I think they had a lot of problems with it eating spray heads. To get around that, I just take the sprayer off and use a pipette and apply it like a coating. You then wipe it off with a little spritz of glass cleaner.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-1149
 
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Mustang GT Fastback
The Ranger got its weekly wash today.

At the moment, I'm in a use-up-what-I have mode, running through products that didn't make the cut. That doesn't mean all of these products are duds, just that they didn't win me over to find a permanent spot in the cabinet. Today's product was Koch Chemie Nano Magic Shampoo.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-9222


Nano Magic is basically a wash-n-wax.

"Koch Chemie Nano Magic Shampoo is a pH neutral, protective car wash shampoo that cleans while leaving behind a hydrophobic nano-layer for up to two weeks of gloss and protection".

Oddly, the product description states "pH neutral", but the bottles say pH 5.5. If I had one piece of advice to Koch Chemie for it's English-speaking markets, go through and fix your product descriptions. There is far too much contradictory information, poor German translation, and inconsistent formatting.

Nano Magic isn't a great soap. It's doesn't foam, although to be fair, very few products like this do. The suds are nothing to rave about either. It also lacks slickness and cleaning ability. Meanwhile, the water behavior, gloss and slickness metrics are well behind Koch Chemie's latest Ceramic Effect Shampoo.

So, finishing off the bottle today was a bit of an achievement.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-9229


On the flipside, I quite like Koch Chemie Quick Shine. This is basically an old-fashioned detail spray/quick detailer. Considering I used a soap with "protection", I went with a non-protective drying aid.

https://www.waxit.com.au/products/k...al-quick-detailer?_pos=1&_sid=79cbeeb35&_ss=r

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-4581


S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-4810


Next on the hitlist, P&S Undressed.
 
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Another two bite the dust..................

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-1246


The Undressed was my second gallon of the product. As a heavy-duty tyre cleaner, it does the job — it's just a shame it doesn't lather the way Brake Buster does, because that's the only thing stopping it from being perfect. So I won't be getting a third gallon, but I already know exactly what will replace it.

That gallon of Paint Gloss has been sitting since December 2021. I'm genuinely torn — I love using it and the scent is addictive. But I almost never reach for it. Five years of taking up shelf space kind of answers the question for me.

Traditional quick detail sprays like Paint Gloss still have a place, but the roles I'd assigned it have quietly been filled by better products. For clay lube, a rinse-less wash or a dilutable option from Gyeon or Carpro is much better value. As a mild interior detailer, ONR does it better. For spot cleaning, something like ECHO2 or Adapt is safer and more effective. And as a drying aid, ADS Amplify does everything Paint Gloss does — just quicker and easier. In a way, I've already replaced it.
 
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The Mustang has been on errand duty for several weeks. So today I wanted to give it a wash and swap out the XR6.

For the wheels and tyres, I went with Brake Buster, HydrO2 and Atom Mac. I then washed with Carpro Reset and a Microfiber Madness DeliPad. Drying Aid was Amplify, including the door jambs, engine bay, wheels and exhaust tips. Glass was via Tru Vue, then OG Tire Dressing for the rubber.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-1295


For the interior, I wiped down with a little Griot's Interior Cleaner. I also wanted to reapply ColourLock Leather Shield to the driver's seat, steering wheel, centre console lid, hand brake, gear selector, and driver's door panel. I didn't scrub with a leather cleaner beforehand, just a quick wipe with Griots was enough.

S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-1297


S650 Mustang DFB's Detailing Garage IMG-1301F


Clean once more, ready for a rest under its cover.
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