Detailing Tips & Tricks

Waterless Auto Detailing
DRI WASH 'n GUARD® Uitra-Ion™ Waterless Carwash™ is extremely versatile; it can be used on any painted surface. It is a superior detailing product for cars, RVs, boats, motorcycles, airplanes, trucks, bicycles... the list goes on. It is also extremely easy to use. Unlike conventional car wash and waxes, DRI WASH 'n GUARD® does not force you to work as fast as possible. The following information is recommended by Professional Detailers who use Dri Wash 'n Guard® in their businesses and from the Reflections Detailing Association.

Waterless Detailing Exterior Vehicle Paint

Where to Start:
Begin cleaning on the roof of the vehicle, the exception being convertible tops, then move downward, doing the hood and trunk, then the sides. Using this technique, you will apply DRI WASH 'n GUARD® Uitra-Ion™ to the least dirty areas of the vehicle first, and cleaning the dirtiest areas last. Since DWG™ products use terry cloth towels for cleaning; your cleaning towels will stay cleaner longer.

Applying Dri Wash 'n Guard®:
Use a small terry cloth towel, preferably white in colour, to apply the DRI WASH 'n GUARD® to an area approximately one (1) square metre. We recommend white terry cloth because you can see the dirt more easily on the white cloth as you are working. DRI WASH 'n GUARD® forms a haze as you apply it; continue to work the product onto the surface until the haze is almost gone. You do not need to use hard pressure. The product does the work for you. If you find a spot that is hard to remove, add a little more product.

Allowing the haze to form is very important, it is at this stage that all the ingredients work on together to remove dirt and start to form a protective bond. As the application towel becomes dirty, fold it over and use a clean section.

Information About Terry Cloth Towels
Terry cloth is very absorbent, which is why it works well with DRI WASH 'n GUARD®; dirt is literally absorbed into the terry cloth after DRI WASH 'n GUARD® lifts it from the surface of the vehicle. The terry cloth towels should be clean prior to use, however, avoid using fabric softener and bleach on the towels. The towels do not have to be expensive, but they should be 100% cotton, so avoid towels with special trim or binding that may not be made of cotton. Terry cloth is very important in application process, do not substitute other types of cloths, even if they are clean. A typical sized vehicle will require one terry cloth towel to complete the entire clean, polish and sealing process.

To help make your work a little easier, you can construct a "KwikPad" by wrapping a strip of terry cloth around a sponge.

Wipe Down and Shine
Use a DWG™ Buffing Towel to remove the DRI WASH 'n GUARD® haze. Excessive pressure is not required, just a thorough wiping to remove the excess product.

Tips and Tricks for Exterior Vehicle Paint Detailing

• Aim the DRI WASH 'n GUARD® spray onto the "middle" of the surface you are cleaning, and avoid spraying near cracks, crevices and edges. This will prevent over-spray from getting into seams and other areas that are difficult to access.
• If DRI WASH 'n GUARD® get on rubber moulding, in the window areas, trunk, or under the hood, wipe it down thoroughly For areas that are difficult to access, such as door jams and creases, wet the application towel with a spray of Dri Wash 'n Guard® and then apply the product with the towel. This technique works well for grills, edges of lights, and areas where body moulding and sheet metal come together.
• Streaking occurs occasionally due to humidity, contamination of terry cloth towel by other products, or excess residue from old wax or cleaners that were applied previously. To remove the streaking, wet a terry cloth towel, wring it out, and then wipe over the streak lightly. Buff with a DWG™ Buffing Towel and the streak will be removed.
• Towels are reusable, use a washing machine on regular cycle to wash the towels, and avoid fabric softener and bleach. We recommend washing the towels separately from other laundry in a bucket.
• Use a separate cotton terry cloth towel to apply Waterless Carwash™ to your rims, and a separate cotton terry cloth towel to apply Waterless Carwash™ to your vehicles duco. This ensures that the towel used for your duco stays cleaner and usable for longer.
• Although white is the best colour, any colour will do, ensuring that the towels are 100% cotton.

Applying DWG™ All Weather Tyre & Exterior Trim Treatment:
Use DWG™ All Weather Tyre & Exterior Trim Treatment regularly to clean and protect tyres. Tyres, like automotive paint, will deteriorate after long exposure to ultraviolet rays. DWG™ All Weather Tyre & Exterior Trim Treatment will protect your tyres from the harmful effects of UV exposure. You can use direct spray onto the tyres, if you are careful to avoid over-spray. Otherwise, use the trigger applicator to spray DWG™ All Weather Tyre & Exterior Trim Treatment onto a terry cloth towel or you can use a ‘kwik-pad’ that has terry cloth wrapped around a piece of sponge. The first few applications of DWG™ Tyre Treatment will remove a great deal of road grime, dirt, and oxidized rubber from your tyres. Repeat the application and wipe down procedure until the wipe down cloth does not get dirty. This usually requires two or three applications when you first use the DWG™ All Weather Tyre & Exterior Trim Treatment. The All Weather Tyre & Exterior Trim Treatment is not a "wet-look" or gloss product, it is designed to keep your tyres looking new, without any artificial appearance. The sidewalls of your tyres will last longer as a result of the DWG™ All Weather Tyre & Exterior Trim Treatment.

Tips and Tricks for Tyre Treatment:

• Clean your tyres with DWG™ All Weather Tyre & Exterior Trim Treatment before you clean your wheels, this will prevent over-spray of tyre cleaner onto clean wheels.
• Use a toothbrush or similar sized brush to clean crevices. This works especially well where the tyre and the wheel come together.
• When the tyres are completely clean, apply the DWG™ All Weather Tyre & Exterior Trim Treatment one more time to add an extra layer of protection. This works especially well if the car will be sitting for a few hours after the application.
• Spray a small amount of All Weather Tyre & Exterior Trim Treatment onto a terry cloth towel and wipe down your windshield wiper blades.
• Use a separate cotton terry cloth towel to apply All Weather Tyre & Exterior Trim Treatment to your tires, and a separate cotton terry cloth towel to apply Waterless Carwash™ to your vehicles duco. This ensures that there is no cross contamination of product on the towel used for your duco, and your towels used to apply Waterless Carwash™ stay cleaner and usable for longer.

Waterless Detailing for Wheels

Applying DWG™ Waterless Carwash™ to wheels:
Wheels are often overlooked during a typical vehicle "wash"; therefore they can become extremely dirty. Regular cleaning will not only enhance the appearance of wheels, it will improve the life span of the wheels and reduce pitting, rust, and corrosion. If the wheels are extremely dirty, use a soft bristled brush to gently remove caked on dirt and mud. Otherwise, spray Dri Wash 'n Guard® Waterless Carwash™ onto the wheels and clean the wheels using the same techniques as cleaning the vehicle's painted surfaces.

Tips and Tricks for Waterless Wheel Detailing

• Avoid spraying past the wheels onto the brakes; this can affect the brake system.
• Use DWG™ Premium Metal Polish to clean alloy wheels, then use DRI WASH 'n GUARD® Waterless Car Wash to protect and shine the wheels.
• Use DRI WASH 'n GUARD® on wheels that have clear coat or painted surfaces, also use DRI WASH 'n GUARD® to clean chrome, chrome plated, and gold plated wheels.
• If in doubt about the composition of the wheels, use DRI WASH 'n GUARD® on the wheels and DO NOT use Premium Metal Polish.

Applying Dri Wash 'n Guard® Ultra-Ion™
Spray a clean terry cloth with a small amount of DRI WASH 'n GUARD® Waterless Car Wash. Apply the DRI WASH 'n GUARD® directly from the towel; do not spray onto the surface of the window, unless the window is extremely dirty. Use this technique for both the inside and outside of the windows.

Tips and Tricks for Window and Glass Detailing

• Consider wiping down the windows twice using two separate wipe down cloths. This will remove excess product and ensure prevention of the prism effect.
• Automobile windows, mirrors, and home windows require very little Dri Wash 'n Guard® to become absolutely gleaming… when in doubt, use less product.
• DRI WASH 'n GUARD® is safe for both factory and after market tinted windows.

Getting Started:
Remove all loose articles from the interior, including floor mats, any articles in door or seat storage areas, loose change, papers and personal items. Start by vacuuming the interior, including seat seams, between seats, under seats and between seats and console area and the trunk area. Vacuum the headliner especially if it is cloth. Vacuum the floor mats prior to applying carpet cleaner.

Waterless Fabric, Carpet & Upholstery Detailing:
Use a light coat of DWG™ Fabric, Carpet & Upholstery Treatment (FCU) on the interior carpet and the floor mats. Spray the DWG™ FCU onto the carpet. Use a terry cloth towel to remove the dirt from the fabric. Rather than using a rubbing motion, just draw the cloth across the carpet, turning the cloth as often as necessary to continue using a clean surface. This technique picks up dirt more rapidly as the cloth absorbs more dirt. Then wipe down with another clean dry terry cloth. For cleaning upholstery, spray a light coat of DWG™ FCU onto the upholstery, then use a rolled up towel to lightly scrub the surface. Turn the towel often to continue using clean terry cloth. Follow this with a second towel using the same technique. This will ensure that the upholstery is clean and as dry as possible.

Tips and Tricks for Waterless Fabric, Carpet & Upholstery Detailing

• To remove stains, spray the DWG™ FCU directly onto the stain, let soak for just a few seconds, then use a soft bristled brush in a circular motion to scrub the stain. Then use a terry cloth washcloth or towel to remove dirt and excess cleaner.

Waterless Leather & Vinyl Detailing:
Leather upholstery requires a quality leather-cleaning product. NEVER use water to clean leather products, it will cause leather to break down and crack. Leather and vinyl should be treated once a month; more if there is heavy wear. DWG™ Leather & Vinyl Treatment will clean, condition, provide UV protection, reduce static and reduce dust build up on your leather and vinyl. Spray DWG™ Leather & Vinyl Treatment onto the surface of the leather, then use a terry cloth wash cloth or small towel to spread and clean the surface. As with other DWG™ products, use a white terry cloth so you can observe the dirty areas becoming cleaned. Buff with another clean terry cloth towel. For vinyl treatment, use the same procedure as leather treatment. Notice that DWG™ Leather & Vinyl Treatment does not make the leather or vinyl appear shiny. The shine that other products will produce on leather and vinyl is actually an oil residue that is very bad for your leather and vinyl. This oil residue will attract dust and dirt and will eventually cause cracking of the surface of you leather and vinyl. DWG™ Leather & Vinyl Treatment contains the all-inclusive benefits of UV protection, cleaner, and conditioner; most other products do not.

Tips and Tricks for Waterless Leather and Vinyl Detailing:

• In hard to reach areas, spray the DWG™ Leather & Vinyl Treatment onto your cleaning rag and not directly onto the surface. This will prevent over-spray that may be difficult to remove.
• Remember to use Leather & Vinyl Cleaner on doors, arm-rests, sun visors, and headliners where these areas are made of leather or vinyl.

Applying DWG™ Upholstery, Fabric & Carpet Treatment:
Use DWG™ Fabric, Carpet & Upholstery Treatment (FCU) for cleaning your convertible top. To use FCU, spray onto a 2 ft by 2 ft section of the convertible top. Using a clean terry cloth towel or washcloth that is slightly damp (this prevents linting), drag the terry cloth across the area that you just sprayed. If the cloth becomes very dirty, use a clean section of the cloth, then drag the cloth back over the sprayed area in the opposite direction. Buff the newly cleaned section with a clean terry cloth towel and move on to another section. As with other cleaning procedures, change terry cloth if the cleaning cloth gets too dirty. Let the FCU do the work, don't try to exert extra pressure to remove dirt, you will only grind dirt into the fabric. The first cleaning with this procedure may require multiple terry cloth cleaning cloths, due to the fact that the convertible top is rarely truly cleaned by conventional car cleaners. Follow up cleanings will take less FCU and less effort, especially if you clean your convertible top once a month.

Tips and Tricks for Convertible Top Cleaning

• Maintenance cleanings can be done by using a damp (not soaking wet) terry cloth towel, and once again drawing the terry cloth first in one direction, then in the opposite direction.

Convertible Rear Window Detailing

Applying Dri Wash 'n Guard® Waterless Car Wash:
Clean the rear window just as you would any other car window, with DWG™ Waterless Car Wash. Remember to wet a terry cloth towel with the DRI WASH 'n GUARD® to apply to the window, do not spray directly onto the window itself. Use this technique for both plastic and glass convertible rear windows. Once again, buff with a clean DWG™ Buffing Towel. If you accidentally apply DWG™ Waterless Car Wash to the fabric, use DWG™ Upholstery, Fabric & Carpet Cleaner to remove.

Tips and Tricks for Convertible Rear Window Cleaning

• The mere act of physically getting to the rear window can be a trick in itself since many convertibles have little access room. It is worth repeating here - a small amount of Wash 'n Guard® goes a long way. You will encounter mostly dust mixed with environmental air pollutants on the rear window; the window will probably look cloudy or hazy before you start and this will give the impression that the window is very dirty, when in fact, the dust is usually removed very easily.
• Remember to use a terry cloth wetted with DRY WASH 'n GUARD® and avoid spraying directly onto the window.

Applying Dri Wash 'n Guard® Tyre & Exterior Trim Treatment:
This can be a difficult area, especially in winter. If the wheel wells are wet, or have caked-on mud, use a bucket and sponge to clean the area. Avoid soaps, since you will be treating the area with DWG™ products after drying the wheel well. Dry the area with a towel, then apply DWG™ Tyre Treatment - this versatile product works great on all plastic and rubber, IF the wheel wells are plastic lined as many new cars are today. If the wheel well is all metal, use DWG™ Waterless Carwash™, this will protect the metal and reduce dirt build up in the future. If the wheel well is quite dirty, but not so much so that water is required, use a stiff brush to remove dirt, then use the appropriate cleaning product for the material inside the wheel well.

Tips and Tricks for Wheel Well Detailing

• Use a stiff bristled brush if needed, however, do not use a wire brush and make certain the brush is in good condition so you don't scratch plastic or metal with sharp edged bristles.
• Remember to use DWG™ Tyre Treatment on plastic and DWG™ Waterless Car Wash on metal.
• Use terry cloth to apply and wipe down the cleaning product.

Applying DWG™ All Weather Tyre & Exterior Trim Treatment:
Wash 'n Guard® All Weather Tyre & Exterior Trim Treatment is designed to clean, polish and protect all plastic and rubber. It will impart a clean surface without adding unnecessary shine. Use a terry cloth towel to apply the product and wipe down with a second, clean terry cloth towel. Unlike DWG™ Waterless Carwash™, no haze forms with the DWG™ Tyre & Exterior Trim Treatment. Because bumpers, rubber moulding, door and fender guards, and plastic rear view mirror casings are in locations where there are crevices and cracks, you should spray the Tyre & Exterior Trim Treatment onto the terry cloth and then apply the product. Use a second application to bring out a brighter shine if desired.

Tips and Tricks for Waterless Rubber and Plastic Detailing

• You can also use a foam "brush" applicator, used in painting, to apply the DWG™ All Weather Tyre & Exterior Trim Treatment. The foam applicator will place the product more precisely and there will be less Tyre Treatment to wipe down.