Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Car Polishes and Waxes : Turtle Wax T-240KT Headlight Lens Restorer Kit





Simply put, it does what's it's supposed to. This bad boy turned my almost beyond redemption - yellow crust covered headlights into working headlights again. It didn't turned them into 100% "like new" headlights but it did restore about 90% of their long gone "Like new" look. Which was more than enough to pass with flying colors the rigorous Maryland State inspection, which was basically the reason I purchased this thing in the first place.

Just a word of warning: Grab yourself a low stool or chair to sit down in front of your headlights at a comfortable level and 2 or 3 servings of the cold drink of your choice and Be prepared to spend the most boring hour of your life rubbing this thing until your forearms go numb. Yes, this thing works but it's 50% elbow grease powered. But for 10 bucks and with the included pads, you can't go wrong. Oh, and you'll only spend about 1/4 of the contents on the job (2 headlights). So I'd say this kit lasts enough to restore the headlights in 4 vehicles. 1 more thing: Make sure to have a little bit of car wax at hand before starting the job. You'll need it at the end to seal the finish and it's not included in the kit. (I noticed this just when I was ready to begin and I had to drop everything and make a run to store for some wax) All in all, just for the bang for your buck and the effectiveness of the product, 5 stars.

Undercoatings : Permatex 80072 Undercoating, 20 oz Aerosol can




Protects fenders, frames, fuel tanks, door panels, rocker panels, hoods and firewalls against moisture, road salt and corrosion.


Sunday, October 18, 2009

Tools and Equipment : Meguiar's X2020 Supreme Shine Microfiber - Pack of 3


I bought these not for my car, but to clean stainless steel in my kitchen, wash mirrors, that sort of thing.

I can honestly say I've bought just about every microfiber cloth out there, and none work as well as these. I can clean the stainless in my kitchen in minutes, with no streaks, no lint, just shine, and without using chemicals (just some white vinegar and rubbing alcohol in warm water.)

I probably added a few years to my life with all the time I've saved with these cloths. I highly recommend them!

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Tire and Wheel Care : Forever Black Bumper & Trim Dye Kit


This is an amazing product. I have a 2004 Volvo XC70 whose black bumper and other trim had faded to grey pretty badly. (I am sure many readers have seen Volvo's with trim that has faded really badly.) I used to treat the trim with Mother's Back to Black and it made the trim look great....until it rained, which caused the product to run and cause streaks in the trim...making it look even worse than before I even treated it.

The important factors in using Forever Black are preparation and patience. Preparation: The product comes packaged with a cleanser and an applicator bottle. I took my time and cleansed my trim three times, very well, with the cleanser. Then carefully I dried it. Patience: Once I started to apply the dye, the trim absorbed it like a sponge. I was concerned at first because of the rate at which the product was being absorbed; I was afraid I did not have enough product to do the job. Well, I persevered and after about 6 full applications on all of the black trim, it looked better than brand new. Plus, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the bottle of product was still about half full!

Even now, several months (and several rainfalls) later, the trim still looks better than it did when the car was new. I am in love with this product, and whenever I am out driving the car, I love the puzzled looks I get from others (especially other XC70 owners) because my car blows theirs away with its good looks. I am waiting for someone to approach me one day and ask, "What in the world did you do?"

Great job, Forever Black! You have an excellent product here. Don't stop making it!!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

The Cleaning Kits : Meguiar's NXT Wash & Wax Kit


This kit is great!

It has everything you'll need to wash, wax, and maintain the look of your car! (micro fiber towel, foam applicator, and waxes)

The wax makes any car (with good paint) shine as new! Very easy to apply, maintain, and doesn't require a lot of application.

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