I could get into a my product is better than your product battle but here is my advice:
- 303 Aerospace Protectant for in interior vinyl non contact surfaces (read don't use on steering wheel, pedals, e-brake, seats).
- 303 Aerospace Carpet and Upholstry cleaner - Best cleaning I could find. Tell him NSXCA sent you and the owner may give you a discount if you buy in bulk and direct. They sponsored the 2003 Expo @ Sonoma and hopefully the call will at least reinforce that their contribution was not in vain
This stuff kicks butt, works great, and does not have a fruty fragrance. If your son was detailing my car, I would not like it if I got in and started sneezing because the stuff he cleaned my interior with has a strong scent.
Diapers for the wax.... my recomendation would be to go to Costco/Sams Club and get the 12 pack of microfiber cloths. Picks up wax and holds more than regular cloths (even diapers) and does not load up as fast. Cheap at $8 for (12) 16"x16" cloths
For wax I would really recommend machine application.... perhaps once he has more experience. It goes on WAY faster, MUCH smoother, thinner (you want the thinnest possible coat of wax to go on the car since only a microscopic amount of what you put on actually sticks to the paint), and the most even. Once he gets the hang of it, you can apply and remove wax from the large surfaces of compact cars (accords, Camry's, Lexus IS's, VW Jettas etc) in about 15-20 minutes. The smaller parts can be done by hand and go quickly since your amrs are not dieing from having to do all the rubbing. The thinner you put on the car the less you waste, the less you have to take off, the faster everything goes, and the less chance you have of cramming a bunch of wax into the seams between body panels. For wax application, thinner, smoother, more even is KING.
If you want to look and *BE* really Pro, go to Home Depot and get a contractor's pack of 3-M Painters's tape in the 3/4" width. Have you son tape off the seams of the car and any tricky edges. I never do it, but it does 4 really key things. 1)Basically guarentees you won't burn a corner no matter how fast the machine is going or how hard you press. 2)Since you have #1, you can move faster because you don't have to worry about burning the edges/corners 3) Tells your customers who like to watch that you are meticulous and pay attention to details. 4) If you don't use the wax I recommend, it may save you from making black trim white from the wax/polish.
For the wax type I REALLY LIKE 3M Perfect-It Paste wax for a lot of reasons:
Reasonable Price - $13 a can for paste
Goes on REALLY easy
Comes off REALLY EASY
Does not turn black trim white!!!! Really, really nice!
LEAVES NO WHITE FLAKES. When you rub this stuff off, you get zero wax dust. Major Plus
Forgiving when applied in the sun. For a starup, you are not going to invest in a tent and so you can't control how much sun your car is going to get when it is being worked on. This stuff is best if applied in the shade, but if you can't do that, you can work in small sections and apply in direct sun. When applied with a machine in 100 deg weather (Sac) I can apply to a entire panel, put down my machine and go right back over and remove. Literally 2-3 minutes per panel.
Down sides are the paste tends to load up in the pad. I think they have a liquid form but have not tried it because I like the paste so much.
I really enjoy detailing cars and have detailed many others for fun. I would like to think of myself as knowledgeable. I have tried and dumped a LOT of products. Other have responded with great advice, I hope that mine makes the list of the more helpful ones.
Good luck, LMK if you have any questions.
