Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

I think I saw at a car show guys using window cleaner to clean exterior of the car. Is there any harm in doing that? It seems to work very well.

Seems like an insane idea to me.

I don't know about window cleaner, but I have seen WD-40 used. My brother and I attended a grand prix in Dallas several years ago. Tom Wakinshaw was campaigning two Audi Quattros (Heywood and Stuck driving). They could drive anywhere on the course they wanted, and easily won the race placing first and second. After the race we visited the TWR pits and saw crew members wiping down the cars with WD-40. It seemed to do a good job of removing track grime and dirt. I recently used WD-40 to wipe down my engine compartment after cleaning it. I have not tried it on the exterior sheetmetal.

I've washed cars in the garage using a spray bottle of water with a drop of car wash soap. Wet the surface one panel at a time and wipe off with a wet towel. Fold the towel to a convenient size and keep turning to a fresh surface. When the whole towel is dirty get a fresh one. 2 towels will do a car. This way there is no chance of scratching the paint.

Once the car is clean and waxed you can keep it nice looking using Pledge furniture spray and a dry cloth. Clean the car this way when it gets a little dusty.

Motorcycle dealers sell a Pledge like spray for cleaning motorcycles.

Interesting to know what brand. Thought most glass cleaners contained ammonia. If so, isn't that used in removing wax (at least from floors). I would be a little reluctant to use on a car if it did.

if anyody could find out what brand was used... some do contain ammonia and some do not. either way, there are products out there speciffically for washing cars, and i use them.

I use wd-40 on my chrome drum set hardware all the time, and while it doesnt reverse pitting damage, it really helps the old, rust stained and road damaged stuff look good again.

i've been to many Import car shows when I had my "Not so Fast and Furious" Honda. I often saw the Show Car guys use glass cleaner directly on the paint right before judging to shine them up. I always had the same thought about it stripping the wax. But it did make the clear coated cars look like a mirror.

I use instant detailer at shows and between real wax jobs. I'm sure you're aware of this stuff, but could that be what you saw them use?

Thanks Kev-I knew I had seen that stuff at a car show!! I guess I should not use it based on the replies