Author Archives: Jim Lafeber

Raggtopp, Convertible Car Care,
12
Aug
Behind the Detail, Featured, Professional Detailing, Videos & Media

The Convertible Care King – Interview with Rick Goldstein of RAGGTOPP

Posted on by Jim Lafeber

Interview with Rick Goldstein of Wolfstein’s, Inc. By Jim Lafeber, CD Rick Goldstein is the President of Wolfstein’s, Inc., a company that specializes in Automotive and Marine cleaning and protection products for exterior and interior fabric and vinyl. He also is the past President of the International Detailing Association (2010) and in 2013 was awarded […]

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Water Spots, Acid Rain, Paint
16
Jul
Behind the Detail, Featured, How To

Water Spots Etching Your Paint…Why?

Posted on by Jim Lafeber

What the Heck is Going on in the Rain? Rainwater is not pure. It is naturally acidic, the result of water collecting on dust and smoke particles in the clouds. Comprised of water vapor and any number of contaminants like pollen, mold, bacteria, dust, soil, pollutants, plant parts, algae, and insect parts, these tiny particles […]

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metal, chrome, polish, restore, rust
17
Jun
Behind the Detail, Featured, How To

Metal Polishing: The Quick Guide

Posted on by Jim Lafeber

There is good news when it comes to polishing the metals on your vehicle. Most of it – like your tail pipe, wheels, exhaust manifold, outer panels, trim, and engine – is made of stainless steel. While stainless steel is rust and stain resistant, the chromium oxide and nickel finish on the metal is NOT. […]

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Towels, Damp, Microfiber, Detailing, Drying
04
Jun
Behind the Detail, Featured, Guides & Tips, How To

Use Damp Microfiber Towels to Improve Performance

Posted on by Jim Lafeber

All detailers should make it a habit to use a partially wet or damp microfiber towel when drying a wet car because it absorbs water better than one that is fully dry. Scientifically speaking, the skin of a water molecule is polarized (attracted to specific molecules), thereby acting like a magnet for other liquid or […]

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Audi Headquarters Logo
28
Jul
Behind the Detail, Dr. Beasley's News, Featured, Matte Car Care, Professional Detailing, The Future of Detailing, Videos & Media

Audi’s S8 Plus and Soothing Their Fear of Matte Paint

Posted on by Jim Lafeber

Journey Into the World of Matte One of our very first blog posts, many years ago, was about matte vehicles. We were surprised that so many people commented on it, and at the amount of questions about matte car care that came through. With so much uncertainty out there, we realized that products for matte […]

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Bid Poop, Paint Etching,
28
May
Behind the Detail, Featured, How To, The Detail

Cleaning Bird Poop From Your Car: The Acidic Nightmare

Posted on by Jim Lafeber

It looks harmless enough, if not rather disgusting, driving along when a big splat of bird poop splatters all over the hood of your car. It looks terrible but you just drive through it not knowing how aggressive that powerful organic acid is when reacting chemically with your automotive paint. If you did, you would […]

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Car, Clean, Car Wash, Detail a Car
02
Jul
Behind the Detail, Featured, Guides & Tips, Tips

The Basic Components to Detailing a Car

Posted on by Jim Lafeber

Detailing a car is quite a bit more extensive than just washing your car. Washing you car could be as simple as soap and water and a vacuum. However, if you’re looking to really deep clean your car for either a sale or an event, follow this guide to learn how to detail a car. […]

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Polish, Buffing, Chemicals, Perfect
20
May
Behind the Detail, Featured, How To, Paint Correction, Professional Detailing, Tips

12 Traits To Look For When Choosing A Polish

Posted on by Jim Lafeber

My idea of a great polish is one that cuts paint in order to remove defects that are embedded in a car’s finish. But it needs to do this without being overly aggressive. While you do need some amount of cutting from a polish, one that is too aggressive will remove more clear coat than […]

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Wheel Sealant, Brake Dust, Cleaning
29
Jul
Behind the Detail, Exterior Detailing, Featured, Guides & Tips, Tips

What’s Wrong With Brake Dust?

Posted on by Jim Lafeber

Brake dust is one of the most aggressive corrosives in the automotive appearance industry. Even if the rest of the car is clean, dirty wheels equal a dirty car. So what is it about brake dust that is so harmful to your wheels and what’s the best way to clean and keep your wheels safe? […]

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Microsuede, Alcantara, Dinamica, cleaning
24
Mar
Behind the Detail, Featured, How To, Interior Detailing, Tips

Cleaning Microsuede: Choosing the Right Products and Techniques

Posted on by Jim Lafeber

Several versatile new synthetic suedes have hit the automotive interiors market in the past five years. Soft, tough, and absorbent, Alcantara, Escaine, Dinamica, and Ultrasuede are rapidly replacing real leather interiors on high end vehicles. These are all different types of microsuede, a fabric that, in spite of being more durable and stain resistant than real suede, […]

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