I Svended something!*

"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
08/08/2018 at 18:55 • Filed to: can you even call it svending if you haven't paid a licensing fee?

*not really, but I did take some advice and product recommendation from the man.

My big project over my vacation was to detail my mom’s 2005 Acura RL. I posted about driving it last year. This thing has been a good car, but it has been washed only infrequently, and the interior has been cleaned only once that I can document. Over it’s life, it has been used to transport little nephews and nieces, neighbors, groceries, rock salt, grain for the horses, stuff from the hardware store...and that’s only the stuff I know about. I can’t believe I didn’t take before pics, but it’s probably for the best so as not to scare the children or readers with pacemakers. The upholstery was covered in a layer of what I can only call grime. The exterior has plenty of dents and nicks, and the paint has swirls and scratches.

The only present my mom asked for her birthday was to have the car cleaned and washed. So, that’s what I and my sister decided to do.

The interior clean-out

After removing enough loose change, water bottles and soda cans, old papers, and miscellaneous flotsam to fill a small suitcase, we vacuumed the carpets and floor mats and then steam cleaned them with a Bissell cleaner. My sister then Scotchguarded them again future stains. I don’t know how much protection that will give, but we gave it a go. It completely removed some stains like the old Coke spill on the driver’s side, but other ones are there like a bad tattoo you regret the morning after.

For the upholstery and steering wheel, we started out trying recommended methods I’ve had from here, like Woolite, and also vinegar/linseed oil mixes the internet suggested. In the end, the thing that worked best was diluted !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! from Home Depot. Gasp in horror if you must, but it was the only thing that really cleaned off the grime with enough elbow grease. We spot tested it first for discoloration or damage to the leather. I sprayed it on, worked it in with a soft paint brush I bought for the purpose, and wiped before it dried with a microfiber towel. The transformation was near miraculous, but if you decide to try this, be conservative. Once the grime is gone, stop or you can start to cause discoloration. Similarly, don’t let it sit for long or dry in. Heeding the warnings I heard from Oppo, we didn’t put any conditioners on afterward.

The dash and plastics needed little more than a wipe down, and I used some Armor All we had for that.

The exterior

Working between rainy days, I managed to get the car washed, actually washed twice. The first time, my daughter and her cousin volunteered to wash Grandma’s car, so I let them. They went at it with all the vigor and precision of 12 year olds, doing small sections, rinsing as they went. I gave them some Armor All car wash liquid we had. That stuff turned out to be crap. The car was left with streaks all over it, even though it was towel dried. I later redid the whole thing myself with some Turtle Wax car wash liquid. My sister got the roof for me. After drying, it looked mice and clean. I then applied a coat of !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , per Svend’s recommendation. In addition to other sealants, it has carnauba to fill in scratches and swirls in the abused paint. It did a great job, and my sister wants to try it out on her little RSX (the search for which I’ve written about before, back in February). The windows got a once over with glass cleaner. Here are some poor pics after I did it, because I took them in the garage on a rainy day.

The result

The only result that matters. My mom was ecstatic. She never thought her car would look this good again, especially the interior. I know it wasn’t a real Svending. We didn’t even touch the engine bay. And we didn’t use any special wheel products, etc. But we done a good thing, my sister and I, with a little help from my kid and nephew. I am pleased.

DISCUSSION (24)

ttyymmnn > Chariotoflove
08/08/2018 at 19:00

all the vigor and precision of 12 year olds

Kinja'd!!!

Chariotoflove > ttyymmnn
08/08/2018 at 19:02

I thought I might hear from you on that one.

CompactLuxuryFan > Chariotoflove
08/08/2018 at 19:07

Love that gen RL

interstate366, now In The Industry > ttyymmnn
08/08/2018 at 19:10

Legendary.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > Chariotoflove
08/08/2018 at 19:13

Looks great, Adams Buttery Wax is the shit!

ttyymmnn > Chariotoflove
08/08/2018 at 19:14

I had to reword my response when they do a half-assed job on something. I used to say, “That’s really a bad job” or something. Now I say, “I need you to do a better job.” It seems to have a better effect.

Svend > Chariotoflove
08/08/2018 at 19:19

Kinja'd!!!

Looks fantastic mate. Good job w ell done. Glad she was pleased with it.

Chariotoflove > CompactLuxuryFan
08/08/2018 at 19:25

It’s a really good car. It may not be as overtly luxurious as some of its contemporary competition, but boy has it held up well.

Chariotoflove > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
08/08/2018 at 19:26

Thanks. It really is.

Chariotoflove > ttyymmnn
08/08/2018 at 19:28

I do have to say, they really did put energy into it. They not only did Grandma’s car, they moved on to Grandpa’s and mine before they ran out of gas. T he precision part though...well, they did try.

Chariotoflove > Svend
08/08/2018 at 19:30

Thanks, pal. Also, my sister read your detailing manifesto carefully and was quoting it in her discussions with me. My brother in law also asked for the link. He’s the one I told you about that gets up early when he visits us, washes and waxes our cars, and takes them out to fill the tank.

interstate366, now In The Industry > CompactLuxuryFan
08/08/2018 at 19:37

Agreed, they were very underrated and the styling has held up well. The later TLs stole their thunder (and drivetrain).

Svend > Chariotoflove
08/08/2018 at 19:40

Lol. Sounds like a great family. I love a happy clean car owner.

I you want or need anything to try, let me know.

The world o f detailing is changing all the time and keeping up is expensive and also a minefield.

ttyymmnn > Chariotoflove
08/08/2018 at 19:42

Every time I try to get my boys to help wash the car there is about 5 minutes of washing before it devolves into a hose fight . They spend more time getting each other soaked than they do the car. I have to get two hoses out because they’ll fight over the one. At least the lawn gets watered.

Chariotoflove > ttyymmnn
08/08/2018 at 19:47

So standard operating procedure then. Good. I, of course, never ever hosed my siblings when we washed the cars.

Chariotoflove > Svend
08/08/2018 at 19:48

You’re a prince. Thanks again for everything.

Svend > Chariotoflove
08/08/2018 at 19:49

No worries. I never did anything though. You guys and gals did all the work.