Recommended Maintenance

The following has taken me 10 years to perfect. DIY ongoing maintenance is the heart and soul of why we do what we do. When I first started Glisten ⟡, it was my passion in cleaning vehicles that drove me into our philosophies through today. I have always sought solutions to have incredibly high gloss finishes, that are as easy to maintain as possible- while simultaneously wanting a reasonable, practical, budget friendly approach. I could go on and on about these matters, someday in some other blog I will. But for now, take the below to heart. You are welcome to scrounge the internet for your own detailing solutions- I've done it myself. I get it! It is fun and detailing can be a great hobby. But for most people it simply is overwhelming. The outline below is the easiest maintenance process I can formulate for vehicles that have been protected with PPF and ceramic coating by us. Some cars do not fit in the outline below. For example, I am a big believer in touch-less washes for daily driven vehicles. However if you have a show car, then touch-less washes should not be considered. The outline below works excellent for 95% of daily driven cars on the road that have had ceramic coating and/or PPF installed.  Enjoy. -James

How To Wash

1. For daily driven vehicles, it is recommended to use a touchless car wash. In the Twin Cities, Kwik Trip or Holiday Gas Stations are the best options.

2. Most washes will offer tiered levels. Pick the most basic package without wax/sealants or protectants.

3. It is recommended to wash once a week if driving everyday in all climate conditions.

4. When you go through a touch less wash, the wash will make the vehicle 95%-98% clean. The remaining 5% will be a very fine particulate that typically will not come off of any surfaces without wiping off. This is a matter of science and is applicable to every surface in existence. Over time this remaining particulate will build up on the surfaces of the vehicle and will need to be wiped down to “reset” the surfaces. How often you do this will translate to how well a hydrophobic surface will last, and will directly translate into how well a touch-less car wash will perform.

5. The product we recommend to address this is called “Wipeout." This is the best product for addressing this issue. You can purchase Wipeout Here.

6. Dilute Wipeout 1:30. Meaning put 1 ounce into a 32 ounce spray bottle & dilute it with water.

7. We recommend keeping a bottle of diluted Wipeout in your car with some microfiber towels. We recommend the Yellow Costco Microfiber towels. These are the cheapest, highest quality microfiber you can easily find in person.

How to Use Wipeout

Wipeout is the easiest, cheapest, most versatile automotive detailing product on the market. It works extremely well for a variety of uses:

A. It can be used as a spot cleaner: For example, if you see bird droppings on your car, we strongly recommend cleaning bird droppings off immediately. Start by saturating a microfiber towel with Wipeout, set it on the spot, agitate the area & wipe up the bird dropping. Use a second microfiber to briefly dry the spot up.

B. Wipeout can be used to clean clear bra/PPF without washing. This is especially useful or removing bugs on the front bumper, hood, headlights, & mirrors. Work one panel at a time. Saturate the panel with Wipeout. Take a microfiber towel & wipe the bugs off. On clear bra, you can use a reasonable amount of elbow grease to wipe. Take a second dry microfiber towel & dry the panel.

C. After either a gas station wash or a traditional 2 bucket soap & water wash: Wipeout is an excellent replacement for a “spray wax.” Historically this was the common way of cleaning fine particulates off of vehicle surfaces. Whether you do a touch-less gas station wash (our recommendation for daily drivers), or a hand wash at home, Wipeout is the easiest method for a final wipe down:

i . You can perform this process regardless if the vehicle is still wet or not. In general, the wetter the vehicle, the more time it will take to wipe down. Alternatively, the drier the vehicle, the more intentional you need to be to avoid streaks and swirling on paint (this is not a concern on clear bra PPF).

ii. Spray Wipeout on a panel, take a microfiber towel & wipe the panel down. Take a second microfiber towel & dry the panel.

D. Wipeout is excellent for cleaning glass, both inside & out. It is also safe to use on all surfaces of your interior as a quick way to clean surfaces.

Best Practices

1. We objectively have to recommend against touch car washes. Though we know people will do this, your risk of damages (not just pertaining to our services but to your entire

car) is far greater than any other maintenance method. Most car washes do not assume any liability in the event of damages. Additionally, touch car washes will expedite decay processes on your vehicle compared to less intrusive washing methods (like outlined above).

2. Do not wash the car or use Wipeout in direct sunlight. Ideal cleaning temperatures are between 60-75 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. If performing a traditional soap/water 2 bucket wash at home, consider investing in a deionizer system. This filters the water to eliminate water spots. Water spots are one of the main reasons we recommend using touch-less gas station washes as any good quality gas station wash will be using spot free water. Drying and water spotting is the number one culprit most people mess up that causes scratches and swirls. This is one reason we are such strong believers in Paint Protection Film. PPF allows you to eliminate the need for traditional washing by and solves the problems of scratches and swirls once and for all. If your vehicle only has a ceramic coating on it, it is highly recommended to do either touch-less gas station washes or use a deionizer.

4. Wipeout is just a cleaning product. It will not leave anything behind on the surface. The goal is to get comfortable enough using Wipeout where you are able to clean a dry surface without scratching or streaking. Once this is mastered, feel free to contact us for recommendations for products that will also seal the surfaces. One such product identical to Wipeout is called Ignite. Ignite has the same usage as Wipeout, but will leave Si02 (Silica Dioxide) on the surface. This is the primary ingredient in most ceramic coatings & will “reset” the ceramic on the paint and PPF. At a minimum it is recommended to do a full reset on the vehicle once every 6-12 months. You can return to Glisten for reset washes. We typically charge $100-$200 to do these washes, & most clients will come once or twice a year for this process.

Have questions? Call, text, or email! We are an open book when it comes to maintenance. If you are a client and we have protected your vehicle already, we can set up a time for you to stop by and we are happy to show you these procedures in person.