What Do You Use for Cleaning, and How Do You Go About It?

[Shandycat]

Hi all!

I'm brand new to the Spyder phenomenon, so I hope you can offer some advice. I picked up my new 2012 last Tuesday and have already put about 250 miles on it. I'm loving it! My question is, it's pretty dirty from sitting out on the dealer's lot for two years (yes, I got a good deal on it!). Any suggestions for what to use to clean it with (or what NOT to use)? Is ArmorAll safe/recommended for the dash? What about the clear stuff (windshield, etc.)? And are there any places I need to pay attention to that might not be obvious to the novice? I've got plenty of microfiber cloths and a sunny day ahead of me.....

 

[Bob Denman]

:welcome: Which model do you have? For a quick cleaning; i just us Meguiar's Quick Detailer and a couple of soft rags... A heavy-duty session has me breaking out the same stuff that I use to wash my truck... nothing special.
I use the Meguiar's or automotive soap on the windshield, and have had no troubles with it. :thumbup:
I like Armorall; but haven't really use it much on my RT yet... maybe just a bit around the dash, where i'm trying not to get any extra water in or around the electronics... :shocked:
On my RT, I am very careful about not getting water into the vents by the lower air deflectors.(Under the mirrors!) Other than that, the dash, and grips, I hose away! :thumbup:

 

[WV Spyder Ryder]

I use the Honda cleaning spray or the s100 and a couple of soft rags. Like the both.

 

[Bob Denman]

Lemon Pledge is also a good choice for a quick cleaning! :thumbup:

 

[pwm]

Welcome :spyder2: lover.

I use Turtle Ice Detailer on the Spyder but not on the clears. I use Plexus for those areas.

 

[Shandycat]

Thanks, guys! I'm getting ready to pull it out now. I already have the Meguiar's, a toothbrush (for the footpegs) and some q-tips (for the dust I've seen in some of little screwholes on the dash) so I'll start with that and see where we go from there. Oh, and I've got the RT (thought that showed up in my profile--let me go check that first), then off I go!

Thanks again!

 

[Pennyrick]

Hi all!

I'm brand new to the Spyder phenomenon, so I hope you can offer some advice. I picked up my new 2012 last Tuesday and have already put about 250 miles on it. I'm loving it! My question is, it's pretty dirty from sitting out on the dealer's lot for two years (yes, I got a good deal on it!). Any suggestions for what to use to clean it with (or what NOT to use)? Is ArmorAll safe/recommended for the dash? What about the clear stuff (windshield, etc.)? And are there any places I need to pay attention to that might not be obvious to the novice? I've got plenty of microfiber cloths and a sunny day ahead of me.....

Here is the best stuff to use on Spyders. Plexus is expensive but it cleans and adds sparkle to your machine. Is perfect for windshields and will not scratch.

 

[Bob Denman]

I have heard that Plexus can damge the windshield after repeated use... :shocked:
PM Scotty about it; he's got the true "skinny" on it.

 

[ThreeWheels]

Oh My GAWD.
They didn't clean it before you picked it up ?


I use two different methods to wash the Spyder.

For a quick clean up, I use Honda Spray Polish. It gets things pretty clean and leaves a residue that helps keep dirt from sticking.

FOr a total wash, I get out a bucket,soap , water, a hose and one of those car wash gloves . I can gently scrub out all the nooks and crannys. I do that roughly twice a year. That translates to once every 6000 miles.

 

[Pennyrick]

I have heard that Plexus can damge the windshield after repeated use... :shocked:
PM Scotty about it; he's got the true "skinny" on it.

Bob:

We started using Plexus on our 2010 RT and now we wouldn't use anything else on our current RT's. That is over three years of experience and that is enough to give me all the 'skinny' I need. It is good stuff and my windshield still looks fine.

 

[Spyder4Tess]

I like Meguiar's protectent for all of the plastic and vinyl.

As far as washing,any good automotive car wash is good.

 

[Bob Denman]

pps: My bad... pps:
Rain-X is the stuff that messes up the the windshields... pps:
I guess that the coffee hasn't fully kickedd-in yet today...
As Gilda used to say;
"Never mind!"

 

[SpyderAnn01]

Back to Black is good on the black plastic areas.

 

[Spyder4Tess]

Back to Black is good on the black plastic areas.

I tried Mothers Back To Black on my old Road Glide,cant say I was impressed by the stuff.It did not restore the faded black inner fairing back to black.

Whats funny is,the stuff is white so how can it turn anything black!

 

[Pennyrick]

pps: My bad... pps:
Rain-X is the stuff that messes up the the windshields... pps:
I guess that the coffee hasn't fully kickedd-in yet today...
As Gilda used to say;
"Never mind!"

Don't use the coffee on your windshield.

 

[Bob Denman]

Coffee is only used to power the soul...

 

[Shandycat]

Oh My GAWD.
They didn't clean it before you picked it up ?

When I picked it up I heard the sales guy ask somebody if mine was ready, and he said, "Yep, all cleaned and ready to go! I pulled it around front for you." But when I was ready to leave with it, another guy came and asked for the keys to the corral because it was still locked up around the back of the dealership. So I think what happened was they cleaned and prepped the wrong one. No biggie, I need to learn how to do it anyway and this gives me a good kick-in-the-pants to go do it.

Sometimes I really need that kick-in-the-pants.

 

[Bob Denman]

Sometimes I really need that kick-in-the-pants.

Don't we all?

I try to collect about 60 pounds of dead bugs on my windshield before cleaning... around here, that only takes about four minutes! :shocked:

 

[wyliec]

I purchased the optional self cleaning spyder; so, it takes care of itself. It was only offered for the 2008 model GS, SM5, SC.

Seriously though, good luck with your cleaning.

 

[Jedye]

I purchased the optional self cleaning spyder; so, it takes care of itself. It was only offered for the 2008 model GS, SM5, SC.

Seriously though, good luck with your cleaning.

A "self-oil changing" option would have been nice too!

I use Simoniz spray and wash for a quick clean and the ole bucket and sponge with care wash soap for a more thorough clean.

Quick tip: if you can't get those pesky bugs off your Spyder or the grill of your car/truck/SUV/tank/space shuttle), soak a few fabric softener dryer sheets in water and scrub away. Let the soapy residue sit for a minute but not to the point of drying. The bug-zombies will wipe right off.