[Canadian Steve]

Just curious how other convertible owners are cleaning the parts of their Camaro that are exposed with the top down but covered with it up. For instance, the trunk lid that covers the roof when it’s down cannot be washed with the rest of the exterior when the roof is up. Do you drop the roof and just be careful to avoid getting water in the interior? Do you do this before washing the exterior or after? Any other areas you’ve found need special treatment?

[Gunkk]

Originally Posted by Canadian Steve

Just curious how other convertible owners are cleaning the parts of their Camaro that are exposed with the top down but covered with it up. For instance, the trunk lid that covers the roof when it’s down cannot be washed with the rest of the exterior when the roof is up. Do you drop the roof and just be careful to avoid getting water in the interior? Do you do this before washing the exterior or after? Any other areas you’ve found need special treatment?

My tonneau cover occasionally gets a bit of dust on it. Nothing major since it's either covered when the top is up, or just exposed to fresh air and sunlight when the top is down and I'm out driving. But yeah it gets an occasional bee pollen blob or whatever.


Equipment:
1. Eagle Edgeless 500 g/sqm Microfiber towel. https://www.theragcompany.com/eagle-...rofiber-towel/
2. Reading glasses to see details (if you're old like me).
3. Quick Detailer: 1 part Carpro Reload diluted into 5 parts distilled water. https://www.carpro-us.com/protection...ad-500ml-17oz/

Technique:
4. Spray the quick detailer liberally onto the MF towel.
5. Wipe the tonneau cover ever so gently, very light pressure.
6. I roll the towel toward me as I wipe. This is so if any dust/dirt sticks to the towel, I lift it up and away from the paint to prevent swirls and scratches.
7. Fold the towel to expose a clean surface and repeat 4-6 until the entire paint surface is dust free.
8. If needed, with less QD this time and a fresh towel I go back and repeat from step 4 to remove any streaks that may have dried (usually not needed unless it was VERY dirty).
9. Dry with light pressure using a clean/dry side of the towel.
10. Marvel in the brilliance of the perfectly clean panel!

Here's an alternate formula for "Magic QD Elixir": 20 parts distilled water, 4 parts Carpro Reload, 1 part Carpro Ech20 waterless wash. https://www.carpro-us.com/wash/water...te-500ml-17oz/

Pro-Tip: If you have a hydrophobic sealant (such as full-strength Reload) or coating (such as Gtechniq EXO), and/or paint protection film (Suntek, Xpel, etc.) on the car, you'll a) get much less dirt on the paint in the first place, and b) when you do it comes off MUCH easier with much less effort and less risk of swirls!

[Canadian Steve]

Originally Posted by Gunkk

My tonneau cover occasionally gets a bit of dust on it. Nothing major since it's either covered when the top is up, or just exposed to fresh air and sunlight when the top is down and I'm out driving. But yeah it gets an occasional bee pollen blob or whatever.


Equipment:
1. Eagle Edgeless 500 g/sqm Microfiber towel. https://www.theragcompany.com/eagle-...rofiber-towel/
2. Reading glasses to see details (if you're old like me).
3. Quick Detailer: 1 part Carpro Reload diluted into 5 parts distilled water. https://www.carpro-us.com/protection...ad-500ml-17oz/

Technique:
4. Spray the quick detailer liberally onto the MF towel.
5. Wipe the tonneau cover ever so gently, very light pressure.
6. I roll the towel toward me as I wipe. This is so if any dust/dirt sticks to the towel, I lift it up and away from the paint to prevent swirls and scratches.
7. Fold the towel to expose a clean surface and repeat 4-6 until the entire paint surface is dust free.
8. If needed, with less QD this time and a fresh towel I go back and repeat from step 4 to remove any streaks that may have dried (usually not needed unless it was VERY dirty).
9. Dry with light pressure using a clean/dry side of the towel.
10. Marvel in the brilliance of the perfectly clean panel!

Here's an alternate formula for "Magic QD Elixir": 20 parts distilled water, 4 parts Carpro Reload, 1 part Carpro Ech20 waterless wash. https://www.carpro-us.com/wash/water...te-500ml-17oz/

Pro-Tip: If you have a hydrophobic sealant (such as full-strength Reload) or coating (such as Gtechniq EXO), and/or paint protection film (Suntek, Xpel, etc.) on the car, you'll a) get much less dirt on the paint in the first place, and b) when you do it comes off MUCH easier with much less effort and less risk of swirls!

Thanks for the technique. I’ll give it a try at the next wash.

[wildchevy]

I use a micro fiber towel and Griots Speed Shine, which also works great on removing bug carcasses from the front end, I wet the car down with water and spray speed shine on front end and let it work in for a few minutes before washing and they come right off with minimal effort.

[Gunkk]

For bugs: Turtle Wax Bug & Tar remover (green bottle). https://www.walmart.com/ip/Turtle-Wa...-16oz/16888962

1. Shake well, nozzle on stream (not spray).
2. Lightly squirt a bit on the bug to coat (nozzle a couple inches away, don't need much).
3. Wait 60 seconds.
4. Wipes off with nearly zero effort.

Notes:
A. For bugs that have baked for a few days in the Florida sun, I extend above #3 wait time to 2-3 mins.
B. TWB&TR can leave a bit of an oily/solvent residue, so I do a final wipe/clean up with the QD elixir from post #2.
C. The solvents in TWB&TR soften bug carcasses (think shellac) so as to prevent scratches.
D. Works really well on hardened road tar too!

[BigRed7181]

Originally Posted by Gunkk

My tonneau cover occasionally gets a bit of dust on it. Nothing major since it's either covered when the top is up, or just exposed to fresh air and sunlight when the top is down and I'm out driving. But yeah it gets an occasional bee pollen blob or whatever.


Equipment:
1. Eagle Edgeless 500 g/sqm Microfiber towel. https://www.theragcompany.com/eagle-...rofiber-towel/
2. Reading glasses to see details (if you're old like me).
3. Quick Detailer: 1 part Carpro Reload diluted into 5 parts distilled water. https://www.carpro-us.com/protection...ad-500ml-17oz/

Technique:
4. Spray the quick detailer liberally onto the MF towel.
5. Wipe the tonneau cover ever so gently, very light pressure.
6. I roll the towel toward me as I wipe. This is so if any dust/dirt sticks to the towel, I lift it up and away from the paint to prevent swirls and scratches.
7. Fold the towel to expose a clean surface and repeat 4-6 until the entire paint surface is dust free.
8. If needed, with less QD this time and a fresh towel I go back and repeat from step 4 to remove any streaks that may have dried (usually not needed unless it was VERY dirty).
9. Dry with light pressure using a clean/dry side of the towel.
10. Marvel in the brilliance of the perfectly clean panel!

Here's an alternate formula for "Magic QD Elixir": 20 parts distilled water, 4 parts Carpro Reload, 1 part Carpro Ech20 waterless wash. https://www.carpro-us.com/wash/water...te-500ml-17oz/

Pro-Tip: If you have a hydrophobic sealant (such as full-strength Reload) or coating (such as Gtechniq EXO), and/or paint protection film (Suntek, Xpel, etc.) on the car, you'll a) get much less dirt on the paint in the first place, and b) when you do it comes off MUCH easier with much less effort and less risk of swirls!

YES!!!! THIS WAY!!!!!

[c4racer]

I use griots speed shine or the quick wash with a microfiber towel and turn the towel over so it’s one swipe per clean section. Maybe finish off with a second towel. I do that maybe every 6-8 weeks or so.