How to clean grill

cmitchell17 · 04-28-2019, 06:25 PM

The grill and front are the hardest part to me of cleaning. Dirt and grime also love to get in cracks and crevasses and theres no getting to them to clean them. I have tried a slick stick and it dosent really make it any easier. I almost think it would be easiest to remove the whole front clip and take out the individual plastic pieces and take them to the sink to be cleaned? Name: IMG_20190428_172800.jpg
Views: 757
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Name: IMG_20190428_172800.jpg
Views: 757
Size: 361.3 KB

Ryanbabz71 · 04-28-2019, 06:34 PM

Ceramic coat? Try Adams in and out spray I use this on my honeycomb Silverado grille and it works well (chrome grille)

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

Glen e · 04-28-2019, 06:49 PM

A big soft split horsehair brush from autogeek....

SPARTAN sui · 04-28-2019, 06:55 PM

I never had any issues getting into those parts, you have to take your time. I bring my Camaro to the local car shows and it's not bad getting the grill clean, just time consuming. I use my fingers and microfiber towels.

I also use a clay bar to cut down the water spotting that does occur from time to time.

Gunkk · 04-28-2019, 07:11 PM

Chemical Guys gerbil MF brush works like a champ. The plastic support inside has a flat tip which is perfect for getting into the narrow spots on the grille.

https://www.chemicalguys.com/gerbil-...h/ACC_B01.html

Good for wheels and calipers too.

cmitchell17 · 04-28-2019, 09:13 PM

It looks like the do gooders want to really save the animals, I looked at some of the boar hair brushes and they are over $100 haha. Can synthetic brushes still get in the cracks, or are they just bad about scratching? The chemical guys one looks good too but it seems like it might be a little too big to get to the small places, especially on the upper grill the recesses and channels in there are only about a couple mm's wide. I don't have any coating or protection, using my car as a daily driver and highway and rain driving has pretty much destroyed the front end, so I would be willing to sacrifice scratching for ease of use.

Thanks for the suggestions

SSport16 · 04-29-2019, 10:21 AM

I spray mine with Hydro2 a couple of times a year, then follow up with some Reload...bit of a pain, but keeps it nice and easy to clean.

MANNAXMAN · 04-29-2019, 02:57 PM

I recently started using one of my wheel brushes, like this one. I used to do the finger and MF towel process, but that was too time consuming.

cmitchell17 · 04-29-2019, 06:27 PM

It looks like to me all brushes are for wheels. I know I can use things for other stuff its not supposedly made for, but I just don't get why they don't make something to clean stuff like this. I'm leaning towards wheel whoolies, but im not sure they will be small enough to get into where im talking about.

It may be best just to try a toothbrush?

Gunkk · 04-29-2019, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmitchell17

It looks like to me all brushes are for wheels. I know I can use things for other stuff its not supposedly made for, but I just don't get why they don't make something to clean stuff like this. I'm leaning towards wheel whoolies, but im not sure they will be small enough to get into where im talking about.

It may be best just to try a toothbrush?

Oh hell no dont ever touch any paint on your car with a toothbrush!

Just get the $7 CG gerbil brush I linked above. I’m totally OCD about the black bits on my car and if this brush wasn’t the quickest, cheapest, easiest way to clean the grille I wouldn’t bother mentioning it. Trust me!

cmitchell17 · 05-04-2019, 06:41 PM

So I got the gerbil and tried it out, dosent seem to work for me. I found it was just to big to easily get into the upper grill and the side vents. Its also really soft so it didn't really feel like it was doing much. I tried it on my wheels as well, the problem here is that its not long enough to really get behind the spokes easily and really tires your hand out about the same as using a rag would. The wool was also shedding off really easily.

I don't keep my car near as nice as everyone else does around here, so I accept micro scratches, so it seems like there's got to be a stiffer synthetic or nylon brush out there with fine bristles and small enough in size to get all the cracks and creases. What makes natural, boars hair, wool, etc. so much better than synthetic brushes? If I can accept micro scratches I should be able to use a stiff synthetic brush right? My front end is pretty much ruined from rock chips and road damage far beyond the damage I could do with micro scratches, or is there another problem?

Thanks for the help

gringo · 05-10-2019, 07:29 PM

Buy a small air compressor from Harbor Freight and use that to blow out all the crevices you can't reach with a detailing brush. For the detailing brush, I just went to Michael's and bought a soft synthetic artist's paint brush to reach the difficult to clean spots. It doesn't scratch.

KirkH · 05-10-2019, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gringo

Buy a small air compressor from Harbor Freight and use that to blow out all the crevices you can't reach with a detailing brush. For the detailing brush, I just went to Michael's and bought a soft synthetic artist's paint brush to reach the difficult to clean spots. It doesn't scratch.

This.

I use a Tornador tool, which blows air and cleaning solution.

Gunkk · 05-11-2019, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmitchell17

So I got the gerbil and tried it out, dosent seem to work for me. I found it was just to big to easily get into the upper grill and the side vents. Its also really soft so it didn't really feel like it was doing much. I tried it on my wheels as well, the problem here is that its not long enough to really get behind the spokes easily and really tires your hand out about the same as using a rag would. The wool was also shedding off really easily.

I don't keep my car near as nice as everyone else does around here, so I accept micro scratches, so it seems like there's got to be a stiffer synthetic or nylon brush out there with fine bristles and small enough in size to get all the cracks and creases. What makes natural, boars hair, wool, etc. so much better than synthetic brushes? If I can accept micro scratches I should be able to use a stiff synthetic brush right? My front end is pretty much ruined from rock chips and road damage far beyond the damage I could do with micro scratches, or is there another problem?

Thanks for the help

That's odd my gerbil works perfectly on my grille. I agree the wheel barrels are too deep for the gerbil, which is how they market it. IMO it's far better for grillework.

Well sorry at least you tried and at least the gerbil brush is relatively cheap. Yeah a stiffer brush may help but if you've got something stuck on your grille (bugs?
water spots?) that's not coming off with soap+water and light agitation from the gerbil brush, it may not come off with a stiffer/bristle brush either. If you go with a pressure washer, make sure NOT to spray directly onto the radiator/intercooler fins or you'll wreck 'em. Kirk's Tornador idea sounds like a good one for softening up sun-baked bugs, etc. If it's more water spot related, you could also try a chemical approach: bug-n-tar remover, water spot remover/vinegar/CLR, etc.

But just keep trying, you'll figure it out

04-28-2019, 06:25 PM	#1
cmitchell17 Drives: 17 2SS, 8L90, Cam, Heads, E85 Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: US Posts: 1,201	How to clean grill The grill and front are the hardest part to me of cleaning. Dirt and grime also love to get in cracks and crevasses and theres no getting to them to clean them. I have tried a slick stick and it dosent really make it any easier. I almost think it would be easiest to remove the whole front clip and take out the individual plastic pieces and take them to the sink to be cleaned?

04-28-2019, 06:34 PM	#2
Ryanbabz71 Drives: 2018 Hyper Blue 1SS 1LE Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Brownsburg, Indiana Posts: 6,231 View My Garage	Ceramic coat? Try Adams in and out spray I use this on my honeycomb Silverado grille and it works well (chrome grille) Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro __________________ Ryan * 2018 1SS 1LE Camaro Hyper Blue Metallic Car Build: http://www.camaro6.com/forums/showth...0#post10049680

04-28-2019, 06:49 PM	#3
Glen e Retired from Car mfrs.... Drives: 2LT RS/HR-V Join Date: May 2013 Location: /Fort Lauderdale Posts: 10,048	A big soft split horsehair brush from autogeek.... __________________ Glen CLICK HERE for detailing a new car: detailing for non detailers CLICK HERE for how to rinseless CLICK HERE for EASY wheel sealant

04-28-2019, 06:55 PM	#4
SPARTAN sui PC Technician Drives: 2016 Hyper Blue 2SS Join Date: May 2012 Location: North Dakota Posts: 2,161	I never had any issues getting into those parts, you have to take your time. I bring my Camaro to the local car shows and it's not bad getting the grill clean, just time consuming. I use my fingers and microfiber towels. I also use a clay bar to cut down the water spotting that does occur from time to time. __________________

04-29-2019, 10:21 AM	#7
SSport16 Drives: 2016 Garnet Red Camaro 2SS Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: North Carolina Posts: 5,435	I spray mine with Hydro2 a couple of times a year, then follow up with some Reload...bit of a pain, but keeps it nice and easy to clean. __________________ 2SS Camaro, Garnet Red, Adrenaline Red, NPP, MRC, A8, 5 Split Spoke Bright Silver Wheels (56W) 1100 Status - 7/24/15 (Ordered) 3800 Status - 10/13/15 (Built) 6000 Status - 12/22/15 (Delivered)

04-28-2019, 07:11 PM	#5
Gunkk Thank you Al Oppenheiser! Drives: Red Hot A10 ZL1 Convertible Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 4,973 View My Garage	Chemical Guys gerbil MF brush works like a champ. The plastic support inside has a flat tip which is perfect for getting into the narrow spots on the grille. https://www.chemicalguys.com/gerbil-...h/ACC_B01.html Good for wheels and calipers too.

04-28-2019, 09:13 PM	#6
cmitchell17 Drives: 17 2SS, 8L90, Cam, Heads, E85 Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: US Posts: 1,201	It looks like the do gooders want to really save the animals, I looked at some of the boar hair brushes and they are over $100 haha. Can synthetic brushes still get in the cracks, or are they just bad about scratching? The chemical guys one looks good too but it seems like it might be a little too big to get to the small places, especially on the upper grill the recesses and channels in there are only about a couple mm's wide. I don't have any coating or protection, using my car as a daily driver and highway and rain driving has pretty much destroyed the front end, so I would be willing to sacrifice scratching for ease of use. Thanks for the suggestions

04-29-2019, 02:57 PM	#8
MANNAXMAN Drives: 2016 Camaro 2SS Convertible Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 565 View My Garage	I recently started using one of my wheel brushes, like this one. I used to do the finger and MF towel process, but that was too time consuming. __________________ 2016 Camaro 2SS, Convertible, Summit White, A8, NPP, NAV, Daily Driver (Sept. 2016-Present) 1996 Camaro Z28 with T-Tops (Sold 10.22.16) 1986 Camaro IROC-Z with T-Tops (Sold) 1961 Volkswagen Beetle with Sliding Ragtop Sunroof (2009-Present) 1964 Volkswagen Beetle with aftermarket Sliding Ragtop Sunroof (Sold) Follow me on *Instagram* - @gen6_2ss_vert

04-29-2019, 06:27 PM	#9
cmitchell17 Drives: 17 2SS, 8L90, Cam, Heads, E85 Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: US Posts: 1,201	It looks like to me all brushes are for wheels. I know I can use things for other stuff its not supposedly made for, but I just don't get why they don't make something to clean stuff like this. I'm leaning towards wheel whoolies, but im not sure they will be small enough to get into where im talking about. It may be best just to try a toothbrush? Last edited by cmitchell17; 04-29-2019 at 06:38 PM.

05-04-2019, 06:41 PM	#11
cmitchell17 Drives: 17 2SS, 8L90, Cam, Heads, E85 Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: US Posts: 1,201	So I got the gerbil and tried it out, dosent seem to work for me. I found it was just to big to easily get into the upper grill and the side vents. Its also really soft so it didn't really feel like it was doing much. I tried it on my wheels as well, the problem here is that its not long enough to really get behind the spokes easily and really tires your hand out about the same as using a rag would. The wool was also shedding off really easily. I don't keep my car near as nice as everyone else does around here, so I accept micro scratches, so it seems like there's got to be a stiffer synthetic or nylon brush out there with fine bristles and small enough in size to get all the cracks and creases. What makes natural, boars hair, wool, etc. so much better than synthetic brushes? If I can accept micro scratches I should be able to use a stiff synthetic brush right? My front end is pretty much ruined from rock chips and road damage far beyond the damage I could do with micro scratches, or is there another problem? Thanks for the help

05-10-2019, 07:29 PM	#12
gringo Account Suspended Drives: Camaro V6 Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: U.S. Posts: 1,722	Buy a small air compressor from Harbor Freight and use that to blow out all the crevices you can't reach with a detailing brush. For the detailing brush, I just went to Michael's and bought a soft synthetic artist's paint brush to reach the difficult to clean spots. It doesn't scratch.

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