Hey everyone! It’s been a while since I’ve actually managed to keep up with blogging. I’m going to attempt to get back into it in the coming months, so bear with me.
The focus of this blog is simple: combine multiple products from the Turtle Wax ICE line and tell you what I think! In this example, I’ve combined the ICE Spray Wax, Interior Cleaner and Protectant, and their newest product for 2016: M.A.X. Power Car Wash!
Seeing as California is still struggling with its terrible draught, I only get to thoroughly clean my cars one every few months. It’s not really fun to see your neighbors frown at you when they see you running the hose water on your car… That said, my daily commuter, this BMW 740iL, was filthy, to put it lightly. Covered with a thick coat of dust and bugs, a good wash was definitely needed.
Before I go further into detail about the results of this combo, let me explain the science behind the M.A.X. Car Wash. The idea is to have a wash soap that, quite simply, has layers. These layers operate on a variable pH scale. A good way to think about it is to compare it to cooking. When cooking from scratch, there are sometimes specific ratios of ingredients you must combine. This car wash is no different! For example, adding 3 oz. of wash to one gallon of water provides a more Moderate level of clean. This is more for light dirt and other remnants from commuting. This is the most pH-neutral layer. The middle layer, which is about 6 oz. per gallon of water, is a more potent one (Aggressive). This increases the pH levels so that you’re able to clean more inset grime, like stubborn bugs. The final and most powerful layer, Xtreme, is a whole 9 oz. per gallon of water. This is the amount you want to use when you’re trying to remove problematic stains, like sap or even hard set dirt or brake dust on your wheels. Pretty cool concept, right?
Well, as cool as it sounds, it produces the results to match! I have to admit that I was surprised by the amount of suds the soap produced. I’m used to extreme bouts of bubbles, but this was a bit more mild on that front (which I didn’t mind). The M.A.X. wash feels thin and slick, not slimy and syrup-like. It made contact with the paint easier in my opinion. As far as removal goes, I didn’t have to drown my car to get the soap off—which, again, is great for conserving water. I have used thicker soaps in the past that just didn’t seem to come off unless sprayed with an obscure amount of water.
Once I had finished drying the car, I applied a coat of the ICE Spray Wax. This wax is meant for more casual use, and doesn’t take nearly as much time to apply as the other waxes that the ICE line offers. It’s great for quick cleaning, or even for those who might be a little intimidated by pastes or other compounds. After I had waxed the car panel by panel (which took quite a while—do you see how huge this car is?), I was extremely happy with the result. Not only did my paint shine brilliantly, but it was such a clear clean. There were no swirls nor residue to be found; that’s what you want from a good wax, after all!
On to my interior… This is one of the most stress inducing interior colors— next to pure white— that I can imagine. Dirt shows up immediately and I need to be aware of clothing (like dark wash jeans) rubbing off on the seats. The ICE Interior Cleaner and Protectant worked wonderfully to scrub out dirt that somehow stained the side of my passenger headrest. It also worked well for wiping down the leather dash (which I’m paranoid about keeping in good condition).
One of the parts of this process that made me happiest was how nice my wheels looked after! I had scrubbed them thoroughly with the M.A.X. Car Wash and coated them with ICE Spray Detailer to finish. The wash really did a great job of breaking down the immense layer of brake dust I had accumulated.
Ultimately, I’m very excited with the combined result of using these products together. My car is 15 years old, but you wouldn’t think it! It certainly isn’t perfect; but it just goes to show that if you take that extra measure and maintain your vehicle, it can look great even decades down the line. By no means am I a professional when it comes to detailing and car care, but the products that Turtle Wax offers give me the confidence to take charge of my car’s cosmetic health!
