Keeping it Simple - Detailing Chemicals
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- Опубликовано: 1 апр 2025
- Keeping it simple isn't easy. I see a lot of detailers struggling with managing the products they use. Join me in the garage and let's discuss keeping things simple!
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Love this! We always preach, less IS more. The old rule Keep. It. Simple. Stupid. comes to mind. We appreciate you, Steve! It's guys like you that make what we do truly worth it.
KISS is the way! When it comes to my business and clients, I need quality and consistency. You all are always developing and improving your products, I'm never worried about missing out on something. I realized after I filmed this that the only time I've gotten real FOMO is when Decon V2 came out 🤣. I do still use V1 and am working through it!
Also - supply is important. Most times I order directly through your website, but in the off chance you're out of stock I can easily head over to Clean Garage and pick up the remainder. You guys rock 🤘🤘
Awesome advice. Thank you, brother. I wish I would had seen this video a few years back. Really like the set up and ADS, too. May God continue to bless you, your business, and family
I started my RUclips channel to pass along any tips and tricks that I personally find useful. I started with DIY Detail products and using their videos to get me into the world of polishing and ceramic coatings. With my vehicles outside 24/7, I noticed that the ceramic coatings I installed were leaving waterspots. Beading and limestone gravel roads may not be the best mix. This set me on a path to find a "better" coating... not really better, just something that fit my use-case.
I was really a rinseless wash guy at heart, but then I decided to get a wall mounted pressure washer. I was watching quite a bit of Obsessed Garage reviews on pressure washers. I had one Ryobi 1800 and spending $300 to get an Active 2.0 wasn't really in the budget. Being a numbers guy, I could relate with Josh and Keav with their reviews on how achieve a balance of GPM and pressure for a pressure washer. I had already picked up a graduated mesuring cups, pressure gage, and amp meter to help with tuning my pressure washer. Then I started looking more closely at Matt Moreman's dual Krinzle setup... and had a Home Depot $20 off coupon. My logic was pick up another Ryobi 1800 for $80 and spend around $120 on Amazon to emulate what Matt had done to connect the two Krinzle's. In theory, I would get Active 2.0 performance for $200 instead of buying one for $300.
This is where the rabit hole started... I had all the stuff in my cart exept for the check valves. Timing was awesome as Bob at Chem-X did a "Siamese Ryobi" video that basically proved out my concept AND provided me with a part number (from a screenshot of his video) for the check valves. Voila', my dual Ryobi setup was happening. I still enjoy the flexibilty of either using one for lower pressure jobs or to keep from filling my work area with water OR opening it up for Active 2.3+ perfomance.
The foam cannon thing really came about due to Griot's Garage BOSS metering system. I really liked the foaming that the MJJC S V3 gave me, but the metering and being able to swap bottles was a big draw to the Griot's. I really wanted to know what the equivalent ratio was when I would use the various tips on the Griot's so I would know if I was using a chemical at the correct ratio. That brought me to using PIR type measurements on the Griot's. From there, Jeff at Improved Garage and this Steve Pierson character helped me to take data I had collected over the last year and start to connect the dots.
So... back to chemicals... I was a fan of Eddie's channel and that lead me to Jamie's channel. I already had v1 and v2 of DIY Detail Rinseless Wash and I had tried ADS Hero as it was high on Eddie's list. DIY Detail v1 still has a place in my heart, but it might simply be, as you stated, I had the most experience with it and I had learned the most about it by actually using it for months. When THOR was announced, I was excited to try Detail Co products as, similar to ADS, the products were developed by Eddie and Jamie to bring to market chamicals that checked all the boxes that mattered to them. My first order with THOR was all Detail Co with only CLEAN Rinse-leass Wash as an add-on (just to try it out). My second order with THOR was the whole Pan line with coatings (since I was on the hunt for a better-fit coating for me).
My constantly evolving perspective is that I am a car guy that enjoys the engineering side of detailing. I'm having a good time with using different chemicals and using them more than once to form options. I feel like I'm winning when I can use a whole bottle of something and have to make the decision to buy more or switch. Quick example... I was conviced that an all in one wheel / tire cleaner would be right for me... NOPE... Because of ADS Ghost, I tried ADS Tire Cleaner and loved it. I already was thouroughly impressed with ADS Wheel Cleaner. So I "settled" on the two and bought gallon sizes of both. This was after trying DIY Detail, Detail Co, Labocosmetica/Maniac Line, P&S, Adam's... not sure you can count CG Diablo in the mix, but I had a bottle still around from a decade ago (maybe that affected the performance). Anyways... ADS won and I'm working my way through those gallons little by little.
So long story even longer... there are many different things that motivate or influence people's choices out in this great big world. I really enjoy how you present what is working for you and offering advice and encouragement to get people to think about what they are doing (or why they are doing what they choose to do). Keep up the great content.
Jason great insight into Detailing 🇬🇧
here here 🍻
This is fantastic to read Jason, and I'm honored to be part of your story! I like to think that I have 2 sides: hobbyist and professional. The hobbyist side is the one drilling out foam cannons and digging deep into details that most people don't care about. My professional side is a regimented process, a well-oiled machine that just needs to work.
@@StevePierson123 till you and jason i was never interested in p.i.r’s and the other “bill nye” take on detailing, but you guys bring something super fresh and more importantly informative to detailing and it’s inspiring 🙏🏽🐿️💨 … i on the other hand am taking the “barney fife” route 😆😆😆
Thanks a lot, Steve... now my FOMO (learned a new acronym... then learned that it's also called an initialism when looking up acronym - just always got me learning, buddy)... back to my FOMO - I had to screenshot the yellow hose guide and put google lens to work. Had my 4 pack of Hozeez ordered and this comment written before finishing your awesome video.
@@AMI_Detail we just a bunch of FOMOsexuals ready to swap products to our content up in here! leave your 16oz bottles in the large bowl by the door on your way in 😆😆😆
Great Video Steve. Great topic for sure!! I'd love to try Armour Detail Supply. Seems like a great company.
💯 They’re great! Appreciate you stopping by Rob 👍
Great video steve! Im with you on choosing a brand and sticking with it! Its what i do and i usually have a little section of things that i get that i want to try but usually for my personal vehicle for customers i use the brand & products i know that work consistently and priced at what works for the books. Awesome tips and glad you shared!
Thanks Eileen! Something I didn’t get into is that when I’m in “pro mode”, I’m following a routine. It helps me get consistent results in a timely manner. Testing out a new process or chemical on a client car is a risk that I don’t take.
When I’m in “hobbyist mode” with my own car, I’m not following my normal ruleset. That’s where I go off-label, skip steps, and usually make all my mistakes 😂. But even then, I’m rarely trying a new product.
Really enjoying your content! Very informative - even tho I fall firmly in the "ohhhh what's that" camp of trying all the things lol
Glad you're enjoying - no shame in falling into those camps! It can definitely be an exercise in self-control.
I like to sit in my garage and look at my stuff. Fist bump Deb.
I'm in the dwindle down phase for sure. Tire+ is definitely my favorite dressing. I got Decon V2 in a mystery box. Can't wait to use that. I still have Glass V1. Crystal Wash I've heard nothing bad about. Crazy it's been around 25 years too.
Crystal Wash has been awesome on the test spots I’ve done. I haven’t used it in a true decon wash yet, I’m waiting for the weather to warm up a bit! I don’t see it replacing my decon soap, but, I am curious about using it as a precursor to claying.
I agree with this. Although I’m an enthusiast so I’m still in the try all the new stuff phase😂. From a business perspective I think it is wise to choose one brand and stick with it. I have been impressed with the products from ADS I’ve tried.
From the enthusiast standpoint, I would challenge people to start depleting what they have. I remember when DIY Rinseless V2 came out and everyone wanted to dump V1. I was openly accepting anyone’s V1 that they no longer wanted 😂
@ I agree with that. I’m not quite that extreme. Still going through my V1 and haven’t bought any v2 yet
@ both are great! I’m still working through my V1 too 🤣. Work through your V1, it’ll give you a much better sense of the changes in V2.
@@StevePierson123 I’m good on rinseless for a bit. Have absolute, hero and nemesis and v1🤣
You don't need to stick with one brand, but rather find a chemical for each spot that works for your budget, results, and expectations set and stick to that. Steve sticks to one brand, but it's not a requirement.
5:26 this is an issue I ran into once I started installing ceramic coatings as well great vide 👍
We all go through it. What did you end up settling on? I appreciate you watching!
@ I still have some system X in stock but I’ll be transitioning to Gyeon, Maxshine & Drive auto appearance. Currently in testing phases but all three are good options.
i can dig it … i love this conversation no matter what side someone’s on.
for the enthusiast with a lot of products i’m like you “that’s ok”. a small amount of people try to talk themselves out of the want to have as many products as they can. or at least try to come up with excuses or reasons for it. i say embrace it, it’s a hobby, golfers and their clubs and carts, clothes and shoes. fishers with their rods and reels, boats and equipment, hunting, skateboarding, motorcycles, off-roading and everything else people do. many people invest in their hobbies with nothing but unbridled joy as a return for that investment. if you have the money to feed your hobby and you’re responsible with it….go nuts!
the only thing that errk’s me on the enthusiast side with when someone has 3 shelves full of chems but they have the original crappy 30ft hose that came with their pressure washer 😜. absolutely get all the chems you want but please upgrade your equipment just a bit … pretty please 🙏🏽
business side … you hit the nail on the head, use a brand or a set of chems and know what they do and their limitations
i walk both sides of the line … if i want it i buy it but i also have very limited space and i hate clutter. “do i have the space on my shelf for another bottle” has stopped me for getting something new product many of times. another thing for me with detailing is boredom, variety is truly the spice of life when it comes to detailing for me. that’s why i mix chems, in a safe logical way, also using same shampoos and rinse-less’s in different methods. i’m constantly changing it up and having a lot of fun in the process.
Yup yup. 👍👍👍
💯 Franko totally agree on your hobby take, it's OK to keep it fun!
@ yes sir! as of now i have 6 different rinse-less washes, two of those are gallon jugs, loki and nemesis. i have 9 different shampoos, didn’t know that till just now 😆. 4 different apc’s forst being my favorite. the way i operate so to not become overwhelmed is to load up my carry case with what i want to use for a wash the night before. in my humble opinion that’s part of the fun of detailing, product choice and planning what method i’m going to use i guess is part of my s.o.p 😜🐿️💨
and it works just as well for me when i have the occasional customer, i usually break out the more heavy duty products when doing a customers car because they’re more likely neglected
I felt you speaking into my soul Steve! Being a content creator and having so much sent your way can be overwhelming and that's really the only reason for the quantity I have. And I never want any of my followers to think that they also need to have so much. I live a pretty minimalist life in all other aspects, but you'd never know looking at my chemical shelves. You've inspired me to whittle away this year back to my roots and keep everything simple. Great video Steve!
@@jbalinski thank you Joey, I really appreciate you and it’s a big deal to know I’ve inspired others in a positive way. Kind of surreal to be honest. Let’s keep this train rolling 😎
You need some New Age cabinets in there Steve! Keeps things nice and neat looking and super durable.
Totally agree! I want a good deep cabinet. Bonus points if it can fit totes.
Great video and your garage will improve keeping it simple. I never have just one product line, I have from those that I liked from different brands that worked for me.
I saw that product at MTE for the hose but I have my 4 tennis balls that do exactly the same job😜😜
You are doing great for your business keeping it simple by choosing a brand and filling the gaps with another. Never buy something just to try it, use it and finish it, don't hoard it or keep it on the back without using it, don't get necessarily what the hype says, watch the reviews and then decide if you will try it or not.
Keep the tennis balls, don’t fix what’s not broken 😎. Everyone has their own system, and you’ve found what works for you 👍
I love the whole sale pricing for Detail Co. By far, the most versatile whole sale pricing in the internet.
I feel very seen and slightly judged lol
You were the target 🤣 Nah - You have a dual role as both a detailer and a reviewer. I don't review products, so there isn't a need for something like 35+ coatings here lol
😂
Good video Steve. You literally saved me like 400 bucks while i was watching. Had a cart full of chemicals to try out the new best, but listening i thought about all the chemicals i had in the cart. I was already happy and enjoy using what i have and just wanted to try the new hype chemicals for no reason even though i have plenty to last me quite awhile.
@@familiar92 Thank you. I appreciate that you’ve shared this with me 🫶. I’m guilty of doing the exact same thing, but the way I see it you just made yourself $400 😎
I’m 5 minutes in and I’m already guilty of having too much and I feel like you’re talking directly to me!!
At the moment I have 3 lineups almost 4 that I’m working my way through. ARMOUR Detail Supply, Detail Co. and Labocosmetica are my go to’s and they’re all awesome! I won’t get started on the plethora of others I’m dabbling in and testing. 🤷🏽♂️
I do have FOMO, but that’s getting better.
Great video Steve!! I’ll do better!! 😢😂
I believe in you Adamo! You have enough product that you shouldn’t need to re-stock for the next 5 years 🤣
Thanks, Steve. I’ve been struggling with this very issue. You helped me make a decision on how I want to proceed. I’m going to subscribe. Best regards.
@@bobhawkins3387 so glad I could help! Reach out if you ever have any questions 👍
First! 😊
You beat the legend to it!
@@StevePierson123yes, she did😜😜 I have a group of kids that I am teaching and practicing on Fridays with pickleball so makes it difficult now to be on the livestreams and videos
So what are some basic chemicals you would recommend?
I’ll reference ADS products, but, this can translate to some other brands as well.
For the at home washer who “just wants to wash their car” I recommend Shampoo+ (ph-neutral shampoo), Amplify (drying aid/protection) and Pilot (interior detailer) if they’re wanting to wipe it down. They’re likely glugging and not paying attention to dilution ratios. MAYBE rinseless if they’re willing to learn, but overall these are harmless yet effective.
For someone who goes the extra step add Tire Cleaner, and Wheel Cleaner, and Tire+ (water-based tire dressing) to the stack. Tire cleaner is great on tires, but also does really well as a plastics and rubber cleaner. They shouldn’t need to use Wheel Cleaner too often if they maintain them but it really works well. I think tire dressings like Tire+ really tie the final look together and can give someone a real sense of accomplishment.
Just found your channel and subbed. Great information.
@@JhawkerZ awesome! Thanks you 😎
I'm narrowing my arsenal down to three brands I'll be using.
Nice! The only time I really expand past my normal brands are when I'm trying to attack a very specific issue, like waterspot removal or tar removal.
Lets goooo !!!!!! Reject materialism!!!!🙌🙌🙌🙌
5 min ago you were talking Milton Friedman, here you're sounding like Karl Marx
@chrism1157 how?
@chrism1157 can't i believe in freedom and still reject materialism?
Great video. I would love to be able to test all the products coming out but realistically I clean my car and maybe one other every week. So it makes no sense for me to get all these products. My main go to is ADS also. Everything they have just simply works. My other go to is Detail Co products.
@@ssjcajas thanks for watching! Great brands 👍
👍👍 don’t dash my dreams of not having the best stuff but ALL of the best! Haha top 5 top 10 I want it allllll!! Muahahahaha😊😁 ur right man… I’m actually going to try to narrow down my stuff some, so I can make room for more! Haha 🤣. It’s a beautiful mess and I love it.
I enjoyed ur garage and ur conversation. U make so much sense especially from a business standpoint. I agree with what you said. I m not a business. I enjoy it so I embrace it within reason.
Becca, you've been someone who keeps pointing me to really useful things! "Embrace it within reason" is a great way to approach balancing the hobby and the addiction.
@ I appreciate you, Steve! I really love ur content! You’re making good stuff!
@@DrivewayDetailswithBecca not having the newest chems leads to fear
fear is the path to the dark side. fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering…so please, pick some yum, some garage therapy and little mile deep….oh a katiba coming soon, that’ll make you a master jedi fo sho 🙏🏽
@@DrivewayDetailswithBecca geez apparently i’m an enabler but i make no excuses for it 😜🐿️💨
It shows addiction if they were all purchased by them. Some youtubers receive many products to test out or brand deals. But addiction became very clear to me not long after entering detailing.
This is a great point because not all viewers realize that brands send out products to some content creators. Buying more and more products is a really easy cycle to fall into.
favorite about armour detail supply are they don't over sell their product and they don't over hype it. they just use their common sense
@@archinerdz97 Yup! My kind of vibe 👍
Bro have you ever tried 3d products? There the most underrated sleept on company out there !!!!
Only their polishes. Never tried anything from their chemical line. Very cool to hear!
Armor detail supply tire shine 400 bucks a gallon ..3d tire shine 40 bucks ..ads spray sealant 100 bucks a gallon ..3d spray sealant 35 bucks a gallon ..and like you said the difference is marginal i could literally tell people i use ads when using 3d and nobody would ever know !!!!
Juice what country are you in? I don't blame you for not using ADS (or any other company) if it isn't economically viable. And it sounds like you've got a good system with 3D, so if it works, then keep that train going! Ha great point about the customer. Most of mine don't even know what brands I use.
@StevePierson123 🙌🙌🙌 I'm in socal
Just like Donald Trump is restoring common sense to our federal government your plan is doing the same thing to the detail industry. the amount of money new detailers waste on trying to find the next new product is maddening
Bunch of junk, wow, and judgmental!
I find this topic is one that a lot of people try to have a go at, but they never address the root cause - they treat the symptoms, but miss the underlying virus.
Super controversial/unpopular opinion incoming - RUclips is literally an extension of marketing and advertising for anyone on it.
- Companies use the platform to increase brand awareness, create that "we're your friends" vibe that makes a lot of people feel fuzzy, and advertise new and current products.
- Influencers use it to grow their "brand" - be it a company, personality, whatever it is.
- Viewers use it to research or support said companies/products and/or influencers.
Tying in to the video theme, viewers only have a couple avenues to support a channel/influencer or a company on RUclips - monetary donations (super chats, channel memberships, Patreon etc), or buying the products being advertised and/or incentivized (with or without discount codes, affiliate links etc). When you combine this type of platform and movement (the format and support structure), you generally will end up with overconsumption and a product drop cycle we see today.
Another layer that complicates this (which you do an excellent job of debunking/highlighting) is that many, many people are mascaraing as Professional Detailers or those with absolute knowledge and misrepresenting the actually reality of professional detailing. If we look at the "RUclips" standard for what is required to be a professional detailer, and compare it to what you have showing in your setup, it's not far fetched for the uninformed to draw the conclusion that you do not have enough chemicals/supplies to perform a proper professional detail.
Clearly this is false, but the machine will always hype up the next big thing (regardless if it's actually big or not), and in my opinion, it's getting pretty egregious. I personally cannot stand unboxing videos or videos that are solely focused on a theme of consumption. Not everyone has the disposable income required to constantly order in new products, and I find that type of content a slap in the face to the viewer.
Props to you for showing that you don't need to constantly consume, to use up what you have before trying something new (NOTHING WRONG WITH TRYING NEW STUFF, JUST WAIT UNTIL YOU NEED TO BUY IT), and that working detailers do not subscribe to this practice of chasing the dragon.
Sheep - this comment might as well be the whole video. Really well said! I appreciate you watching and taking the time to respond.
@sheepstardetail. I understand what your trying to point out and some of it I can agree on......But....... Life is about choices. Everyone has the free will for choices. Everyday we can make the choices that impact our lives either positive or negative. In those choices you cant really fault anyone else regardless of the content, platform or message. Yes RUclips, and every other venue of social media has become some sort of marketing product. Its everywhere. But if we go off the premise your saying its the fault of those here doing what they do. the advertisers, the content creators, the social media influencers and all the above. BUT the reality of life is its everywhere. TV, Radio, Social media, Billboard signs..... everywhere. The important thing is that people need to know they have choices to make. If your making bad choices because you listened to some advertisement that told you to get high and drive do you actually fault the advertisement? Nope. Responsibility still lies on the user. Learn to change the channel if you need to. learn to have self control if you need to. OR do what you enjoy or want. If your in the business as a pro and yes... I am. Again Choices are still your responsibility. I don't blame the influencers or the marketing for poor choices those getting into the industry make.. Its called they don't have any business sense and should probably get that first. Plenty of people great at what they do but cant translate it into business smarts and fail. That due to the choice of not learning about being smart at business first. Im a firm believer in personal responsibility. No one held a gun to my head and said, Conway... You should put that supercharger on your truck and make over 700hp that cost $8k. Nope I made the choice for myself for my desires and wants. if I have an addiction issue its my issue and responsibility to handle it. In our shop we use a system of very specific products. do we ever introduce more yes, do we ever update and upgrade. yes. sometimes we find something that fits our needs and makes us more profitable. BUT we keep it simple. outside of that im also a hobbyist on my own rides, some very special rides and family cars. Do I try out lots of different products and have a surplus. Yep. Again. my truck also has over 700hp when the original 400 did fine and i didn't need it. but I enjoy it and the relationships i make with others in the hobby. My basic point. personal responsibility and choice overrides markets and all the stuff tossed at you. know when to change the channel.
For Me Steve Thats what I take away from your video more then anything. making the right choices for you.
@@CSautotechDetailing I’m buying a gun and bringing my car to your shop 😅
Seriously though, great point on choices and perspective. For me, having lots of different chemicals doesn’t improve my business or make me a better detailer. I do like to toy with occasional ideas and try new chemicals, but it’s important for me to keep it within reason.
@@StevePierson123 😂😂😂 Come on over brother!!
Totally get everything you mean. I definitely think like you do when it comes to my business side. Its why all our products for the most part are Detail Co. We use the soaps, the rinseless, the interior the coatings the prep, all of it. Its cost to value for our operation is fantastic. everything is highly dillutable making it go even farther for the $$$ Our customer love the way it works on their vehicles. with the business program we get a great cost. we can buy in bulk for an even better savings with gallon cost being better. And I know they are trying to improve on the products and have more coming to make the line complete but not a chemical guys stuff if you know what I mean. Now... Dont ask my Hobby side to be reasonable. LMAO that guy is crazy. BUT there is some differences in my hobby vs others. These are things you can look forward to in some years as you are a younger (not meant disrespectfully bro, but lets face it... im an old guy 😂)
@@CSautotechDetailing I agree with your perspective on personal responsibility and choice, I think there's an important factor being overlooked. Yes, life is about choices, and everyone has the power to make their own decisions. However, the environment in which those choices are made plays a significant role in shaping the options available and the ease with which people can make informed decisions.
The argument that "responsibility still lies on the user" assumes that every individual has the same level of awareness, education, and control to make the right choices. Unfortunately, not everyone operates on a level playing field. Social media, advertising, and influencers don’t just present content in a vacuum - they are often designed to make it harder for individuals to fully realize the impact of their choices.
You mentioned that "advertisements" should not be blamed if someone makes a bad choice, but the reality is that ads aren't just passive messages, they are carefully crafted to manipulate emotions and influence decisions. For many people, especially younger audiences or those more susceptible to peer pressure or marketing tactics, this can result in decisions that aren’t fully their own but are influenced by external forces.
Moreover, while I agree that having business sense is important, many people enter industries with good intentions but caught up in a competitive environment that pressures them to conform to trends or use strategies that aren’t in their best interest. It's not always as simple as "change the channel" or "learn better business practices." Many are simply trying to survive or succeed in an environment where the market is often driven by factors outside their control - including trends pushed by influencers and advertisers.
Personal responsibility does play a role, but we must also acknowledge that external influences (especially in today’s world) can make it difficult for viewers to always act in their best interest. The choice isn’t always as clear-cut as it seems when you're on the other side of that decision-making process.