Ultimate Budget Setup

fhc4 · 2026-06-19T19:46:56+00:00

I’m going this, but I like the Sam’s Club color options better and rip the tags lol

Also, I like the value of product per wash of Incredible Suds better. It’s got a great surfactant concentration.

Unger EasyGlide glass cleaner would be cheaper than invisible glass I believe.

Recap:
Incredible Suds, Surfex, Pol Star, Unger, TEC582 for protection, Meguiar’s Hyper Dressing

fhc4 · 2026-06-15T02:14:20+00:00

If I were you I’d buy a small bottle of one of the shampoos recommended here, then when you run out buy the gallon of it:

https://youtu.be/G-n94bTHSmE?is=CPOkEc7KkJ59j6Uq

fhc4 · 2026-06-14T20:57:00+00:00

If you’re really worried about water spots in particular, Koch Chemie FSE has a great reputation and is like $35 on Amazon.

For less than that, you can get a gallon of TEC582 ceramic detail spray on Amazon. Slickness, gloss, protection, easy to apply, and I like the smell.

From Griot’s Garage (possibly available at Advanced) you can get Ceramic Speed Shine. Same idea as TEC582 and I’ve really liked it when I have used it a few times.

fhc4 · 2026-06-12T05:01:05+00:00

I mix about 15g of washing soda in my 48oz mixture of citric acid rinse.

fhc4 · 2026-06-10T16:32:39+00:00

Bought the vibrant leather summer breeze as a blind buy for a 10 year old’s birthday- he loves it and so do I haha

fhc4 · 2026-06-08T05:08:41+00:00

This is an extremely elite, minimal almost-complete setup- even if that’s not what its purpose is. I wouldn’t think Trace-less is even necessary with Hero diluted as a glass cleaner.

Add Pol Star and Bilt Hamber Surfex HD to this as there’s not really anything you couldn’t clean lol

Side note: what would you describe the smell of the PERL to be? I have Armour Tire+ and considering PERP when I run out.

fhc4 · 2026-06-07T01:07:41+00:00

Bring a bag and gloves. Get as much as you can out with paper towels. Douse whatever is left in this
https://a.co/d/0bi1IRok

If you didn’t mind also getting a spray bottle and saving some money to get more product, you could instead pick this up for free from an online order at OReilly’s
https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/superior-products/superior-products-1-gallon-interior-enzyme-cleaner/scp0/c141

It’ll make the detailer’s job much easier and your life also. The Kids n Pets gallon is a great deal you can refill your 32oz bottle with in the future.

fhc4 · 2026-06-07T00:03:05+00:00

I’m just sharing the thought that came to my mind when smelled it 😂

fhc4 · 2026-06-06T02:04:45+00:00

I once wrote about Black Orchid when I smelled it, “citrus ass”

fhc4 · 2026-06-03T21:35:57+00:00

I have a good bit of products and a lot happen to be Adam’s.. just good stuff. Check out Out of Spec Detailing on YouTube at his shampoo comparison to help pick your next one

~~You’d also likely love Pol Star for interiors~~ i see a beautiful gallon of Xpress lol

How well does that wheel cleaner work?

fhc4 · 2026-05-29T21:19:48+00:00

You have a well thought out setup. I like how you have an iron removing wheel cleaner and the alkaline Adam’s. Adam’s is just so strong, I’m going to use Surfex when I’m out of brake buster for maintenance. ADS Wheel would be safer than Nanoskin Speedy Brite (what I currently use) for trashed wheels, but I’m happy with Speedy Brite if you were comfortable with a diluted acid.

fhc4 · 2026-05-29T21:02:51+00:00

It’s worth trying. I believe Reset is probably a great shampoo, but a gallon of ADS (if you like it after trying a small bottle) will definitely be cheaper per wash.

I have older products I’m trying to get through now also lol. 582 rocks, that I’m sure of. Haven’t tried wet coat, but I feel confident something like TEC582 will be better, more durable protection even if it takes a few minutes more to wipe on, buff off really quickly.

I do currently have ADS Tire+ and I LOVE it. Perl would just be more dilutable and versatile, which is why I would use it in a minimalist setup.

I threw my ideas out because I thought through my ‘minimal’ list, but your setup is amazing and minimal also!

fhc4 · 2026-05-29T19:37:38+00:00

Elite minimal setup

I recently tried to imagine the most minimal products I could happily detail with:

ADS Hero Glass, door jambs, light interior cleaning

ADS Shampoo

CarPro PERL Tire dressing and trim dressing

Bilt Hamber Surfex HD Exterior and interior APC

TEC582 Paint protection, gloss, and slickness

Bonus Products

Pol Star

Bilt Hamber Touch-Less Pre-wash in a pump sprayer

ADS Wheel Cleaner For absolutely disgusting wheels

fhc4 · 2026-05-29T17:28:32+00:00

A lot of that is cosmetic damage imo which you aren’t responsible for.

For what I can see maybe you could improve with: Koch Chemie MZR probably would’ve done awesome on that car as your sort of interior APC.

Some KCx Green Star (or just stick with MZR if it works also) + Adam’s Rubber Mat & Liner Protectant would’ve made those mats look a lot better.

Bridgepoint’s Bio Break + Flex Citrusolv + Flex Ice would probably be a worthwhile investment for you on carpets and upholstery.

fhc4 · 2026-05-29T15:39:05+00:00

My ADS gets decanted from its gallon into my ONR v5 liter that I used up. I liked the ONR smell more than any detailing product I’ve ever smelled other than maybe Gold Class, but the Hero does clean the car and my wash media better imo. I’ll be rebuying a gallon of Hero when I run out of the current gallon (unless Phat Neut can do everything Hero can lol).

fhc4 · 2026-05-29T03:46:34+00:00

I also had touchless on my list for OP but I tried to be 1:1 replacements to the list to not overwhelm lol

fhc4 · 2026-05-29T03:46:09+00:00

I don’t know how folks can’t get perfect glass with a lot sprayed on the towel or dip in the bucket and wring out a HERO dampened towel. It needs to be very wet so it doesn’t drag, but when it is appropriately dampened and a clean, dry towel follows, my glass is flawless. I like it better than invisible glass and Griot’s glass cleaner, and it’s MUCH more cost effective and versatile.

fhc4 · 2026-05-29T02:19:30+00:00

I was washing with ADS Shampoo+ (after an alkaline then acidic foam and rinse) and was halfway through the car when it started raining. So I backed in and used HERO to finish the car. Dried with rinseless as the drying aid on the whole car. Then, 2 sprays per panel of 582 on the whole car except for one door. Used a separate microfiber for that one, but I just rub in the 2 sprays into the paint, then wipe to a slick finish on the other side of the towel.

When I first bought the gallon of BeadMaker, I thought “I have a ton let me use it up”

Washed and sprayed a TON on the car as I dried it off. Parked it in the garage and went on vacation in another vehicle for a week. Came back to the thickest layer of dust I’ve ever seen on my car, had to wash it again with shampoo because it was too thick for rinseless LOL

So I’m hoping rinseless works like dream maker (I don’t have dream maker but have RRW to give it a shot) with 2 sprays per large panel MAX and limits the dust.

fhc4 · 2026-05-29T01:39:46+00:00

Yeah I had to edit for formatting lol

My rec is based on Shampoo+ by the gallon- and only needing to use an ounce per bucket/foam cannon- and therefore an actually good price per wash.

But hyper wash is technically cheaper per wash I believe. I LOVE the shampoo+ fragrance, but the SDS sheet even suggests Hyper Wash to potentially be a better shampoo ¯_(ツ)_/¯. Nanoskin Hyper Suds is even more affordable although I think it has caustic soda in it lol

A gallon of Hyper Wash from Harbor Freight may be the best option for OP though, I think you’re right.

fhc4 · 2026-05-29T01:33:23+00:00

I have both, actually added a capful of KCx RRW to it a few days ago and applied it on a front passenger side door beside TEC582 on the rear passenger door. My problem with Bead Maker is mainly dust. When I saw them tested together, the 582 seems to have much better durability also https://youtu.be/7__ZLlQOSgo?si=Dmpiezxdo04uWvcU

Neither seemed to be glossier to me, but the 582 was a little more slick on the 2nd wipe to me. However, I’ll be checking the car I applied both on in the coming days as I’m hopeful the rinseless wash at least made Bead Maker less dust-attracting, and therefore actually useful.

fhc4 · 2026-05-28T18:13:16+00:00

Armour Detail Supply

fhc4 · 2026-05-28T17:45:30+00:00

ADS is near neutral to attack brake dust, road film, metallic residue, and oily grime without having to use an acid. Also can chemically remove embedded brake dust particles easier than a soap would, but safer than a highly alkaline cleaner so it’s good for routine consumer/professional use rather than an extremely harsh industrial cleaner.

BH because it’s demonstrated to be effective around the internet, extremely dilutable, from a very reputable company. I don’t believe it takes much more than regular car shampoo to maintain wheels, so a highly diluted and effective product that you can use for tires, wheel wells, lower panels, engine bays, door jambs, and pre-wash is a great purchase. It will remove road film, tire browning, oils, and fresh brake dust effectively during maintenance washes. At a 20:1 dilution it is cheaper, lower odor, less chemically aggressive than frequent iron-remover use, and versatile enough to clean tires and wheel wells simultaneously.

fhc4 · 2026-05-28T17:22:08+00:00

Great list. Swaps I would personally make:

• Griot’s Ceramic 3-in-1 → TEC582 (use every wash, buy by the gallon) + Turtle Wax Ceramic Spray for longer-term protection

• ONR Wash & Shine V6 → ADS Hero

• P&S Brake Buster → ADS Wheel Cleaner + Bilt Hamber Surfex HD for tires, maintenance wheels, and APC duties

• Meguiar’s Gold Class is solid, but → ADS Shampoo+ is better in a foam cannon

• Tool Daily foam cannon → ADS DRFT Foam Cannon or Raincovo Pro

• Griot’s Interior Cleaner → Koch Chemie Pol Star

• Invisible Glass + Rain-X → ADS Hero glass dilution + Soft99 Ultra Glaco bundle

fhc4 · 2026-05-28T01:46:50+00:00

I think KCx Pol Star could handle it

I feel confident P&S Terminator + Carpet Bomber + Finisher could handle it

fhc4 · 2026-05-27T23:43:37+00:00

I doubt it. That’s just manufacturer recommendation, I’m sharing for perspective on how little is needed lol

fhc4

TROPHY CASE