My 85's Paintjob still holds pretty good after I had the car repainted 6 years ago. I am tired of Wax related products since they leave white residue in the plastic trim parts. The current car wash products I use are from Meguiars.

IPD is advertizing "Astro shield" which seems to be around for a long time and I can see that some people swear by it. Has anyone had any experience with AS or anything they else can recommend?

I also remember a couple of years ago in a trade show they was a person who was selling a liquid type wax that was easy to apply and they results were stunning. They used to have this product on the late night marketing shows on the TV. Does anyone remember what it is?

Lastly I am trying to get rid of a smell that still remains in the car after 4 years when my mother spilled some lamb gravy in the rear carpet(lamb smell is very distrinctive). I have washed the rear carpet 2-3 times but the smell always comes back in the summer or when the weather gets warmer. Does anyone know of any products that can eliminate the odor? I have used detergent and also some carpet deodorizing sprays(the ones you have to brush after).

Thanks

Mike

In order to avoid white residue on plastic trim parts, don't get wax on them at all. A really good detailer will mask off the trim before waxing or buffing.

Are you thinking of Zaino Bros. wax/polish? If so, check zainostore.com. I have not used it but I did learn a lot from their site about applying in a linear, not circular pattern etc. I like Zymol [with an umlaut over the "o"]. EZ to find at Pep Boys. As for the white residue, just stay below the trim which is easier when you apply in a linear, not circular pattern. Zaino even tells you which direction to go on horizontal and vertical panels. That is the devil in detailing. :) I use a stiff toothbrush and a little water to get the residue out of the black trim when I really want to detail it. I also use Eagle one on a toothbrush to apply a dressing to the trim. Happens once a year in late spring...

FYI: Astro Shield will leave a white residue as well.

I used it on my 240 and the results were nice, though my car needs a little more TLC in the paint department.

-Ryan
--
Athens, OH -- 1990 245 125k

I have used Wash & wax products such as Turtlewax which are quick and easy to use. I recently switched to Rain-X which gives a better shine and lasts longer.
--
-Cool Volvo- 1982 240 4 Spd OD w/ 238K, 1989 240 5 Spd w/ 227K. Past proud owner of 1966 122, 1968 144, 1970 145, 1972 144, 1980 245

For odors, I am using AtmosKlear bought at the local ACE hardware. No perfumes and it gets rid of any bacterial odors. Including lamb and fish! BTW, never forget a fresh fish in your trunk that jumped out of the bucket and into the spare tire well!
AtmosKlear also gets rid of cigarette smells. Just spray it on your carpet.

Klaus
--
(V♂LV♂s 1975 164, 1995 854T, 1998 V70R)

About 18 years ago a freind of my sister gave me a can of AstroSheild. That one can lasted about 20 years. After it ran out I started using some of the common stuff such as Nu-Finish. IMHO the AstroSheild did a better job and lasted longer. A couple years ago I saw it on sale at IPD and grabbed another can.

the local pic and pull only charges 15 for a full carpet set so that might be an option.

I will second the opinion of previous posts. Either replace the carpet, or clean the carpet and replace that pad. I have had a couple of experiences over the years where the pad was retaining the odor of an unfortunate spill.
--
86 240 252K miles, original owner, Boulder,CO.

The reason the smell is there still maybe because the foam matting underneath was contaminated with the gravy (you didn't mention that you cleaned this).

Nose around this website for a while.

http://www.carcareonline.com/

I stick with a good paint cleaning method (3m Imperial Hand Glaze) and a Carnauba wax.

I found a liquid form in The Wax Shoppe brand Liquid Carnauba and like it a lot for quick bare-hands application.

The last 244GL I pulled from the junkyard for re-roading smelled from months sitting out, windows open, in winter. I pulled out everything -- carpets and underpadding, seats.

I sprayed it all with Lysol consentrate solution, then wrapped each item tight in large plastic garbage bags.

The pads I threw into my swimming pool just after shocking it with chlorine upon opening the pool for the season.

I think I pressure blasted the carpet with the garden hose, and gave it a good shampooing.

The smell remained, but I think that was only what remained in the door panels (cardboard, pretty much). I didn't pull them out, so, the mildew stayed in there.

Used lots of Ozium deoderizer.

As for a non-chalking plastic body trim restorer/protectant, I liked Trim ReNu by TechNu. it was a non-silicone product the really brightened up all the mupflap underbumper and undeer door areas. It activated from the sun!

I posted its contact info on the 700 FAQ somplace.

You can use the enzime cleaners that you would use on cat or dog urine. You can use the stuff found in the walmart pet isle.... But I'd use the good stuff found in the pet stores like Petco or Pets-mart. Just make sure that it is an 'enzime' deodorant spray. Works like a charm! I used it in my old buick that I had. It had a horrible smell that I could never identify. But it would make me sick after about 30 min. With the spray, you just soak the smelly area and let it stand for about 20 min. then take a dry cloth and pad it dry! Works good.

Tim

You've probably used all the usual chemicals in the supermarket and they haven't worked yet....
A few weeks ago I saw an infomercial on late night TV that was for a deodorizer specifically made for animal (pet dogs and cats, etc.) smells. I'm afraid I don't remember the name (I don't have any pets), but you might ask around pet shops for it. It might work (isn't lamb an animal?).

The other possibility is an ozone machine. These are used commercially to get odors out of hotel rooms (e.g., when a guest smoked in a no-smoking room), and smaller versions are used in shops that recondition used cars for resale. A car dealership with a used car lot may have one. I've heard that they're very effective.

Good luck.

Sorry to pick on you a bit... the ozone machines have a very serious side effect... the ozone causes rubber and plastics to harden and go brittle. This is not good for the interior of a car. This came to my attention when a fellow I worked with had the seals on the windows of his two year old house fail... just the ones in the office. He called the window company, they came out and inspected the windows, saw the "ozone machine" and refused to repair the windows because of it.

I would recommend enzyme based cleaners, in particular "Nature's Miracle" available at petsmart. I used this on the carpet in our 92 245 that was previously owned by an Indian couple... the curry smell was very pervasive, it would even permiate your cloths and you could smell it for hours after getting out of the car. Seriously, this stuff works!

jorrell

re: "...Sorry to pick on you a bit... the ozone machines have a very serious side effect... the ozone causes rubber and plastics to harden and go brittle...."

I don't consider it "picking" -- I'm not someone with a sensitive ego, so please do...! I didn't think of that side effect -- we certainly don't want our plastic stuff (and dashboard!) to become more brittle than they already are!
I had heard the ozone suggestion from some car magazine somewhere and just passed it on, but what you pointed out made a lot of sense. Perhaps the dosage matters though?

You are correct about the damage from ozone generators, but for a short time, it does work well in removing odors, especially mildew. If you have any natural rubber, you can watch it break down in ozone in moments.
I came home one day and heard a strange whirring sound and smelled ozone. I spied the offending device and asked my wife what was up. Some direct marketing acquaintance was selling these devices to purify air and eliminate airborne dust with ions and leave a "fresh smell like just after a rainstorm" in your house. More like after getting hit by lightning! What nobody seemed to be aware of is the damage ozone does to lung tissue and that they are dangerous things to run unless used judiciously. I did use one in my wine cellar after storing my tender garden bulbs for the winter left it with a mildew smell. It knocked it right down, but I literally opened the door and had to run from the room until the ozone dissipated. In concentrated conditions it can do serious damage. I would use it in a car, but for the smell, I would clean the pad first. I just had to do that with my 900 that was soaked with antifreeze from a weeping heater hose connection.