Just thought I'd share a cautionary tale:

In short I've found thru painful experience that at least some Detailers are using chemicals that are CORROSIVE!!

Story goes like this: way back in 1995 I had my ED detailed - it was one of those mobile mobs so on and off I was able to watch them work on the car in the carpark at work. One thing I noticed was that when they did the door openings they used a pressure sprayer to apply a fine mist of some sort of cleaning fluid and then they wiped it off by hand.

The car at that stage still looked factory fresh and new - ie. all cad plated or black painted parts / screws were pristine and new looking... Within 3 months the door striker plates/brackets cad plating was going blotchy and horrible looking and the black painted trim screws throughout the interior were all going bad too - blotchy and with white powdery corrosive residue.

I regret not going ballistic about it at the time but it was three months after the job etc. etc.

Anyway, my Wife recently bought a Daihatsu Applause in really nice condition - old folks car - and it was likewise outstanding in that all the cad plating looked fresh and nice etc. The caryard had it detailed before she took it and bugger me a few months later it's suffering the same thing!!! I am absolutely spewing and intend next week to get onto the car yard and have a little "chat"!!

wow. That's good to know. Hopefully... My detailer's don't use corrosive chemicals.

degreaser to get off all the excess grease from the door hinges etc..all it does is eat paint..if u wash is off its harmless, but if u wipe it off then i guess your leaving some of it there and your screwed..