I was given an assortment of Turtle Wax products to try and haven’t had the time (apologies to the poor spokesperson who kept asking me if I was going to use them). But I finally had a free Sunday and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to test these out.
I decided to use two waterless products since I didn’t have access to any hose or water buckets. Plus, I just find these kind of products so convenient. You can chuck them in your trunk (or in my case, that little space behind your seat) with two microfiber cloths, drive to a meet, and then do a quick spot check before everyone arrives.
The first product was the 1& Done Detailer ($8.99) and the second was the Scratch Repair & Renew ($12.99). I felt these would be great to try on my 1992 Mazda Autozam AZ-1, which has been sitting in the garage under a cover for two months, and my boyfriend’s daily use 2024 Ford Mustang GT, which has recently gone on the track.
A quick detailing for under $10
All I needed to try out the 1& Done Detailer was the product itself and two microfiber cloths, one for massaging in the product and one for buffing the area after. The instructions are simple: spray it directly on the car, focusing on one panel at a time, wipe it around, and then use the second cloth to buffer and dry the area.
Perfect for someone lazy and busy like myself. Check out the dust on the louvers!
The Autozam is easy to clean because it’s so small. By following Turtle Wax’s process, I cleaned the entire car panel by panel in about 15 to 20 minutes. I sprayed an area, then wiped it, then my boyfriend followed behind with the buffering cloth.
It’s difficult to notice the difference in photos, but in person, we immediately saw it. The car looked extremely shiny and reflective. It also worked on my car’s windows, making them exceptionally clear. The immediate results were mind-blowing for the price and ease of use. It was definitely ready for a car meet.
Over on my boyfriend’s white Mustang, the difference was just as exciting. Every bird poop dropping, random splatter, and scuff mark was easily wiped away. It’s perfect for spot cleaning. The tougher rubber transfer from the track didn’t budge, unfortunately. But that’s expected.
However, you should probably spend a bit more time than I did if you want perfect results after the shine wears off. When I drove my car back into the garage, I noticed areas where we didn’t perfectly buffer an area dry after application. You could see the rag movements perfectly, giving it a bit of a smudgy look.
Reducing a bright scratch in 30 seconds
The scratch remover was next. I honestly didn’t have much faith in this, but I was pleasantly surprised. All you have to do is put a dollop of the product on a clean microfiber cloth and wipe the scratch for 30 seconds. Do this again until you get the desired effect. Then wipe dry with the other cloth.
(P.S. Check out how shiny my Autozam looks in the following picture after using the Detailer!)
I was running out of time, so I only did the process once. Again, if you want better results, I recommend spending a bit more time than I did. However, even my quick version was pretty impressive.
The white scratch above is pretty deep. I rubbed the product in for 30 seconds, then my boyfriend wiped it off. The scratch became noticeably less white. It was still there, seeing how deep it is, but it had lost its noticeable shine. You can still see it, but you’d have to squint.
Pretty impressive for a 30-second fix.
After using the products, I told my boyfriend: “I gotta do this for my Miata when we come back.” And I mean it. After my short trip this upcoming weekend, I will definitely be using these products on my 1993 Mazda Miata, which is in desperate need of some shine. He also has a smudge on the windshield.
Do I recommend these products? Yes, they’re honestly pretty cheap and offer pretty noticeable results if you just want a fast shine. However, I don’t know if this replaces a full-on clean or detail if you feel your car needs more love. But again, this is a great product to keep with you at a car show to make sure your vehicle looks shiny all morning.
