Yo Dude...

Don't have a stroke....

All I'm asking is that someone, ANYONE provide documented or scientific proof that the product does no long-term damage instead of offering personal opinion. You're probably a upstanding individual. However, I don't know you or your credentials or anyone else who uses Pledge on their vehicle.

You're going to have to do better than what you've offered up to this point in time, IMHO.

I don't doubt the results you received on your vehicle are admirable as well as other who may have used Pledge to mask oxidized paint (surface already damaged), etc. etc.

I don't doubt there are products on the market with undocumented uses that cause no damage to the surface they are applied to. Heck, I use Kitty Litter to soak up oil spills on my driveway. AND NO I didn't ask for proof that it didn't harm the cement before I tried it.

You have to realize that there is some "finality" to applying an undocumented & unknown product to something as visibile and important to the looks of a perfect show car's exterior paint. I'm not saying that my paint is perfect but darn near perfect. I plan on going to a lot of car shows over the next 20 years with my show car. Nothing ruins the value or looks of a car faster than a bad paint job or one that has been damaged by whatever means. I don't plan on repainting my car in 20 years or attempting to reverse damage caused by the mis-use of products.

Guru Reports tried Pledge for 8 to 9 weeks and with only one application. That's hardly a long-term test and they didn't measure adverse effects to the painted panels after multiple uses. Oh, and by the way, a grade of 'C' for three categories of Shine, Gloss, and Depth (after the initial application) are hardly "stellar results". In fact, every other product in the report met or exceeded the results of Pledge for those three categories in the report. It only got worse from there for Pledge (I have a copy of the report.)

If you're going to tout the results of the WAX TEST with respect to Pledge then let's be clear for those novice detailers reading this thread. Each product is documented by their respective manufacture for safe application and USE OVER TIME to the surface of an automobile's paint. Pledge has no documentation by the manufacturer. Doesn't that raise a "red flag" in your mind?

Hey, you brought it up.....

 

First of all, the use of Lemon Pledge is a one time only application.
For when you want your car to pop.
Like before judging at a show or a photo shoot.

The testing was done as a comparison over time, not on its initial appliaction, which is where this product shines, or should I say really comes thru! So, Your quoting of the test results mean nothing.

Again, on a 1 time basis only, Lemon Pledge will make you car "pop" like never before. Shiney, glossy, wet......


Why are you so fast to infer that damage will occur?
You don't know any car that had a problem after using it, neither do I, and to this date, no one has EVER heard of anything except amazing results!

I personally don't have a car for 20+ years, but I can show you 2 cars that I have for 5 years..

So far no damage,, You know your "may cause damage" line is bull.
Everyone else does too...

Guys do their $300,000.00+ concours cars with it
Guys do their $1,000,000.00 boats with it.

If it was harmful, we'd all know it by now..
You didn't question using the kitty litter on your driveway, so
why are you questioning using Lemon Pledge on a car?

Its been totally used & proven over 30 some odd years by many many show car folks that there is nothing wrong with it.
Perfectly safe.

This stuff is not acid, or turpentine. Its not sandpaper....
It doesn't eat away at paint or clearcoat...
I think you're the one who should lighten up..
Like I say, if you have suspicions, then DON'T use it.
But be sure to be next to me at a show , will ya???

Here's 5 yrs of proof. Nothing wrong with my car's finishes...
A shiney, glossy, smooth, optically clear finish, that gleems & sparkles..

 

I'm not arguing that your vehicles look nice. They do.

Here's the way I look at it:
- You don't understand the results in the WAX TEST so how can you understand why you shouldn't use Pledge on your vehicle.
- Your argument is weak - (Just because YOU say it is OK to use EVERYBODY else believes you and should do likewise.)
- You have no scientific evidence - WHERE'S THE RESULTS FROM THE MANUFACTURER?
- You keep rehashing the same tired lines
- Your logic if flawed - Kitty litter OK on cement DOES NOT EQUATE to Pledge OK on exterior paint)

You're not going to convince me based on what you've got here.

Give it up!

 

[QUOTE=JJU]I'm not arguing that your vehicles look nice. They do.


- Your logic if flawed - Kitty litter OK on cement DOES NOT EQUATE to Pledge OK on exterior paint)



QUOTE]

Oh really? why not? Your using a product on something other than its marketed intended use.. where's the difference?

And to answer your ignorance about evidence,
what about 30 years of guys using it on their vehicles & interiors, with no ill effects?

I'd say if people are using something for that long a period of time, with nothing bad happening, thats evidence.

If its not scientific enough for you, then don't use it, but you have NO evidence that it does any damage, while I HAVE evidence that it doesn't!

Its time for YOU to wake up & realize that this is safe to use....Just go to any established car show, and watch the guys prep their cars.... Then you'll see......

 

I've known people who have used Pledge on their cars with no ill effects. I personally wouldn't use it on the paint, but have used it inside on the dash and such, also with no ill effects. For the outside I use what is intended to be used, besides I like to wax my car, I finding it relaxing.

 

Here's the official reply regarding the use of Pledge on painted vehicle surfaces:


"Thank you for your e-mail. We always appreciate hearing from our consumers.

Unfortunately, PLEDGE® Lemon Furniture Polish has not been tested for use on painted vehicle finishes so we cannot recommend it. Please use the product according to label
directions as we cannot guarantee how the product will perform for uses or purposes other than those we have tested."

Straight from the horse's mouth.

 

Finally, thank you.

 

Its your car, use whatever you want on your car. Many many people have used the product with positive results and no problems. No manufacturer in the world with with hordes of attorneys is going to tell you it's ok to use their product on something they did not test to be used on automotive paint. I would have sent the same email if I had not tested or was marketing the product as a quick detailer. That does not mean it will not work. They are always going to cover themselves in such an instance. There are many many products on the market today that were not designed or tested to be used in other applications that work. It simply means you take the risk if something goes wrong. I choose to take that risk and it appears many others have done so for years without any problems. If you choose not to take that risk, thats ok. It is your car. The email basically said "We never tested the product on auto paint and it should only use it as we intended." So if you are scared to use it on your car so be it. If this thread came back with lots of users saying it didn't work or had problems with it after 30 years, I would be concerned. But, from what I saw either people preferred something else or those that used it had no issues with pledge after prolonged use. That was enough for me to try it and now I like it. Again, your car, so do whatever you want. But the email you received did not dissuade me in the least.

 

wow .... post is from 2005.

 

In the 8 years and dozens of car shows I have attended since I last posted on this thread I have yet to meet anyone who has done this or would want to do it.

I have something just as good now that I have tried and provides super shine, slick feeling and is approved by the manufacturer as safe on your exterior paint.

Try Zaino Clear Seal followed IMMEDIATELY with a Z-6 application.

It will kick Lemon Pledge's A$$!

 

Wow, there was the Civil War, the Great War, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam, the War on Terror, Hatfield and McCoys, and last but not least the great Lemon Pledge War.

What would be interesting would be to get all the Zanio and Lemon Pledge guys in one room and let them spray each other and see who wins.....that's a heck of a visual The winners could face off against the Rejex guys...think March Madness, but with car products

 

After 8 years I remember it more like the "voice of reason" versus the "Consuelas of the world".

If you don't understand the reference see:

 

I thought I'd throw in my 35 years expertise as an auto detailer. I have only ever used Pledge for interior wood trim and flat black paint/decals. What you are attempting here with Pledge is a short-cut, much like spray auto waxes. There is no substitute for carnauba wax, or Meguiars #7 on black cars, for a high gloss shine. Sure it involves a lot of elbow grease, but these are products designed for automotive paints. If all you care about is "making it shiny", dump some olive oil on it !

 

Bill, Your missing the point. Pledge does not take the place of wax. It is an easy to apply inexpensive quick detailing spray that leaves the paint glossy and wet looking.
Another 8 year old thread resurfaced, lol.

 

I understand the point, MY point was if you just want a fast high gloss shine, why not use a product designed for automotive paints like those spray waxes? Back in the '80's we called them "cheater waxes" because they didn't provide protection, just shine due to their high petroleum distillate content. I personally used them in 1986 at the L.A. auto show for the debut of the very first new Acura's. My sarcastic point at the end was likening using Pledge to pouring olive oil on the paint. Both will give a high gloss shine, but neither were designed for it. After 35 years in the auto detailing field I know that no matter what ya say people will do what they wanna do, but I guess that's the same in life too huh?! Keep it shiny y'all !

 

Have to admit that this is the first time I heard of using Pledge on the outside of the car. Have always used Pledge on the interior of my 71 and on occasion the 02. Not sure I want to use it on the exterior. Different strokes for different folks I will say. Do what you want to.

Gene

 

This thread is too funny. Laughed a lot. Thanks.

Corvette guys arguing about a housewife's furniture polish was just about the last thing that I thought I would read about in CF.

Sheesh!

 

I have read this thread and others about Pledge and have yet to see any before and after pictures..............

It is funny how passionate some can get about things.

From what I read there is no doubt that it works and I have yet to read one post from anyone who has had any problem with it.

There was a post of an answer from the company that produces Pledge that stated:
"has not been tested for use on painted vehicle finishes so we cannot recommend it"

I do not think any company will tell you to use something the product was not made for.

 

Problem with Zaino Clear Seal is cost. Clear Seal runs $20 plus shipping for 8 ounces. Pledge is $5 for 32 ounces.

There is no way Clear Seal can cost that much to manufacture...no way! If Zaino is trying to recoup costs from originally designing the recipe and testing, that cost had to been returned many years ago.

I love Clear Seal but I will not pay the ridiculous price for it!

 

In my opinion many of you, maybe even the majority of the posters here equate higher price with a better product.
I use Pledge the vast majority of the time because you can buy it damn near anywhere, it works, its cheap, and leaves a nice wet look. 40 years of using it has proven to me it does not harm the paint on a car or motorcycle.
About a month ago I bought a bottle of BLACKFIRE Midnight Sun Instant Detailer from Amazon for about $24 with shipping. Stuff works pretty good. Did half the hood of my 2013 Crystal red GS with it and half with the Pledge. Two out of three people I asked said the Pledge side looked better. I couldn't tell any difference personally. But it still ended up with Pledge being the better choice due to the cost.