Auto Cleaning/Waxing

[kenstogie]

What are the BEST and EASIEST Car washing and Waxing procedures??

What Products do you use??



Recently purchase a new vehicle (not actual car but identical) and have actually cleared the garage out of all the junk and am detemined to take care of it....

[Ashcan Bill]

Well, I don't know about the "Easiest" part. If you truly want something to look good, you're going to have to expend a little energy.

Personally I use Zaino products and I've even had my Lexus dealer ask me what I did to make the car look so good.

Zaino

[bvilchez]

I personally use Meguiar's 4 Step process.

[md4958]

I tried turtlewax ice for the first time last year... goes on easy, and I can apply it right in the sun, no white residue or buildup.

http://www.turtlewax.com/main.taf?p=2,1,1,1

[replicant_argent]

All you will ever need to know, or experiment with (x 100) will be found here:
http://www.autopia.org/



knowledge for newbies to pros, and everything in between.

[bigswol2]

Meguiars, Mothers, Griots or Klasse

[RGD.]

Originally Posted by Ashcan Bill

Personally I use Zaino products and I've even had my Lexus dealer ask me what I did to make the car look so good.

Zaino

Originally Posted by replicant_argent

All you will ever need to know, or experiment with (x 100) will be found here:
http://www.autopia.org/

Zaino Brothers and Autopia is all you need to know.

Zaino polishes as just simply incredible. Follow the directions right down to the towels that you use and you will be simply amazed.

Also investing a in good polisher such as the Porter Cable 7424 and pads will help immensely.


Ron

[kenstogie]

Originally Posted by replicant_argent

All you will ever need to know, or experiment with (x 100) will be found here:
http://www.autopia.org/



knowledge for newbies to pros, and everything in between.

I have been checking that sight out but it's info overload. I have a new car so if I seal it well now and garage it, it will last with less effort.


My plan thus far is to

A- wash with a good soap (Mother's Maguires etc) Dry with 100% cotton
B- Clay bar it (if needed)
C- Wash it again
D- Klasse high gloss sealant.
E- Repeat C for more protection.

That's my plan anyway any feel free to give me constructive critisism.

[HK3-]

For me- Meguires soap, Ice or SC1 for wax.

[poker]

I use only P21S on my cars. An orbital polisher is worth its weight in gold if you're a car fanatic. I have a Porter Cable 7424 and love it.

Wash
Clay
Wash
Polish
(optional wash)
Wax
Buff

=

[replicant_argent]

Also a 7424 owner, btw... and for VERY simple, good wax, follow Pokers method, and use Collinite insulator wax. It goes a long way, and it is very easy to use, slightly different depth than some, but still rocks well on paint or wheels.
I also have about 12 other type of high end waxes and polishes, but for simplicities sake......

[kenstogie]

I am going with a Sealant because as I have read it is superior protection and duration. If I am so inclined I could throw some actual Wax over the sealant for a superior shine.

--Kelly, if you seal it well when new would you need to Polish it?

--Any good resources for 100% cotton towels? Or are there other drying options?

[replicant_argent]

Originally Posted by kenstogie

I am going with a Sealant because as I have read it is superior protection and duration. If I am so inclined I could throw some actual Wax over the sealant for a superior shine.

--Kelly, if you seal it well when new would you need to Polish it?

--Any good resources for 100% cotton towels? Or are there other drying options?

Picture sealant as a dress shirt and a wax as the jacket....


Ok , just kidding a little, but the wax is like a sacrificial layer over the sealant, so you can use both. And the wax helps it give some paints that incredible "depth," especially with a pearl coat or a micro flake paint. Some people actually "layer" different waxes.... I dunno if I am gonna buy that, or the time, but hey, if you wanna play, some evidently lay on top of each other well....

Also, a GOOD microfiber towel is softer, and easier to use than cotton towels or chamois.

[poker]

Originally Posted by kenstogie

I am going with a Sealant because as I have read it is superior protection and duration. If I am so inclined I could throw some actual Wax over the sealant for a superior shine.

--Kelly, if you seal it well when new would you need to Polish it?

--Any good resources for 100% cotton towels? Or are there other drying options?

I cant say much about the sealants (Menzerna comes to mind) since I like traditional carnuba wax.

The only towels I use are microfiber. Pretty good deals all over the web. I used to use autogeek.net for most of my stuff

I'd echo Zaino and Autopia as everyone else has. Though you'll find a lot of other great sealants other than Zaino. If you think cigar buying addiction is bad, wait until you get sealant/wax/polish/car care stuff addiction. Woo-Wee.


Other popular sealants are: Blackfire Wet Diamond, Four Star Ultimate Paint Protection, Wolfgang Deep Gloss, Menzerna Power Lock to name a few. The latest craze is the Wipe On, Walk Away sealants such as Optimum Opti-Seal, Zaino Clear-Seal, Ultima Paint Guard Plus, etc. Literally spread it on evenly and let it dry. No buffing off.

But with anything, preparation for your last step product (known as "LSP" on Autopia) is a KEY ingredient to a nice shiny/slick paint surface.

auto magic seems to work just fine for me and 3m based products. i use to work for a autobody shop thats all we used some of the guys used meguiars quick detail but that was about it.

You may also have luck in picking up DuraGloss locally. If you can get the DuraGloss TPP #105 or their #111 sealant. Along with their #901 soap (16oz?) or #902 (Gallon) and AquaWax #951 QD/Spray "wax" you have a good start for stuff you can procure locally.

If for some reason you can't find it locally but want to try it, duragloss.com ships any size order for just $5 in shipping fees. They have tons of good products and there's a LOT of speculation that Zaino and Duragloss are 'eerily' similar. Though nobody knows for sure.

[MikeyC]

Originally Posted by kenstogie

I am going with a Sealant because as I have read it is superior protection and duration. If I am so inclined I could throw some actual Wax over the sealant for a superior shine.

--Kelly, if you seal it well when new would you need to Polish it?

--Any good resources for 100% cotton towels? Or are there other drying options?

The sealant and/or wax doesn't really protect the paint from mechanical abrasion only environmental hazards (bird poo, acid rain, etc.). Even if you don't wash your car right you can scratch it resulting in the need to polish. Most dealers have NO idea how to wash a car and most new cars are delivered with their finish scratched to heck. The dealer then uses a glaze loaded with fillers to temporarily hide the scratches.

Also, re: cotton towels. No one uses cotton anymore. Sometimes, I use my old cotton towels on my leather interior but that's about it. Microfiber towels are more effective and less abrasive.

Read this auto detailing guide I wrote a number of years back:

http://www.thedetailinghandbook.com

Originally Posted by MikeyC

The sealant and/or wax doesn't really protect the paint from mechanical abrasion only environmental hazards (bird poo, acid rain, etc.). Even if you don't wash your car right you can scratch it resulting in the need to polish. Most dealers have NO idea how to wash a car and most new cars are delivered with their finish scratched to heck. The dealer then uses a glaze loaded with fillers to temporarily hide the scratches.

Also, re: cotton towels. No one uses cotton anymore. Sometimes, I use my old cotton towels on my leather interior but that's about it. Microfiber towels are more effective and less abrasive.

Read this auto detailing guide I wrote a number of years back:

http://www.thedetailinghandbook.com

I've seen your chart around, but it seems autogeek has expanded on it with newer products.

http://www.auto-geek.net/charts/wax-...art-master.htm

Also there's been a lot of talk about whether polishing your glass via a PC doesn't cause distortion from the heat buildup. It's not as hard as one would think to warp glass.