washing before wax question

[cd36]

So I think it's time to give my car a once over with some cleaner wax. It still beads pretty good, but bugs have taken a toll on the front, and I've noticed a few very very faint water spots on the trunk, so I'm hoping a cleaner wax can clean that up as well.

Now I usually try to clean out the underside of the car when I take it to a coin op hand wash, but it can be tough. I'm wanting to take it to a touchless car wash that will wash the underside of the car as well, the only issue is this will put their own wax on the car as well. I don't have much free time coming up to do a full wash/clay/wax, so I was thinking I would take it though the touchless car wash (there is one right beside my place), take it back to my place, and put my own cleaner wax onto it. I know the wax these touchless car wash's put on isn't amazing (only really meant to last until the next time you are in the car wash), so I'm hoping the cleaner wax would take off the wax from the car wash nicely.

Any thoughts, good idea? Thanks,

[J. A. Michaels]

Not familiar with your touchless place. Is there a options for the wash you want? I mean get the undercarriage wash, then pay for a regular wash. That should take care of any wax they have applied. Then you can apply your cleaner wax.

[cd36]

You can choose between different levels, but I think all have some kind of wax, I can't remember. You have me thinking though, maybe I'll walk over to the Petro-Canada and see what their options are like. Should Just a regular wash from a touchless wash get it clean enough to wax though? I would imagine so, and I guess I can tell pretty quick once I am out if it is or not. Thanks!

[Murr1525]

I think you would be fine to do the touchless, than cleaner/wax yourself.

If the cleaner/wax is strong enough for your problems, hard to say. It is quite mild really.

[cd36]

So I took my car through an Esso car wash, comes out fairly good but needs a bit of cleaning up before I'd be able to wax. It is nice they have an option that washes/shampoo's but doesn't put any kind of conditioner/wax on like everywhere else. Good to know, as this will help me keep my underside quite clean.

ALso I did half my trunk with cleaner wax to see if it would get rid of the light water spots and it worked nicely. I think I let my wax get down a little bit to much, it was beading fine, but it definately needed to be redone.

Thanks guys!