Upkeep?

[Lydia]

I know there are quite a few threads like this but I've looked through them and don't really see one that answered my question.

So, my question is. What should I do to keep a daily driver (my sister's dark red '97 Mazda 626) clean and protected? I just recently spent about 10 hours getting it swirl free and polished with Scratch-X, DC #2, Color-X, and Turtle Wax (I've got a better wax now...this one left the paint less bright than when I started waxing it).

The products I have are:

Scratch-X
Color-X
DC wash, #1, #2, and #3
Chenille wash pad
loads of microfiber and 100% cotten towels

Do you have any idea what I should do? Like what should I do when I wash it and how often would I need to wax/polish it? I have just been washing it whenever it needs it so far. Thanks in advance for any help!

[Godiva]

Is it in the garage?

Where is it parked during the day?

Depending on conditions you'll probably want to clay it. How often will depend on it's exposure to airborne particulate matter.

Get a grit guard for your bucket when you wash.

And you'll want a good wax. I was using Gold Class but I'm going to switch to NXT. ColorX is good too. I prefer liquid waxes to paste or spray but now that I have a dual action polisher I may go back to a paste wax.

For in between touchups I use a detailing spray and a microfiber towel. I was using Gold Class but will be switching to NXT.

I think ScratchX is the best thing since sliced bread. I minimized some dog paw scratches off my old car (my nephew has it now) and it was amazing. I showed him how to do the entire car, then clay bar it, then go over it with ColorX. The result was amazing.

What a difference ScratchX makes.

Depending on how much you want to get into it...you could get a G100 dual action polisher.

[Murr1525]

i am not sure how perfect you intend to keep the car looking, for daily drivers and a busy schedule, it can be hard to keep the show-room look.

What I have ended up doing with mine is a "full detail", with the clay, DC#1/ScratchX, DC#2, 2 coats of Nxt, etc two or three times a year.

But every 1-2 months, I do a quicker detail with Clay if needed, ColorX, then a coat Nxt wax.

I try to wash every week or so in good weather, and then follow with a Quick Wax, or Spray Detailer after the wash.

Hope that helps a little

[Mike Phillips]

To keep our cars up I try to wash at least once a week and follow this up with either a wipe-down with a quick detailer or with a spray-on wax.

I dress the tires, use glass cleaner on the windows... and trim detailer on the hard plastics...

Usually looks like I spend all day on it when including washing it's about 2-3 hours.

I actually try to wash a car before I work-out, that way I use washing the car as a way to stretch out and loosen up before lifting weights...

[Lydia]

Godiva: Thanks for the link and the help. I had actually already seen that thread and that was my inspiration for Scratch-X-ing her car. It is also the inspiration for me to Scratch-X my truck. No money for the G100 DA. What is a grit guard and where could I get one?

The car is parked in the driveway during the day, in the sun for about half of the day. It isn't ever garaged. The garage is reserved for the motorcycles, lol.

Thanks for the help, Murr and Mike. Which one do y'all think would be better, the Quik Wax or the quick detailer? Also, what purpose does that serve? I am just curious about it's purpose.

LOL Mike.

[Murr1525]

You can order a grit guard from Meguiars, just give them a call. You can also go to gritguard.com to look around.

The GritGuard is one of the more fantastic things I have found from this site. You should wash with the 2-bucket sytem, 1 bucket of soapy water, and 1 bucket of rinse water. Get at least 1 gritguard, and put it in the bottom of the rinse water bucket. You could get one for the soapy water as well if wanted. Then, always clean off your sponge in the water and on the guard before returning for more soapy water. You wont believe all the dirt and grit that appears in there, that would have been on your car.


Quick/Speed Detailer - This is a mist on/wipe off product that is to remove very light dust/bird ****, etc from a car. After a wash, it also helps bring back more of the fresh waxed shine.

Spray Wax/Nxt Booster Wax (or whatever it is called) - This is a product you would spray on your applicator, wipe on in a very thin layer, and let dry. Then come back around with a MF to buff off. It restores the fresh waxed shine, plus adds a little protection back. Should be applied thin enough to go on and off easy.

For me, the Spray Wax is a bit quicker than a fresh coat of wax, so it makes good sense for me to use it. For some cars/people, a spray wax and regular liquid wax take the same time to apply, so they may not use a spray wax as much.

I guess the basic break down is one adds gloss quickly, while the other one adds gloss and slight protection, but takes a little bit longer.