Simple Wash-Clean-Wax

[mis3]

My car is 8 months old and silver. I am looking for a simple way to protect the paint. It has to be simple because I do not see myself spending too much time on this.

After research, I plan to do the following:
1. Wash with dish washing liquid like palmolive.
2. Clean with Meguaires Cleaner Wax.
3. Wax with NXT if I can buy it locally, otherwise, use Gold Class Paste Wax.

What do you think? Any suggestions?

[DevilDog]

I personally wouldnt use the dish washing liquid. Just get some meguiars gold class car wash or nxt car wash both are around 10 bucks for a gallon.

other than that I would say it looks pretty good but I would definatly go with the NXT if you arent going to detail it very often.
JMHO

[mis3]

I thought the dish washing liquid can get rid of the old wax. Is this wrong?

[Bri9801]

Have you waxed it previously yourself? I ask because if it is 8 months old and you haven't waxed it, anything the dealer put on it is gone anyway.

But to answer your question, yes dishwashing soap will strip old wax, but it will also strip essential oils from your paint and dry out your rubber and vinyl parts.

[GearHead_1]

Originally posted by mis3
I thought the dish washing liquid can get rid of the old wax. Is this wrong?

Not wrong perhaps just a little strong. A good automotive shampoo would be better for your finish over the long haul. Meguiar's makes several (i.e. Gold Glass, NXT or good ol 00). Since both the Cleaner Wax and NXT are protectants, I might try a straight cleaner something like Meguiar's Premium Paint Cleaner instead of the Cleaner Wax. Though what you have suggested would certainly work, it might be a little redundant following up with NXT. You might consider a couple of coats of NXT. Either process will take you roughly the same amount of time. Since you are looking for easy, once you have went through the multi-step process you have suggested or one of the others suggested here, take a look at Eagle One's Wax-As-You-Dry. Though I love Meguiar's products, I have found this to be a great in between details maitenance product. It leaves you with booster protection, works with NXT (NXT's spray booster takes almost as long as an application of regular NXT) and leaves your paint slick until your next full detail. It only adds a couple of minutes to your regular wash time.

[DevilDog]

Yes the dishwashing detergent will get rid of the old wax but its far from a good way of doing it. The DC Cleaner Wax should be able to get rid of anything that is on the paint now.

[mis3]

Now I am confused.

I wash my car about once a week and I do use proper automobile shampoo. I do not want to strip the car wax.

I plan to wax it 2-3 times per year, probably before and after the winter (snow/salt). From what I read, to properly wax the car, I have to strip the old wax first, hence the dish washing liquid.

I am not sure I can get the NXT line locally. That's why I plan to use Cleaner Wax and NXT (or Gold Class Paste Wax).

How about the 3-step product: Step 1 Deep Crystal Cleaner, then Step 2 Polish and followed by Step 3 Wax (Carnauba wax)? I saw all 3 in the lcoal store.

[GearHead_1]

You've got to use what you can get your hands on. The Deep Crystal system works well and of course is designed to work together. You won't regret this combination. I still wouldn't use the dishwashing liquid at least not with any frequency.

[majik1]

yeah, what he said the 3 step is a good system....
additionally, costco currently has the gold class car wash for @ 5 bucks a gallon !!

[mis3]

Let me get this clear.

Car washes like the Gold Class car wash or the Deep Crystal do not strip wax, right? Like I said, I wash my car once/twice per week and I like the car wax to remain on the car.

[GearHead_1]

All washes to some degree remove the protectant. It's just the wear and tear of doing business. They are however designed to be as gentle as possible without sacrificing cleaning ability. I believe that Zaino recommends using dish washing detergent (Dawn) to begin their process. I am not aware of any of the other manufacturers that recommend this procedure. Waxing the 2 or 3 times per year that you have indicated I wouldn't think you would have to worry about stripping wax, especially washing your vehicle the once or twice you have indicated. It ought to be pretty well gone by the next time you get around to waxing. This frequency is probably stretching your protection level to its limit unless you are using some of the better sealants. I would probably recommend that you throw at least one more (minimum) application of protectant annually to make sure your finish is protected.

I used the Meguiar's RX tool to see what they actually recommended for my vehicle. Of course they are in business to sell product but actually recommended I wax 8 times per year. Fortunately I do it monthly anyway, more often when I'm playing around with products to see how they will look. I'm not the person to talk to when it comes to how long a product will actually last. I never make it long enough to find out. Here's a link to Meguiar's RX tool in case you haven't seen it and want to check it out.

http://www.meguiars.com/carrx.cfm

[DevilDog]

I beleive you are right GH. Zaino is the only one who tells you that. I used Zaino and still didnt dawn wash. Just not something I want on my paint EVER.

[gb387]

I have used the Deep Crystal system many times and always get good results! For all three products it runs about $15 you can't beat that. One thing that I have tried is the Deep Crystal 1 and 2 then NXT this has given me the best results when staying in the consumer line.

If you have a Traget near you try there if you want NXT products the super Tragets I have been to have had the NXT wax, NXT Spray Wax and NXT Protectant.

We could go on all day about product combos!

[mis3]

Thanks. I will keep these dish washing liquids away from my car.

I think I will do the following: Deep Crystal system step-1 (wash) and step-2 (polish), then finish up with NXT or Gold Classic Paste Wax.

How long does it take you to do all 3 steps? Do I have to wait from one step to go to another step?

[rusty bumper]

Originally posted by mis3
Thanks. I will keep these dish washing liquids away from my car.

I think I will do the following: Deep Crystal system step-1 (wash) and step-2 (polish), then finish up with NXT or Gold Classic Paste Wax.

How long does it take you to do all 3 steps? Do I have to wait from one step to go to another step?

Hi mis3....Welcome to MOL!

I wouldn't worry too much about stripping old wax from your car, but you do need to strip any contaminates that might be attached to the paint.

Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner #1, DC polish #2, and either NXT, Gold Class, or DC #3 will work well together to clean, polish, & protect the paint.

If you're doing this by hand, then look to spend the better part of a day to do it right...You don't have to wait a while between steps either. Just remember that DC #1, & DC #2 do not have to dry before removing them.

I would like to recommend one more step after washing, and that is claying....Claying your finish will ensure that all of the above surface contaminates will be completely removed, and it enables the cleaner & polish to be more effective, as well as making your paint smooth as glass.

Here is a link to a great claying product in my opinion, but if it's not available to you then I'm sure another brand would do the job.