How to keep it that way?

[Stu Cool]

Ok, Got my PC, polishing and finishing pads, clay bar, M80 and NXT Tech wax and Show Glaze. Got Mike Phillips DVD and will follow it to the tee. So, once I have my fabulous results, How do I maintain it? The car is a week-end driver to shows and cruises and lives in it's own garage under a California Car Cover. It is a PPG Concept Single Stage paint.

I don't want to go to a lot of work and then screw it up from dummy mistakes like I know I have done in the past.

thanks

Pat

[kpagel]

First of all, you should use the two bucket method. Fill one bucket with clean water and use the other for your soapy water. It is preferable you use a Grit Guard in at least one bucket, or both if you don't mind spending the extra $10. Use high quality sheepskin or chenille mitts, I like to have two or three on hand in case they get dirty and assign one mitt for different areas (one for the higher panels, one for the lower panels, etc). After that just be really careful, never scrub bugs or other dirty spots off your paint, just be very gentle. Use a good car wash soap (never dish soap). Others might recommend a foam gun, but I don't think its necessary. Others might be able to explain some of this in greater detail or add to what I said, but I believe that these are the basics that you should be doing if you want to keep your finish as nice as possible.

[SL1CK]

Meguiars offers a few products that will allow to maintain your fabolous results with that wet, "just-waxed" look. Such products are:

Quik Detailer

NXT Tech Spray Wax

These booster waxes will help you keep the car looking nice!

There are also some threads about how to use them properly for maximum results.

[STG]

Since I moved to Cody, Wyoming my 2004 Mach1 has become a once or twice a week driver. Granted, I put 200 plus miles on it during each drive, but I keep it in the garage on a Battery Tender five or six day a week.

Like you, I spent hours detailing the car this spring and want to maintain its apperance. When I take it for a drive, I take a bottle of Last Touch quick detailer, several Costco microfiber towels, Glass Cleaner (from concentrate- Detailer line, and terry cloth towels.

Before I leave the house, I wipe down the Mach1 with Last Touch and clean the windows. I've found that applying Last Touch just before hitting the road makes it easier to get rid of bugs and road grime behind the wheel wells.

I wipe the bugs off my car at every stop with a heavy spray of Last Touch and Costco Microfibers. I also hit any visible accumilation of road dust.

When I get home, I either wipe down the whole car with Last touch, or wash it. I believe the real trick is to not let bugs or dirt sit on the paint very long. I ALWAYS either wipe down the car with LT or wash it with Nxt car wash at the end of the day's run.

I ALWAYS wipe down the car with Last Touch just before taking it out.

So far I've applied one additional coat of Nxt wax since the two coats I put on during the spring detail. i'm sure I'll use some Nxt Spray Wax soon, also. It's actually pretty easy to apply a nother coat of Nxt using a G100 if the paint is clean. I try real hard to keep by paint clean.

I wonder if the Last Touch will help if iI hit a buffalo?

One other thing. Since Mike Phillipd detailed my car when it was new, I've learned that a correctly detailed car with properly polished and protected paint is fairly easy to keep looking great. Just don't let it go to far - keep the car clean. It only takes a few minutes.


Below is the cleanest, shiniest car in Cody, Wyoming ( Yes, I cleaned the bugs off of it for this photo taken half way up the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway near Yellowstone National Park):

[Kickin Griffin]

When drying the car, I find that spraying Last Touch onto wet paintwork and then wiping gently with a waffle-weave towel works a treat. Not only does this bring back the just waxed lookafter every wash, it also makes the drying process a little safer by adding a little bit of lubricant into he equation. Works a treat...

Also helps on a full detail, on an unwaxed car as it helps to shift some of the standing water, making drying easier.

[Stu Cool]

Thanks everyone. Great advice!

Pat

[the other pc]

Originally posted by STG
...I wonder if the Last Touch will help if iI hit a buffalo?...

I'd hate to have to clay one of those off the paint.


PC.