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**gollums_friend** · Sep 18, 2006, 05:57 AM

Re: Compleatly new with lots of questions...

Hello, and welcome!

Let me state right off the bat that I'm not an expert at this subject. I only got into detailing a brand new vehicle in May. You will also find that you're going to get lots of varying replies from people about your questions, because even though the people here generally like Meg's products, they may like a specific one over another for whatever reason. Most people on this board also tend to put more into their detailing than the "average joe", which (NO rudeness intended!) sounds like the group you are in.

I don't believe there's much (if any) difference between paste and liquid waxes, it's a personal preference. I prefer paste. And yeah.....WAX IS VERY IMPORTANT!!!!!!!! PS........DO NOT ever, ever wash your car with dishsoap again. It removes wax, and you don't want that. Wax is good! There are differences between Gold Class (GC) and NXT wax, but I'm not knowledgable enough to explain, sorry! I prefer GC wax, I don't care much for the NXT line, but that's just my opinion only.

It's hard to say what items you need and don't need. It depends on how much work you want to put into your car. So no, you obviously don't *need* all the items you listed. (PS., I think "ultimate wipes" have been discontinued, but I could be wrong). Keep in mind that you won't have a *great looking* car if you are looking to do the most minimal work possible.

So.....my suggestion for a clean and nice looking car, with *minimal effort*:
1. WASH (You don't wash your car with paint cleaner, use any Meg's brand car soap and get yourself a nice wash mitt or sponge). DRY using items geared for drying the car, unless you want water spots everywhere.

2. (Here I would say Quik Clay at least once a year, unless you insist on skipping).

3. (Here I would say Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner Step 1, at least your first time detailing, unless you insist on skipping).

4. (Here I would say Polish. Again, optional, if you want the minimum. Or you could try Deep Crystal Polish Step 2).

5. ColorX (Very excellent wax that is a combination cleaner-polish-wax all in one. It sounds like you really could use this stuff). ONE THIN LAYER.

6. A pure wax like Gold Class or NXT Generation wax. ONE THIN LAYER. If you want to do the minimum work, you could just do the ColorX once, I suppose).

Quik Detailer spray is for "touch ups" between washes. Don't use it if your car is overly dirty. Quik Wax is a "booster" wax NOT meant to take the place of regular waxing and should only be used if you are going to take the time and effort to get your paint into decent shape first, doing all the steps listed above.

Exterior trim, I use GC Trim Detailer on the plastic areas.

You only need tire spray if you want shiny/black looking tires, so it's optional. I use Hot Shine spray.

Engine area: Three optional items you have listed there. Personally, I would put more work into your painted surfaces before moving on to caring for the engine area.

Interior: I use Quik Detail Interior spray.

If you want clean windows, use NXT Glass Cleaner and a microfiber cloth (MF). You'll also need several foam applicators (round, yellow) and MF's (Meg's Supreme Shine MF, or many retail stores carry other brands) to do most of this stuff. Some people like 100% terry cloth towels for certain jobs, however, I don't like or use them. I use MF's for almost everything.

If you are doing all work by hand, take your time and do a good job instead of rushing. You may even need a full weekend to get through your first "true" detail, depending on which steps you choose to do. I work by hand (no garage to plug machines into), and sometimes have to spread my detailing into 2 days. Before you start on Day 2 though, make sure you clean off any dust on the car by using QD spray. GOOD LUCK!!!!!

**Murr1525** · Sep 18, 2006, 06:59 AM

Re: Compleatly new with lots of questions...

I think Gollum covered most everything, but here are a few other thoughts:

Gold Class is a carnuba blend wax, and Nxt is synthetic. It is really personal choice, but I think synthetics tend to be a bit more durable. #21 Synthetic Sealant is my favorite wax at the moment.

Wax is meant to be a sacrificial barrier. Basicaly, as your car gets pounded by the elements, the top layer of whatever is on your car is going to wear away and be damaged. Now, around here, we kind of figure it is better to keep the car waxed, so it is the wax layer that wears off and not the paint.

Here are a few links to read.. I am not a big fan of the Rx, a bit over simplified in my opinion. These links will help explain the basic process more, and I'll toss in my recomended routine at the bottom.

Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle

Step 1 Wash

Step 2 Clean

Step 3 Polish

Step 4 Protect

Step 5 Maintain

Suggested Products for Taking Care of a New Car

What it Means to Remove a Scratch

How To Remove Swirls By Hand

How to remove a defect by hand with ScratchX

1986 Ford Bronco II - Extreme Makeover

If it was me, I would use this routine, if you are not too worried about removing lots of swirls at the moment:

1. Wash - Gold Class or Nxt Wash, good quailty sponge and towels as in the links above.

2. Clay - Meguiars Smooth Surface Clay kit is a must.

3. ColorX - One very well worked in coat of ColorX can do a lot of cleaning. It applies greenish, and when you have worked it in with a bit of passion, it will be kind of an oily clear color. Then let it dry to a haze and remove.

4. Wax - I would pick #21 as I mentioned above. But Nxt, Gold Class, or any of the other Meguiars waxes will be good as a final topper.

5. Trim/Glass/Tires/Metal I think were already covered. Just to mention there are lots of different trim products, so feel free to ask away.

I hope that is a general start for you, though I am sure it will confuse you even more... But keep asking away

**Mike Phillips** · Sep 18, 2006, 08:11 AM

Re: Compleatly new with lots of questions...

Hi SelfIsolation,

Welcome to Meguiar's Online!

Looks like gollums_friend & Murr1525 have covered the basics and more pretty well. We would just like to add our List 'O Links to give you some of our more popular topics to read up on.

List 'O Links

Many of the things we cover in our Saturday Classes are discussed and talked about in the threads found in the sub-forums of the Information Station

First read this,

Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle

Then read these...

How To Remove Swirls By Hand
How to remove a defect by hand with ScratchX
Using the G-100 to remove swirls with the Professional Line
Circles or Straight Lines?
Which LSP is Best for Light Colors
How to locate Meguiar’s Professional & Detailer products in your hometown
How to tell when a Meguiar's wax is ready to remove - The Swipe Test
The Dual Action Counterweight "Controversy"
What are the Differences Between Meguiar's Waxes
What's the Deal with "Layering"?
Measuring Clear Coat Thickness
Rotary vs. PC vs. Regular Orbital Buffer
Glass Polishing...Deep Cleaning
NXT Tech Wax Cure Time
Suggested Products for Taking Care of a New Car
Colored Waxes - Do they really work?
PC + #83 not "Cutting" it! - The Limits of the Dual Action Polisher
What it Means to Remove a Scratch
Why Meguiar’s Recommends Polishing Paint
A Lesson From White Paint
Each one, teach one... Ferrari Fiorano 355 F1 Spider

**SelfIsolation** · Sep 19, 2006, 03:20 PM

Re: Compleatly new with lots of questions...

Thank you VERY MUCH gollums_friend, Murr1525, and Mike Phillips. I'll need to take some time to read all the links and info, but I'm off to class now!

PS. I have no problem with taking time to clean up(detail?) my car. Its just that I've never had the chance to do it before, not that I don't want to take the time

**SelfIsolation** · Sep 19, 2006, 11:32 PM

Re: Compleatly new with lots of questions...

Another question, if you dont mind :p

Would buying the "NXT Generation Collection" be everything I would need to clean up my car? Or would buying all the items one-by-one that "Meguiar's Rx Plus Interactive" be better?

**Murr1525** · Sep 20, 2006, 06:45 AM

Re: Compleatly new with lots of questions...

Honestly, I think you would be better buying stuff seperately. Look at autodetailingsolutions.com as well. They have good prices, and you can usualy save a bit even with shipping. Espeacially if the Microfiber Towel sale is still going on.

**gollums_friend** · Sep 20, 2006, 07:29 AM

Re: Compleatly new with lots of questions...

I like to pick my stuff out individually at autodetailingsolutions.com (ADS) too. I've paced 3-4 orders with them since May. Usually those "collection" type packages only have a couple items I'd use.

Just roam meg's own site (probably the consumer line), and the ads site. Read info on different products.....decide just what it is you want to accomplish when you detail, then compare the NXT package and you'll be able to figure out if all those products are what you need or want to use.

**SelfIsolation** · Dec 31, 2006, 01:02 AM

Re: Compleatly new with lots of questions...

Well, me being asian and thus a procrastinator by default, I have finally gotten around to ordering some Meguiar’s products…here’s my list…

Deep Crystal Car Wash
Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner
Deep Crystal Polish
Deep Crystal Carnauba Liquid Wax
Quik Detailer
NXT Generation Tech Protect
Quik Out Carpet Stain Remover
Gold Class All Wheel Cleaner
Gold Class Endurance Tire Protectant
NXT Generation Glass Cleaner
Exterior Trim Detailer
Verse-Angle Tire Brush
Ultra Plush Wash Mop
Soft Touch MF Drying Towels
Foam App. Pads(
Supreme Shine MF Towels
Even Coat App. Pads
Glass Duo Fiber

So I guess my question is, is what I bought ok? And did I forget anything? So I plan to do a little more research into how to use all this stuff before it actually arrives so I dont jack up my car. Thanks for in advance for any feedback you guys give!

**Murr1525** · Dec 31, 2006, 01:22 AM

Re: Compleatly new with lots of questions...

Better late than never... though the poor car had to wait...

Well, one of the things you dont mention is how many towels, applicator pads, etc you got of each kind... You certainly can get one or two for now, see what you like... but you will cerainly need more than one of each.

You will certainly want some ScratchX no matter what. And a Smooth Surface Clay kit.

It seems pretty complete really... no carpet cleaner or All Purpose Cleaner, but you na get those with your next order.

I also think that once you use up the DC soap, you will really like going up to the other soaps, like Gold Class, Nxt, etc.

**SelfIsolation** · Dec 31, 2006, 01:50 AM

Re: Compleatly new with lots of questions...

Originally posted by Murr1525 View Post

Better late than never... though the poor car had to wait...

Well, one of the things you dont mention is how many towels, applicator pads, etc you got of each kind... You certainly can get one or two for now, see what you like... but you will cerainly need more than one of each.

You will certainly want some ScratchX no matter what. And a Smooth Surface Clay kit.

It seems pretty complete really... no carpet cleaner or All Purpose Cleaner, but you na get those with your next order.

I also think that once you use up the DC soap, you will really like going up to the other soaps, like Gold Class, Nxt, etc.

Ahh, I did buy a clay kit..guess I forgot to type that in :P

And I bought the DC car wash cuz it seemed to go with the whole "Deep Crystal" thing..haha..is Gold Class and NXT like..the next step up? I can buy it with this next group of stuff I'm getting adn give the DC stuff to a friend or something :P (Does that go the same for the wax?)
As far as the towels and such go..

1x mop
1x tire brush
4x Foam App Pad(2x 2 packs)
4x Super Shine MF Towel
4x Even Coat App(2x 2 packs)
1x Glass Duo Fiber

So ScratchX, some carpet cleaner, and some all purpose cleaner? Sounds good, I'll go order them tomarrow.

So...
ScratchX
Heavy Duty Carpet & Interior Cleaner
Gold Class All Purpose Cleaning Wipes

sounds right? Should I buy any more towels or such like that?

**Murr1525** · Dec 31, 2006, 02:05 AM

Re: Compleatly new with lots of questions...

I think one key thing that may be confusing you is that all of Meguiar's products work together. You dont need to stay in one "line" of products. You can use any consumer products, and Detailer Line products, any Professional Products all together with no problems. Obviously using the right product for the right job.

So yes, those soaps are a step up. Nxt is a better cleaner, Gold Class is gentler, so leaves a nicer finish.

You should wash with two buckets, with Grit Guards in at least the rinse water bucket. Plus a third bucket, or refill the rinse water for wheels.

You might like a wheel spoke brush and a wheel face brush. I see no real use for the tire brush.. I just use a soft tooth brush. A soft tooth brush is the best tool you will get with wheels and tires.

If you order APC (I would just buy the jug and a spray bottle and a foaming head sprayer), you probably wont need any carpet cleaner, unless you have real bad stains, or you like to play with products.

I mean, the list can go on and on. My favorite wax is #21 Synthetic Sealant, which works fine with what you have now. But you can use whatever you like to try. I mean, I have Nxt Metal Polish, different dressings, de-oderizers, 3 kinds of soaps, 2 glass cleaners, 2 cleaner/waxes, 6 kinds of waxes, 4 different washing tools, at least on and on.

At some point, you gotta just use what you got.

**SelfIsolation** · Dec 31, 2006, 04:01 AM

Re: Compleatly new with lots of questions...

Ahh, I see. I thought if you used one line you should try to stick to that line. Sounds great, i'll use what I got now, pick up some stuff im missing, and try out other things once I run out...its just a matter of learning how to use the products now i guess

But it seems that, that is a big step of its own

Thanks again! (Sorry im such a nub :P)

**Murr1525** · Dec 31, 2006, 04:11 AM

Re: Compleatly new with lots of questions...

Keep asking away....

**SelfIsolation** · Jan 2, 2007, 06:13 PM

Re: Compleatly new with lots of questions...

I actually do have one more. It seems there are differnt types of Grit guards..some good..some bad...so..

Where would you recommend buying a good grit guard? And, what makes a good grit guard..a good grit guard?

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