Good, thourough paint cleaning

[quikzilver]

After two years of enthausiastic Meguiars use, I have gathered a small collection of car detailing products.

I would like to give my car paint a good cleansing to get that familiar show car glaze. I would like to know, however, if the list below isn't mentioning any products that do the same. That is, the two products do the same thing.

Here is the list of products I want to use after washing, drying and claying:
1. Scratch X
2. Color X
3. #81 Hand Polish
4. Pinacle Paintwork Cleansing lotion

Would you recommend any additional products to this list?

Please advise

[imacarnut]

Re: Good, thourough paint cleaning

don't know if you already were going to add this, but definitely clay...

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Good, thourough paint cleaning

I'm assuming you'll be doing all this by hand.

ColorX will do a fine job of cleaning, especially after claying. I've not used #81 personally but from what I know it ought to give you a very nice finish after using ColorX. Pinacle Paintwork Cleansing lotion is a fine product, but I just don't see it helping after ColorX and 81. I'm not saying that because it's not a Meguiar's product, I'm saying it because you placed it last on your list and it would be duplicating the efforts of ColorX. I would skip that step and apply my wax or sealant after the 81 and be done with it. If your technique is good with the clay/ScratchX/ColorX/81 then you'll have a beautiful finish ready to be protected with a wax or sealant.

[quikzilver]

Re: Good, thourough paint cleaning

When purchasing the Smooth Surface clay kit, I also got a small bottle of Meguiars Cleaner Wax. Would that be an added value to the list above? If so, what would be the best order of use when using the products in the list above?

Any recommendations on adding some other products to this list?

After this, I plan to use Meguiars NXT Tech wax for the finising touch.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Good, thourough paint cleaning

I'd hold off on using the small bottle of cleaner wax for right now and concentrate on the wash/clay/ScratchX/ColorX/NXT this time around. In a few months - depending on exposure to the elements - you can do a nice touch up with the cleaner wax and then top that with the NXT again. You don't really need to do the full process every time, but that cleaner wax is great for between full detail work.