Maintenance after makeover

[PaulG]

First off I am a brand new member to the MEG online. It has been a great source of information so far. Now on to my question:

Here are my makeover steps:
- wash with gold class
- clay bar with C2000 and #34 final inspection
- #83 with PC
- #80 with PC
- #7 polish with PC
- #26 wax with PC

Once this is done, I don't think I need to (or really want to) do all the steps again to maintain the car throughout the year.

What would be a good set of maintenance steps (say once a month) to keep it looking good?

Thanks in advance,
Paul

[soonercivic]

Re: Maintenance after makeover

The key is to wash regularly with a quality soap like the gold class and use a good quality detailer spray like NXT Speed Detailer or Quick Detailer to help maintain the wax. Make sure you have a good wash mitt and some nice towels as well. Try to get all bug and bird dropping off as soon as you can and you should be fine.

[Murr1525]

Re: Maintenance after makeover

Well, if you have to use #83 more than once a year you are doing something wrong with your washing, etc, or something else specific is scratching your car.

Now, #7 is of course always optional. That would remove one step. And even claying isnt always needed. Always depends on your environment.

One other option is to maybe try a product like #82. It is a bit more towards a pure polish, but still has some cleaning ability. So if your car is in good shape at the end of every month, you might find it is a good enough cleaner and leaves a nice enough polish.

And you could just find that a spray wax after most washings (say every week, week and a half) could get you a month and a half or so anyway. Or a spray detailer could be used as well as mentioned above.

[PaulG]

Re: Maintenance after makeover

Soonercivic - Thanks for the advice.

Murr1525 - I would only be doing the #83 the 1st time the car was polished. It's never really been through a good detailing. I am assuming that after I do my big detail there will be (or should be) less maintenance. I guess it all depends on how the #26 holds up. Would it be alright to re-apply the #26 once a month or will the wax build up to much?

Thanks,
Paul

[Mort Corey]

Re: Maintenance after makeover

Just to clarify, your last step of #26 should be times two.

I think you'll find that an occasional re-wax (especially using a PC for application and removal) will be less effort and time spent than using the spray booster wax and look better as a bonus.

Mort

[PaulG]

Re: Maintenance after makeover

Mort,

Check! Two applications of the #26 the 1st time around.

So it would be as simple as re-applying the #26 every so often? That's a simple way to go about it.

Thanks!
Paul

[Mort Corey]

Re: Maintenance after makeover

So it would be as simple as re-applying the #26 every so often?

It's what I do on my daily driver. Wash, dry, check the surface, use a little QD to clean up the invariable small water spots and, when the need arises, a fresh coat of wax with the PC. By the time I spread the wax over the whole car, change the pad and put on a polishing cloth, it's ready to remove. Takes about a half an hour. The spray wax stuff is OK but it doesn't offer as much protection and putting it on by hand takes more effort and time....for me anyway.

Mort

[soonercivic]

Re: Maintenance after makeover

Mort,

Check! Two applications of the #26 the 1st time around.

So it would be as simple as re-applying the #26 every so often? That's a simple way to go about it.

Thanks!
Paul

Yup, two thin coats will do it. Each time you wash follow up with a quick detailer to maintain the quality of the wax. Then, as you see fit, do another thin coat of #26.