Help with Step 2: Cleaning

[sas71]

first, thank you barry meguiar for the videos you did now i know the 5 steps of doing it the right way. i always thought you waxed then polished..D'OH!!

ok so im a noob at this. im looking for products for the cleaning process. i keep seeing clay a lot but had some questions on some of the other meguiars products.

other than the clay would the Deep Crystal cleaner fit in the same category for getting the paint all nice and smooth before the polish then wax stage of the process?

also the Cleaner wax that has been around a long time, would that be a good cleaner as well so i could get two steps knocked out with one product?

[roushstage2]

Re: Help with Step 2: Cleaning

I'll post here, no need to create the same thread in different spots of the forum. Give these a read:

Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle
Suggested Products for Taking Care of a New Car

Clay removes above surface contaminants like tar, sap, and overspray that get stuck to the paint surface. A paint cleaner like Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner will remove swirls and any "dirt" embedded into the paint. The Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner is the mildest cleaner though, so don't expect miracles with it. If you want something with a bit more bite, go with either Scratch X if you are working by hand or M80 Speed Glaze if using a polisher.

A-12 Cleaner Wax is a cleaner, polish, and a wax. As for using this instead of doing a 5 step detail, it depends on the condition of the vehicle and the owner's expectations of how good they want it to look. It can be used though, in place of all the other steps.

[roushstage2]

Re: Help with Step 2: Cleaning

As for products that fit into each category that you would want to use, what are you working on and will you be working by hand or with a polisher?

[sas71]

Re: Help with Step 2: Cleaning

the car is less than 2 months old..course i dont know how long it sat out in the elements on the lot. its a '08 Mazda3 in sliver.

ill be doing everything by hand. the only thing ive done so far (to the paint) is i bought some Armorall wash/wax soap, i doubt ill buy that again and i bought some ICE and used it for the first time yesterday.

im going switch to a meguiars soap, prb the NXT since i plan on using the NXT 2.0 wax but im open to suggestions on the soap.

so from what youre saying and they guys at the mazda forum i think the clay is the way to go.

[Murr1525]

Re: Help with Step 2: Cleaning

1. A good quality wash like Nxt, or Gold Class will be best. I'd probably go with Gold Class.

2. Clay - Yup, claying a new car would be a good idea. It should go fast anyway. Just remember to cut up the clay into a couple pieces, because if you drop it, you wont want to use it on your paint again.

3. Clean/Polish/Wax - If you want to keep things simple and quick at first, I would go with ColorX. It is also a cleaner/wax, but just a little stronger of a cleaner, which I feel is good for a daily driver.

4. Wax - Since 2 coats of wax is recomended, topping either of the cleaner/waxes with a coat of a regular wax is a good idea, and will look a bit better as well. Nxt 2.0 would be a fine choice.

[sas71]

Re: Help with Step 2: Cleaning

hows this sound:

wash --- Gold Class or NXT (is one better than the other?)

clean --- Clay kit

polish --- ICE (so far i like it and dont want to waste $17 but id like to have some recommendations on other polishes for a silver car) or should i use a pre cleaner? either way big time help with products on this section

wax --- NXT 2.0 liquid

[yalerd]

Re: Help with Step 2: Cleaning

On the polish you can try Meguiar's #7 Show Car Glaze, you won't regret it

[Murr1525]

Re: Help with Step 2: Cleaning

I have not used the ICE, so I cant comment much. According to their website, it says that ICE polish is a protectant like a wax, not a cleaner or polish as Meguiars would define them. So really you are comparing Ice to Nxt 2.0.

That would mean you would still be looking at a cleaning and polishing step if you wanted to come close to a full detail.

[sas71]

Re: Help with Step 2: Cleaning

On the polish you can try Meguiar's #7 Show Car Glaze, you won't regret it

can that be used by hand, im not allowed to play with power tools just yet

also id like something thats easy on/easy off and i can do the whole car. im not good with small sections

[sas71]

Re: Help with Step 2: Cleaning

i wanted to try the Deep Crystal Polish but it said it was for darker cars..would it really hurt it to put it on a silver finish?

[sas71]

Re: Help with Step 2: Cleaning

since the car is still new do i really need a pre cleaner?

wouldnt the clay do all the cleaning it needed?

sorry for all the questions i just want to keep my little car shined up and at its best.

[Murr1525]

Re: Help with Step 2: Cleaning

Clay removes stuff off the surface, while a cleaner will remove dirt from the pores/imperfections, so two different things. Only doing one could leave dirt behind, or risk sriwls from dragging debris across the paint. And on a new car, that could easily include rail dust.

As far as polishing, it does two things. One, it helps fill in the pores of the paint so other dirt cant get in, and thus help keep the paint healthy, and two, helps it look better, esp on dark colors. So for you, since the paint is new, there wont be many open pores yet. And on silver, it wont add a lot to the looks. So for you, it is kind of optional, although using a cleaner/wax would cover it a bit in a quick way.

Using a pure polish, it is best to do small sections, or a panel at most. Using a cleaner/wax you can just do the whole car and let it dry.

You might also like to read "A Lesson from White Paint" by Mike Phillips over at autopia.org.

[sas71]

Re: Help with Step 2: Cleaning

ok so after claying i could use Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner then polish then wax?

could you recommend a polish, again that i can do by hand and id really like to be able to do the whole car at one time. something thats easy/on/off

[Murr1525]

Re: Help with Step 2: Cleaning

Here are the two basic processes I would look at. I'll give the full detail and a quick detail. Both will work great, so dont worry, just a matter of how much time you have to work. And if doing the whole car at once is a concern, then the ColorX way might work better for you as well. Remember ColorX is a cleaner/polish/wax, so it still has some of the oils in it.

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. Clean - Deep Crystal Cleaner #1
4. Polish - DC Polish #2
5. Wax - Nxt 2.0
6. Wax - Nxt 2.0

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. ColorX
4. Wax - Nxt 2.0

[sas71]

Re: Help with Step 2: Cleaning

so the Deep Crys polish #2 will be ok for a silver car?