Your Daily Driver: A Simple Wash & Wax Regimen

[Bill Davidson]

Re: Your Daily Driver: A Simple Wash & Wax Regimen

But it gets dusty the very next day, and I was told NEVER to use a CALIFORNIA CAR DUSTER
is this true?

It sounds like your environment is likely a little too dirty for a California Duster, especially for a black vehicle. You might be better off with a microfiber and quik detailer (many to choose from) for lubrication.

Calaifornia Dusters are just fine, but they are only for dust. Think... car show using it 5-6 times a day. This is safe.
you pretty much have to use a California Duster 1-2 times a day for it to be "safe".

I'd love to see the old shuffleboard slab in use. seriously :-)
I deal with the same thing. I have a dirt/gravel drive that I continually add gravel to each year a few pick-up load at a time. I often park on 2"x6" pieces of wood to get the tires out of the dirt to wash and dress them. I actually let them hang about an inch over the edge of the wood.

Hey sometime you got to do what works.

come on... let's see that shuffle board in action

Bill

[akimel]

Re: Your Daily Driver: A Simple Wash & Wax Regimen

I'm delighted to see that this article that I wrote a year and a half ago has had over 20,000 views. Huzzah!

[akimel]

Re: Your Daily Driver: A Simple Wash & Wax Regimen

Oh I see about the straight to wax after claying, what I asked was whether I can use the cleaning abilities of prepsol instead of a cleaner wax.

I know that some detailers use products like Prep-Sol and Prep-All after a polishing session to remove completely all traces of remaining polishing oils. They do this because polishing oils can "fill" and thus hide defects, and they want to ensure they are getting the maximum paint correction. I do not believe, though, that Prep-Sol functions well as a substitute for what Meguiar's calls a "paint cleaner." But you had better ask Michael Stoops about this.

[RtN]

Re: Your Daily Driver: A Simple Wash & Wax Regimen

Oh I see about the straight to wax after claying, what I asked was whether I can use the cleaning abilities of prepsol instead of a cleaner wax.

[akimel]

Re: Your Daily Driver: A Simple Wash & Wax Regimen

Sure, you can go straight to wax after claying, if you prefer. Many in fact do.

The benefit of the cleaner wax is that is helps to remove stains and below-surface contamination that claybar cannot remove, and it provides an initial layer of protection. You can then top it with your favorite wax/sealant, thus securing the two layers of wax protection that Meguiar's recommends.

There is absolutely no need to wipe the car down with Prepsol after applying a cleaner wax. That defeats the whole purpose and simply adds an additional and unnecessary step in the process.

Compare Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle. They recommend the use of a paint cleaner after claying. After this two coats of one's preferred wax/sealant is to the applied. In my simplified process, I remove the dedicated paint cleaner and and substitute instead an AIO product (some kind of cleaner wax). After the AIO you might choose to stop and congratulate yourself on a find job done, or you might want to add one more protectant coating of the wax of your choice.

[RtN]

Re: Your Daily Driver: A Simple Wash & Wax Regimen

Hrmm in your step after claying.. Is it necessary to use a cleaner wax? What happens if I clay then go straight to wax? Too much build-up?

How about if I wipe down the car with Prepsol after claying instead of a cleaner wax, then apply a coat of wax of my choice.

[JSpecGC8]

Re: Your Daily Driver: A Simple Wash & Wax Regimen

I am no expert and brand new to the forum, but I was always told you never wipe dust off a painted surface when it is dry because it will screw up the paint. I would suggest a quick detailer and a clean wiping cloth like a microfiber towel.

[PSX5GIRL]

Re: Your Daily Driver: A Simple Wash & Wax Regimen

Black SUV
live on dirt
Our house has no concrete, so i wash my baby on an old 'shuffleboard slab' lol in our back yard
I try to work from the top down, (wheels and tires first, separate equipment/bucket) but I keep hosing down the entire car so that it stays wet
and the side to the 'sun' doesn't dry and get spots before I can finish the entire car.
I use a nozzle, to avoid wasting water, but when i'm doing the final rinse, I take the nozzle off, and let the entire stream of water 'sheet over the car'
I use a combonation of old white towels and microfiber ones, and i go as fast as I can, then use invisible glass (best glass cleaner i've ever found) and Meguiars leather cleaner for the interior....Oh and I vacuum before I do any washing.
But it gets dusty the very next day, and I was told NEVER to use a CALIFORNIA CAR DUSTER
is this true?

[AquaBlue]

Re: Your Daily Driver: A Simple Wash & Wax Regimen

I've heard lots of positive things about gold class but never about the megs detailer's brand. I would like to try it but, honestly, I'm more attracted to the bottle and product color of Gold Class

[Murr1525]

Re: Your Daily Driver: A Simple Wash & Wax Regimen

I'd go Gold Class... Hard to go wrong though.

[AquaBlue]

Re: Your Daily Driver: A Simple Wash & Wax Regimen

Can anybody gives me any advice on these products: Gold class Car Wash shampoo & Conditioner and Meguiars Detailer's Brand shampoo plus. I'm trying to decide which one to buy right now.
Thx before.

[k3ith]

Re: Your Daily Driver: A Simple Wash & Wax Regimen

One of the first decisions you will need to make is whether you want to invest in a dual action polisher and set of pads. That initial investment will cost you $250+. But machine polishing is a heck of a lot easier than hand polishing and much more effective.

I bought a dual action polisher recently. I love it and it is well worth the investment. You'll need the polisher, a backing plate, multiple pads (different pads for different uses), and a pad cleaner. Also grab a good extension cable if you don't have one. There are many starter kits out there and now is a good time to buy with all the sales.

[akimel]

Re: Your Daily Driver: A Simple Wash & Wax Regimen

To achieve a true mirror finish, you need to polish the paint with what Meguiar's calls a cleaner/polish and make the surface as smooth as you can. Which polish, or polishes, you will need depends on your paint system and the kind of defects you are seeking to correct.

You are embarking on an adventure. Read through the relevant articles listed in List O' Links.

One of the first decisions you will need to make is whether you want to invest in a dual action polisher and set of pads. That initial investment will cost you $250+. But machine polishing is a heck of a lot easier than hand polishing and much more effective.

If you are going to work by hand, then you'll want to get yourself Ultimate Compound and SwirlX, as well as several foam applicators and good quality microfiber towels.

The group will will be happy to assist you in any way it can.

Al

[kazykes]

Re: Your Daily Driver: A Simple Wash & Wax Regimen

I WAS JUST SECONDS AWAY TO ASK THAT......HOW TO WAX MY CAR??? SO FOR THE SWIRL MARKS I DONT NEED THE SWIRLX? SO ITS:
Wash and dry car, Clay bar the car (does this scratch the car?), Cleaner wax (what is this for???) and then the nxt wax ??? how can i get my car to look like a mirror?? please help me!!!!

[solstice]

Re: Your Daily Driver: A Simple Wash & Wax Regimen

for a daily driver and living in asia region which get rainfall quite frequent, the nxt tech wax 2.0 will obvious looses in slick effect so quick. with dusty environment, the paintwork will get contaminates easily. since im using metallic silver car, it seems the hardest color which one can see the dirt from a distance. but in close proximity, the dirt can be seen clearly. though the slick effect disappear, i observed that the wet look is still there but with a degraded shine. a water sheeting test will still be good. my question is, is the wax film still intact to the paint?? unlike the UQD, wax can be obviously distinguish with the slick (lubricated) effect on the surface.