Black Ridgeline

[JON630]

I have a 2008 Black honda Ridgeline and I would like to keep it in the best shape I can. I am looking at a wash/clay/polish/wax tentative schedule. It's a new car and looks good. Here are the products I am looking at. I am completely open to any suggestions!

1.NXT Gen car wash OR Soft Wash Gel
2.Clay bar with lube (ult quick detailer)
3.Swirl X
4.NXT Gen Wax

I was also told NOT to use a terry cloth and SHOULD use a micro fiber mitt to wash and a seperate one to dry. Along with a two buckett washing system, this should decrease scratches and swirls. I will let you know!

[MaksimumAutoDetailing]

Re: Black Ridgeline

Get a Gritguard. They prevent the re uptake of dirt and particles that'll scratch your clear coat. They'll save you a lot of hassle from constantly instilling swirls.

http://www.gritguard.com/

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Black Ridgeline

Best 30 minute video you'll ever watch on how to properly wash you car without creating swirls or scratches!

How to Wash Your Car Show Car Style

[dvtldav]

Re: Black Ridgeline

Use quik detailer for your lube w/clay not Ultimate Quik Detailer. Quik Detailer does a better job and is cheaper.

Dave

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Black Ridgeline

1.NXT Gen car wash OR Soft Wash Gel
2.Clay bar with lube (ult quick detailer)
3.Swirl X
4.NXT Gen Wax

That looks good, if it's in great shap right now then you're off to a great start.

Are you doing all your work by hand?

I was also told NOT to use a terry cloth and SHOULD use a micro fiber mitt to wash and a separate one to dry. Along with a two bucket washing system, this should decrease scratches and swirls. I will let you know!

Quality microfiber products are more gentle to your cars scratch-sensitive paint than terry cloth in most cases.

If you want to keep your clear coated black paint clear and defect free then ANYTHING that touches the paint needs to be soft and gentle. Anytime you work on the paint you need to focus on the task at hand and be careful to alway use your best skills and abilities when applying and removing paint care products.

If you're working by hand then get some soft foam applicator pads like these,

X3070 Soft Foam Applicator Pad




You'll want to apply the SwirlX to small sections at a time, about a foot squared of so the idea being you don't want to tackle too large of an area when removing swirls. Work the product for about a minute for each of these sections and then wipe off the residue before it dries.

After you've went around the car with ScratchX go to your choice of wax and apply a thin coating over all the paint and allow the wax to fully dry before removing.

[JON630]

Re: Black Ridgeline

Thanks for the tips on the swirl X. I am at least starting out by hand and may consider a rotary tool in the future. I have some microfiber round pads as well. Is foam better to use as an applicator than mcrofiber?

[Murr1525]

Re: Black Ridgeline

Yo uwould want to go from hand, to a G110 type product, then a roatary.

At any rate for right now, yes, the yellow round foam applicators would be fine.