How do you keep your car clean between clay and wax?

[agp423]

How do you keep your car clean between clay and wax? I'm always paranoid that if by the time I'm done claying my whole car, enough dust would have settled on it for me to need to clay it all over again...

[Zuke]

Re: How do you keep your car clean between clay and wax?

I wash just thinking that the other day, its been about a month since i've clayed my truck, and the paint still has a glass feel to it, i applied NXT 2.0 after the clay/was, and since have washed 2 other times w/o wax or clay. I think it really depends on what exactly is bonding to the paint, with the amount of dust and pollen thats been on my truck i thought i would be over due for a clay. but turns out a few gold class showers ands its still smooth.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: How do you keep your car clean between clay and wax?

Are you working outside?

One thing you can do if you have a possible dust problem, for example it's windy outside, is to break your car up into panels and only work a panel at a time. That is wash dry the car, then clay the car and wipe off your claying residue, now wax one panel like the hood while it's still clean. Allow the wax to dry and then remove it.

Now wipe the next panel down, like the roof or hood with quick detailer and a clean microfiber polishing cloth to remove any dust and then wax that panel or section.

It will take longer but by shrinking your work area down you have more control over the cleanliness of the paint before you actually start applying a wax to it.

[Tuck91]

Re: How do you keep your car clean between clay and wax?

after I clay I usually wipe my truck down with M34 before putting my wax on.

[akimel]

Re: How do you keep your car clean between clay and wax?

How do you keep your car clean between clay and wax? I'm always paranoid that if by the time I'm done claying my whole car, enough dust would have settled on it for me to need to clay it all over again...

I believe there is probably a specific reference to this concern in the DSM. All of us here on MOL share in this neurosis, to one degree or another.

There's only one cure: chill out!

[agp423]

Re: How do you keep your car clean between clay and wax?

I just took some shots of my car. Some pictures make it look so clean, while others show swirls marks all around.
Some background info: I got this car two weeks ago as a certified pre-owned vehicle. I'm not sure if the dealer cleaned/waxed the car, but I always like to have a clean slate to start with. I like to clean/wax my car after I get them, reinstalled the operating system after I buy a new computer, etc.
But anyway, here are the pictures, let me know if I should clean/wax it now or wait a while. Is there anything I should know about my car?

http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/22112736

[agp423]

Re: How do you keep your car clean between clay and wax?

Picture's up!

http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/22112736

[akimel]

Re: How do you keep your car clean between clay and wax?

Agp, if removal of swirls is important to you--and it's important to all of us here on MOL--then there's no reason why you should wait before addressing their removal.

Are you working by hand?

I assume you are. Go down to the local auto store and get yourself the right products and tools. Specifically, you need SwirlX, Ultimate Compound, good microfiber towels, and foam applicators. You may need to order the last two online, in which case you might want to order everything online, just to reduce your shipping costs. Check out the various postings in the forum Working by Hand.

[agp423]

Re: How do you keep your car clean between clay and wax?

Yes I am working by hand. I got the following already, and I'm trying my best to refrain from buying anything if I don't have to: NXT Gen Car Wash, NXT Gen Tech Wax 2.0, Ultimate Detailer, Quik Int Detailer, many microfiber towels, and foam applicator pads.

Is there anything I should do differently if there's already a little wax on the car?

[akimel]

Re: How do you keep your car clean between clay and wax?

Yes I am working by hand. I got the following already, and I'm trying my best to refrain from buying anything if I don't have to: NXT Gen Car Wash, NXT Gen Tech Wax 2.0, Ultimate Detailer, Quik Int Detailer, many microfiber towels, and foam applicator pads.

You are off to an excellent start, but if you want to remove paint swirls, you will need to purchase SwirlX and Ultimate Compound. You need an abrasive polish: see What it means to remove a scratch out of anything...

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: How do you keep your car clean between clay and wax?

I would get the Smooth Surface clay kit. Then after washing the car, I would clay it. Then do your test spot to see what works best for you. Swirlx, scratchx, or the ultimate compound. Once you achieve the results you want, apply the NXT 2.0.

[agp423]

Re: How do you keep your car clean between clay and wax?

I thought swirl marks is just simply dust particles and go away after some claying?

[CieraSL]

Re: How do you keep your car clean between clay and wax?

Claying will not remove swirls, it will only remove bonded contaminants that cannot be removed with just washing. Swirls are tiny scratches that appear to be circular because of how the light hits them. You have to remove them with a dedicated paint cleaner, such as Swirl X or Ultimate Compound.

[agp423]

Re: How do you keep your car clean between clay and wax?

Which would you recommend?

[CieraSL]

Re: How do you keep your car clean between clay and wax?

Which would you recommend?

Depends on how hard your clearcoat is. You might just go ahead and pick up both. Ultimate Compound is more aggressive than SwirlX, so you'll probably get the results you want without needing to step up to something more aggressive, plus it finishes LSP ready. So I'd probably recommend Ultimate Compound. Read this thread before you start: Application for Ultimate Compound Hope this helps!