I need help about megs cleaner wax

[Lyle]

To other fellow meguiars users out there, I need help. I'm confused whether or not I should use megs cleaner wax in my coming detailing plan. My car is only two years of age and the thing is I'm afraid it may ruin its original paint and wax. It's still in a very very good condition (still glossy and shiny almost in the same condition when I got it from casa) and all I want is just to maintain and improve it more. So I'm having second thoughts of including cleaner wax in my list as it may be abrasive ruin my original paint.

[Fly Bye]

Re: I need help about megs cleaner wax

I'm having second thoughts of including cleaner wax in my list as it may be abrasive ruin my original paint.

The cleaner wax will not come even remotely close to ruining your paint. Cleaner wax is very mild. Even more aggressive methods will not damage your paint, unless you are using a machine you are not trained to use, such as a rotary buffinbg machine. A cleaner wax won't even reduce the lifespan of your paint, even if you use cleaner wax 30-40 times.

[davey g-force]

Re: I need help about megs cleaner wax

No problems, use the Cleaner Wax to your heart's content.

...You may want to clay the surface first if you've never done that before...

[Lyle]

Re: I need help about megs cleaner wax

The cleaner wax will not come even remotely close to ruining your paint. Cleaner wax is very mild. Even more aggressive methods will not damage your paint, unless you are using a machine you are not trained to use, such as a rotary buffinbg machine. A cleaner wax won't even reduce the lifespan of your paint, even if you use cleaner wax 30-40 times.

Thanks sir for your quick reply. I see, then there's nothing to worry about when applying it in my original paint you say?

Here's my plan:
1. car wash
2. clay bar
3. swirl x
4. (cleaner wax) - undecided
5. step 2
6. LSP

I'm using my hands when applying this products since I don't have a buffing machine.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: I need help about megs cleaner wax

I would just skip #5. No need to clay, after you apply the cleaner wax.

[BillyJack]

Re: I need help about megs cleaner wax

Here's my plan:
1. car wash
2. clay bar
3. swirl x
4. (cleaner wax) - undecided
5. step 2
6. LSP

I'm using my hands when applying this products since I don't have a buffing machine.[/QUOTE]

I agree with your plan, except I too would drop step 5. as there's no need to clay a second time. Cleaner wax is probably the most versatile product in the Meguiars line and, with a good applicator, will never hurt your paint regardless of how often it is used. For a quick but effective job on my daily driver, I'll do this: wash, clay, Cleaner wax.

Here's another alternative to consider:
1. Wash
2. clay
3. spot treat with Swirl X or Scratch X where needed
4. polish with M05, M07 or Deep Crystal polish
5. seal with NXT or similar product
6. LSP-M26 or similar product

maintenance: Cleaner wax, cleaner wax followed by LSP, or 4, 5 and 6, depending on the available time and energy.

There are countless options available to you with Meguiars products. These are just a few of the plans that have worked for me.

Bill

[Lyle]

Re: I need help about megs cleaner wax

Here's my plan:
1. car wash
2. clay bar
3. swirl x
4. (cleaner wax) - undecided
5. step 2
6. LSP

I'm using my hands when applying this products since I don't have a buffing machine.

I agree with your plan, except I too would drop step 5. as there's no need to clay a second time. Cleaner wax is probably the most versatile product in the Meguiars line and, with a good applicator, will never hurt your paint regardless of how often it is used. For a quick but effective job on my daily driver, I'll do this: wash, clay, Cleaner wax.

Here's another alternative to consider:
1. Wash
2. clay
3. spot treat with Swirl X or Scratch X where needed
4. polish with M05, M07 or Deep Crystal polish
5. seal with NXT or similar product
6. LSP-M26 or similar product

maintenance: Cleaner wax, cleaner wax followed by LSP, or 4, 5 and 6, depending on the available time and energy.

There are countless options available to you with Meguiars products. These are just a few of the plans that have worked for me.

Bill[/QUOTE]

I would just skip #5. No need to clay, after you apply the cleaner wax.

Wow, thank you guys for clearing things up. Uhmm.. but isn't it step 2 both polish and sealer? Although I'm also kinda confused to both megs and mothers referring to step 2 differently. The former 'polish' while the latter 'sealer' only.

[Erik Mejia]

Re: I need help about megs cleaner wax

Here's my plan:
1. car wash
2. clay bar
3. swirl x
4. (cleaner wax) - undecided
5. step 2
6. LSP

I'm using my hands when applying this products since I don't have a buffing machine.

If you're gonna use SwirlX, then skip steps 4 and 5 and go straight to step six. Or you could use step 4 as your LSP, which wouldn't be such a bad thing since Meg's Cleaner Wax has polishing oils IIRC.

Also remember to use some elbow grease when working SwirlX against the finish.

[Lyle]

Re: I need help about megs cleaner wax

If you're gonna use SwirlX, then skip steps 4 and 5 and go straight to step six. Or you could use step 4 as your LSP, which wouldn't be such a bad thing since Meg's Cleaner Wax has polishing oils IIRC.

Also remember to use some elbow grease when working SwirlX against the finish.

Ok, looks like a lot of options are available. And yeah, there are only two of us who would do the detailing and as much as possible we would like to reduce our workload w/o underpinning the quality and looks like the cleaner wax can do that.

[Murr1525]

Re: I need help about megs cleaner wax

Thanks sir for your quick reply. I see, then there's nothing to worry about when applying it in my original paint you say?

Here's my plan:
1. car wash
2. clay bar
3. swirl x
4. (cleaner wax) - undecided
5. step 2
6. LSP

I'm using my hands when applying this products since I don't have a buffing machine.

I believe step 2 here may have been refering to the Deep Crystal #2?

Yes, different companies use different names, which doesnt help anything. Obviously almost everything will go by Meguiars terms here.

You want to think like:
1. Wash - remove big loose dirt
2. Clay as needed - remove bonded on dirt
3. Clean - remove dirt from pores, and if strong enough, remove swirls
4. Polish - add oils to the paint for gloss and moisture
5. Wax - protect
6. Wax - 2 thin coats is best

So even if different terms are used, you want the products to do those things in that order.

Now if you feel you need SwirlX for a stronger cleaner, you can do something like this:
1. Wash
2. Clay
3. Clean - SwirlX
4. Polish - Optional, DC Polish
5. Wax
6. Wax

And then a quick detail in the future would be:
1. Wash
2. Clay if needed
3. Cleaner/Wax or ColorX
4. Wax

I mentioned ColorX because I really do like it more than the Cleaner/Wax, it is just a little stronger, good for daily driver grime.

You could also think like this:

1. Wash
2. Clay if needed
3. Clean - Use a stronger cleaner like SwirlX or UC on bad spots
4. Cleaner/Wax or ColorX everything
5. Wax

[akimel]

Re: I need help about megs cleaner wax

Lyle, as already mentioned, Cleaner Wax is fairly mild and you should feel free to use it as frequently as you desire. But there is no need for you to use it if you intend in a given session to polish the paint with SwirlX. But Cleaner Wax is easily incorporated into a regular detailng regimen. Check out this article: Your Daily Driver: A Simple Wash & Wax Regimen.

Have fun!

[Lyle]

Re: I need help about megs cleaner wax

I believe step 2 here may have been refering to the Deep Crystal #2?

Yes, different companies use different names, which doesnt help anything. Obviously almost everything will go by Meguiars terms here.

You want to think like:
1. Wash - remove big loose dirt
2. Clay as needed - remove bonded on dirt
3. Clean - remove dirt from pores, and if strong enough, remove swirls
4. Polish - add oils to the paint for gloss and moisture
5. Wax - protect
6. Wax - 2 thin coats is best

So even if different terms are used, you want the products to do those things in that order.

Now if you feel you need SwirlX for a stronger cleaner, you can do something like this:
1. Wash
2. Clay
3. Clean - SwirlX
4. Polish - Optional, DC Polish
5. Wax
6. Wax

And then a quick detail in the future would be:
1. Wash
2. Clay if needed
3. Cleaner/Wax or ColorX
4. Wax

I mentioned ColorX because I really do like it more than the Cleaner/Wax, it is just a little stronger, good for daily driver grime.

You could also think like this:

1. Wash
2. Clay if needed
3. Clean - Use a stronger cleaner like SwirlX or UC on bad spots
4. Cleaner/Wax or ColorX everything
5. Wax

Yes, I'm referring to deep crystal polish in step 2, sorry. So what you guys are saying I can also substitute swirl x with the cleaner wax meaning it can also remove swirl marks in the process?

You also mentioned SwirlX being a strong cleaner, does it mean it can possibly harm my clear coat? Someone told me I should apply swirlX at least every 45 days.

[Lyle]

Re: I need help about megs cleaner wax

Lyle, as already mentioned, Cleaner Wax is fairly mild and you should feel free to use it as frequently as you desire. But there is no need for you to use it if you intend in a given session to polish the paint with SwirlX. But Cleaner Wax is easily incorporated into a regular detailng regimen. Check out this article: Your Daily Driver: A Simple Wash & Wax Regimen.

Have fun!

Haha just for the sake of assurance, I want to include both swirlX and cleaner wax in my detailing plan. Well, it's my first time to do it so you could say I'm still in the process of experimenting and learning how these things would go about when combined together.

[akimel]

Re: I need help about megs cleaner wax

You also mentioned SwirlX being a strong cleaner, does it mean it can possibly harm my clear coat? Someone told me I should apply swirlX at least every 45 days.

Nah, SwirlX ain't going to hurt your clear coat. It is an abrasive polish, which means that it removes a minuscule amount of paint, which is why it can remove swirls; but even with regular use it isn't going to remove enough clear coat for you to worry about.

Every 45 days? That's too, too much work for me! Even with a dual action polisher, it takes me two days to wash, polish, and wax my car. Hand polishing would break an old man like me. I much prefer to us (in addition, of course, to my regular waxes) a cleaner wax on a regular basis, like Cleaner Wax or ColorX--perhaps every three months or as needed. It cleans the paint and leaves behind a layer of protection. Check out Tom Mosca's article "In Praise of Cleaner Wax."

Keep it simple and keep it fun!

[Murr1525]

Re: I need help about megs cleaner wax

Yes, I'm referring to deep crystal polish in step 2, sorry. So what you guys are saying I can also substitute swirl x with the cleaner wax meaning it can also remove swirl marks in the process?

You also mentioned SwirlX being a strong cleaner, does it mean it can possibly harm my clear coat? Someone told me I should apply swirlX at least every 45 days.

Its not really 'subsituting'.

Cleaner/Wax is a mild product that cleans, polishes, and waxes in one step.
SwirlX is a cleaner and polish, and is strong enough to remove some mild swirls, assuming the paint is workable, etc.

So kind of like I laid out before, you just have to see what you want to accomplish, how much effort, etc.

As for every 45 days.... if applied mildy, it would not damage anything. But nothing is 'needed'.

There would be no need to use them together, except for the sake of practice. Wont damage anything if you did.