1st detail on my truck,soap question.

[Jprix82]

I plan to wash,clay,wash,polish,wax my truck but I had a question.

Im going to first wash it with (blue)Dawn but after claying can I wash it with UWW or will it affect the LSP since it contains wax within itself?

[KKloppe]

Re: 1st detail on my truck,soap question.

May I ask why are you going to wash it with Dawn, and why you feel the need to wash it after claying? The Clay Bar is going to strip the wax that is left over after you wash it the first time, and washing won't be necessary after the car has been clayed.

Just wash it with normal car washing soap, then clay it, then move on to either defect correction or polishing. There's no need for a second wash or for using dawn. Also, some believe that Dawn is too harsh for your car's paint to begin with.

Someone stop me if I'm on the wrong track here.

[Murr1525]

Re: 1st detail on my truck,soap question.

UW&W would be a bit of a waste if going to detail after. Nothing wrong, but waste of a few bucks. I have a bottle of Gold Class and a bottle of UW&W, and use either one as appropriate.

Also, no need to was after claying.

As far as Dawn.... really no need unless there is something seriously dirty going on. Just Gold Class soap (or similar), clay, polsih, wax, wax.

[Jprix82]

Re: 1st detail on my truck,soap question.

UW&W would be a bit of a waste if going to detail after. Nothing wrong, but waste of a few bucks. I have a bottle of Gold Class and a bottle of UW&W, and use either one as appropriate.

Also, no need to was after claying.

As far as Dawn.... really no need unless there is something seriously dirty going on. Just Gold Class soap (or similar), clay, polsih, wax, wax.

Thx for the post.

The only car wash soap I have is UW&W because I have the new car kit.

I want to use dawn just to get a really clean canvas to work on. I have used UQW in a few places,and have couple DIRTY spots.

[Jprix82]

Re: 1st detail on my truck,soap question.

May I ask why are you going to wash it with Dawn, and why you feel the need to wash it after claying? The Clay Bar is going to strip the wax that is left over after you wash it the first time, and washing won't be necessary after the car has been clayed.

Just wash it with normal car washing soap, then clay it, then move on to either defect correction or polishing. There's no need for a second wash or for using dawn. Also, some believe that Dawn is too harsh for your car's paint to begin with.

Someone stop me if I'm on the wrong track here.

I read at a couple places(inc. Zaino) that Dawn is a good initial wash product before a major detail.

I though I read that washing after claying is suppose to remove clay lube or anything left from the clay itself,but I quess they was wrong.

[1970judge]

Re: 1st detail on my truck,soap question.

I usually clay while wet with Last touch as lube. Once I am done claying, I normally give a quick re-wash. It is pretty much an unnecessary step, but it helps ease my mind.

[Murr1525]

Re: 1st detail on my truck,soap question.

No, using the clay will remove some wax and dirt, and your clean/polish product (SwirlX, Ult. Polish) will remove the rest of the wax and dirt, and QD residue. As you clay, you would dry up the lube as much as possible.

The thing with getting into Meguiars products is that the idea is to always be gentle, protect the surface, etc. Besides the Dawn being stronger than needed (and no, using it one time wont make your car blow up), it also wont have the lubrication that the proper car wash soaps have. A good soap will almost be more of an oil for the mitt and dirt to glide across, so it is as gentle as possible and causing as few swirls as possible.

Unless there was really some sort of oily grime that needed the degreasing properties of Dawn, using Dawn just isnt going to move things forward in a meaningfull way. Backwards if you cause more swirls....