Basic New Car Care Steps

[KingWeb]

Great forum!

I just bought a new black dodge challenger and live in AZ, the car looks great now, but want to keep it that way.

1. Should I use Ultimate Protectant on brand new interior?
2. When will it be ok to "wax the car", how long should I wait? ...or do I even need to do this during the first year of ownership?
2a. What type of wax should I use (hot and sunny here in AZ)
3. Can I or should I use the California Car Duster for surface dust? (I read that this has peravin wax, good or bad?)
4. I have cloth seats, is there or should I use a "cloth protectant" spray?

Any other recommendations are welcome
I just want to get started in the right direction and haven't owned a new car for 11 years.

Thanks!

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Basic New Car Care Steps

Great forum!

I just bought a new black dodge challenger and live in AZ, the car looks great now, but want to keep it that way.

1. Should I use Ultimate Protectant on brand new interior?
2. When will it be ok to "wax the car", how long should I wait? ...or do I even need to do this during the first year of ownership?
2a. What type of wax should I use (hot and sunny here in AZ)
3. Can I or should I use the California Car Duster for surface dust? (I read that this has peravin wax, good or bad?)
4. I have cloth seats, is there or should I use a "cloth protectant" spray?

We've moved your thread to the Detailing 101 section of our forum rather than Hot Topics.

With that out of the way, welcome to MOL and congrats on the new Challenger!

Now to answer your questions in order:

1. Whether you choose UP, Natural Shine, Supreme Shine or anything else, now is the time to get started with a routine. So, yes, feel free to appy the dressing of your choice now.
2. It's OK to wax the day you brought the car home - go for it.
2a. Your best bet will be to stick with a full synthetic wax like NXT Tech Wax 2.0 or Ultimate Wax. If you go with NXT (liquid or paste) you'll want to apply a very thin layer to all the painted surfaces of the vehicle and then let it dry for 20 minutes or so before wiping off. If you go with Ultimate Wax Liquid then apply in a very thin coat to just a couple of panels and wipe off before going further. If Ultimate Wax Paste then apply to all painted surfaces and let dry before wipe off.
3. The California Duster is fine as long as you use it very lightly and never apply pressure with it. For very light dust removal you're probably better off with some Ultimate Quik Detailer and a few microfiber towels. But if the dust is a bit heavier, like it can be in AZ, use the duster to remove the bulk of it and then follow with UQD and the microfibers.
4. We don't make any sort of protectant for cloth seats, but there are other products on the market, notably ScotchGard, that are good to use. Of course, laying down the law and making it illegal for anyone (yourself included) to eat or drink (water is fine) in the car is probably the best way to avoid stains in the first place.

Any other recommendations are welcome
I just want to get started in the right direction and haven't owned a new car for 11 years.

Even though the Challenger is brand new, it's traveled quite a way from the factory in Ontario, Canada to reach you in Arizona. That means truck and rail transport, and that often means the collection of some bonded contaminants on the surface. Some dealerships do a great job of prepping new cars, others not so much. Wash and dry the car thoroughly and then inspect it by feeling the surface with your bare hands, or with a plastic sandwich bag over your hand. If the paint has any roughness to it at all, clay it. It really should feel smooth as glass. Also, look at the paint critically in direct sunlight. You're looking for the presence of swirls which can easily be found on new cars. If the car sat on the dealer lot for any length of time it was probably washed, and probably not with the level of care that anyone on a detailing forum would show. If these are present then a paint cleaner of some sort is in order to correct them.

But this evaluation is up to you, and the overall condition you want to achieve with the finish is up to you. You should probably read through the 5 Step Paint Care Cycle to gain a better understanding of the complete process.