What Kind Of Agent To Use Before A New Wax

[W211E320]

Hi,

the regularly car care I do is as follows:

Once a week:
- washing the car with Meguiars Soft Wash Gel (I know it's old - but I love it ) and the Ultimate Wash Mitt
- drying with a microfiber Water Magnet
- then using Ultimate Quick Detailer or Ultimate Quick Wax, depending how the paint feels

Between, depending on how much I drive:
- using UQD or Ultimate Wash & Wax Anywhere

2 Times a year, once in spring once in fall:
- washing with normal agent for dishes to clean the car from the old wax
- using Ultimate Compound by hand with much care
- using Ultimate Polish
- using Ultimate Liquid Wax (2 times)

After watching different "how to videos" I feel not certain about the use of normal agent to clean the car from old wax.

What kind of agent do you use for cleaning the old wax before putting new one on?

Thanks!

[greg0303]

Re: What Kind Of Agent To Use Before A New Wax

One pretty important step is missing in your routines: claying.

Dishwashing soap is definitely too harsh on your paint so it's better to keep it close to kitchen sink and far from your car.

Full detail:
1. Wash - by hand of course, two bucket method, car soap, gentle wash media, Water Magnet
2. Optional tar and metal particle removal - CarPro Iron-X or TriX
3. Clay - to remove above surface bonded contaminants, will remove old wax and provide better bonding between fresh wax and paint
4. Surface prep/ Cleaning - depending on paint shape: Ultimate Compound, SwirlX
5. Polishing (optional) - Ultimate Polish, M205 Ultra Finishing Polish, M07 Show Car Glaze
6. Protection/ Wax - your favorite wax (no cleaner wax)

Quick detail:
1. Wash
2. Clay (if needed)
3. Pre-wax cleaner: Ultimate Polish, M205 or gentle cleaner wax (M06 Cleaner Wax, ColorX, A12 Cleaner Wax)
4. Wax - your favorite wax

Your maintenance routine using Ultimate Wash & Wax Anywhere, Ultimate Quik Wax and Ultimate Quik Detailer is very good and it will extend "just detailed" look of your vehicle for months.

[goldenlight]

With a Da i use ultimate polish. I would only use ultimate for scratches i couldn't get with ult polish.

[Murr1525]

Re: What Kind Of Agent To Use Before A New Wax

The paint cleaners that you use, like the UC or UP, will remove any wax. No need for a stronger cleaner.

Your car wont explode from using dish soap.... but no benefit to it either. And since the car wash soap is designed to provide lubrication, you may be losing some of that and risking more swirls.

Also, if you are QDing or UWWAing every day, it might not need a weekly wash. Unless you enjoy it of course.

[W211E320]

Re: What Kind Of Agent To Use Before A New Wax

Hi guys,
thanks for your help and explanation!
Greg, I never tried to clay - but I understand that this is an important step to avoid the use of harder than necessary products and to replace the dish soap. I will do it in next round in spring. By the way - do you have a quick link to an explanation of the differences between Ultimate Polish, M205 Ultra Finishing Polish, M07 Show Car Glaze?
Yeah Murr, granted I enjoy washing my car , but there is also the need to do that according to the weather and driven ways - particularly on the Autobahn with high speed two problems apear: if it's raining the dirt is pressed in every little chink (in winter the road salt) - here the use of water is very helpful; in spring and summer it is amazing how much insects you collect at the front of the car if you're driving 120 mp/h and above - the SWG removes them very good.

[wifpd4]

Re: What Kind Of Agent To Use Before A New Wax

in spring and summer it is amazing how much insects you collect at the front of the car if you're driving 120 mp/h and above - the SWG removes them very good.

You mean they aren't just vaporized at that speed? My car cuts out at 112, plus it's illegal. So I don't know what 120 does to grasshoppers.

I like Ultimate Wash and Wax Anywhere for bug removal.

[W211E320]

Re: What Kind Of Agent To Use Before A New Wax

... the problem is that the amount of bugs increase considerable when driving over 120 mp/h. From time to time I drive distances between 120 miles - 370 miles a day on the Autobahn, and, when possible - according to the traffic - with a speed between 120 mp/h and 143 mp/h. After such a ride the front of the car is littered with bugs. For a fast clean up of the main front parts I also use UW&WA - but for cleaning all the little chinks SWG with water is easier and faster than working with a microfiber in these areas.