Keeping it Clean

[KeelSquad]

I have a 2012 Hyundia Elantra and of course its Black! Keeping this car clean has been a nightmare (I know should have seen it coming when buying a black car). This is the first time I'm going to be waxing this car and the first time waxing a black car in general. I have just purchased Swirl X and I'm a little confused on application and what wax would be best?

_Dave_

[Murr1525]

Re: Keeping it Clean

Well, the SwirlX is pretty straightforward, just apply it to a 1.5 foot square or so, work it in a little, and then remove. I like to use the smooth foam applicators.

Wax is kind of a personal choice. Ult. Wax will tend to be the best protecting one... Gold Class might give a little deeper look.

[KeelSquad]

Re: Keeping it Clean

Thank you for the tips on SwirlX it looked like it was that simple but I didnt want to take any chances...

Does anyone have any luck with the Black Wax? I have been doing some research around the internet and this looks like it may be just what im looking for.

[Murr1525]

Re: Keeping it Clean

The Black Wax is a mild cleaner/wax with a lot of polishing oils in it.

So you could try using it a few different ways, such as:

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. Black Wax
4. Wax

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. SwirlX - If you needed something stronger to clean with before the Black Wax.
4. Black Wax
5. Wax - Using something like Gold Class or Ult. Wax after if you want two coats of wax.

I am sure many people out there will just go Wash-Clay-Black Wax and be done with it.

[KeelSquad]

Re: Keeping it Clean

Took your advice and I believe the car came out amazing! Thanx for the help

[Murr1525]

Re: Keeping it Clean

Looks pretty sharp...

[ffboy]

Re: Keeping it Clean

Nice car, nice shine! Now maintain it with Ultimates for more durability... Ultimate Quik Detailer for light dust removal, and Ultimate Quik wax maybe once a week after a carwash

Or Gold Class line-Same as with the UQD/UQW, use gold class quick detailer for light dust removal, gold class spray wax after every car wash. It may give a deeper shine than Ultimates, but less durability

[KeelSquad]

Re: Keeping it Clean

Still a rookie when it comes to car detailing. Do you mind exsplaining in a little more depth what I should do to maintain the shine? I put in a lot of work took me about 5 hours to do the whole car. I washed, clay bar, swirlx, and did two coats of wax all by hand I would hate to have her dirty in two days!

[Blueline]

Re: Keeping it Clean

S I would hate to have her dirty in two days!

The only way to guarantee that would be to garage it, and not drive it. It is a black car, and it will get dirty (dusty) driving a few miles down the road on a beautiful sunny day. It is something you are going to have to live with. I know, I have a black vehicle. You might want to try the California Duster. Some people swear by them as I do, others are afraid to use them becasue they think they will scratch their car. (It won't if used properly, I have no scratches or swirls) Congrats on owning a black car...life as you knew it is over.

[Top Gear]

Re: Keeping it Clean

I use the "California Duster", which does not scratch, and lots of Gold Class QD & QW. I did a full correction back in February and have only washed the car once since then, getting through the entire pollen season! I put a "2 micron" filter on my garden hose and use a leaf blower to push the beads down and off after a rinse, or otherwise just use Quik product to clean and boost the wax finish. I promise that mine is no longer a nightmare to keep detailed. You'll have to live with a little bit of dust here and there, but remember that most people are farther away and don't see it. They only see an amazingly black Elantra

[Cosmotime]

Re: Keeping it Clean

Top Gear - Where did you get the "2 micron" filter for your garden hose and what exactly do you look or ask for? I like the idea. Thanks.

[Top Gear]

Re: Keeping it Clean

I got it at Lowes. Look for the $20 Whirlpool "whole house" filter housing in the kitchen/bath area and also an $11 2-pack of the strongest Whirlpool "2-micron" filters. Their other filters are surely good enough for basic filtration (I think they were something like 8 and 20 microns), but because I was having such a fuss with hard water deposits, I figured why not go as tight as I could. The filters are to last 6 months, but that would be for the whole house under heavy daily use. The housing's stainless female threads are the right size but are too fine to fit the typical garden hose threads, so look in hardware for two brass female-to-male 3/4" garden hose fittings and one male-to-male. The part numbers I found were Watts A-680 GH7 and A-679 GH6. Use white thread tape and these will create a water-tight inline female-to-male flow for any garden hose setup. I installed mine right at the tap on the side of the house, then a hose roller's extender from there, so I'm not pulling on the filter. There was no noticeable drop in water pressure, and the hard water spots are history. Also, I got the $29 leaf blower at Home Depot (while looking in both stores, near each other), which is plenty powerful. So now when I rinse or wash, I just put down the sprayer and pick up the blower to push the beads right off, which takes some patience, and you need to be tall or reach high to point down, but it's far better than waiting for the beads to dry or wiping them all down. I can rinse, blow off, and then finish with QW for two cars in 20 minutes! The only issue is that now I'm "that guy", running a loud freakin' leaf blower...