Did my first wash/clay/wax, how to keep it going

[detroit_fan]

We bought a new car last week and yesterday i did a wash, dry, clay, and wax (ultimate paste). Car looks really good, just curious what kind of a routine i should use to keep it that way. i'm assuming a good wash ever 2 weeks or so, but what about after the wash? Something like Quik Wax?

[STRIFE]

Re: Did my first wash/clay/wax, how to keep it going

Yep, now that you have the car in the condition you want, using UQW/UQD after washes would be great.
Using the 2 bucket wash method with grit guards would be a good ideal too

[detroit_fan]

Re: Did my first wash/clay/wax, how to keep it going

Yep, now that you have the car in the condition you want, using UQW/UQD after washes would be great.
Using the 2 bucket wash method with grit guards would be a good ideal too

thanks. i did do the 2 bucket wash, but i couldn't find the grit guards locally so i am ordering some for the next wash.

could you elaborate a little on the differences between the UQW and the UQT after a wash? I was under the impression that the UQD was more for cleaning, and the UQW was more of a protectant. am i supposed to use both, or only 1 after a wash?

[STRIFE]

Re: Did my first wash/clay/wax, how to keep it going

I usually alternate between UQD and UQW after a bucket wash
I tend to grab UQW after using Hyperwash wash soap or GC wash soap.....and grab UQD after using UWW wash soap.
I like using UQD to give areas I may have missed a quik spot cleaning after a bucket wash, door jamms, gas doors etc.
Lotsa members here have their own preferences on UQD/UQW

[detroit_fan]

Re: Did my first wash/clay/wax, how to keep it going

I usually alternate between UQD and UQW after a bucket wash
I tend to grab UQW after using Hyperwash wash soap or GC wash soap.....and grab UQD after using UWW wash soap.
I like using UQD to give areas I may have missed a quik spot cleaning after a bucket wash, door jamms, gas doors etc.
Lotsa members here have their own preferences on UQD/UQW

thanks. i am using the GC wash, i'll give both a try. i really appreciate the advice.

[Meticulous-Detail]

Re: Did my first wash/clay/wax, how to keep it going

I use D156 aka UQW every other wash to maintain and boost my current sealant. Works great and to save time make it part of the drying process. I dry with leaf blower and then do a final wipe with D156.

[detroit_fan]

Re: Did my first wash/clay/wax, how to keep it going

I use D156 aka UQW every other wash to maintain and boost my current sealant. Works great and to save time make it part of the drying process. I dry with leaf blower and then do a final wipe with D156.

i tried the leaf blower yesterday, but did not have very good results. i was able to sue it to get the water out from the mirrors, lights and lower grill inserts, but wasn't able to get the water to go away on the painted surfaces. i was using a lithium ion batter powered blower, maybe i needed electric one?

[Meticulous-Detail]

I use D156 aka UQW every other wash to maintain and boost my current sealant. Works great and to save time make it part of the drying process. I dry with leaf blower and then do a final wipe with D156.

i tried the leaf blower yesterday, but did not have very good results. i was able to sue it to get the water out from the mirrors, lights and lower grill inserts, but wasn't able to get the water to go away on the painted surfaces. i was using a lithium ion batter powered blower, maybe i needed electric one?

They don't have enough power. I sold my cordless leaf blower and got a Toro Electric Leaf blower. Huge difference.

[Top Gear]

Re: Did my first wash/clay/wax, how to keep it going

I'll add to the good advice above from Strife and Meticulous. I've found Gold Class Quik Detailer to be a great general cleaner, but it's also a protectant and finisher. Quik Wax is wax, so I use GCQW to boost the wax which has worn off due to rain, washing, rinsing, QD, etc. I did a full machine correction in February finishing with Gold Class wax, which everyone says doesn't last, but you'd never know it, because I regularly boost it back up with Gold Class Quik Wax.

As for a blower, I only got a $30 7amp electric Homelite from Home Depot as a way of testing, and I've been more than pleased with it. Armed with a blower, quik products, and magic rags (micro-fibre towels), I rarely have to wash the car outright, usually about once a month, and only because it got really dirty in an obvious way. Otherwise, I just rinse with filtered garden hose water, blow it dry, and touch up with quik product as needed

[detroit_fan]

Re: Did my first wash/clay/wax, how to keep it going

They don't have enough power. I sold my cordless leaf blower and got a Toro Electric Leaf blower. Huge difference.

yeah i figured it was because it was a battery one. i see some on amazon with about 235mph, i might pick up one of those.

I'll add to the good advice above from Strife and Meticulous. I've found Gold Class Quik Detailer to be a great general cleaner, but it's also a protectant and finisher. Quik Wax is wax, so I use GCQW to boost the wax which has worn off due to rain, washing, rinsing, QD, etc. I did a full machine correction in February finishing with Gold Class wax, which everyone says doesn't last, but you'd never know it, because I regularly boost it back up with Gold Class Quik Wax.

As for a blower, I only got a $30 7amp electric Homelite from Home Depot as a way of testing, and I've been more than pleased with it. Armed with a blower, quik products, and magic rags (micro-fibre towels), I rarely have to wash the car outright, usually about once a month, and only because it got really dirty in an obvious way. Otherwise, I just rinse with filtered garden hose water, blow it dry, and touch up with quik product as needed

thanks for the reply, i appreciate the info.

out of curiosity, what is filtered garden hose water?

[STRIFE]

Re: Did my first wash/clay/wax, how to keep it going

I use a cheapo Toro leaf blower I got really cheap a couple yrs ago from Home Depot, $20 and blows at 160mph.
It works great and it is powerful enough provided you have a good layer of wax on your vehicle.
When the water doesn't move "fast" enough off a panel, it means the wax is all but gone...
My MPV only has UQW/D156...and blasting with my cheapo leaf blower makes quik work of the family hauler

http://www.amazon.com/Toro-51585-2-Speed-Electric-Blower/dp/B0012QLVRM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1375032486&sr=8-2&keywords=toro+leaf+blower

this is the model I have

[detroit_fan]

Re: Did my first wash/clay/wax, how to keep it going

I use a cheapo Toro leaf blower I got really cheap a couple yrs ago from Home Depot, $20 and blows at 160mph.
It works great and it is powerful enough provided you have a good layer of wax on your vehicle.
When the water doesn't move "fast" enough off a panel, it means the wax is all but gone...
My MPV only has UQW/D156...and blasting with my cheapo leaf blower makes quik work of the family hauler

http://www.amazon.com/Toro-51585-2-Speed-Electric-Blower/dp/B0012QLVRM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1375032486&sr=8-2&keywords=toro+leaf+blower

this is the model I have

thanks for the link. the car i tried the blower on had not been waxed, hopefully now that it is i will have better results

[Top Gear]

Re: Did my first wash/clay/wax, how to keep it going

...out of curiosity, what is filtered garden hose water?

Oh, I'd put a Whirlpool whole house 2-micron (the strongest) water filter on my garden hose, as we have hard deposit problems, despite supposedly having really good city water. The setup cost about $40 at Lowes for the filter housing, filters, and brass fittings to match garden hose threads. The water can still spot if left to sit, though greatly reduced, so the blower is still essential.

[STRIFE]

Re: Did my first wash/clay/wax, how to keep it going

On a side note, Vancouver water is really soft so I don't know if that makes a difference when using a leaf blower.

[Jeremy1980]

Re: Did my first wash/clay/wax, how to keep it going

I use a California car duster a lot, particularly in the summer. It helps to avoid going to the car washes constantly when the dust/pollen gets heavy around here.

I haven't towel dried for years, I use the California water blade after washing to squeegee the car front to back. The small amount of water left doesn't show water marks after it dries.