Newbie confused about steps 2 and 3

[bill1263]

First post. Been lurking awhile, and this addiction appears contagious. I just ordered a 2006 Mustang GT and you guys have got me fantasizing about detailing it instead of driving it.

I'm getting ready to buy supplies and tackle a 5 year old dark blue car as practice, and I'm a little confused about the cleaning/prepping and the polishing steps.

Understand the clay part, but confused about paint prepping and polishing. I think you're trying to squeeze another step in there. Is ScratchX a paint cleaner? I was going to use it as a polish. Can you recommend what I should be doing after claying and before protecting (waxing) and products I should be using to do it? Just so you know, I got swirls. I've been avoiding looking at anything other than the consumer products fearing even more confusion.

Thanks a lot. This is a great forum and Mike is a great moderator.

[Blr123]

Hello Bill,

There has been a lot of threads lately about swirils, you should try #80 and if there is still some there then move onto #83.

Then it's a polish such as #7 then a sealer like #21 and a wax like #16 although there are many combinations you could go with, I'm about to try the #7 + #21 + #16.

The other week my routine was as follows: -

wash & dry
clay
hose down (detached from the power washer) dry
polish
sealer #21
wax

I now wash once a week and use NXT spray wax as a top up.

Hope this helps.

Bryan

[Murr1525]

Sure, lets see if this helps..Here is my take on the 5-steps:

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. Clean - ScratchX is an agressive cleaner, so this will be good to remove swirls and other imperfections. Once swirls are gone, for future maintenance, you can use something like DC#1, which is mild, and easier to apply. Both are only cleaners.
4. Polish - DC#2 Polish is very good ,and very easy to apply by hand. It will kee pthe paint nourished, and a nice wet gloss.
5. Wax - You can use your choice of waxes, Nxt, Gold Class, etc.

Then I try to use a Spray Wax after every wash to keep it looking good.


ScratchX can wear your arm out, and takes time to work in properly. I often recomend focusing on only half the car for one day, or something like that when using ScratchX. Just wash everything, then focus on Clay, Clean, Polish, Wax half the car, then come back the next for the other half.

With your new car, the same process will work, if it has any swirls from the dealer, you can use ScratchX, if not, just something mild like DC#1. And definately clay a new vehicle.

Hopefluuy your new car wont have any swirls installed by the dealer. If at all possible, dont let them 'prep' it, or wash it for u, etc. Just take it off the truck, and have the mremove the sticker.

[oc detailer]

lol that swhat i did with my new car that i have had for about 8 months, after the purchase the sales man goes, give us a half hour to prep the car, i was like no need to, just check all the fluids and leave the plastic on the car, dont wash it, wipe it down nothing, the saleman thought i was just eager to have the car in my hands, and drive it, lil did he know i didnt want the boys out back touching the car with there swirl mitts, i dont even take the courtesy wash after service..

[Murr1525]

You bring up an interesting point, about leaving the plastic on. Sometimes when a car comes off the truck, with plastic on, and you pull the plastic off, it leaves a 'shading' on the paint, that goes away in a day or two. I wonder how carfeull one needs to be about that, if you bring it home yourself and take the plastic off and detail right away.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Newbie confused about steps 2 and 3

Originally posted by bill1263

Understand the clay part, but confused about paint prepping and polishing. I think you're trying to squeeze another step in there. Is ScratchX a paint cleaner? I was going to use it as a polish. Can you recommend what I should be doing after claying and before protecting (waxing) and products I should be using to do it? Just so you know, I got swirls. I've been avoiding looking at anything other than the consumer products fearing even more confusion.

Thanks a lot. This is a great forum and Mike is a great moderator.

Hi Bill,

Welcome to Meguiar's Online!

Thank you for your kind words. Meguiar's is different than most/all other car care manufactures in that we've always offered non-abrasive pure polishes for creating gloss and shine, not really not for protection the finish just adding beauty.

Read through these two threads and focus on the cleaning and polishing steps in the first link and I think you understand everything.


Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle


How To Remove Swirls By Hand

[bill1263]

Hey, thanks a lot. I know what I have to do now. Would have been nice to find out how easy the ScratchX step was going to be, but it is what it is.