3 years with no swirl correction... or, the value of Cleaner Wax

[Mosca]

This is why I've decided that once you've perfected the finish, you shouldn't have to do it ever again. I got this car new in Feb '05. At that time, I clayed it and waxed it with NXT.

From that day forward, I used two bucket/grit guard washing technique, and I waxed mostly with cleaner waxes (but for the occasional NXT and once with #21). I clayed once a year, in spring, washed as needed (sometimes weekly, sometimes monthly), used QD as needed, and waxed maybe 4-6 times a year, over the 39 months. The idea was to minimize unnecessary touches. This isn't a vanity car; it is a transportation tool. IMO its appearance reflects on me, but I wasn't going to obsess about it like I do my fun car. I never did a 5 step, just mostly wash and wax.

The new owner (my sister) is picking it up next week some time. Here is what 3 years of proper technique and A21 Cleaner Wax looks like (bear in mind that the pearl white doesn't "pop" in direct sun):

[Sydster]

Re: 3 years with no swirl correction... or, the value of Cleaner Wax

[rebelde33]

Re: 3 years with no swirl correction... or, the value of Cleaner Wax

Nice color! It looks very well maintained.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: 3 years with no swirl correction... or, the value of Cleaner Wax

I think you right on the money in your thoughts. The car looks great. Your sister should feel like she is getting a brand new car.

[Labtec]

Re: 3 years with no swirl correction... or, the value of Cleaner Wax

awesome dude! its really hard to make pearl white shy so much

[rhino1834]

Re: 3 years with no swirl correction... or, the value of Cleaner Wax

Good job, It really shines.

[Larry A]

Re: 3 years with no swirl correction... or, the value of Cleaner Wax

See, you dont always need a super 5 step polish and wax job to have a nice looking car. Somethimes only a cleaner wax and detail spray and you got it.

[Mosca]

Re: 3 years with no swirl correction... or, the value of Cleaner Wax

That's not to say it's "swirl free"; but when you get the right light and focus on it correctly, it looks like the "after" pictures in one of the before/after series that often get posted to show how to use #80, or ScratchX, or the like.

Once you've got your car to its peak, you can keep it there a long time with proper technique. Forever? I don't know; but I'll take what I can!

I love, love, love my tan bottles, and I love my NXT, and I love my gallons of Detailer Line products (I used Super Degreaser to scrub my deck yesterday); but I believe that ALL the Meguiar's products have a place in my garage, and there is a purpose for each of them. It is wrong thinking to believe that just because A12 comes in a maroon bottle, is inexpensive, and can be found at any big box store, it is inferior. It represents AT LEAST as much value as NXT! I remember Mike (Phillips) writing something to the effect that a 14 year old kid could have a nice summer business with proper washing/waxing technique and a bottle of A12... I firmly, firmly agree with that. Maybe I'd throw in a claybar.

Next time you're in a BigBox Mart, drop the $3-$5 on a bottle and see if you don't agree with me. Or try the small bottle that came in your QuikClay Kit. You'll be surprised.

[Orca]

Re: 3 years with no swirl correction... or, the value of Cleaner Wax

That's sold me ... I've been procrastinating, but this is such a good recommendation that I've just gone and bought some Cleaner Wax from one of my online suppliers. Good work, pal!

Our black car is a daily car and lives on a main road. I wash it every week with a good technique and have been playing with M07, M26 and M16. I think those combined with A12 will give me a good toolkit to keep the car in good order and use M07 as a last stage just to give a final deep gloss for the occasional show day that the car goes to in the summer.

Thanks for sharing ...

[Mike Phillips]

Re: 3 years with no swirl correction... or, the value of Cleaner Wax

It is wrong thinking to believe that just because A12 comes in a maroon bottle, is inexpensive, and can be found at any big box store, it is inferior. It represents AT LEAST as much value as NXT!

Thanks for making this point Tom and you're right. Meguiar's A12 Cleaner/Wax is a great product, especially for maintaining a daily driver. It actually not only cleans, polishes and protects in one step but it leaves a very nice looking finish too. Just a few years ago the formula was updated to create a more clear finish which usually shows to our eyes as a darkening effect when in reality it's really just making clear paint very clear thus enabling your eyes to see the full richness of the color underneath.

And because it's you can control the power of the cleaning by controlling how you apply it, gently for light cleaning, aggressively for more cleaning power it will tackle most daily drivers as long as they're not too neglected and deteriorated, (that's what ColorX is for), so "yes" a young man equipped with a few washing and drying tools and some A12 could start a weekend detailing business over the summer with just a few dollars investment. And as you pointed out, some detailing clay would be a great asset for even better results.

Lots of people get caught up in the idea that if it costs more it must be better and sometimes that's true, at least to some extent, but there is such a thing as a plateau or high point that you reach with any paint system and all things being equal, our A12 can go up against most waxes on the market and in side-by-side testing equal most products that cost more and even outperform some.




A12 has a long, successful history behind it, it's definitely no flash-in-the-pan, here today, gone tomorrow type flavor of the month product. First introduced in 1973

Cleaner/Wax Paste


Cleaner/Wax Liquid

[Mosca]

Re: 3 years with no swirl correction... or, the value of Cleaner Wax

For this job, I applied the product aggressively; I used the G100 and a finishing pad, at about 5. One of the nice things about using this method is that it makes it easy to get that thin coat; removal with a microfiber towel is a breeze. The trade off is the amount of product that saturates the pad. It's never good to be wasteful but if I look at it in an economic sense, that's what; 20 cents worth of product, in exchange for a better job? That's what a good tool does, I think. It costs a little bit more to make the job easier.

Sure, GC and NXT give outstanding results. But so does A12. And the "all in one" feature of the A12 makes it a great choice for maintaining with ease a car that is near its peak. There is a lot to be said for being done with the car by 10AM on a Saturday in the middle of summer! Not that I don't love my time with the tools as much as anyone else... but not every time, with every car.

[Wolf-Strong]

Re: 3 years with no swirl correction... or, the value of Cleaner Wax

Got a question while we are on the subject; With the exception of M66, none of the other cleaner waxes list how much cleaning power they have. Could someone give us all a quick rundown on how aggressive they are on the Meguiar's scale?

[Mosca]

Re: 3 years with no swirl correction... or, the value of Cleaner Wax

Got a question while we are on the subject; With the exception of M66, none of the other cleaner waxes list how much cleaning power they have. Could someone give us all a quick rundown on how aggressive they are on the Meguiar's scale?

My experience, from mildest to strongest:

A12 Cleaner Wax
#6
ColorX
#66

Gold Class, NXT, and Medallion all have some cleaners in them, but not enough for them to be called "Cleaner Waxes"; they won't clean dirty paint and remove oxidation the way the cleaner waxes will. They have just enough cleaner to prepare the surface for maximum effectiveness, if I recall correctly.