What products to use using the Meguiars 5 step Paint Care Method?

[ShininKandy]

Ok I have read and begin gathering everything i need to take care of my car. The question is what products can i choose and what is the best choice for each step of the method. What products can i use to wach my car? What products can i use to clean or surface prep my car? What products to use to polish my car? What products to protect my car? and what products to maintain my car? i dont mean just to tell me use washing solutions or use paint cleaners/clay bars or use cleaner/polish or pure polish, or waxes/paint protectants or just tell me to use quick detailers/spray waxes. My question is what specific types of each of those products.

THANKS
SK

[gb387]

Are you going to be applying all these by hand? What condition would you say your paint is in, swirled, like new or new? Color of car?

[ShininKandy]

can i do it all by hand? is there something else i need? i would like to do everything possible that i can by hand. Its a brand new paint job, with little swirl marking, and the car is a fade job, from top to bottom, kandy red to a black cherry.

THANKS
SK

[gb387]

Yes you can clean/polish/wax by hand, many here on MOL had a "PC".... Sounds like you/someone had it painted(fresh paint) I will leave that to someone else better experienced in fresh paint and what products to use.

[sneek]

couldnt you use M80? it is okay for fresh paint and it removes very light swirls

[ShininKandy]

just want to make my car look good. whatever help i cant get will be greatly appreciated. my car was painted about 6mnths ago tho.

THANKS
SK

[Murr1525]

I guess my first reply got screwed up.. Let me try and recall it...

Most painters recomend a 30-90 day period after painting to allow the paint to cure. During this time, you do not want to use any wax or sealant. But you can use paint cleaners and polishes. #80 is good for this, becasue it leaves a bit of a polymer coat behind, so it leaves some protection.

After that cure period, you can use any of Meguiars products. Here is a little list of what i might choose to use by hand:

1. Wash - I like Nxt or Gold Class wash. Be sure to use the 2-bucket system, with at least a Grit Guard in the rinse water.

2. Clay as needed - Meguiars Quick Clay or Smooth Surface CLay is best.

3. Clean - Deep Crystal (DC) #1 is a good mild cleaner, very easy to use. However, if you have swirls to remove, you will need ScratchX.

4. Polish - DC#2, or #7 are both good polishes to use by hand.

5. Wax - I like Nxt Tech Wax.

6. Wax - Remember, 2 thin coats is best.

7. Maintain - I like the Nxt Wax, but I think it loses a little gloss after washing. So I like to maintain using either Nxt Speed Detailer or Nxt Spray Wax after weekly(ish) washings.


If you are short on time, and this is a daily driver, you may also try this routine:

1. Wash - as above

2. Clay - as above

3. ColorX - This is a great cleaner/polish/wax, and has the ability to remove light swirls if worked in well.

4. Wax - A final coat of Nxt wax is a great finishing touch.

5. Maintain - as above


Hope this helps some.

[Mike Phillips]

There are some very good suggestion here,

Suggested Products for Taking Care of a New Car

For new paint in great shape, here's the basics...


* Gold Class Wash - Microfiber or real Lambswool wash mitt
* Deep Crystal Polish - (You shouldn't need a paint cleaner)
* Wax - Either Gold Class or NXT
* Quick Detailer or Speed Detailer for in-between washing and waxing

KISS = Keep It Simple Simon!

[the other pc]

The Great thing about Meguiar’s products is that they all work very well. You could literally pick any product from the five categories and get great results.

As long as you follow the directions (except for the ScratchX label, follow the write up instead ) for each product you can’t really “go wrong.” What you will find is that as you try different products you’ll develop personal preferences. There isn’t a “best choice for each step”, only different choices to suit different peoples’ tastes/needs/styles/skills/resources.

But since you asked for specifics here’s one set of products that will work great by hand and if you get a dual action polisher:

Wash: Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo & Conditioner
Clay: Quik Clay Detailing System
Cleaner/swirl remover: ScratchX
Polish: #80 Speed Glaze (works as a cleaner too)
Wax: NXT Tech Wax
Maintain: Quik Detailer and NXT Spray Wax

Those will give great results. Are they “the best”? That’s impossible to say but they are excellent. They’re also easy to find and reasonably priced. You could easily substitute many different products like NXT Wash, Deep Crystal step2 Polish or Gold Class Wax and still get excellent results (although some products would be used a little differently in some situations).


PC.

[ShininKandy]

thanks for all the help and it is alot. this site seems to come through when i need help. i will pick apart each of y'all post and see what to use. i will try to take pics and see if i can tell the difference. i will probably be back for more questions. thanks once again.

THANKS
SK

[ShininKandy]

where can u find the certain wax type on the product?

THANKS
SK

[Murr1525]

You mean as far as carnuba, blend, or polymer?

I dont think they actualy say for sure on the package. None of Meguiars waxes are pure carnuba.

Gold Class, DC#3, #26, #16 are all carnuba/polymer blends.

Nxt, #20, #21, DC Polymer Sealant are polymer waxes.

[ShininKandy]

where does it say on the polymer products?

THANKS
SK

[Murr1525]

Its kind of tucked in the description or the package advertising... Or in the name of the product itself....

There isnt really an ingredient list on them.