First time wash and wax...
08-22-2014, 06:52 AM
#1
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Georgia
Posts: 414
First time wash and wax...
I just went and bought all new stuff to wash and wax my car and hopefully I'll get to it either this weekend or next Friday.
I just purchased or purchased since I bought my car:
Motorcycle engine cleaner/detailer
Mother's car wash
Meguiars Clay Bar Kit (two clay bars and detailer spray for lubricant)
Turtle Wax Carnauba car wax (I'm keeping it old school; it's what my dad always used on the cars when I was growing up)
Wash mitten
chamois clothe
wax applicators
30 microfiber towels
wheels cleaner wipes
tire shine with applicator
I think I'm going to have a long day ahead of me when I finally hit this! Any tips?
I just purchased or purchased since I bought my car:
Motorcycle engine cleaner/detailer
Mother's car wash
Meguiars Clay Bar Kit (two clay bars and detailer spray for lubricant)
Turtle Wax Carnauba car wax (I'm keeping it old school; it's what my dad always used on the cars when I was growing up)
Wash mitten
chamois clothe
wax applicators
30 microfiber towels
wheels cleaner wipes
tire shine with applicator
I think I'm going to have a long day ahead of me when I finally hit this! Any tips?
08-22-2014, 10:48 AM
#3
Here are some tips for ya:
Put the car soap in one bucket and fill it up normally then get another bucket and fill with just water. Take ur mitten and dip it in the soapy water, wash a panel, then dip it and agitate it in the plain water bucket, repeat this will minimize the grit/dirt/contaminates that u can scratch ur car with.
Dry with a plush microfiber towel.
the best way to get streak free windows? Windex? no. water. while drying your car use a moist side of the drying towel and dry your windows. It has to be a little moist. I NEVER have streaks.
to clean wheels, take a secondary old mitt, after your done washing the car, and wipe/clean the wheel lightly with the soapy water and plain water bucket, then dry and clean with old crummy towel. no chemical solutons needed.
to shine the tires, i use an aerosol can. i just spray the wheels, let them sit for 5-10 then do one swift light swipe over the tire with a old crummy towel. this makes your tire shine but on also will NOT have any sling-off.
If you want to clean/wipe down the interior, dont use straight armor all (grease), cut it with 3-4 parts water and 1 part AA. or get some dash cleaner from surf city garage. love that stuff.
for wax, nothing wrong with carnauba, it will give the paint a nice glow and shine, but doesnt last as long as synthetic. its a trade off. personally i use Meguiars Ultimate liquid wax. it goes on easily and comes off just as easily. smells good and leaves the metal panels feeling "soft".
clay bar is a great addition to your routine, make sure u have the bar lubed enough. if u drop it, its prolly best to discard it. knead it often
Put the car soap in one bucket and fill it up normally then get another bucket and fill with just water. Take ur mitten and dip it in the soapy water, wash a panel, then dip it and agitate it in the plain water bucket, repeat this will minimize the grit/dirt/contaminates that u can scratch ur car with.
Dry with a plush microfiber towel.
the best way to get streak free windows? Windex? no. water. while drying your car use a moist side of the drying towel and dry your windows. It has to be a little moist. I NEVER have streaks.
to clean wheels, take a secondary old mitt, after your done washing the car, and wipe/clean the wheel lightly with the soapy water and plain water bucket, then dry and clean with old crummy towel. no chemical solutons needed.
to shine the tires, i use an aerosol can. i just spray the wheels, let them sit for 5-10 then do one swift light swipe over the tire with a old crummy towel. this makes your tire shine but on also will NOT have any sling-off.
If you want to clean/wipe down the interior, dont use straight armor all (grease), cut it with 3-4 parts water and 1 part AA. or get some dash cleaner from surf city garage. love that stuff.
for wax, nothing wrong with carnauba, it will give the paint a nice glow and shine, but doesnt last as long as synthetic. its a trade off. personally i use Meguiars Ultimate liquid wax. it goes on easily and comes off just as easily. smells good and leaves the metal panels feeling "soft".
clay bar is a great addition to your routine, make sure u have the bar lubed enough. if u drop it, its prolly best to discard it. knead it often
08-22-2014, 11:02 AM
#4
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Georgia
Posts: 414
Here are some tips for ya:
Put the car soap in one bucket and fill it up normally then get another bucket and fill with just water. Take ur mitten and dip it in the soapy water, wash a panel, then dip it and agitate it in the plain water bucket, repeat this will minimize the grit/dirt/contaminates that u can scratch ur car with.
Dry with a plush microfiber towel.
the best way to get streak free windows? Windex? no. water. while drying your car use a moist side of the drying towel and dry your windows. It has to be a little moist. I NEVER have streaks.
to clean wheels, take a secondary old mitt, after your done washing the car, and wipe/clean the wheel lightly with the soapy water and plain water bucket, then dry and clean with old crummy towel. no chemical solutons needed.
to shine the tires, i use an aerosol can. i just spray the wheels, let them sit for 5-10 then do one swift light swipe over the tire with a old crummy towel. this makes your tire shine but on also will NOT have any sling-off.
If you want to clean/wipe down the interior, dont use straight armor all (grease), cut it with 3-4 parts water and 1 part AA. or get some dash cleaner from surf city garage. love that stuff.
for wax, nothing wrong with carnauba, it will give the paint a nice glow and shine, but doesnt last as long as synthetic. its a trade off. personally i use Meguiars Ultimate liquid wax. it goes on easily and comes off just as easily. smells good and leaves the metal panels feeling "soft".
clay bar is a great addition to your routine, make sure u have the bar lubed enough. if u drop it, its prolly best to discard it. knead it often
Put the car soap in one bucket and fill it up normally then get another bucket and fill with just water. Take ur mitten and dip it in the soapy water, wash a panel, then dip it and agitate it in the plain water bucket, repeat this will minimize the grit/dirt/contaminates that u can scratch ur car with.
Dry with a plush microfiber towel.
the best way to get streak free windows? Windex? no. water. while drying your car use a moist side of the drying towel and dry your windows. It has to be a little moist. I NEVER have streaks.
to clean wheels, take a secondary old mitt, after your done washing the car, and wipe/clean the wheel lightly with the soapy water and plain water bucket, then dry and clean with old crummy towel. no chemical solutons needed.
to shine the tires, i use an aerosol can. i just spray the wheels, let them sit for 5-10 then do one swift light swipe over the tire with a old crummy towel. this makes your tire shine but on also will NOT have any sling-off.
If you want to clean/wipe down the interior, dont use straight armor all (grease), cut it with 3-4 parts water and 1 part AA. or get some dash cleaner from surf city garage. love that stuff.
for wax, nothing wrong with carnauba, it will give the paint a nice glow and shine, but doesnt last as long as synthetic. its a trade off. personally i use Meguiars Ultimate liquid wax. it goes on easily and comes off just as easily. smells good and leaves the metal panels feeling "soft".
clay bar is a great addition to your routine, make sure u have the bar lubed enough. if u drop it, its prolly best to discard it. knead it often
08-22-2014, 11:05 AM
#5
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Georgia
Posts: 414
I'll take before and after pictures and let you know the name of the product.
08-22-2014, 07:24 PM
#7
I just went and bought all new stuff to wash and wax my car and hopefully I'll get to it either this weekend or next Friday.
I just purchased or purchased since I bought my car:
Motorcycle engine cleaner/detailer
Mother's car wash
Meguiars Clay Bar Kit (two clay bars and detailer spray for lubricant)
Turtle Wax Carnauba car wax (I'm keeping it old school; it's what my dad always used on the cars when I was growing up)
Wash mitten
chamois clothe
wax applicators
30 microfiber towels
wheels cleaner wipes
tire shine with applicator
I think I'm going to have a long day ahead of me when I finally hit this! Any tips?
I just purchased or purchased since I bought my car:
Motorcycle engine cleaner/detailer
Mother's car wash
Meguiars Clay Bar Kit (two clay bars and detailer spray for lubricant)
Turtle Wax Carnauba car wax (I'm keeping it old school; it's what my dad always used on the cars when I was growing up)
Wash mitten
chamois clothe
wax applicators
30 microfiber towels
wheels cleaner wipes
tire shine with applicator
I think I'm going to have a long day ahead of me when I finally hit this! Any tips?
Here are some tips for ya:
Put the car soap in one bucket and fill it up normally then get another bucket and fill with just water. Take ur mitten and dip it in the soapy water, wash a panel, then dip it and agitate it in the plain water bucke[t, repeat this will minimize the grit/dirt/contaminates that u can scratch ur car with.
Dry with a plush microfiber towel.
the best way to get streak free windows? Windex? no. water. while drying your car use a moist side of the drying towel and dry your windows. It has to be a little moist. I NEVER have streaks.
to clean wheels, take a secondary old mitt, after your done washing the car, and wipe/clean the wheel lightly with the soapy water and plain water bucket, then dry and clean with old crummy towel. no chemical solutons needed.
to shine the tires, i use an aerosol can. i just spray the wheels, let them sit for 5-10 then do one swift light swipe over the tire with a old crummy towel. this makes your tire shine but on also will NOT have any sling-off.
If you want to clean/wipe down the interior, dont use straight armor all (grease), cut it with 3-4 parts water and 1 part AA. or get some dash cleaner from surf city garage. love that stuff.
for wax, nothing wrong with carnauba, it will give the paint a nice glow and shine, but doesnt last as long as synthetic. its a trade off. personally i use Meguiars Ultimate liquid wax. it goes on easily and comes off just as easily. smells good and leaves the metal panels feeling "soft".
clay bar is a great addition to your routine, make sure u have the bar lubed enough. if u drop it, its prolly best to discard it. knead it often
Put the car soap in one bucket and fill it up normally then get another bucket and fill with just water. Take ur mitten and dip it in the soapy water, wash a panel, then dip it and agitate it in the plain water bucke[t, repeat this will minimize the grit/dirt/contaminates that u can scratch ur car with.
Dry with a plush microfiber towel.
the best way to get streak free windows? Windex? no. water. while drying your car use a moist side of the drying towel and dry your windows. It has to be a little moist. I NEVER have streaks.
to clean wheels, take a secondary old mitt, after your done washing the car, and wipe/clean the wheel lightly with the soapy water and plain water bucket, then dry and clean with old crummy towel. no chemical solutons needed.
to shine the tires, i use an aerosol can. i just spray the wheels, let them sit for 5-10 then do one swift light swipe over the tire with a old crummy towel. this makes your tire shine but on also will NOT have any sling-off.
If you want to clean/wipe down the interior, dont use straight armor all (grease), cut it with 3-4 parts water and 1 part AA. or get some dash cleaner from surf city garage. love that stuff.
for wax, nothing wrong with carnauba, it will give the paint a nice glow and shine, but doesnt last as long as synthetic. its a trade off. personally i use Meguiars Ultimate liquid wax. it goes on easily and comes off just as easily. smells good and leaves the metal panels feeling "soft".
clay bar is a great addition to your routine, make sure u have the bar lubed enough. if u drop it, its prolly best to discard it. knead it often
Take your time and don't be in a hurry. That leads to more mistakes and problems than anything else.
While you're at it, you might as well seal up that black car to keep it as shiny and clean as long as possible. Add a sealant or protectant before your wax for that extra pop! Follow your wax up with a quick detailer to ensure no wax residue is left behind.
Your best tool is a super soft finishing cloth to give your car that final "once over" in case you missed anything and that final buff of perfection!
08-23-2014, 10:22 PM
#10
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 1,155
You should read and make product purchases based off of what your research tells you is best for: your budget, your habits, your preferences, your needs and your car. Meguiars has their own online forum that is a treasure trove of information.