Washing/Detailing your car: What do you do/use?

[ninjasenses]

Heres my usual regimen:

 

Use general soap from the autostore and water

wash it panel by panel and try to keep the car wet during the whole process

After the car is washed i do the wheels

the key and I think this rerally works is to use wax as you dry

when i dry the car i spray this on each panel and wipe it down with a regular cotton towel(microfiber will work better)

after i use black magic on the tires..they have this deodoerant stick looking think for tires that works great

 

the wax as you dry is amazimg, it give it that shine you want and you will notice when it rains the water beads right off...I highly recommend it

[kbmag1]

Picked up my new 2010 sport and enjoyed detailing it .

I used MF wash mitts and towells.

Meg's gold car wash

Pinnecle clay bar w/ bar lub spray

wolfgang prep/polish

wolfgang 3.0 sealant...which requires a 12 hour cure, so I let it rest overnight

Collinite 845

wheels and jams had sealant and collinte applied

tires dressed w/Optimum OptiGaurd

leather dressed w/Optimum

carpet rec'd auto scotchgaurd

 

Durogloss AW for future post cleaning/drying.

 

The tux black shines up deep and wet well.

[Venegas22]

Use Mothers polish. And wash the car with Turtle Wax Love it! Nice shine to it!

[michael95376]

I've always used Meguiar's 3 step wax for detailing. Applied and wiped off by hand. I do have a 10" orbital buffer, but it tends to leave swirlies. It's a lot of extra work to do it by hand, but the results are so much nicer. As for my normal wash regimen, I use Meguiar's Caranuba car wash concentrate and it does the job rather well. For the tires, I've sworn by Westley's Black Magic for years. I currently use the Wet Shine spray-on tire gloss. With my rims, I use a narrow nylon brush with the car concentrate to get in the spokes and around the rim itself. Never have found a "safe" rim cleaner that was spray-on/wash-off with any decent results.

 

I've been using The Absorber to dry the car with. I hate going through several towels to dry the car off, but does it really drag that much dirt when drying?

[raydeeohead]

If you are looking to detail your own car I found this really helpful article on how to detail yourself and how to save money doing it! This article was a big help and my car turned out really nicely! Hope this helps you out!

[gb_fusionguy]

Well,

Since everyone is voicing their opinion, here's mine.

For the last 12 or so years, I have used nothing but Griot's Garage products on my cars.

Short car list:

1967 Porsche 911S Guards Red

1971 Mercedes SEL 6.3 Champagne

2007 Ford SHO Green

2008 Mustang Yellow

2008 Lincoln LS Black

2008 Ford Fusion SE Black

2011 Ford Fusion Sport Red Candy

 

Their wheel cleaner is the best and authorized by BBS Wheels. Wheel Cleaner

Their Window cleaner is fantastic. Much better than anything else. Handy in the home as well.Glass Stuff

Their "Best of Show' wax will hurt your eyes.Wax

 

If you have never tried their products, give them a shot, very satisfied customer here.

 

The best, hands down, dry cleaning, dusting product is Kozak Puts the 'California Duster' to shame. I've been using Kozak's for over 30 years (yes, 30 years). Great product. Great for a quick wipe down before putting your car cover on too.

 

I'm glad to see so many people responding to this thread, with the rise of the 'appliance' type vehicles, us car nuts are becoming rare.

 

So, no matter what brand, product, procedure you use, just be proud you keep it shinny and that you care and respect your car .

 

 

Of course, just my .02

 

GB

[freddrick]

hi my name is fred iam new to this forum for detailing products i use autoglym products they work really well

[Spiney]

You can read about detailing your car for weeks by going to Autogeek.net and checking out their users forums. 3 years ago we bought a garage queen very well maintained 96 SVT Cobra, black. Anyone with a black car knows how hard they are to maintain. I went to Autogeek and learned all I could. I now have a shelf full of products and a Griots Garage 6" random orbit polisher / buffer with a selection of proper Lake Country Foam pads.

 

When I have the time I use the 2 bucket method along with a foam cannon to really suds the car up. The least amount of touching the car, the better chance I won't scratch it. 1-2x a year I clay it with the Maguiar's clay kit. I use a product called ONR as my clay lube. I forget what the O stands for but the NR is No Rinse. It's a waterless wash product that you can dilute to use as a clay lube or a Quick Detail spray. Just remembered. The O is Optima, the manufacturer.

 

I've had 3 back surgeries and 1 failed neck surgery, hence the screen name Spiney. So sometimes it's literally a pain to haul out the hose and buckets. When I'm feeling like that I take my wife with me to the self serve car wash bay. She sprays and I wipe down with a mitt, after a. Dry good initial rinse and soaping. We then use special waffle weave guzzler MF towels I bought during the BOGO sales at Autogeek, to pat dry the car dry. When I wash at home I use the leaf blower to dry. Again less contact, and no drips.

 

I do use a California silicon blade on the windows. Another good tip for drying is to use the open hose with just flow, not spray to flood dry the car. It seems counter intuitive, but by doing this the water will Sheath off a proper maintained paint.

 

Another tip is on an almost dry car, you can dry and shine using a quality quick detail spray and quality clean MF towels. Stay away from cheap towels, though some people on Autogeek including Pro Detailers Swear by the bulk pack MF towels from Sam's Club or Costco.

 

On my mustang after correcting the paint with the buffer, I wiped it down with a 20% Iso Propal Alcohol and distilled water mixture. Then used a Wipe on Walk Away Sealer called Ultima Paint Guard Plus. I did one coat, and hour later a second coat, and after letting it cure overnight added a 3rd coat. That leaves a protective very slick and shiny coat that last 6 months. I Maintain it with Ultima's Quick Detaler, which acts as a booster coat. The founder of Ultima developed the Clear Coat process for the auto industry. His sealers, QD's and waxes have a UV inhibitor to protect the CC from the suns rays.

 

Biggest thing you must do is carry a clean MF towel in a ziplock bag to keep it clean and some Quick Detailer of your choice. Maguiar's, Mothers, Ultima, Optima, Wolfgang, etc. As soon as you see bird poop on you paint, liberally spray QD on the poop, let it soak, and gently remove it from the paint. In hot sun bird poop will eat through clear coat in as little as 5 minutes.

 

I'm also a fan of a wax, little known outside the car fanatic world. It's called Colonite 845. It was originally developed to protect the glass insulators on power lines. It is known to provide a very long lasting shine and protection on car paint. I use it on my truck and our Volvo before its demise. I don't use it on the Cobra because we drive it very little, it's garage kept, and wax unlike sealer attracts dust.

 

I could go on, but I've already worn out my finger on my iPad.

[Spiney]

Spiney again, I wanted to add something. We just picked up a 2012 Fusion SEL NAV. We bought it at CarSense in Exton PA. They are a large late model, gently used Superstore chain. Our car was poorly detailed for pickup. It was full of waterspots and the wheels were dirty. I watched when we were there, they washed a SUV and set it out in the just sold area dripping wet.

 

So as soon as we got home I broke out my Spray bottle of Optima Waterless Wash. I bought a 32 ounce concentrated bottle. You mix 1/2 ounce if I remember correctly, to 28 ounce of distilled water. I wiped her down using several clean MF towels. Then because it was too cold for regular wax I gave her a coat of Optima Quick Wax. I also cleaned up the wheels with the Waterless Wash. The car looked 110% better. It looked new. I can't wait for a warm day or spring so I can Clay the paint and either seal it or paste wax, or both.

[Big Jim]

As long as others have thrown in their $.02 I'll toss mine in too.

 

For soap, I use whatever car was soap is on sale at Wal Mart, Target, Pep Boys, Auto Zone, or Murrey's.

 

I have had a car washing brush for over 20 years that works great. I think it may be intended for airplanes. I've had to replace the handle twice, but the brush is still in great shape. It is very soft but still provides just enough scrub. I also use a sheepskin and a terry covered sponge, depending on what I'm washing.

 

I rinse off the car thoroughly before starting to get rid of the loose stuff and to soften the rest of it.

 

I then suds up one section at a time so it doesn't dry off before rinsing that section. I usually do roof (including all glass, hood and grill, trunk and rear, each side, then the wheels. Even though I rinse after each section, I rinse again.

 

I dry the whole car, section at a time, applying "Wax-as-you-Dry" in front of each section. I try to avoid the wax on the glass. I dry with "The Absorber" which is sort of a synthetic Chamois, wringing it out by hand as needed and in the toward the back of the car motion. I often apply "Wax-as-you-Dry" to the wheels too.

 

I have the Mazdaspeed 6 brakes with street performance pads. They are quite dirty. Fortunately, it cleans reasonably easy, using the same soap. The "Wax-as-you-Dry" helps keep the brake dust from sticking as firmly as you would if I didn't use it.

 

I dry the glass with "The Absorber" which gets rid of the water, but streaks the glass, so I have learned to follow up with a large and thick Groit's Garage micro fiber towel. Something I recently found that does wonders on glass is Armor All Glass Cleaner. It works better than Groit's Garage glass cleaner or Stoners' Invisible Glass.

 

Once or twice a year I clean the car and apply Garoit's Garage Paint Sealant. If needed, I clay bar the paint before applying the sealant.

 

The conbination of clay bar, paint sealant, and "Wax-as-you-Dry" keeps the paint in a smooth waxy condition. It actually feels better the next day after applying the wax. People that see the car assume that I do a conventional wax job on it monthly, it looks that good.

 

But what works for you may not be what works for you.

[PublicHair]

That water also plays a factor.

 

I moved into a new home (built this year) and decided to get a water test done. Got the results back a few weeks ago. My “rating” was a 3. Average is a 7. The lady who called me said “you have REALLY clean water. Bottle factory water." This is from an unfiltered system.

 

Anyway pretty much means I don’t get spots and streaks on my vehicles given my water is so pure.

 

Can’t be said for my old house that would leave white stains and would streak like crazy.

Edited November 17, 2013 by PublicHair

[freddrick]

Hi my name is Fred iam a detailer here is tip for you guys you should clay bar your car every year and the put on a coat of glaze then put 2 coats of high gloss sealant that will stay on your car paint for 4 to 6 months where carnauba wax only stay on your car paint for 3 to 8 weeks and i also find the more coats of the high gloss sealant you put on the harder is for the dirt to stick to your paint i hope that help some of you guys out and if you need anymore tips i will be happy to help you.

[cbdallas]

Separate buckets & microfiber wash mitts. One for wheels / tires / fender wells, the other for paint & glass.

Meguiars Gold Class Car Wash

Microfiber drying towels

 

Lake Country polishing & waxing pads (orange & red)

Porter Cable 7424 Orbital Buffer

Microfiber applicator pads for tight spots

Pinnacle Light Swirl Remover

Pinnacle Finishing Glaze

Zaino Z2

Microfiber towels for removal

 

Turtle Wax Trim Restorer for all external black plastic

 

Black Magic Tire Wet Spray

 

Lexol Leather Conditioner

 

Damp microfiber towels for cleaning all other interior surfaces & glass

[dspman67]

Exterior; Mothers Wash & Wax, Stoner Invisible Glass Cleaner, Eagle One Tire Gel (water based only), haven't waxed it yet but will be using Maguiars Liquid Ultimate Wax along with their Ultimate Spray wax. Interior, Maguiars Natural Protectant.

[RybSE]

We have someone who comes to our office every Friday and hand washes the cars. I'll have to ask him.

[BlackBetty]

Old thread but worth keeping up!

 

I'm a bit of a detailing nut as well and have used a variety of products. My current process is the following:

 

Products-

Auto Glym Shampoo and conditioner with 3 bucket method/ 2 wash mitt (one for tires, wheel wells and the other two for paint/glass)

Sonus Clay bar

Auto Glym Rapid Detailer

Meguiars cleaner wax #6

Auto Glym Resin Polish

Meguiars show car glaze #7

Wolfgang Deep Gloss sealant

Meguiars Hi-tech yellow wax #26

Plexus for the invisible bra

Auto Glym tire shine

Simoniz tire shine (wheel wells)

Invisible glass.

Meg's APC+ 4:1 for wheels/tires/engine bay

 

In the spring when I'm swapping over my tires from the winter I'll clean the wheel wells as well as the entire wheel/tire with everything off the car.

 

I always use microfiber wash mitts and towels but to dry the car I use the sham-wow/the absorber kind of things.

 

Interior

Meg's APC+ 10:1(I think)

Meg's ultimate protectant

Auto Glym leather cleaner

Auto Glym leather conditioner

 

Lots of brushes and tooth brushes for those hard to reach places.

 

I will do this about twice a year spring/fall and in between ill use my Meg's 7 and 26 about once a month on the paint. Of course keep up with tire shine and all the rest.

Edited July 20, 2014 by BlackBetty

[croppz]

I prefer Zaino products. I've used meguiars stuff in the past, which I liked. But my uncle who has a bunch of nice cars and is a detailing nut swears by these guys. Picked some up and it is as great as he said it would be. Super smooth glass like finish/mirror like paint. It's a lil more pricey but the stuff is top notch. I got their Ultimate protection Car show kit, the grit bucket and the Z-AIO all in one cleaner/polish and protectant.

 

http://www.zainostore.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=Z&Category_Code=prokits

[BlackBetty]

I heard lots of great things about Zaino products. I'd like to try them but I would have to make an order online since I can't find them locally.

 

Those grit guards are nice too!!

[drolds1]

I prefer Zaino products. I've used meguiars stuff in the past, which I liked. But my uncle who has a bunch of nice cars and is a detailing nut swears by these guys. Picked some up and it is as great as he said it would be. Super smooth glass like finish/mirror like paint. It's a lil more pricey but the stuff is top notch. I got their Ultimate protection Car show kit, the grit bucket and the Z-AIO all in one cleaner/polish and protectant.

 

http://www.zainostore.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=Z&Category_Code=prokits

 

I'm a "Zainiac" too. Been using it for years. IMO, there's nothing like it.

 

I heard lots of great things about Zaino products. I'd like to try them but I would have to make an order online since I can't find them locally.

 

Those grit guards are nice too!!

Zaino isn't sold in stores (with one possible exception in NJ). You have to get it via mail order.

[BlackBetty]

Good to know thanks!

[Mike B]

Do a search for Junkman on YouTube. He has several videos explaining what to do and products.

This is part 1 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=w09r6m6sRCA

 

He participates on several auto forums and has a big following.

[Rtipping]

OOOps Dont know how to delete post.

Edited January 1, 2016 by Rtipping

[Rtipping]

In the last 20 years or so as an amateur detailer I found that the age and color of a car make a huge difference on the products.For the most part though there are a couple of products that really shine(Pun intended).

For shampoo I always end up back with

 

 

Video

 

If you have a new car I would urge you to try this before anything else - in a lot of instances I found I could not improve much on a new car with any other products even wax (talking shine not protection).

Or to rephrase simply washing your car with this can have very noticeable results.

 

Car wash or not to car wash? I live in the great white(mostly black for six months)north so touch-less car wash is a bit of a reality brushes or foam spinney objects are out - and of course the strength of the detergents in the touch-less is probably going to strip your finishes - so join the club - how much grime can you handle when its way below freezing ? I was a big fan of the spray type coin op jobs but I found it left a lot of grease on the lower door so I opted for the touch less in the winter.

 

Micro fiber towels - I found out the hard way microfiber towels are not created equal - best advice I can give buy the best you can afford If you can wash them(no fabric softener)your ahead of the game for most that's not a viable option so i just try and recycle them on steadily more progressive dirty jobs once I'm not confident they are up to snuff for the paint.At least then I have maximized the Investment.

 

If you have never clayed your car your missing out - not only does it look amazing after-woulds it also feels amazing (I would caution openly fondling your ride - some folks just don't understand).

Now if your a newbie you probably break out in a sweat at the mention of running a clay bar on your paint work Its very safe as long as you do not drop and and reuse im sorry if you drop it its toast any grit in the clay you may as well take a screw driver to your paint(don't do that).

 

So with that in mind I went looking for a not so expensive clay (some products can be very expensive)

Just before we get into that for newbs lubrication is everything just go nuts loob the paint loob the clay let it glide not splat and don't drop it.

 

If your an old hand then I've been experimenting with using cleaner wax as a loob -for ever looking for efficiency this can be pretty rewarding but i don't suggest for a beginner because dry clay skid marks in cleaner wax can be unsettling.

 

Relatively inexpensive but still functional claybar

Video

 

 

Some guys like to go bananas with polish and wax but i have found you can cut down on detailing time(almost an oxymoron) with these products.

Now this is an either or situation Im not suggesting you use all products at once this is not multi stage just quick and easy.

 

On a newish clean dry car this product is amazingly fast and a great look

 

 

 

Video

 

Another great high yield product (great results for the effort)

Not to be confused with a detailer this wipe on wipe of quick wax can give fantastic results on a clean car .

 

If your careful(very sparingly)I've used this on factory tinted windows(very clean first) it adds a very nice depth.

 

 

 

Video

 

As the car ages a bit you are probably not going to get away with wash and detail fluid so starting with the least abrasive thing I know of white wax for white and lighter colors and the black wax for darker colored cars.

Now I tend to be mono toned with my cars they where all black white or grey - so bare that in mind as far as my choice of wax here,

 

 

 

 

Video

 

 

 

Video

 

I also get a lot of use out of the turtle wax products with the crayon this is also a cleaner type wax(mildly abrasive)

and don't listen to folks who tell you the crayon is useless that's false it takes patience but it can make a world of difference on stone chips.

 

 

Video

 

Rarely get time for just a hand wax finish -but when i do a stem to stern wax topping I like this from the chemical guys

goes on real easy comes off real easy - nice finish.A little bit goes for miles on a pad so this little jar can do stem to stern at least four to five times.

Smells great but will stain plastic trim even though its a polymer blend so take care.

Video

 

 

For the tires I like

 

 

Video

 

"The seconds it takes to apply" you can take to heart especially if you have clear coat rims wipes right off - I would keep it of chrome or alloy it going to dry like spilled milk .

 

Edited June 16, 2016 by Rtipping

[Bman505]

 

 

If you have never clayed your car your missing out - not only does it look amazing after-woulds it also feels amazing (I would caution openly fondling your ride - some folks just don't understand).

 

 

100% agree with this. I clayed my car previous to my fusion for the first time and it blew my mind how silky smooth it felt and how shiny it looked. The results after using clay for the first time sold me on using clay from then on out!

[Rtipping]

" it blew my mind how silky smooth it felt "

​You checked for neighbors first - right ?