Your Daily Driver: A Simple Wash & Wax Regimen

[akimel]

Your Daily Driver: A Simple Wash & Wax Regimen


Needed stuff:

Gold Class Car Wash
Microfiber wash mitt
Microfiber waffle-weave drying towel
Microfiber towels (more the merrier)
Tire/wheel brush
2 or more foam applicators
1 microfiber applicator (optional)
Meguiar's Clay Bar kit
ColorX, Cleaner Wax, or M20 Polymer Sealant
NXT Generation Tech Wax or HiTech Yellow Wax (M26)
Ultimate Quik Wax

Every one or two weeks:

1) Wash your car:

How to Wash Your Car Show Car Style

Dry with your waffle-weave towel. Some of us also like to first blot the water with a synthetic chamois called the Absorber.

Every two months:

2) Inspect paint surface. Gently run your hand over the surface. Is it smooth as glass? Do you feel bumps and rough spots? If you do, you need to clay your car:

How to Claybar Your Car

Typically, you will only need to claybar your car twice a year.

3) Apply a coat of ColorX, Cleaner Wax, or M20 with a foam or microfiber applicator. Massage and work it into the paint. You are working it into and against the paint because you are hoping to clean the paint and remove stains, contamination, light swirls, oxidization, and previous layers of wax. Allow it to haze and buff off with a clean microfiber towel.

Wait 15-30 minutes.

4) Apply a thin coat of NXT or M26 with a foam applicator. Allow to haze and buff off with a clean microfiber towel.

5) With the introduction of Ultimate Quik Wax, daily drivers now have the option of maintaining and boosting the NXT shine. UQW is easily applied. Use it after every wash or every other wash: The secret to applying Ultimate Quik Wax.

I hope the above, none of which is original to me, might prove helpful to those who are new to detailing. I welcome suggestions for its improvement.

[humblepie]

I watched that car wash video and noticed the guy was washing and rinsing each section of the car - compared to washing the entire car then rinsing.

Is washing and rinsing sections of the car the preferred way? Or can I just wait till the end for the rinse?

[Carfire]

I wash the whole car and then rinse, it is what ever you prefer.

[akimel]

I just noticed that I forgot to mention that after apply the Cleaner Wax or ColorX, one waits until it to haze and then one buffs it off with a microfiber. I will edit the article for future publication.

I think the reason why one might want to rinse after each section is to prevent the soap from drying on the surface.

[imacarnut]

Originally Posted by humblepie

I watched that car wash video and noticed the guy was washing and rinsing each section of the car - compared to washing the entire car then rinsing.

Is washing and rinsing sections of the car the preferred way? Or can I just wait till the end for the rinse?

i wash one panel at a time and rinse (also the wash media goes in the bucket more often), so that way i can monitor/watch the dirt/grime, etc. it's personal preference, find a way that suits you...

[Mark Kleis]

I do one panel at a time. I also work top to bottom. If the vehicle is especially filthy I will dump both buckets after doing the top half of each panel before starting the bottom.

[J. A. Michaels]

Same here. One panel at a time, then rinse. When all areas are done, I then do the flood rinse.

[indigo s10]

Originally Posted by J. A. Michaels

Same here. One panel at a time, then rinse. When all areas are done, I then do the flood rinse.

Same here. I do my wheels last, so as not to contaminate my wash water.

[gjohn28]

Wheels first then rest of car (with fresh wash solution) working from top to bottom. Wash and rinse one section at a time and flood rinse entire car before drying.

[Blueline]

[quote=akimel;272870]

Good stuff akimel.

I agree with your signature line so much, and closer than five feet and you well see something, anything. Scratches and swirls seem to happen by themselves when a black car is left alone by itself in the garage at night.
The paint gremlins must come out at night.