how can i wax my car good?
#1
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how can i wax my car good?
i just got a ssei 2001. love it! black and sexy! but im washing it and im putting scratches all over it byu accident! just by drying it!!!! help! what should i use, in terms of wax? drying technique? im goin nuts! i want a good wax job should i have it professionally done?
#3
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Most rive through car washes might put swirls into the clearcoat, but if this is happening when you are drying it, you must not be using the correct cloth.
A terry cloth works good as does a drying polishing cloth. Also, if you want to protect the paint even more, you can claybar it and remove the paint contaminants. Its a lenghty process, but well worth it in the end.
A terry cloth works good as does a drying polishing cloth. Also, if you want to protect the paint even more, you can claybar it and remove the paint contaminants. Its a lenghty process, but well worth it in the end.
#5
Senior Member
Posts like a Camaro
Some of my recommendations:
#1-Wash with two buckets, one for soap and the other for rinse water.
#2-Get a nice sheepskin mitt, soft sponge, or microfiber mitt. I like the sheepskins at Walmart. Look for the softest ones.
#3-Don't scrub hard with anything on the paint or you'll make scratches.
#4-Use a "sheeting" method to rinse the car. That means don't use a nozzle on the hose. You'll find most of the water flows right off the car.
#5-Dry with a soft towel like a microfiber. Shamois are OK, but I've found they rip apart after a while. And when you dry, try to blot, or put very little pressure on the towel. Some even go so far as to dry with a leaf blower.
#6-Use a clay bar at least once a year. Just follow the directions. It will get out contaminants like sap, imbedded dirt, etc.
#7 (if you can afford it)-Buy a polisher like the Porter Cable 7424 or 7336, get some pads and polish. Those will get out what scratches you do have. You can use that a couple times a year with no worries of thinning the paint.
#8-Seal the paint. You can use sealants or waxes. Sealants are usually more durable. The norm is to use two coats at a time, and do it every couple of months. For the best look, most like to use and sealant topped by a wax since wax usually has a better look.
You can find most anything locally. Meguiar'* is good stuff for washing items, towels and wax. Viking also has good towels. The best products are mostly found online. check out www.autogeek.net and www.danase.com
Autogeek as well as www.autopia.org are great forums where you can learn about what polishes to use and what all is out there for detailing.
#1-Wash with two buckets, one for soap and the other for rinse water.
#2-Get a nice sheepskin mitt, soft sponge, or microfiber mitt. I like the sheepskins at Walmart. Look for the softest ones.
#3-Don't scrub hard with anything on the paint or you'll make scratches.
#4-Use a "sheeting" method to rinse the car. That means don't use a nozzle on the hose. You'll find most of the water flows right off the car.
#5-Dry with a soft towel like a microfiber. Shamois are OK, but I've found they rip apart after a while. And when you dry, try to blot, or put very little pressure on the towel. Some even go so far as to dry with a leaf blower.
#6-Use a clay bar at least once a year. Just follow the directions. It will get out contaminants like sap, imbedded dirt, etc.
#7 (if you can afford it)-Buy a polisher like the Porter Cable 7424 or 7336, get some pads and polish. Those will get out what scratches you do have. You can use that a couple times a year with no worries of thinning the paint.
#8-Seal the paint. You can use sealants or waxes. Sealants are usually more durable. The norm is to use two coats at a time, and do it every couple of months. For the best look, most like to use and sealant topped by a wax since wax usually has a better look.
You can find most anything locally. Meguiar'* is good stuff for washing items, towels and wax. Viking also has good towels. The best products are mostly found online. check out www.autogeek.net and www.danase.com
Autogeek as well as www.autopia.org are great forums where you can learn about what polishes to use and what all is out there for detailing.
#6
Senior Member
True Car Nut
welcome to having a black car...even when I put 2 layers of wax on mine you can still see the scratches. only in the sunlight but when there is direct sunlight on my car it looks like sh**.
#8
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Grimm you are right on. Here is my routine for Zaino.
Tools to wash and clean car:
Two buckets- one for wash solution and one with clean water to rinse cleaning tool.
Boars Hair Brush
High Quality sheepskin wool mitt.
Old worn out sheepskin wool mitt.
Chenille wash mitt.
Three waffle weave micro fiber drying towels.
Two micro fiber glass cleaning towels.
Five ultra plush micro fiber towels.
Worn out Zaino cotton product applicator.
Boars Hair 1 inch paint brush.
Vacuum cleaner.
Leaf Blower
Product I use to clean car.
Zaino Z7 car wash.
Zaino Z16 perfect tire gloss.
Zaino Z6 ultra clean gloss enhancer spray.
Bon Ami window cleaner
Pledge
Eagle 1 A2Z tire cleaner
Wash and clean routine:
Use 1 in Boars hair brush to clean cracks and crevices in the interior of the car.
Use pledge to clean wood dash kit.
Clean interior windows using Bon Ami and micro fiber glass cleaning towel.
Vacuum car and clean mats.
If tires are really dirty I will use Eagle 1 A2Z to clean tires. Otherwise Zaino Z16 will be all I use.
Wash exterior or the car using a Boars hair brush to clean the hood, top, trunk and doors down to the rocker panels. Use a high quality sheep skin wool mitt to clean rocker panels and body panels that lie under the car. Use worn out sheep skin wool mitt to clean wheels and finally use a chenille mitt to clean the wheel wells. Before I replenish the cleaning solution on the tool that I am using I rinse the tool off in the clean water.
Use leaf blower to blow off excess water from car.
Use the three waffle weave micro fiber towels to blot dry the car including the underside of the trunk and hood. Also open the doors and do the door jambs.
Use Zaino Z6 and remove with Ultra Plush micro fiber towels.
Use worn out Zaino product applicator to apply Zaino Z16 to tires.
Use Bon Ami and micro fiber glass cleaning towel to clean exterior glass.
This process takes me about an hour and a half from start to finish. When this is finished if I choose to do so I can now apply another coat of Zaino Z2 or Z5. The application of Zaino takes me about an hour and a half to do the entire car including under the hood, trunk, and the door jambs. I also use Zaino on my wheels as a carnauba wax will melt once the wheel heats up in the summer time.
Yes some of us like to keep a clean car. I am a firm believer that a clean car runs better.
Tools to wash and clean car:
Two buckets- one for wash solution and one with clean water to rinse cleaning tool.
Boars Hair Brush
High Quality sheepskin wool mitt.
Old worn out sheepskin wool mitt.
Chenille wash mitt.
Three waffle weave micro fiber drying towels.
Two micro fiber glass cleaning towels.
Five ultra plush micro fiber towels.
Worn out Zaino cotton product applicator.
Boars Hair 1 inch paint brush.
Vacuum cleaner.
Leaf Blower
Product I use to clean car.
Zaino Z7 car wash.
Zaino Z16 perfect tire gloss.
Zaino Z6 ultra clean gloss enhancer spray.
Bon Ami window cleaner
Pledge
Eagle 1 A2Z tire cleaner
Wash and clean routine:
Use 1 in Boars hair brush to clean cracks and crevices in the interior of the car.
Use pledge to clean wood dash kit.
Clean interior windows using Bon Ami and micro fiber glass cleaning towel.
Vacuum car and clean mats.
If tires are really dirty I will use Eagle 1 A2Z to clean tires. Otherwise Zaino Z16 will be all I use.
Wash exterior or the car using a Boars hair brush to clean the hood, top, trunk and doors down to the rocker panels. Use a high quality sheep skin wool mitt to clean rocker panels and body panels that lie under the car. Use worn out sheep skin wool mitt to clean wheels and finally use a chenille mitt to clean the wheel wells. Before I replenish the cleaning solution on the tool that I am using I rinse the tool off in the clean water.
Use leaf blower to blow off excess water from car.
Use the three waffle weave micro fiber towels to blot dry the car including the underside of the trunk and hood. Also open the doors and do the door jambs.
Use Zaino Z6 and remove with Ultra Plush micro fiber towels.
Use worn out Zaino product applicator to apply Zaino Z16 to tires.
Use Bon Ami and micro fiber glass cleaning towel to clean exterior glass.
This process takes me about an hour and a half from start to finish. When this is finished if I choose to do so I can now apply another coat of Zaino Z2 or Z5. The application of Zaino takes me about an hour and a half to do the entire car including under the hood, trunk, and the door jambs. I also use Zaino on my wheels as a carnauba wax will melt once the wheel heats up in the summer time.
Yes some of us like to keep a clean car. I am a firm believer that a clean car runs better.
#9
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thanks
hey thanks for all the great advice on waxing my car. hey anyone know why my brakes squeal so bad!! they are new and i sound like an old pinto!!! its a 2001 ssei! also how can i get a trunk accesory kit? mine is missing? any way i can find one?