My wash/wax setup: Please critique

[HondaFan81]

I just bought the following items this weekend, please let me know what you all think about these products FROM personal experience only please. I went to Meijer's, AutoZone and Advance Auto Parts & this is the best I could do with their products from the list I put together from a guy that does this as a profession.

1) Blue Coral car wash
2) Meguiar Deep Crystal- Paint Cleaner (I couldn't find Meguiar Dual Action Cleaner/Polish)
3) Mother's Clay Bar
4) Meguiar Mirror Glaze - Show Car Glaze (it's a polish)
5) Meguiar Mirror Glaze - High Tech Yellow #26
6) Meguiar Deep Crystal - Quik Detailer

I bought wax applicator pads, polishing cloths, microfiber cloths and a wash mitt.


Thanks for your comments.

[HondaFan81]

I also have a question. I've heard that you should do this FULL process like twice a year. But inbetween you're supposed to maintain the finish by using the Quik detailer spray.

My question is, between fully waxing your car, etc...how do you use the Quik detailer spray to maintain it? My guess is...you wash the car, then Quik detail spray & wipe, but do you have to wax it again? or just stop there...

Please clarify. Thanks.

[Blk EX Coupe]

have u tried nxt tech wax? and nxt quick detailer? i go through the process of cleaning my car every 6 months by
1. washing with dawn soap
2. mothers claybar
3. wash with meguires nxt car soap
4. meguires scratch x
5. nxt tech wax

when i wash my car i wash and apply nxt quick detailer onto the car when its wet and wipe off most of the water with a microfiber towel, then come back with another towel and buff off the haze left... and thats it. oh and i wax my car every 4-6 weeks

[akrodha]

you guys ever hear of www.zainobros.com? That's some of the best stuff on the market for show and concourse finishes.

[HondaFan81]

Originally posted by Blk EX Coupe
have u tried nxt tech wax? and nxt quick detailer? i go through the process of cleaning my car every 6 months by
1. washing with dawn soap
2. mothers claybar
3. wash with meguires nxt car soap
4. meguires scratch x
5. nxt tech wax

when i wash my car i wash and apply nxt quick detailer onto the car when its wet and wipe off most of the water with a microfiber towel, then come back with another towel and buff off the haze left... and thats it. oh and i wax my car every 4-6 weeks

I'm confused. You say you wax your car every 4-6 weeks, that's not 6 months....what you mean by this? Is it every 4-6 weeks or every 6 months?

[Blk EX Coupe]

i go through that entire process every 6 months...but i do a wash and wax every 4-6 weeks

[Blk EX Coupe]

Originally posted by akrodha
you guys ever hear of www.zainobros.com? That's some of the best stuff on the market for show and concourse finishes.

it's a very good product...but honestly i dont have enough time to apply that to my car, maybe if my garage was clean i'd do it but keep in mind a starter kit is like 80 or 90 bucks + shipping

[HondaFan81]

Originally posted by Blk EX Coupe
i go through that entire process every 6 months...but i do a wash and wax every 4-6 weeks

I see.

However, I read the instructions last night on all the products and lined them up in chronological order accordingly with some common sense.

By your comment "I do a wash & wax every 4-6 weeks", as I see it your supposed to wash, then use the spray detailer and only RE-wax only when it becomes slow to wipe off the spray detailer stuff.

Is my statement correct?

[Blk EX Coupe]

correct

[HondaFan81]

I was talking with someone and they made a decent point I'd like to clarify.

They said if a car has a good clearcoat (usually when they fairly new), you shouldn't use the harsh stuff that will remove the original clearcoat of the car. They say, you should just wash & dry the car, then apply a wax. They said you only need to do the "full process" when you have an older car that's lost its clearcoat or has a haze to it and you need to bring back the shine.

Is this true? I want to know because we have a 2001 Honda Odyssey that still has a nice clearcoat & body is in like new condition and I'm afraid if I do this process to bring a showroom shine....I'll strip the clearcoat and make it worse...

Can someone please clarify...thanks alot.

[Blk EX Coupe]

well for a newer car i'd clay bar,wash, and wax it. clay bar cleans the paint off to make sure everythings gone before applying the wax. since you said your car looks new i'd take that process. but on like my moms car a black 02 camry...theres spider webbing on the paint so you gotta go through rubbing compouds and polishing to remove that. dark colors always show everything so it requires more work. there is also clear coat safe type stuff too, it's not as abrasive as others.

[HondaFan81]

Yeah, your Odyssey is silver so I think I will:

1) Wash & dry
2) Clay bar
3) Wax

But yea, I understand about the darker colors. At least I have all the products I need.

[HondaFan81]

Hmm...I just read the back of the bottles for the "paint cleaner & polish" and it says they are "safe and effective for clear coats". So I think I will test this on the 88 integra we have first, then use it on the Odyssey accordingly. If that don't work out, I'll just wash, claybar and wax it.

[Blk EX Coupe]

clay bar the integra...it works wonders but its also makes your arm very sore....because i bet it's never been done on that car we did it to my dad's friends 89 civic....and our arms were sore for a while after that

[do0dfromcali]

Here is my process. Up until recently, I had about 6 coats of zaino on my car. My new process is this.

1. Wash with dawn liquid soap to remove all wax.
1a. Claybar the car
2. Wash car again with meguiars soap
3. Apply Color X wax and then remove
4. Apply quick detailer spray
5. Apply NXT wax and then remove
6. Apply Quick detailer spray


I do this process once before winter and once after winter. Between then I usually wax like every 3 weeks but wash my car probably twice a week. Not right now since its been raining. The car really shines.

Here is a pic to show the shine. People are amazed how well the car shines. I had a security guy pull me over just so he could look at the car. Kind of odd but whatever works. Haha