how to properly wax a car

[MisfitBrian]

Guys.. I'm just a kid trying to get a decent wash and wax. I know you guys are all really really good with this stuff but I just want to wash and wax with simple car soap and turtle wax. Nothing fancy.. I don't get half of what you're talking about and I can't go buy that much stuff to use.

In simple terms...1. Wash car carefully & slowly so you don't grind debris into your paint(one section at a time).2. Dry your car carefully(a good waffle-weave microfiber towel does wonders).3. Apply thin coat of wax of your choice & allow to haze over.4. Using some good quality microfiber cloths, remove wax(I use one for the 1st pass & another to go over it a 2nd time).5. The next day, using quick detailer, go over entire car to make sure there isn't any wax residue. You have to realize that some of us detail junkies get all caught up in the miriad of products & techniques out there. Yes, it's a disease.

[Darius]

A new wax I really like is Turtle Wax Ice PASTE. You can smear it on the black body trim parts of the car and it doesn't turn white and look trashy like traditional waxes.

[Shift_Altima]

In simple terms...1. Wash car carefully & slowly so you don't grind debris into your paint(one section at a time).2. Dry your car carefully(a good waffle-weave microfiber towel does wonders).3. Apply thin coat of wax of your choice & allow to haze over.4. Using some good quality microfiber cloths, remove wax(I use one for the 1st pass & another to go over it a 2nd time).5. The next day, using quick detailer, go over entire car to make sure there isn't any wax residue. You have to realize that some of us detail junkies get all caught up in the miriad of products & techniques out there. Yes, it's a disease.

Can you dry with microfiber?

[MisfitBrian]

Can you dry with microfiber?

There are different types of microfiber. Waffle-weave is super absorbant. A large "regular" MF towel will do the job, just not as well. Whatever towels you use, remove all tags & inspect the stitching. Cheap MF towels sometimes use polyester stitching that can scratch your paint. The same is true for cotton towels.Good dryer(has satin trim):

Again, this site has very detailed how-to's...http://autopia.org/forum/guide-detailing/

[tracyk]

wow! I never knew how much it took to wax a car!

[stsxcrle]

Can you dry with microfiber?

You can get microfiber products for any step in the process, applicator pads, wash mitt, drying towel, towels for the windows, it's all available, I'd recommend at least the microfiber cloths to remove the wax as that seems to be where you're having the most trouble.

If you're seeing streaks after removing the wax it could be:

1. The wax baked in the sun: try washing it with liquid dish soap and reapplying wax in the shade or at the beginning/end of the day, or do one panel at a time and remove the wax.

2. The cloth you used either isn't picking up enough wax or has too much wax on it: Microfiber would help this, barring that, use more CLEAN terry cloth rags (or cotton baby blankets) change them out often as you remove the wax.

3. You're using too much wax: Try and limit it to about a dime sized amount per body panel, it should be a BARELY noticeable haze when the wax dries.

4. The car wasn't clean enough after the wash: the wax will lock in anything left over from washing the car (water spots etc) be sure to use a car soap, (unless intentionally trying to strip the wax with dish soap, this should only be done once a year or for good reason..) and dry promptly after washing, not allowing the car to bake in the sun or air dry.

If there's still imperfections in the clear coat you can't get out from a wash or with dish soap:

You might want to look into a clay bar system, this will completely remove any contaminants from the clear coat, giving you a "fresh start" you can get clay bar kits at any auto store, the idea is that you use a knead-able chunk of clay with a spray wax or some type of lubricant on the clear coat. You rub the clay bar on the clear coat after spraying it with the wax and the clay then picks up anything in the clear coat because it's tacky.

That may not be the best description, but all you're looking for is a bar of clay and a spray wax if you don't have some at home already. Then spray the paint, rub the bar, repeat for entire car.

Hope that helps...

[ssjones]

Not sure why I didn't get notification on your reply, sorry for the delay.I have been using the various Meguiars Mirror-Glaze products for polish, than adding the #26 wax to finish. That's on the big, black '96 Impala SS and has poor GM paint to boot, so it is a challenge. I don't have time to apply that regimen to the Altima so I need a decent, one-step product, mostly to protect versus ultimate shine. I don't like the Meguairs cleaner wax and switched to the Mothers product, it seems to be more durable.I use Clay as needed, most the "Clay Magic" brand, it's smoother than the Meguiars. I also see in my local Autozone that Eagle now has a clay product.

NXT is not a cleaner wax for sure definitely a "finisher". As far as polish before the wax... You mean use the cleaner wax then the NXT? If you keep up your waxing, and wax once every 6 weeks or so you shouldn't have any need to use a cleaner wax AND the NXT every time. Especially if you use a sealant as adutatious stated.

I'll do a clay bar after winter and a cleaner wax then just so I get ALL of the salt and grit off. Subsequently I'll just use the NXT once a month or so as long as the car doesn't get too dirty and the interval between washings isn't so long I lose the protectant coat of wax (it stops beading up)

and thanks, I think I missed a few things there but as usual anything I missed someone else picked up....

[ssjones]

Here's the Impala after 93,000 family-car miles and Meguairs care (also garage storage..)

[audtatious]

You're as bad as I am. I just bought some of the Klasse products & so far I'm impressed.

Yeah, I like the Klasse products. Not quite a fan of the Sonus products at this point. Honestly I think their restorer is pretty weak.

[audtatious]

Here's the Impala after 93,000 family-car miles and Meguairs care (also garage storage..)

Black is a pain. Mine is not much better being a "dark" blue. Here's mine last year on the way back from the NOPI Nats. My car is only in the garage long enough to wax, otherwise it stays outside (134k miles)...

[08altima35]

My A/C's first wax today. Used T.Wax Ice Wash Soap then NTX Wax. Micro Fiber only for all applications from washing, drying, applying wax, removing wax, and so on and so forth. here are some pics.and didn't someone in another thread say "Dark Slate" has a dull finish and just looks bland? you decide

[stsxcrle]

Not sure why I didn't get notification on your reply, sorry for the delay.I have been using the various Meguiars Mirror-Glaze products for polish, than adding the #26 wax to finish. That's on the big, black '96 Impala SS and has poor GM paint to boot, so it is a challenge. I don't have time to apply that regimen to the Altima so I need a decent, one-step product, mostly to protect versus ultimate shine. I don't like the Meguairs cleaner wax and switched to the Mothers product, it seems to be more durable.I use Clay as needed, most the "Clay Magic" brand, it's smoother than the Meguiars. I also see in my local Autozone that Eagle now has a clay product.

In that case I can't recommend it that highly, it puts out a pretty solid shine, but it will wear off after a few good rainstorms. One of the guys I work with swears by the Zaino Z-2 PRO Show Car Polish for Clear Coated Car Finisheshttp://www.zainostore.com/Merc...unt=8

I just ordered the Wizard shine master Polish and sealant, supposedly you can apply it like a wax, we'll see.http://wizardsproducts.com/mer...de=WP

[stsxcrle]

Car looks awesome, nice job!

[Shift_Altima]

It's too cold in jersey to do anything!!!

[Shift_Altima]

After the wax hazes and you wipe it off with a terry cloth or microfiber cloth. Can you go over with a damp microfiber cloth or does that take off the wax and defeat the whole purpose?

[stsxcrle]

After the wax hazes and you wipe it off with a terry cloth or microfiber cloth. Can you go over with a damp microfiber cloth or does that take off the wax and defeat the whole purpose?

You can use a damp cloth to take the wax off. Any good wax should act almost like a sealant for the paint, basically shedding water and keeping contaminants from bonding with it. So a damp cloth wouldn't hurt the coat of wax you just applied.

What some people do to take off the wax completely is use a spray wax to remove any extra wax on the car. So instead of water on the microfiber, they'd use the spray wax. Doing this would require you wipe off the spray as well, but spray waxes come of VERY easily. Might be more than you're looking to do right now, but something to keep in mind.

[ssjones]

Heres a question I've pondered over the last several years, since moving into our current home:I have a wash room sink in our garage with hot water. During the cold winter months, on nice days, I'll hook up the hose to that faucet and fill the soap bucket with warm water. Than, I use warm water to wash/rinse the car. Does the warm water in any way cause the wax coat to shed or lose durability? I keep the water just warm enough to be comfortable (and it's wonderful, if you ever build a garage)

[MisfitBrian]

Yeah, I like the Klasse products. Not quite a fan of the Sonus products at this point. Honestly I think their restorer is pretty weak.

There is one Sonus product I swear by. The cockpit detailer for your dash & inside vinyl is really nice. Very low sheen so it doesn't blind you & it leaves a nice citrus smell. UV protection as well. I'm not impressed with the Sonus exterior products I've used either.