Keeping your car shiney

[Shift_Altima]

I created a thread a while back about properly waxing a car. But I want to know.. what do you do to make your car look exceptionally clean and shiney. Like the cars u see driving down the street and are pretty much blinded by. Ya. Those. How do they do it? Right now.. I have a meguiar kit. It has car soap (shampoo).. liquid wax.. tire shiner.. and interior cleaner. I also have the turtle wax real wax. When it gets warm (damn NJ weather) I'm gonna go all out. I need tips on how to get my car looking amazing. Any advice? Things I need to buy? Products? Oh by the way.. I also have 4 microfiber towels and 1 large waffle towel along with a car squeegee for drying. So.. help?

[shift_mikey]

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/how-to.html

Its a WHOLE LOT of data to read and take in, but its very good how-to's for someone lookin to go beyond the normal wash and wax.

[spike228]

First of all, ditch the turtle wax. All they make is garbage.

Secondly, its more about your technique, not so much the product your use (unless you are using crap like turtle wax).

That link that mikey posted should give you an idea of what techniques to use.

[Shift_Altima]

Loool ok so what should i use? Real wax not liquid or spray

[spike228]

I would avoid spray wax. They do work, but they never last. I personally use those pasty waxes (meg's NXT tech wax).

For the best, longest lasting wax, just use good old fashioned solid carnuba wax. Its a lot of work and its a royal pain in the ***, but it does last longer than the paste/liquid wax. I wax regularly so the pasty stuff is the right stuff for me.

[MisfitBrian]

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/how-to.html

Its a WHOLE LOT of data to read and take in, but its very good how-to's for someone lookin to go beyond the normal wash and wax.

Another thing that gets overlooked is do not use dryer sheets or fabric softener when you wash you car towels. Although they make them feel softer, it greatly inhibits their water absorbancy rate. A good thorough wash will make the waxing much easier as well. Don't miss anything or you'll just grind dirt into your paint leaving swirls & scratches. Clay bar twice a year is a good idea, too.

[Shift_Altima]

How do you use carnuaba wax? Same as the regular wax rite?

[spike228]

Thats the trick part. Some people apply it with their hands, others use a soft terry cloth. Either method, you'll need a microfiber cloth for the final polishing.

[Cali 2 Balti G]

I would add a spray detailer to your kit if you don't already have one. I think this is about the best thing you can do to keep your car clean - and also to clean your car in between washings. Spray detailers help preserve your wax job, bead and shine.

Perfect for in between washes - when your car gets dirty you can spay detail it in about 10 minutes - get yourself a fat pack of microfibers as these will be your best friend -

Carry the detailer and a couple of micro fibers in your car - and you are good to go. Also great for removing tire dressing which is usually the first dirt on a clean car.

[Shift_Altima]

carnuaba wax is a bit extreme for me. When you use the detailer u just spray it on and wipe it like windex on a window?

[Cali 2 Balti G]

To some extent wax is wax as far as application whether it is carnuba or some other type - most waxes on the market now go on and come off very easy. If you can put on turtle wax effectively you can put on carnuba.

As for the spray detailer - yes you use it like windex - the important thing here is to use one side of the cloth for application and initial wipe - and the o ther side to remove the product. Do not allow product to dry on car - so that means doing a square foot section at a time until you get the hang of it.

Follow the general car wash/detail rule of Top Down - which means just like washing a car you start at the top of the car and work your way down. The dirtiest part of the car will be the bottom and the bumpers - which you clean last -helps ensure that you don't spread dirt and rocks from the bottom to rest of car. Sometimes I use multiple cloths like acloth for the top parts of the car and "dirty" cloth - which might only be used to clean the bottom of the car.

Again make sure that you totally remove product for best shine.

Modified by Cali 2 Balti G at 4:55 PM 1/23/2008
Modified by Cali 2 Balti G at 4:57 PM 1/23/2008

[Shift_Altima]

One last thing and I think i'll be ready to do this. When u wax with the paste wax.. then u buff it out. Should u buff it with a dry microfiber cloth? Or should u use a wet one with water or with liquid wax? I was thinking after waxing and going to buff.. use a microfiber twoel with liquid wax on it to get it even shinier. Then the next day when u go out to look and make usre everything is good use quik detailer. Does that sound about rite or is it excessive?

[novs25]

please visit autogeek.net for some of the best products out there.

[stsxcrle]

One last thing and I think i'll be ready to do this. When u wax with the paste wax.. then u buff it out. Should u buff it with a dry microfiber cloth? Or should u use a wet one with water or with liquid wax? I was thinking after waxing and going to buff.. use a microfiber twoel with liquid wax on it to get it even shinier. Then the next day when u go out to look and make usre everything is good use quik detailer. Does that sound about rite or is it excessive?

Not excessive, but you wouldn't want to take off the wax with the spray wax in the same step. It just won't absorb the paste wax as well. If you want you can remove it all and then use the spray wax as Cali described to remove any traces of the wax you may have missed.

If you want to get it super shiny, usually "layering" the waxes works best. And the best shine will come from multiple layers of a paste wax. The Meguiars NXT is pretty good, Zaino's products are great (zainostore.com) you have time to look around and compare products now before the warm weather comes back... But if you want to really bring out the shine I'd recommend multiple coats of paste wax, Zaino's clear seal is a spray that's supposed to work exceptionally well, some of my friends have and use it on their cars, seems to hold up pretty well, but personally, I like the feel and look of a nice paste wax.

[MisfitBrian]

I would add a spray detailer to your kit if you don't already have one. I think this is about the best thing you can do to keep your car clean - and also to clean your car in between washings. Spray detailers help preserve your wax job, bead and shine.

Perfect for in between washes - when your car gets dirty you can spay detail it in about 10 minutes - get yourself a fat pack of microfibers as these will be your best friend -

Carry the detailer and a couple of micro fibers in your car - and you are good to go. Also great for removing tire dressing which is usually the first dirt on a clean car.

Add a California Duster to the kit as well. Before you use the Quick Detailer, lightly go over the car with the duster. it makes clean up that much easier. I keep a small one for the dash as well.

[Shift_Altima]

Alrtie so:

1. Rinse the car with only water2. Wash with soap and clean water3. Dry with microfiber towels preferablly4. Paste wax (multiple layers if u have time and want the shine)5. Buff out the wax using mf towells that are dry (??)6. Go over with quick detailer or liquid wax (???) the next day to get any missed spots

Missed anything? Sry i just want a nice shineeeeee

[stsxcrle]

Alrtie so:

1. Rinse the car with only water2. Wash with soap and clean water3. Dry with microfiber towels preferablly4. Paste wax (multiple layers if u have time and want the shine)5. Buff out the wax using mf towells that are dry (??)6. Go over with quick detailer or liquid wax (???) the next day to get any missed spots

Missed anything? Sry i just want a nice shineeeeee

You got it... One thing I'd be careful with:#6, you want to be careful with waxing without washing, same with the california duster, all the little bits of dust etc that accumulate overnight can scratch the paint if you make a habit of california dusting or detailing after letting the car sit for awhile.

The effects of waxing/wiping the car down without washing will be less if you're in the garage or there's no dew in the morning, but I try to avoid it myself. Doing this frequently will leave you with millions of tiny swirl marks... more noticeable the darker the color of your paint.

Apart from that just keep layering the wax and watch the car shiiiiine.

[Shift_Altima]

It's just that last time I did it there were circular marks from where the wax wasn't fully removed in some places. Also.. I have a new bottle of liquid wax and quik detailer from meguiar. I don't know what to do with them so I figured using them to wipe off the original wax would be the best idea..

[stsxcrle]

My guess is the quality of the wax. The higher quality wax should come right off with the Microfiber no problem. The only other thing that could cause that is if you let the wax bake in the sun....

[Shift_Altima]

It was my first time doing it so I didn't know the work it entailed I thoght it was easier and quicker. So now I know what I'm in for. So when the wetaher gets nice i'll be out trying it again. Thanks for all your help. If u guys know what the liquid wax and qiuk detailer can be used for let me know please. I dont wanna waste it.