what kind of wax, wass mitt and cleaning towels should i get?

[4drmadness]

Hey guys i finally deceided that i really need to clean my car. i was wondering what would be the easiest wax to use, tht takes less time, and what type of drying towel, and wash mitt shud i get. thanks

[pfarmer]

Hey guys i finally deceided that i really need to clean my car. i was wondering what would be the easiest wax to use, tht takes less time, and what type of drying towel, and wash mitt shud i get. thanks

I use ICE paste wax. A lot of owners suggest Zaino, however you asked for ease of use. You can go with a liquid but I actually find the paste easier to remove. I use a microfibre wash mitt along with using a Mr. Clean system. I also use the ICE soap which seems to work fine with Mr. Clean.

For a drying towel, I use none, I find it not necessary since I am following it up immediately with the wax. However I use a microfibre towel for the wax removal which is a the same thing I would recommend when you are not waxing the car. With the microfibre towel as well as the wash mitt it want to use one with no sewn edges. Many microfibre towels are just fine, however the sewn edges are not good for your finish due to the thread used or edging.

Perry

[370Z/28]

I dry my cars off with The Absorber. Also, you will find that if your Absorber is clean and well wrung out, it is the best thing in the world to wipe off the inside of your glass. Your windows won't get that film on it that you get if you use something like Windex.

[4drmadness]

Can i find the ICE Paste wax in like pep boys? is the name of the brand ICE? so you just basically was the car, let the sun dry the car, and then put the wax on?

[SteveTheTech]

I've got to be honest I love the results of Zaino products but they take hours of hard work to get the desired results. Then you get hooked, and the wax turns into your mistress and you become OCD like me.

Someone gave me a bottle of Maguires Tech-Wax and although it still needs hand application the results after some work are well worth it.

Absorber FTW or even the :::cough cough::: Shamwow yeah I know TV crap doesn't usually work but this Rayon towel absorbs water as it is designed. Or a good ole lamb skin shammie.

Something like a spray on while wet wax might be more your thing if you lack the time or patience to massage your G.

Although it's pretty slow going the detailing forum (see my sig) has some pretty good information. To many of us detailing is a great stress reliever, the time invested makes that first ride so much more satisfying.

[4drmadness]

Time to get some tech wax and SHAM WOW

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

Yea I use the tech wax... Very good stuff but if you really want it to look show room quality you have to put some elbow grease into it!

[pfarmer]

I dry my cars off with The Absorber. Also, you will find that if your Absorber is clean and well wrung out, it is the best thing in the world to wipe off the inside of your glass. Your windows won't get that film on it that you get if you use something like Windex.

I use Stoner for the windows, never Windex which leaves its own film behind.

Perry

[pfarmer]

I've got to be honest I love the results of Zaino products but they take hours of hard work to get the desired results. Then you get hooked, and the wax turns into your mistress and you become OCD like me.

Someone gave me a bottle of Maguires Tech-Wax and although it still needs hand application the results after some work are well worth it.

If I had the time I would use Zaino based on the results I have seen. You better have some time to spend on the project however. Between ICE and Tech-Wax, I find ICE to give better results, especially from the ease of use point of view. But I find the paste version much better than the liquid. I use a spray on detailer for final finishing and also for doing the door jams.

Perry

[joe603]

I just Zaino'd my new SUV and it wasn't that bad...

1. wash car is dish soap (dawn is a good choice)

2. Dry with 100% cotton white towels. (Not necessary if you're going to clay)

3. Clay entire vehicle using zaino car wash as a lub. (I use an old spray bottle with a capfull of zaino and fill it with water...great for doing windows too)

4. Wash car with Zaino wash. Towel dry

5. Apply zaino polish with ZFX additive to speed drying time to 15min.

6. wipe with 100% cotton white t-shirt (cheap V-necks work great!

7. (Optional) spray Z-6 and buff off. This will really make the paint shine!!

8. seal the Z-6 with another coat of zaino polish.

I did this to a small SUV and it took me 3 hours. The key is to use 100% white cotton towels to dry and 100% white cotton t-shirts for the wax. Zaino provides an applicator for the polish...but you can also use a white t-shirt.

Check out Zaino's web site for more: http://www.lazaino.com/ApplyZaino.htm

[370Z/28]

You can say what you want about The Absorber, but my Camaro is 14 years old and I can still win 1st or 2nd place in any car show I put it in. It is very easy to use, dries quick and you can carry it around in the trunk for emergencies.

[SteveTheTech]

You suck Joe, you and your warm enough to Zaino southern weather. I would like to add that 7 inches of snow has cost me a days work and now it's 2pm and I'm onto beer.

The Tech-Wax I used on half my car has decent reflectivity results with hand application and proper curing time in a ~70* shop. When I run out of that bottle (a month max). I'll try the ICE and compare the results.

I'm waiting for the warmness of March..."look out the window" Oh Crap, well I've got time now for more research. I really want to clay bar and start over with the wifes car, it's all original and Silver. I need to find a day and some change to Zaino that in my communal driveway. But first I need to order it off the internet. Ahh so many hurdles.

There is this nano technology stuff from Sweden that one of our vendors uses and he gave me a sample of their windshield cleaner and treatment. From the description of the product it is one of only three molecules small enough to penetrate the protective layer of polymer covering the glass and this product fortunately has some of them to make the glass clearer and water repellent. We'll see how it works I plan on doing a full right up on it when I actually use it. I shall sacrifice the Js PPG windshield for this test and report back.

[joe603]

I did the SUV a few weeks ago...it's too cold here right now...(we even have an inch of snow!!) But, it's supposed to be 60-70 on Friday

[370Z/28]

We had the largest snowfall here Saturday that we have had in 40 years. I'm sick of winter. My car needs a total detailing!

[Road Ruler]

Another vote for ICE:

I slapped a coat of this stuff on last October. It went on way too easy so I thought it might not be to good but what a surprise.

The car has gone through a brutal Canadian Winter. Salt on the car most of the time and too cold to wash the car. In fact it only got washed about every 3rd week.

I washed the G last week and wow it looked good. The Ice was still there doing its job.

[pfarmer]

Another vote for ICE:

I slapped a coat of this stuff on last October. It went on way too easy so I thought it might not be to good but what a surprise.

The car has gone through a brutal Canadian Winter. Salt on the car most of the time and too cold to wash the car. In fact it only got washed about every 3rd week.

I washed the G last week and wow it looked good. The Ice was still there doing its job.

Which type of ICE did you use, the liquid or paste. I used both with almost similar results although I think the paste is slightly better.

I also found the paste easier to use, mostly from the removal part. With the liquid two issues came up. The first I found it harder to see the coverage. The same goes for removal. I found it easier to completely remove the paste.

That said a lot of what I am speaking of may be a factor of temperature as while not as cold here in Western Washington as it is in the great white north, the weather doesn't make it easy on us to run outside to wash and wax the car on a regular basis. Well maybe just the wax part. We often can run out and soap the car up and don't bother with the rinse.

Perry

[Road Ruler]

Perry. I am using the Paste. Haven't tried the liquid so can't compare.

The other bonus with the Ice is that it leaves no white residues on the black rubber.