since graduation is next weekend, i'm looking to get my car all cleaned up next thursday. i haven't had the car long, so i've only applied one coat of wax. i used the regular Meguiars, and it seemed to be pretty average. on my old car i used Turtle Wax and it seemed to have better results. the car does have a few scratches on it as well. so i have a few questions.

what is the best wax i can get at a local store? (walmart, carquest, etc.)

should i use multi-step waxes?

what is clay barring?

should i clay bar?

 

Prior to using Zaino, I used Meguire's. I would use either Meguire's or Mothers.

As for using multi-step waxes, well, that depends on the results you want to achieve. If you want to really improve the appearance, you have to do the prep work. Short of getting involved using a buffer and polishing pads, etc., if I were you, I'd use a good compound, and cleaner wax, and finally a polishing wax. I know Mothers offers all of these.

As for claying, I recommend it also. Mothers makes a "kit" with everything you'll need.

It is more involved doing all of this, but if you want the results, you have to do the prep.

 

i don't have a buffer at the moment. just some cotton towels for waxing. i might do a bit more this summer. we'll see how much time i have on my hands.

how exactly do you apply the clay bar?

 

you spray a final/quick detailer on the car (after you wash it) in a spot about the length of your arm, then rub the clay on the wet section. press hard and rub the dirt out.

 

I haven't used 'Mothers', but I believe they provide a liquid with the clay bar. You continuously wet the area where you are using the clay bar, moving the clay in back and forth motion. Do not rub too hard. As it picks up the contaminants, it will change color. (In using Zaino's caly, the yellow clay turns black. As it discolors, knead the clay to a clean spot and continue. Once you feel the surface has a "glass like" feeling, move onto the next area.

 

I would give the nod to Mothers for otc waxes that are widely available. You can't go wrong with Meguiars as well.

 

I tried Meguiar's clay and wasn't happy with it. Mother's and Clay Magic worked much better than the Meguiar's.

 

In the olden days (before spray detailers), we used soapy water to lube the clay.... Arf!

Lil Dog in a big pound
(anyone remember the paint chip sticky?)

 

Yep, I think I used about 8 drops of Dawn to 8 ounces of water in a spray bottle. Now I use Z7 and water.

 

DO NOT PRESS HARD!!!!

Think about it...you're removing dirt, which isn't vanishing....it's on the clay - so what sense does pressing this back into the car? The clay will give, dirt, etc will not and will scratch your paint.

Let the weight of the clay do nearly all the pushing - use your hand to "guide" it - you will be able to feel when the surface is clean.

You DO NOT press hard, and you DO NOT RUB the dirt out - you press VERY LIGHTLY and "LIFT" the dirt out, or else it's for your car.

 

I clayed my car for the first time last fall and it helped, but I'll probably not do it again for a wile.

I like doing a coat of Mothers Carnuba paste cleaner wax and 2 coats of Meguiars NXT paste. The car looks great and it's fairly durable IMO, It holds up for a good 2 months before I repeat the NXT 1 or 2 more coats.

 

NXT does not layer so save yourself some time and don't do 2 coats at once...it's really only a good idea for the first application since you may miss some spots. Instead of 2 applications every 2 months, maybe wax once a month.

 

I probably wouldnt even wax with NXT once a month. NXT along with a lot of other wax's, contains abrasives that will slowly eat away at your clear coat if you apply it too often. Im not trying to scare ya or anything, cuz it would take LOTS of waxing with NXT to eat away enough of your clear, but still, prolly not the best idea. If you wanna wax alot, probably a better idea to wax it initially at the beginning of the year with a wax with some abrasives in it then if you want to wax each subsuquent month, use a wax with no cleaners or abrasives.

 

Which is why it can't be layered - I failed to mention that.

I do not know how stong NXTs abrasives are - but 2-3 times a year won't be a problem.

 

Agreed, I didnt mean it to sound like it was, but if you wax it 6-7 times a year, every year with an abrasive wax, then you might run into some problems down the road.