Carwash survey

[LEMON DROP KICK]

I was just wondering what do you guys use to wash your rides and what waxes?? Also what drying materials you use also to wipe and dry your rides before any waterspots build.. For me, I use the Meguiars NXT with the 3 stages of the Meguiars waxes, and use a walmart microfiber towels..


thanks for your time.

[RayfieldsWRX]

Moved to the detailing forum. I use similar materials to what you use, though I don't go through 3 stages of wax. Who has time?

[yo vanilla]

i've got 2 small kids, i certainly dont have time!! lol, sometimes i have to wash my car in the morning before work.

i use a mild car soap and a wash mit, then dry with a california blade and a microfiber drying towel. twice per year i clay, and i wax every 2 months or so if i can. in the past i always used nu car finish because its easy on, easy off and lasts a long time. when i bought my 07 i used some meguires NXT wax, which gave great shine but i noticed it wore off rather quick, so now i'm back to nu car. and i use zymol cleaner wax for any areas that need extra cleaning whenever.

[RayfieldsWRX]

i've got 2 small kids, i certainly dont have time!!

Ditto.
I wind up doing it quickly after work, sometimes.

[efmd3]

meguires deep crystal wash or TW ice, meguire's plastiX, NuPolish, TW carnauba, TW ICE claybar+wax, advance auto part microfiber chenile mitt, the Absorber, walmart microfiber towels, windex auto, febreze auto, armorall protectant, prolly some other stuff too

ohhh
whatever wheel protectant i can find
and same for tire shine

[EJ257]

I go to the no-touch car wash once/week - I am too busy to handwash my car. I use Turtle wax once/month, also (with an old sock)

[keifer75]

turtle wax ice car wash
2 bucket method (one soap bucket/one rinse bucket)
lambs wool mit
meguires gold class microfiber towels for drying
turtle wax ice spray detailer in between waxing
stoner glass cleaner
medium clay for stubborn bug removal
eagle one 20/20 glass cleaner misted on a microfiber cloth to do the dash

[GuiltySparc]

Optimum Products are what i use...i can wash/wax the car in less than an hour and the shine is rediculous.

A little Optium No Rinse action followed by a once over with their quick detailer. Then once a month i go over with their spray wax. Looks fantastic and even the morning dew beeds up.

[ScreamnRex]

If Im really going all out I use:
Megs Deep Crystal Wash
Clay Magic Claybar
Griots Fine Hand Polish
Megs #26 Professional Yellow Wax

[cavallino333]

A full detail for me looks like this:

1. Wash with meguiars NXT
2. Claybar with griots claybar and nxt quick detailer
3. Polish with griots fine hand polish
4. Wax with meguiars NXT
5. Wax with Griots Carnuba wax

I use the mr. clean autodry (but not with the mr.clean soap that stuff is really bad it will strip wax immediately). It doesn't save you from drying but it does allow you to spray on soapy water rather than a bucket.

Towels etc:
1. griots microfiber wash pad
2. griots microfiber drying towels
3. griots microfiber towels (for buffing wax)
4. Meguiars wax applicator


For other things I use:
1. Griots vinyl and rubber dressing (for tires)
2. Meguiars NXT metal polish (exhaust tips etc)
3. Griots stainles steal cleaner (water based aerosol, works on lots of metals)
4. Simple green for wheels and some under hood stuff
5. Griots speed shine for quick touch ups here and there
6. Griots interior cleaner

[SGarlesky]

I use Duragloss car wash.
Zaino wax, tire dressing and detail spray. (Zaino rocks)
I haven't needed the Zaino clay bar yet, the car was brand new in April.
Stoner Invisible glass for the windows also Rain-X.



My old car

[06-wrx]

I was my car using mequires car wash, and a microfiber mit. I do a quick sweep of the whole car with a california squegee, Then I dry the car with microfibers and use a detail spray called bead ex. The bead ex spray is made by formula 113 and is absolutely amazing. When I wax the car I usually use mequires gold class.

[TheJ]

Lather, Rinse, Repeat.

[independent 68]

i use the new turtle wax ice. its only been out about 2 months and its seriously amazing stuff, my padre uses it to detail his jaguar for concor. litterally spray on and wipe off. best shine ive ever seen and lasts for quite some time

[Pavia]

A full detail for me consists of:

1) Wash with Dawn (once/twice a year)
2) followed by claybar (once/twice a year)
3) Wash with Zaino carwash. I use the Mr Clean carwasher for rinse and filtered water spot-free rinse.
4) Blow off water with leave-blower, followed by a quick wipe-down with 100% US made, white cotton towel
5) A quick drive around the block to clean the surface rust forming on the brake rotors (if I don't, the dust will end up covering my dark rims).
6) Use Z-6 Zaino detail spray to prep the surface for polish
7) One coat of Z-5 Zaino Show Polish w/ ZFX hardener applied by hand, followed by removal with Porter Cable buffer on top of a towel.
8) Another hit with Z-6 detail spray
9) Two coats of Z-2 Zaino polish w/ hardener, each with Z-6 used in between coats
10) If time and energy permits, I'll put one or more coats of Z-2 on without the hardener.
11) While waiting for polish to haze, I do the following:
- Two coats of Zaino tire dressing
- Clean the glass inside and out. Apply Rain-X to windshield
- Wipe down the interior with a damp cloth
- Wipe down the engine
- Check fluids
- Check tire pressure and inflate with air pump as needed
- Vacuum interior and wipe-down the rubber mats I use to protect the carpet
- Lube all hinges
12) Touch up any stone chips in the paint, as required

I do all of these steps once in the Spring and once in the Fall.

Once a week I perform steps 3, 4, 5, 6, sometimes 10, and always 11. Basic car wash followed by proper PMCS (thats Preventative Maintenance Checks and Services to you civilian-minded folks).

During the Winter months, I make sure I rinse my car off once or twice a week at a coin-operated carwash. No soap, just the water rinse from the spray gun, concentrating on getting the salt off the lower parts of the car. If the temp goes above 50, I'll wash at home.