questions about washing

[ragz-REX]

so i recently bought an 07 wrx and wanna do my best to keep her nice and clean.. ive read a bunch of posts where people explain their methods of fully detailing their subies and see that commonly people:

1-wash
2-dry
3-clay
4-wash
5-cleaner
6-polish
7-wax

with my last car i was lucky if i hand washed it once ever 6 months with an occasional trip to the car wash in between.. and when i did wash it, it didn't include anything more than a good vacuuming inside and a wash and dry on the outside with some liquid dish soap..

i guess my question is, what exactly is the purpose of each step listed above, namely the clay bar.. and what steps are not necessarily needed for that show room finish? also, if you do follow the 7 steps, is that only done once or twice a year with regular washes in between.. or is it done everytime the car gets dirty..

thanks for any help.. and sorry if this has been asked before..

[pzr2874]

No need to use the cleaner IF you wash the car after you claybar it (might be overkill). But everything else looks ok.

Twice a year wouldn't hurt. Yes, regular washes in between. I have found you never need to scrub anymore.... junk just falls off.

[ragz-REX]

ok, so i can get rid of the cleaner, but what exactly is the point of the clay bar? what does it do? and what is the difference between polishing and waxing? sorry if these are dumb questions but i never put this much thought into washing my car before, but then again it was never all that clean either..

oh yeah, i was also curious if anyone uses armor all on the inside surfaces of their car like the dash, or is there something different i should look for?

thanks..

[keifer75]

Car Wax, paint Sealants,Car Waxes, Show Car Wax, Best Car Wax, Carnauba Car wax, P21s Car wax, Pinnacle Souveran Wax, Meguiars car wax, Mothers

this page has a few run downs on wax vs sealant

Auto Detailing Facts, auto detailing Tips, How to detailing Guides, how to polish, how to wax, DIY detailing, do it yourself guides

this is a breakdown of how products work for different scenarios, i hope this helps!

[ragz-REX]

wow keifer, that site was awesome.. i couldnt really ask for a better answer to my question.. now all i have to do is find the free time to put in the work..

thanks for the links

[ragz-REX]

so would anyone here suggest that i go and buy a car care kit where i will get a clay bar, polish, wax, etc. all included? or should i just start off small with a clay bar and see how things go from there?

[pzr2874]

Wash , claybar, polish, wax..... that's it.

I use the Meguiars stuff. They are maroon bottles. Step 2 and 3 is what you need. In addition to the claybar.

[ragz-REX]

sweet.. thanks for the help

[Kean]

so would anyone here suggest that i go and buy a car care kit where i will get a clay bar, polish, wax, etc. all included? or should i just start off small with a clay bar and see how things go from there?

....every situation is different and the products/tools you choose, the frequency of use and your some of the techniques will depend solely on your particular application. The answer lies within your ability to evaluate your own situation and understand your product choices. You must also factor in the amount of effort you are willing to invest, money, time and the result you are trying to achieve. …..however, you also need to be realistic about your goals (especially if working by hand).

I would suggest browsing through the following articles found within this link:

Helpful Threads For Newbies - Autopia.org

Don’t feel overwhelmed. You obviously don’t need to read through each one. Just pick the topics that are immediately applicable first. You can always revisit that link later to read up on other subjects of interest. I would suggest starting with this one first though (since it covers most topics with well written, short articles). ….make sure to browse all pages of that link:

Guide to Detailing - Autopia.org

btw, that forum has a deep pool of knowledge and information devoted to the subject. ….tap into it.

P.S. I just noticed your question about the use of Armor All on the interior bits. I guess my question to you would be what you are looking for in a dressing? Personally, I hate anything that will leave a "shine" (especially on the dashboard). I use a product called C-ockpit(stupid swear filter) Premium from 1Z (Einszett). It's a German product that you typically can only find online. However, a very similar OTS product is Meguiars Quik Interior Detailer. Both products leave no residue or shine. The surfaces are left clean and have an OEM look. For more of a "satin" finish, 303 Aerospce Protectant is another choice. I use this product as well but just not on the interior. It will go on a little shiny at first but you will need to knock it down with a clean, dry towel as the instructions state. The result is satin-like. Below is an example:

[ragz-REX]

thanks KEAN..

that first site you posted has a TON of stuff on it, so im gonna take my time and try to learn what i can.. i guess a little wash is better than no wash at all.. for right now anyway..

[Kean]

thanks KEAN..

that first site you posted has a TON of stuff on it, so im gonna take my time and try to learn what i can.. i guess a little wash is better than no wash at all.. for right now anyway..

....no problem. I'm glad you're actually reading through it. I can link to these resources until I'm blue in the face but it seems most folks these days are only interested in being spoon fed. The techniques, products and tools I use may not necessarily translate well to your situation. That's why I always try to encourage folks to read from multiple sources so they can better formulate their own custom tailored arsenal & regimen.

I'm no expert, just a DIY'er/enthusiast and long time reader in the various detailing forums. ....but if you have any specific questions, please let me know and I will do my best to help and/or point you to a resource that can.

[mangostick]

holy info batman! looks like I got lots of reading ahead

and I'm sure some tennis elbo from all the work that'll go into the car