So what does everyone use to wash and wax?

I usually use a Meguiar's products but wanted to see what everyone esle was using.

Anyone ever use a clay bar on their truck?

tried the clay bar. I guess my truck was too old to see the results.

I usually do a round of turtle wax and a little turtle wax chrome polish on my bumpers and mirrors.

Ryan

Wash and wax? What are these things you speak of? confused

The rain washes mine once in a while.

Actually, when the windows get bad enough that I can't see, I drive though one of those automatic car washes. Thats about it.

That will happen more often now that it is bug season here in AR.

I use Turtle Wax T468 Ice Liquid Polish when the weather is nice. It's kinda cool because it doesn't streak in direct sunlight (I have no where else to apply wax other than in my driveway)

Meguiar's Gold Class twice a year. Great stuff- easy to put on, deep shine, and seems to last quite awhile. I wash with warm water and (gasp) dishwashing liquid in a bucket (Joy is my favorite). I've read everywhere under the sun about all you reasons you shouldn't do this- but I've done it for decades and still have yet to see better results from anything else.

The big mistake most folks make, I think, is using too much soap and not enough water. That, and washing too large an area in between rinses.

Edit: I only wax on cloudy days... and try to wash in the same kind of weather. Full sun really makes the whole job more difficult. Night time (after the sun goes down) is perfect in the summer- less streaking.

slmann said:

So what does everyone use to wash and wax?

I usually use a Meguiar's products but wanted to see what everyone esle was using.

Anyone ever use a clay bar on their truck?

Click to expand...

The detal shop on National in Springfield

Gunner

Clay bar, Meguiars NXT. Never use a silicone based wax on a clear coat finish...silicone will strip off the clear coat. Never use paper towels on glass, especially on newer vehicles. The towels will scratch the glass because they are made from recycled paper, and have metal chips imbedded.


Two trips to the car wash will remove whatever wax your vehicle has. If garaged and a weekend cruiser, use a Ca Duster, wash rarely. Water and metal don't mix. Remember...rust never sleeps.

BKW said:

Clay bar, Meguiars NXT. Never use a silicone based wax on a clear coat finish...silicone will strip off the clear coat. Never use paper towels on glass, especially on newer vehicles. The towels will scratch the glass because they are made from recycled paper, and have metal chips imbedded.


Two trips to the car wash will remove whatever wax your vehicle has. If garaged and a weekend cruiser, use a Ca Duster, wash rarely. Water and metal don't mix. Remember...rust never sleeps.

Click to expand...

Welcome to FTF Bill!!!!!

Just not to be off topic, I use a non-abrasive wax called Autofom, made by Blue Coral. This wax is no longer available, and I stocked up on it years ago.
I found out about it, when I tried using a Meguiars multi-step wax on my Mercedes, and the more I rubbed, the greasier the finish got!! I checked with the body shop manager at my local Mercedes dealership, and he suggested the Autofom.

Thanks for the info everyone. Keep it coming.

You know...Today was a bright sunny day. My explorer was covered in bugs and yellow/green pollen. It looked chartreuse.

I was going to drive through my local car wash today, however, before I made it out to that part of town (running errands) it clouded up and started raining hard.

No point in washing it in the rain!

BKW said:

Never use paper towels on glass, especially on newer vehicles. The towels will scratch the glass because they are made from recycled paper, and have metal chips imbedded.

Click to expand...

It might be a stupid question but what is the best thing to use besides paper towels?

slmann said:

It might be a stupid question but what is the best thing to use besides paper towels?

Click to expand...

Newspaper.

Glass today is a different composition than it was 10 years ago. It not only chips easier, but scratches easier too. Using paper towels on my wifes car cost me $500.00 for another windshield. Even Jewelers Rouge, the old standby for removing windshield scratches wouldn't entirely get rid of the problem. The car was a lease, so it had to be fixed. Luckily, the damage was to the right side upper, out of the line of vision.


As the member above me states, newspaper does a terrific job on glass. It's another old standby that works. Cheesecloth works also.

thanks for the info guys.

I wash my truck with mother natures gentle cleansing rain.

Other then that one wash a year I use blue coral soap, meguiars wax and a clay bar when needed.

CA Sun bakes a paint finish worse then a white chest on a cloudy day. (Just trust me on this one)

Meguiars is the best in my opinion. Hot Shine on the tires looks great.

I also use Armor All Protectant Gel on all my black exterior trim. Nice deep rish color and it seems to stay on longer than the liquid in the spray bottle.

Meguiars NXT soap Maguiars Tech wax mother's wheel polish westley's Bleche white to get the bugs off of EVERYTHING and black magic on the black trim pieces.Oh yea Magiuars leather whipes on the dash seats steering wheel whatever.....cleans it up and shines but not so much it blinds you like armor all does.

JR

Mequiars Cleaner wax and their car wash soap, armor all for all the plastic. Does the job for me!

Man I got their clay bar for my birthday and have yet to use it.....I don't even know how lol

JR