[Chainblade]

Well since I got my mazda protege back from my ex-wife, it sure needs a washing....a good washing. what do you guys use to wash your cars? i was at the store the other day and there are just so many different soaps and waxes. some are combined soaps and waxes. I haven't waxed a car in years but i remember it being a pain in the ass. do the combined soap and wax ones do a good job? or is it just kinda gimmicky and it's still best to wax separately? any brands you would recommend?

[tweakmonkey]

Any brand car wash stuff, put in a bucket with a bunch of warm water.. get two "mitt" things for washing. Use one for wheels only and one for the rest of the car.

Spray the car off really well, then use the normal mitt, soaped up and rub the dirt away. Wash everything off really well... Keep the whole car wet until it's time to dry (don't let anything dry from the sun) or you'll get water spots. I use a spot free rinse filter and blow dry with an electric leaf blower, but you can get a cheap spot free rinse for like $15 (Mr. Clean product) that works okay. Otherwise use a Water Blade to gently push the water off the car and gently towel it dry.

If you are lazy and want a quick wax, try Eagle One Wax as You Dry (Wax As-U-Dry^®) which you can get from AutoZone etc. Nothing beats a real wax job which takes at least an hour to do it right.

[xe0n1]

zaino makes the best products

[JustinL]

On my dodge I use a pressure washer. Get real close one the wheels and just blow the rest of the dirt away.

[Torx]

heres my routine and i swear by meguiars as far as price/quantity/quality goes

- two wool mitts, one for the car, other old one for rims
- two buckets, one water(to rinse mitt) other with soap/water
- meguiars gold class wash
- megs clay bar kit
- megs spray tech wax
- westleys bleche-white whitewall cleaner
- eagle one gel tire shine with foam applicator

1. park under cool shaded area
2. rinse car, get dirt off
3. spray the mitt to get any contaminants out of the fluff
4. rinse, then soap, then wash one section at a time
5. use a cotton towel to dry the car, NOT in rubbing swirling motions, but in a drop, lay, and drag motion from the top of the car down. Pat the towel in areas that are still wet.
6. wash/clean wheels with wheel mitt, use bleche-white to clean the grime off the blackwalls
7. clay bar horizontal surfaces, roof, trunk lid, hood
8. give it the tech wax treatment
9. gel up the tires

.. of course if i was really going to spend more time, i'd use a number of glazes, polishes, cleaners, etc etc for a full detail.

i have to really take care in my wash routines and preserve as much shine as i can on this black car. to eliminate dreaded swirls.

[Chainblade]

that's quite the routine there torx. where can you buy that meguiars brand at?

[Torx]

walmart, autozone

oreilleys/napa for the professional megs products like glaze, polishing compounds, cleaners, etc etc. you might have to ask for that stuff because it usually stocked in the back for pro shops

if you have a light colored car, white, silver, grey, light colors, you can get by with a simple wash and wax. but dark vehicles need extra attention.

i want to invest in a dual action polisher to help speed up my detailing times.. but i just never get around to ordering one. orbital NO(burns through paint), D/A YES (uses special spinning technique to not burn through paint)... remember that
Meguiar's® Dual Action Polisher G110 Product Information

[demonizeZ]

im sure i will hear alot about how i wash my trucks and car. But from personal experiance i have had never a single problem. here is what i do

1. i wash car with high pressure to get dirt off.
2. then mix kerosene with water, you get the ratio right after a while. and wash my car with that mixture. my friend mixes car soap with it too, i dont.

i get shine , no water sticking, AND NO its not flamable its too diluted by water, and it preven rusting i think, also its makes it very easy on next clean up time. Amazing shine too.

[Torx]

just bought a set of rain-x lattitude wipers and some rain-x spray.
ive never used this rain-x spray before and im really curious to see results.

it sure is a pain in the ass trying to clean it off after its dried..
if anyone uses this, how often do you have to reapply?