Dish soap pulls off wax. Do not use it. I use chemical guys line of products as well as detailers domain. MTM Foam lance with my 2700psi pressure washer. Seal with jetseal109 and wax with lava. Looks great.

 

I use a store brand that doesn't contain sodium laurel/laureth sulfate (sls). I know lots of name brands contain it, or some type of similar ingredient; which is industrial strength cleaners sometimes used to strip wood floors of their wax.

I thought using a not so tough store brand would be okay? At least that's what I've read.. :/

 

Dawn is the brand you want to stay away from, it is the one that is mostly used to strip wax/sealants from cars before redoing them. Car soap is made specific for cars, with correct pH and other properties. Just look for it when it goes on sale at the big stores, you can usually get 4L for under 10$, which will last you like 40 washes.

 

Ok, sounds good! I'll definitely check around. Thanks a lot for the info!!

 

I save the clay bar for when she is ~3 to 4yrs old. Rubbing compund, polish compound, fine cut for ~8yrs old. I do not garage - so sun damage is my issue.

I agree with all above. (uh, i do hope NOBODY is using a power washer full blast to rinse or wash. Low pressure to foam the car - okay, but Rule Is: 'do not do anything to the paint (abrasive) that you would not do to your skin'. Power washer drives grime into the clearcoat and /or strips it away. badbadbadbadbadbad...

Griots products are now available at AutoZone (yea!), Meguiers and Mothers is a close second. They are all excellent products.

Use quality leather cleaner and leather conditioner for the steering wheel and shift boot and knob. NOT armour-all!

Formula 404[tm] protectant for the dash/interior plastics...

Pre-spray the calipers/wheels and bug guts with diluted Simple Green[tm] before wash. Wash the wheels LAST (generates most gunky water :P ) and 'squeeze out the sponge' on the ground not in the bucket...

Keep the car wet until you towel dry. I use a squeegee - really cuts the drying effort and time by pulling all the water off big horizontal surfaces... Follow up with a towel.

Open the doors and wipe all the surfaces now exposed with a damp rag. This really keeps her looking new for a decade. Key is in the details, m'boy!


Meguiers black restorer [unsure of exact name] is wayyy better than armour-all or Mothers' Back to Black for black plastic trim.

Hit the headlight lens with clear polish almost every wash to protect from fading/hazing.

SheilaShine[tm] for the stainless steel exhaust tips

I get best results from a two step process of carnuba paste wax and then follow with a good poly liquid wax. Very durable and deep/wet shine



Next ask us how to detail under the hood

 

(people would ask if my vehicles were 'new' - even after ten years and 200K miles )

 

Took me about 3 hrs to do mine last weekend.

Just basic wash with car soap and then waterblade all the main areas then microfiber towel dry. Vacumed the inside then swifer duster. Auto cleaning wipes used for plastic areas then leather wipes for steering wheel, shift and ebrake. Auto glass cleaner on windows and windshield.