I wrote a short write-up on how I polished and maintained my car a while back but that thread must have been purged. Recently someone had asked about polish/wax/clean car so I thought I would share my experiences with you.

The very first time I did this, the whole process I think took me more than 10 hours if I remember correctly. After I 'perfected' the process I now spend a good 6 hours or so to get that perfect shine. Anyway here goes...

Available here as well.

Some of the products used:


Step 1: Wash car
The very first time I did this, I used a dishwashing liquid. Now I know what you're thinking, that's nuts but I would only do this one time to make sure I get all the grime/oil/dirt off the paint of the car. I used Dawn blue which seems to be recommended most of the time. Remember you do not want to use this regularly which is why I only did this once. You can use a regular car wash liquid if you are not comfortable doing this. But the goal here is to remove as much foreign contamination so the coat of polish can seal the paint properly.

Don't just use any old rags to wash your car. You'll be sorry. I buy a special sheepskin wash mitts to avoid fine scratches during washing. It's plush and gentle on the paint of your car. Wash your wheels first. I use a wheel cleaning brush that can reach into the spoke of the wheels to properly remove dirt and all.

Step 2: Clay
After washing off all the dishwashing liquid, I start the claying process. You do not have to dry your car first. Prepare a spray bottle that contain water/car wash liquid to use as lubricant. Claying is easy but you have to be careful or you will end up scratching your paint. Why clay? The clay as your rub over the paint of your car will pick up any additional grime/dirt/tar/bird droppings/etc from the paint. Your local car parts store should have this.

Here's how you do it. Spray an area with the water/car wash liquid mixture. Kneed a small piece of clay (that you can hold comfortably with your fingers and not drop it) and rub it over the sprayed area. For the top area of the car, use a front/back motion and for the side area of the car, use an up/down motion. Rub over the same area until you feel it going over the paint smoothly. Spray more lubricant if needed. Remember to kneed the clay after so many passes as you do not want the stuff that it picks up to scratch other paint area that you are claying. If you happen to drop it on the floor, THROW it AWAY. Do not try to use it again. It will now have dirt stuck to it from the floor and you will end up scratching your car. It's not worth trying to save a few bucks over your $$$ car. I went over every inch of the paint that I can get to with the clay.

Step 3: Rewash car
This time, use a normal car wash liquid to wash off any clay residual.

Step 4: Dry Car
I use a soft silicon squeege and run it over car to remove water quickly. To finish the drying, use a 100% cotton plush towel to complete the job. Before going forward, I inspect the paint and remove any minor scratches with Meguiars ScratchX.

Step 5: Quick detail before applying polish
I use Zaino Z6 Gloss Enhancer to quick detail the car. Spray on and wipe off with a new clean 100% cotton towel. This will remove any water spot and leave the paint smooth.

Step 6: First coat of polish
I use Zaino Z5 with ZFX to provide a faster drying time. You can use a product of your choice. Use a clean polish applicator pad and squeeze a dime size polish on the applicator pad. Polish a small area in circular motion and on top area of the car, finish with a front/back motion and on side area of the car, finish with up/down motion. This is recommended by the polish manufacturer to enhance the optical property of the polish. Z5 is suppose to further reduced swirl marks and fine hairline scratches from the paint. Wait 30 minutes to dry. (Follow the instructions of your polish product if you use a different product)

Step 7: Clean windows/interior
While waiting for the polish to dry, I take the time to clean the windows and interior of the car. I used RainX and Stoner Invisible glass product for the windows/glass, 303 Aerospace Protectant for dashboard/vinyl/plastic interior, leather care product for leather parts. Since there are multiple drying times, I tend to split the interior detailing between the drying times.

Step 8: Buff and apply second coat
After it has dried, use another clean 100% cotton towel and buff off dried polish. For the second coat, I use Zaino Z2 with ZFX. Same method as first coat.

Step 9: Buff and apply third coat
Again, after the second coat has dried, buff off with a clean 100% cotton towel. By now, the car has that truely wet shine that you'll love.

Step 10: Final quick detail
After removing all the polish, I quick detail the car again with a shot of Zaino Z6 to make sure I removed all polish residual and to give the paint that extra shine. At this step, I also apply Meguiars High Gloss Gel to the car tires to give it that shine.

Step 11: Finish
This is the most satisfying part of the whole process. Step back and admire your work. Get a cold drink (non-alcohol ) and inspect the car. Get your keys ready as you know you just want to jump in and take it for a joy ride!!!


That's it. You're done. To summarize, what you want to do is:

Wash, Clay, Wash, dry, quick detail, polish, buff, polish, buff, polish, buff, quick detail. I specify the product that I used in writing this but by all means use a product of your choice. Always remember to read the instructions and follow them especially mixing, applying and drying times. But other than that, it should be pretty straight forward. The reason I went with Zaino or a polymer based polish is I do not want to use a product with rubbing compound. I would only use that if there is oxidation on the paint and I absolutely have to rub it off. Hope this helps anyone who wants to get their car looking great! Have a great day and enjoy your car.

[EDIT]
The product that I used is suppose to be able to protect up to 9 months or so. So I only have to do this about 2 times a year. Other times, wash as needed, dry, quick detail and I have that shine back. Easy... If I am in the mood I will wash, clay, wash, dry, and quick detail without applying the 3 layers of polish. Read the instructions on the product you are using.


RedBox

Some pictures after all the hard work:





This post has been edited by RedBox: Mar 8 2010, 01:01 PM

I would agree that wax will do a better shine. Syntetic wax I think will not look as good as carnauba wax on top but as I have read carnauba wax will thin off from the sun. Syntetic wax nowadays also offer the same paint protection but you are right in that you will get a better shine with the carnauba wax on top of the syntetic wax. I like my car to look good but having to apply it more often, I probably will get lazy on it. On top of that I wanted it to shine but not to the point of watery/slivery shine as then basically all you see is the shine, not like looking at a high gloss color paint. Hope that makes sense. I am sure most of you have seen dark color looking car especially black that looks shiny to the point where you go wow over the shine but then you really don't notice the colors any more. It may be just me....

Ditto on the tire shine. Too shiny and it looks fake. I want it to obtain a certain high gloss clean shine but not too fake.

If I get another car, I would probably try your method. I will hate to change method in the middle of it. But to answer your question, when I say polish I don't mean thining off a layer to make it look good but I want the polymer to form a layer of high optical property that seals the paint and protect it.


RedBox

Hmm.... if you spend some time learning and doing your own detailing I think you can save on having someone else do it. It is not really hard, just time consuming.


RedBox

It's been a while since I visited this thread. Anyway... someone dinged the passenger side of my car with small dents while opening their door!!! Bastards!! To all you car drivers out there... please do pay attention when you open your car door. Sheesh....

Anyway, I can get it fixed but I'll leave it for now since it's very minor but looks like it's time to do some major car washing and polishing/waxing again. Share some pictures guys after you get your car that shine!!


RedBox

I almost bought that today! But went for another brand. Tleilaxu, you can use a mixture of car wash liquid and water as a lubricant as well if you do not want to use the quick detailer. I had used zaino's clay bar and also other brands. For me it's a waste to use the quick detailer as a lubricant. I am sure there will be people that will differ from my opinion but basically you want something that you can glide the clay bar over the paint without harming the paint. I am quoting what I wrote on the first post on claying. Hope it helps.

Step 2: Clay
After washing off all the dishwashing liquid, I start the claying process. You do not have to dry your car first. Prepare a spray bottle that contain water/car wash liquid to use as lubricant. Claying is easy but you have to be careful or you will end up scratching your paint. Why clay? The clay as your rub over the paint of your car will pick up any additional grime/dirt/tar/bird droppings/etc from the paint. Your local car parts store should have this.

Here's how you do it. Spray an area with the water/car wash liquid mixture. Kneed a small piece of clay (that you can hold comfortably with your fingers and not drop it) and rub it over the sprayed area. For the top area of the car, use a front/back motion and for the side area of the car, use an up/down motion. Rub over the same area until you feel it going over the paint smoothly. Spray more lubricant if needed. Remember to kneed the clay after so many passes as you do not want the stuff that it picks up to scratch other paint area that you are claying. If you happen to drop it on the floor, THROW it AWAY. Do not try to use it again. It will now have dirt stuck to it from the floor and you will end up scratching your car. It's not worth trying to save a few bucks over your $$$ car. I went over every inch of the paint that I can get to with the clay.


RedBox

Jackie Leong,

I think you should read the instructions to the wax/polish that you are using. Always follow instructions for best results. All products that I have used always advise users to wax/polish in a cool dry place.


RedBox

I use Meguiars ScratchX for minor scratches and it works pretty well. Not sure if it will work as well for deeper scratches. When I say minor, I mean very light and thin scratches. I imagine the scratches from your pet will not be too deep so try that and see.

If it is deeper, you may have to search for filler products that will require you to fill, sand and then polish it. This tend to be more elaborate than the regular scratch removal type cream. You can find a lot of information on how to do it on the Internet.

Not sure about the price of that in M'sia. Hopefully someone will be able to answer you. In my opinion, doing it by hand is still the best and you tend to waste a lot of wax/polish using a rotary buffing machine.


RedBox

You can minimize by being extremely careful. Use high quality cloth like microfiber for wiping on the paint. Use products that will reduce the swirls. The ones that I used as posted on the first post will reduce the swirls.

If you clay, always kneed the clay constantly to prevent builtup on one surface as you are cleaning. Never, never reuse a cloth/clay/wiping material that you drop on the floor. Just put it aside and use a new one.

But I agree, it is very hard to prevent.


RedBox

Hope you have found a place to buy it in malaysia. If not, if you truly want, I guess I can try to help you buy one and ship it to you. Not sure how much the shipping will be but I think it will cost quite a bit.


RedBox

Not sure if any of you do this but I have started buying only microfiber cloth for my washing/polishing needs. I stopped using cotton pad applicator as I find that it is easier to polish using microfiber where the coverage is more even. After using, I will then wash and dry them but will only use it for wiping non-easily scratch interior. After using it on interior, I throw them away.

For washing/polishing the next time, I will get new microfiber cloths which is always softer and smoother while new. It is hard to get a used cloth to be as soft as new ones.


RedBox

I get them at local automotive shop where I am at currently. Not sure about Malaysia, sorry. You can read this for more information. It has pictures too so you can get an idea.


RedBox

Depends on the cloth and your preference I supposed. I just find that even with washing you don't get the smoothness and silkyness like a new one.

I found a type of suede microfiber that I will try out this weekend if possible (and if it doesn't rain ) to see how well it works.


RedBox

First time I have seen it too. About RM17 for 3 pieces. Feels better than my shower towel.. LOL


RedBox

I have not had a chance to use it yet. Been too busy to take time out to wash my car. Here are pictures of the suede microfiber.






RedBox

This post has been edited by RedBox: Apr 6 2006, 09:43 PM

Hmm.. I would think if the paint job is done and cured properly, you should be able to use normal products and I mean normal polishing products of your choice. You shouldn't have to use anything special.


RedBox