Best way to get a shiny car???, What are your secrets? Options

[massbrandon]

Hey guys I thought I would start a thread because I wanted to know some of you guys secrets to making your car very shiny. In other words, what cleaning products do you use (i.e. car wash, wax, clay bar, etc). I wasn't sure where to put this so I put it in general discussion. Thanks guys and please do share your secrets unless you just really do not want to.

[jason]

well... for a shiney car that lasts...

wash the car, clay bar it, wash again, 2 step polish, then 2-3 coats of wax

should keep ya good for like 2-3 months, you shouldnt clay or polish a car too much (more than 3 times a year) but it really does do a good job, when ever you polish it take it easy and dont get some very abrasive stuff.

in between washes & waxes, detailing spray is always a good idea, bird poop, bugs, etc... keep a bottle of meguires quick detailer or turtle wax ice along with a clean, soft towel, very simple, spray the area, wipe it up with one side of the towel, then flip it over to a dry side and "buff" the area

also, dont do anything in circles, do it all in a back n forth motion along the long ways of the car to avoid swirl marks & minimized marring, doing so along the lines of the car helps keep the marring less noticable, its bound to happen, so try n do the best you can to keep it outta sight

also... autpoia is a GREAT website for detailing, i own white cars except for the celica, so i havent had much difficulty in having a nice looking car beyond washing off dirt, and i havent tackled the celi yet too in depth

craftsman makes a $20 waxer/buffer/polisher thats easy to use, 6" good enough for doing panels and also getting the hood with the goofy headlight lines, simply wash the car, clay it (turtle wax liquid clay bar is good for starters) then wash it again to get any residues off(just half ass it the second time) rinse the car very well (taking any nozzles off and just letting the water flow freely from the hose and letting it sheet off makes for an easy time drying, also avoids spots and streaks to some degree) then put on an applicator pad, put some wax on the pad, then gently without pushing on it move it back n forth to apply the wax, then put on a cleaner pad to remove the wax, then put on a soft GENTLE polishing pad and lightly go over the surface till it looks good, also, watch out for the water that continuously drips outta the side mirrors down the door, and also for the rubber strip between the hood & fron bumper, water always manages to ooze outta those spots to ruin a nice shine ya have, and then it gets the pad all wet....

heres a good write up for general care, read alot first because once you get into the buffing polishing restorative parts, you can actually do more harm then good, i advise anyone to start with a slow random orbital waxer/polisher first then work up to the big time porter cable stuff

http://autopia.org/forum/guide-detailing/


anywho, list of products:

ice/armorall/meguires car wash
meguires/Twax liquid clay
dupont wheel shine
armorall wheel cleaner, also use under car in some spots
sonus polishes
zymoil/Twax/Mothers/Meguires/ultra wax

meguires, ice qiuck detailer




edit: to add to randy's i wash my wheels n tires first then get new water&soap then wash the rest fo the car, i do this because if you save them for last, the rest of the car is going to start to air dry while your still doin the wheels, do the wheels first, n the water that runs off the car will keep them somewhat wet, i also do the lower parts of the car & also heavily soiled areas with the wheel water first (mud that got splattered)

This post has been edited by jason: Aug 12, 2007 - 5:30 PM