In what order do I clean?

[JamJay]

Hi people, can someone tell me the definitive answer to the above question?

A soon as Spring arrives and there is a good weekend, the car will be getting it's 1st thorough clean (one at the beginning of Spring, the other and the end of Summer/beginning of Autumn with thousands of washes in between to keep it looking good) but I have no idea in which order I am supposed to apply all of the products.

So obviously the wash comes first with the Shampoo, MF Wash Mit & x2 Buckets but what after that? (Oh, and what car shampoo is really good?)

So, I have:

- Clay Bar

- Quick Detailer

- Polish

- & Carnauba Wax

but not a clue if i should clay before both polish & wax, clay after polish or wax etc etc. I have always used the quick detailer (ie: Dodo Juice red mist) as more of a lube for the clay bar but is this wrong?

Unfortunately I have an Ovni Yellow machine that is prone to paint fade but my efforts so far have kept the paint nice & deep looking. It had a few layers of carnauba wax last year to give it some extra UV protection and seems to have worked

Thanks people!

 

[FinerDetails]

the order is always

wash
clay,
cleanse/polish
glaze
sealant
wax

Not all steps will alsways be included, the glaze or sealant may be removed.

For you:

wash, clay, polish, wax

For clay lub, use some ordinary car shampoo mixed at 10:1 with water -save you some money

Car shampoos - try to get pH neutral ones - dont strip the wax off you just spent so many hours applying.

 

[JamJay]

Thanks

So when should I add the detailer, after the waxing at the very end?

Making it wash & dry > polish > clay > wax & detailer?

Oh, any what are the glaze and sealant steps and what benefits would I see over my current plan?

 

[FinerDetails]

you only need to use the detailer at the end if you have over waxed, it will remove any excess hazing after buffing.

The glaze add extra oils, making deeper wetter look.

Sealants add extra durability.

 

[JamJay]

Any recommendations for the Glaze? I have no clue what I am looking for.

Sorry to be a pain.

 

[Carr20vt]

Chemical Guys EZ Creme Glaze should work well with yellow.

 

[FinerDetails]

Chemical Guys EZ Creme Glaze should work well with yellow.

yes, agreed, or wolfgang finishing glaze (new one is made for them by menzerna and is a new product )

 

[JamJay]

Thanks

 

[andycupra]

sorry to buty in.. any recommended glazes for black cars?

 

[Carr20vt]

sorry to buty in.. any recommended glazes for black cars?

Clearkote Red Moose Glaze is good on dark colours exceptionally good on red but fine on black.

 

[Rubbish Boy]

As you mentioned Red Mist, I think it should be pointed out that you wouldn't use Red Mist as a general quick detailer (as a clay lube or drying aid etc). It's a spray sealant designed to top up a wax or to add some extra bling. So you would use it at the very last step, after you have given the wax a few hours to cure or you would use it after you have washed and dried the car to give it a little pep up.

 

[blackmajic]

what do you think to the meguires 3 step polish etc, and if I want to try do mine every month, would keep repeating the same process just take off what I did the previous 3 step session?

 

[JamJay]

I use Meguires as an interim thing as it's fairlt cheap. Never the less, it is still good although I want better, hence the help with the shopping list above