Help for a cleaning newbie please (never had a clean car before!)

[nog]

Just recently bought a used leon which has gone through the usual dealer wash/wax treatment (white powder left in all the fiddly bits etc).

I'm happy with the look of the paintwork as it is. Unfortunately I haven't got the time to go to the extremes that some of you chaps do, so I just want to make sure I've got well protected paintwork that will come clean with minimum fuss when I do get a spare hour or two.

Question is, I've been given some Meguiars NXT Tech Wax for Christmas and am wondering if I should be doing all that clay business to remove whats already on there or whether I can just wash the car then do the Tech Wax (which I believe is actually a sealant) to put a further layer of protection on it.

Also, I've read about people spraying something on to help with drying the car, what's that all about?

Thanks.

 

[ikhlaq206]

read through the car care & detailing section all the info you need is there

wash the car first, then clay the car, then wash off with water, then you can do the polish, wax, etc

then every time you wanna wash the car just wash it, apply the wax every other month or when ever you feel like

 

[Rubbish Boy]

If the car has been polished recently and looks pretty good you could put some of the tech wax on after a wash, however your final finish is only going to be as good as your preperation. You want a good base for the wax to bond to.

Claying will remove any bonded on contaminents that washing can't remove. Even new cars can need claying and it can be suprising how much muck it will get off, even paint that looks fairly good. You don't need to clay every time you wash or wax though, probably no more than a couple of times a year.

Drying wise, most of use some form of quick detailer to help shed the water and to lube the surface before touching the paintwork with their drying towel. This will help to avoid marring the paint while drying. It also will add a little extra to the finished job.

 

[nog]

Cheers Rubbish Boy, a perfectly explained answer!

 

[bizzaboy]

Drying wise, most of use some form of quick detailer to help shed the water and to lube the surface before touching the paintwork with their drying towel. This will help to avoid marring the paint while drying. It also will add a little extra to the finished job.

This is an interesting paragrah Rubbish Boy. I usually just use some form of shammy (sp) to collect all the droplets of water and dry my car.

However, what is a quick detailer? This sounds like a proper method of finishing off the paintwork prior to the drying process.

Can you please confirm, what would be used as a 'quick detailer'? Can you please provide a product that you'd use for this, and how you would do this (prior to using some kind of drying towel to finish off)??

Thankyou in advance.

 

[Rubbish Boy]

This is an interesting paragrah Rubbish Boy. I usually just use some form of shammy (sp) to collect all the droplets of water and dry my car.

However, what is a quick detailer? This sounds like a proper method of finishing off the paintwork prior to the drying process.

Can you please confirm, what would be used as a 'quick detailer'? Can you please provide a product that you'd use for this, and how you would do this (prior to using some kind of drying towel to finish off)??

Thankyou in advance.

Quick Detailer is a liquid product that, when used while drying, will help disperse the water, provide some lubrication for the towel, and remove/stop water marks and in the case of some, add a little to the finish, shine while you dry if you like.

These quick detail products can be also be used for all sorts of jobs, clean off smudges, lubricant for clay when claying etc.

This one that I sell in my web-shop, here, can be used as a drying aid , clay lube, quick wax, and adds a nice glow to the finish.

Hope that helps.

 

[C11PRA DC]

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=128301&highlight=golf+wash

 

[nog]

 

[bizzaboy]

Quick Detailer is a liquid product that, when used while drying, will help disperse the water, provide some lubrication for the towel, and remove/stop water marks and in the case of some, add a little to the finish, shine while you dry if you like.

Hope that helps.

Cheers for the explaination, thats a great help! Will definately look into making a purchase soon.

If the quick detailer acts as a bit of a lubricant too it will probably help prevent scratching the paintwork, if your drying cloth rubs over a spot of grit that might still be lurking on the paintwork?! (worst nightmare).