Questioning Meguiar's Cleaner Wax ability.

[neogenesis]

So I'm still relatively new to the detailing game and honestly I'm trying to find the best, easiest way to maintain my DD to a good, but realistically not show quality standard. Cleaner wax has been a recommendation and I like Meguiar's products so I figured I'd give it a shot. Did a full 2BM wash on the car dried crevices with leaf blower and then remainder of panels with drying MF towel. There were some small water spots left over that I didn't get to quickly enough. Surely, a cleaner wax with the purported abilities to clean, polish and protect should take care of those easy peezy. Applied wax evenly and thinly to entire vehicle, waited 15 min til haze, even did swipe test to make sure it was ready to remove. Lo and behold, this small water spots were still there. Kinda frustrating. But it made me question if the cleaner wax couldn't even remove those, how on earth can it clean up stains, minor blemishes, etc? Any thoughts?

[james751993]

Hey mate,

What was your technique when applying the cleaner wax? Hand or machine? How many times did you pass over the area with the wax?

James

[neogenesis]

By hand with moderate pressure (flat fingers not tips) using supplied foam pad. Overlapping circles applying thin and uniform. Only one pass per section to apply in described manner then wait and remove with MF towels.

[james751993]

So just to confirm, by one pass only you mean that you applied the wax and then didnt go back over it to work the product a little longer?

James

[neogenesis]

So just to confirm, by one pass only you mean that you applied the wax and then didnt go back over it to work the product a little longer?

James

Essentially correct. I would say that my overlapping application was a little more working in than just applying a liquid wax. If I had to estimate, I'd say every part of the car was touched by the pad 3-4 times by tight overlaps. But I did not come back to a section once applied. Does that make more sense? I didn't treat it like I would a rubbing compound or swirl remover.

[PaulMys]

If it's a DD, and has it's share of DD paint issues, then working by hand is pointless. Not to mention too taxing for you.

Get a DA. Your life will be changed forever. :props:

[FUNX650]

https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/2009-2016-how-articles-mike-phillips/23263-difference-between-cleaner-wax-finishing-wax.html

From the above link:

Application Method
"In most cases, a cleaner/wax type
product needs to be worked over
and into the surface.

Cleaner/waxes are not wipe on,
wipe off products.

Part of the cleaning action comes
from you either working the product
over the surface and engaging the
cleaning ingredients with the paint
or you running an electric polisher
and the polisher is engaging the
cleaning ingredients against the paint.

The worse condition the paint, the
more you'll need to work the product."
~Mike Phillips
__________________________________________

So...How do you "work" the Cleaner/Wax?:

https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-mike-phillips-your-detailing-questions/23568-put-little-passion-behind-pad-mike-phillips.html
___________________________________________



Bob

[VISITOR]

megs cleaner wax is mild compared to something like white wax. if you want to try another OTC cleaner wax that will do some/more correction then give white wax a shot. it will work even better when used with a DA with it's SMAT abrasives (it's more aggressive than D151 in the D-line). a great 1-2 combo is white wax and ultimate quik wax...

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?61685-The-power-of-White-Wax&highlight=white+wax#ZPyPtCEjCQkWJ4dv.97

http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-white-wax.html
https://sep.yimg.com/ca/I/autogeek_2272_282817153

http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-spray-wax.html
https://sep.yimg.com/ca/I/autogeek_2269_22769653

[cleanmycorolla]

Did you clay prior to polishing? And doing this by hand is not ideal

[neogenesis]

Thanks for all the tips. I didn't realize you needed to treat it more like a compound/polish. My understanding was that it was more of a chemical cleaner as opposed to abrasive.

I did not clay prior to, but had clayed the car about 2 months ago

I guess I'm gonna have to break down and buy a DA. I'm just afraid of the rabbit hole that it's gonna lead me down. [emoji6]

[james751993]

Yeah pretty much what these guys said, you need to work it in more to allow the abrasives and cleaners to do their job. If it's in your budget grab a DA.

James

[VISITOR]

I guess I'm gonna have to break down and buy a DA.[emoji6]

trust me, it will be one of the best investments you'll ever make and your hands/arms will thank you sooner than later...

[ducksfan]

You're right about most cleaner waxes being more chemical cleaner than mechanical (And, in a lot of cases, all chemical). The deal with chemical cleaning is you have to know/realize that they're designed to clean specific things. in the case of most cleaner waxes, that would be primarily road grime. You might want to get a Chemical cleaner made specifically for water spots:

Optimum MDR Mineral Deposit Remover, water spot remover for paint, water spot remover glass (http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-mdr-water-spot-remover.html)
CarPro Spotless Water Spot Remover (http://www.autogeek.net/carpro-spotless-water-spot-remover.html)

Even these might not be enough depending on the severity and length of time the paint has been spotted.

The other option is to mechanically remove clear coat ( and thus what's on it). Either machine or, if you want to try, by hand. If you go by hand I would suggest Meguiars Ultimate Compound with a Polishing Pal.

Wolfgang Polishin’ Pal is an ergonomically shaped urethane handle that holds specially designed foam pads using hooks & loops. (http://www.autogeek.net/polishing-pal.html)