Best products I should use???

[Jamie Brown]

Well I am new at this and I am looking for good quality products to wash my car and polish it. So any suggestions on what I should use is greatly appreciated. I am looking to wash the car and polish it the simplest way for a noobie. So anything for a simple 2 step process wash/wax. I am a noobie at detailing and will work my way up to take out the swirl marks on the paint and give it the deep glossy showroom shine. And any suggestions on cleaning the windows and trying to remove swirl marks. Should I use clay? and what is the best product/method I should use. I posted before and had people veiw my post but no suggestions :-( Please help me out, I would love to be active with this group and hoping to have a great looking car.

Thanks,
Jamie from Sacramento

[Mike Phillips]

You want a car wash and a cleaner/wax. The wash will remove loose dirt. A good cleaner/wax will clean, polish and wax in one step.


You really should consider inspecting the paint to see if it has above surface bonded contaminants after washing and if discovered, then clay the paint before using the cleaner/wax.


Here's a few articles that relate to your post...


The Difference Between a Cleaner/Wax and a Finishing Wax (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/hot-topics-frequently-asked-questions/23263-difference-between-cleaner-wax-finishing-wax.html)

Cleaner/Wax or Cleaner/Sealant
Now a cleaner/wax is just that, the formula will contain a blend of chemical cleaners and often times some type of abrasives, either diminishing or non-diminishing.

Together the chemical cleaners and the abrasives will remove oxidation and road grime from the surface which will restore clarity and richness of color. At the same time they’ll leave behind a layer of protection to help lock in the shine and of course protect the paint from the elements.

When you go to your local auto parts stores, most of the retail waxes on the shelves do in fact fall into the cleaner/wax category as they are targeted at the average person and the average person is driving what we call a Daily Driver, that is the car they drive back and forth to work each day and most of the time it’s parked outside. Over time, the finish quality deteriorates and in order to restore it with just a single product you’ll want a cleaner/wax.

A cleaner/wax is also what we in the detailing industry call a One-Step product or an AIO.

AIO stands for All-In-One. AIO products will do multiple processes in one step, that is they will,


Clean the surface
Polish the paint to a high gloss
Leave behind a layer of protection
Cleaner/Waxes
Menzerna Sealing Wax APO 60 (http://www.autogeek.net/menzerna-sealing-wax.html)
Collinite Paste Sapphire Auto Wax #73SS (http://www.autogeek.net/collinite-sapphire-73ss.html)
Mothers California Gold Original Formula Carnauba Cleaner Wax (http://www.autogeek.net/motcalgolorf.html)
Poorboy’s World Polish with Carnauba (BLUE) (http://www.autogeek.net/poorboys-polish-blue.html)
Poorboy's World Polish with 100% Carnauba (http://www.autogeek.net/pbpwc12.html)
Collinite Liquid Sapphire Auto Wax SS216 (http://www.autogeek.net/collinite-sapphire-wax-ss126.html)
Dodo Juice Need For Speed Cleaner Wax (http://www.autogeek.net/cleaner-wax-polish-500.html)


Cleaner/Sealants
XMT 360 All In One Cleaner Wax (http://www.autogeek.net/xmt-360.html)
Griot's Garage One-Step Sealant (http://www.autogeek.net/griots-one-step-sealant.html)
Klasse All-In-One Polish (http://www.autogeek.net/klasseallinone.html)
Duragloss Polish & Cleaner 101 (http://www.autogeek.net/duragloss-polish---cleaner.html)
Finish Kare 215 One Step Cleaner & Surface Sealant (http://www.autogeek.net/finish-kare-215--cleaner-wax.html)
Finish Kare 2180 Ultra Poly Wipe Sealant Conditioner (http://www.autogeek.net/finish-kare-2180-paint-sealant.html)
Optimum Poli-Seal (http://www.autogeek.net/poli-seal.html)
Mother's FX Synwax Paste (http://www.autogeek.net/mothers-fx-synwax-paste-wax.html)
Mother's FX Synwax Liquid (http://www.autogeek.net/mo20016.html)
Mother's Reflections Advanced Car Wax (http://www.autogeek.net/mo10016.html)
3M One Step Cleaner Wax (http://www.autogeek.net/3m39006.html)

Hybrid Cleaner Waxes/Sealants
Meguiar's Mirror Glaze #6 Cleaner/Wax (http://www.autogeek.net/meg6clean.html)
Duragloss Total Performance Polish (TPP) # 105 (http://www.autogeek.net/duragloss-total-performance-polish.html)
Meguiar's M20 Polymer Sealant (http://www.autogeek.net/meg20polseal.html)
Meguiar's ColorX (http://www.autogeek.net/g11816.html)
Meguiar's M66 Quick Detailer (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-quick-detailer-.html)
Meguiar's D151 Paint Reconditioning Cream (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-paint-reconditioning-cream-d151.html)
1Z Einszett Metallic Polish Wax (http://www.autogeek.net/1z-einzett-polish-wax.html)
Duragloss Wet Look Paste Wax (http://www.autogeek.net/duragloss-paste-wax-104.html)


:xyxthumbs:

[Mike Phillips]

Here's another...


The Baggie Test - How to inspect for above surface bonded contaminants (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/27967-baggie-test-how-inspect-above-surface-bonded-contaminants.html)


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/858/PaintCleaningByHand022.jpg


:autowash:

[Mike Phillips]

If your car is a daily driver, parked outside a lot or all the time and a few years old, then definitely consider using Iron X after washing but before claying.


From this thread...

1994 Porsche 964 Turbo 3.6 - Modeled by Janna and Amy (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/sign-up-open-garage-classes/40652-1994-porsche-964-turbo-3-6-modeled-janna-amy.html)


Next up... decontaminate the body panels using Iron X
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1257/94PorscheCTW19.jpg


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1257/94PorscheCTW20.jpg


After allowing the product to dwell for a few minutes I gently re-washed the paint and then rinsed all the residue off...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1257/94PorscheCTW21.jpg


:xyxthumbs:

[Mike Phillips]

If you're still working by hand, consider moving up to working by machine,


New to Machine Polishing?

How to choose the right polisher for your detailing project (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/22263-how-choose-right-polisher-your-detailing-project.html)

Video: How to pick the right polisher (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-car-garage-how-videos/25695-show-car-garage-video-how-pick-right-polisher.html)




For people new to machine buffing, the DA style polishers are the easiest to learn and use... here's why...


The Free Floating Spindle Assembly - The Story Behind The Story... (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/hot-topics-frequently-asked-questions/23995-free-rotating-spindle-assembly-story-behind-story.html)



:buffing: