Procedure for cleaning a new car???

[Kiotie]

Until now, I've just been a gas station car washer as I've never really had a vehicle I felt was worthy of detailing so this is all new to me. I've been watching videos and reading the how-tos but I wanted to run this by you guys see if I'm on the right track.

I have a new car on order and I told the dealership to NOT wash it once it arrives. So I 'should' have a dirty car to drive home in.

From the information I've gathered this is what I think I should do...
1) Wash (using 2 bucket method)
2) Blot dry with chammys
3) Clay
4) Paint sealer
5) Wax

I don't have any supplies so I'm thinking of purchasing the following:
-2x grit guards
-wash mit
-chamois
-Pinnacle - Complete Detailing Wax & Cleaning kit
-16 oz. Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant 3.0

I plan to do a practice run on my wife's Explorer just to get my process down and learn how to clay before cutting lose on my new ride. Let me know what you think.

Thanks,
Kiotie

[BobbyG]

Hi Kiotie,

A new car can be a double edged sword, absolutely gorgeous and equally paranoid on where to park it and how to take care of it....

Even though the car is new I always recommend at lease cheaning the paint with a quality paint cleaner. Autogeek offers quite a variety of products and the ones below are a great example of this.

Get yourself an electric leaf blower to dry the finish after washing. By not touching the finish, you have less opportunity to impart additional defects on it. A good supply of Cobra Microfiber towels are also essential along with some Cobra Guzzlers

Wash - Duragloss #901
Clay - Mothers
Paint Cleaner - Duragloss Total Performance Polish (TPP) # 105
Sealant - Menzerna Power Lock Sealant
Wax - Dodo Juice Supernatural

Use quite a bit of common sense when taking care of it....

[BookemDano]

Until now, I've just been a gas station car washer as I've never really had a vehicle I felt was worthy of detailing so this is all new to me. I've been watching videos and reading the how-tos but I wanted to run this by you guys see if I'm on the right track.

I have a new car on order and I told the dealership to NOT wash it once it arrives. So I 'should' have a dirty car to drive home in.

From the information I've gathered this is what I think I should do...
1) Wash (using 2 bucket method)
2) Blot dry with chammys
3) Clay
4) Paint sealer
5) Wax

I don't have any supplies so I'm thinking of purchasing the following:
-2x grit guards
-wash mit
-chamois
-Pinnacle - Complete Detailing Wax & Cleaning kit
-16 oz. Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant 3.0

I plan to do a practice run on my wife's Explorer just to get my process down and learn how to clay before cutting lose on my new ride. Let me know what you think.

Thanks,
Kiotie

Kiotie,

First, welcome to the detailing fan club! Regarding your products and process, overall it's a decent start but with some exceptions...

- While your car will be new, it may not be in perfect shape. If your wife's Explorer has just had washes and is even a few years old, it probably needs care - polishing with a polisher and decent polishes. A PC, a few LC pads, and some good polishes (I like Menzerna) are probably good investments.

- I think the Pinnacle kit is costly and has a lot of things you can live without. For example...

-- A decent car wash like Zaino Z7 or CG washes make a great, cheap clay lubricant.

-- Souverän wax is supposed to be a decent wax, but it's a wax. Do you want a wax? I've been using selants for years. I use Zaino Z2 and Z5, and am trying out UPGP. They last much longer than wax and still give a great look (IMO).

-- You will need much more than two MF towels. You'll need some MFs for removing polish, some for QD, and some for drying your car. PakShak and AG have some good ones. PakShak is high quality and less expensive, but ordering supplies and tools from AG can save you shipping costs. (Make sure you use a coupon code to get free shipping or 10% off.)

- I strongly recommend a Merino wool wash mitt, auto wash mitt, sheepskin wash mitt. I've used all sort of towels, rags, microfiber mitts, and wool mitts. This is by far the best. It cleans well, is controllable, doesn't mar your paint, and is easy to clean and care for.

- Do NOT use a chamois. I've had many real and fake chamois's. They dry out, are hard to keep clean, and don't suck up much water. Get a one or two good quality waffle weave (WW) drying towels like a Cobra Guzzler or a PakShak waffle weave towel. I have both. The quality is the same, but the PakShak is about 2/3's the cost of the Guzzler.

- Get some good WW glass towels. I have six and probably use at least 3 per week to clean my windows.

- For a sealant, you might want to try Zaino sealants or Ultima Paint Guard Plus (UPGP). Check out Corey's (CeeDog) "Best Of" web page for a list of reviews of his recommended products: Best Of - AUTO DETAILING AND CAR CARE PRODUCT SPECIALIST. Without exception, he is the best reviewer on this or any forum. He is thorough and rigorous in his reviews.

- For plastic and tire coatings, try CarPro PERL and UTTG. I've used PERL on my tires and they look awesome. I just got the UTTG and will be using on trim in the next two weeks. (I got them based on Corey's reviews.)

I hope this helps.

Regards,

Dan.

[BookemDano]

+1 on the leaf blower.

[07gtcs]

Also consider the Black Fire Line up. Auto Shampoo, Clay, Clay Lube, Gloss Enhancing Polish, All Purpose Paint protection. Then you can top with Crystal Seal or the Wet Diamond Wax. Then maintain with QD or the Poly spray. I've used these on all three of my vehicles (not new) and they all came out fantastic, so your wifes exploder should look good along with your new ride.

[Kiotie]

Good input guys thank you. I'm all for saving $$$ and your solutions are definitely cheaper than those I found.

@BobbyG
I hear ya, life is so easy right now but after the new car comes the paranoia will set in. My garage is unfinished so on the side I park and open my doors to I've wrapped the 2x4s with foam & felt just in case the door ever goes to far. It's happened a few times in my current car. I've also been visiting the top floor of my office scoping out the parking lot for primo spots. Running around town on the weekend is a no brainer... I'm parking at the end of the row where no one is and taking 2 spots.

PS - I do have a leaf blower...

[jdscooby]

Watch the taking up 2 spots. Unfortunately there are people out there that will "target" your car for doing that. Recommend just parking as far out as possible where there are no other cars. Despite this, you will still come out and find some beater parked next to you

[hoyt66]

Watch the taking up 2 spots. Unfortunately there are people out there that will "target" your car for doing that. Recommend just parking as far out as possible where there are no other cars. Despite this, you will still come out and find some beater parked next to you

So true...."Who's this guy think he is parking out here? I'll pull my beater next to his and show him!"

[wangotango]

I too am in a new car paint spot.
It's 2 months old. Sea Glass Pearl Toyota.
I have recently got a Griots 6 incher and a few of their orange/red pads.
I could just stay with their system and be easy enough I'd say.
But what do I know.
A good hard wash with detergent to remove all that's on it.
Have been using a nice Mothers wash.
Clay bar it.
A polish?
Maybe just there least abrasive.
Then a good sealant (have some WG 3.0 coming in mail)
Then their carnuba stick over that.
Would like to go with the pads I already have.
Polish with orange, wax with red.

sound ok?

[wangotango]

Yikes! Sorry for the hijack.
I'm so ashamed.