So what type of products do you use to clean your cars?

Car Wash: Meguiars (pink stuff)

I use the microfiber towel for the wash and the dry. Two different towels though. I use the meguiars hot wheels cleaner for the wheels. Probably gonna start using wheel wax to see how well that works. And I use Meguiars NXT wax paste for shine and if I'm lazy the quick detailer. I try to wash the car once a week but if it rains on the weekends then I just wait until the next sunny weekend. Sucks if you have black and it's all dirty. I either wash it at my house or sometimes at my friends house. The we both go on a cleaning-a-thon. I have the advantage because his evo doesn't shine like my g.

 

I let the rain clean my car is that bad? I hear acid rain is the most effective for getting dirt and dead bugs out of your paint :P.

But seriously I use meguiars something or other. I'm going to start using the NXT stuff soon. For soap I used to use dawn but our family switched to using this high concentration car wash soap don't remember the name.

 

I use regular shop towels - doesnt matter if they're dirty or not and Dawn liquid soap. I figure if its good for my hands and the plates I eat food off of, why not the G??

 

^ hahaha @ pratik

 

Actually Dawn is very good to clean your car, if you plan on waxing. Dawn removes all grease and wax. So if you are going to do a good waxing Dawn is the way to go.

 

Yeah, I have heard that to be true. But the Dawn just reminds me of an old high school story. We were raising some money for our band (yes, I was in the band) and we did a car wash. A girl was required to bring the soap to the car wash and she came with a bunch of old spounges and Dawn soap. Yikes. Needless to say, all the people were getting their cars washed with a bunch of swirls and damaged paint for a while!

A rule of mine has never go to any of those car wash fund raisers... No matter how hot the girls are that are yelling at you for a wash!

 

Yeah I've heard that as well. But never tried it. Anyone clay bar their car before?

 

hahaha I know because they're probably idiots. I never go to those handwash things. I'd rather run in through a machine.

 

I use the pink soap too. I am suppposed to be using Klasse AIO, but I've been lazy, so haven't reapplied that in a couple months. I've been using Eagle1 Wax as U Dry after washing. It's ok - better than nothing... I really liked Luster Detailer, but my body shop stole it from me. I've been using NXT detailer and Sonus, but they aren't as good IMO.

 

I think I'm gonna start waxing my car more often. Its actually a good workout.

 

In that I inherit my wife's 1991 Mitsubishi 3000GT when her new G35 CPE 6MT arrives later this month, I spent yesterday afternoon Zainoing her car.

Started by washing with Dawn - its alkalinity supposedly is good for removing residual wax. I spent the better part of two hours clay baring the car. That process removes hundreds of bits of material ranging in size from road tar down to specs.

I re-washed the car using Zaino's detergent and then proceeded to do two layers of Zaino polish/protectorant.

The car has lost some of its clear coat on the horizontal surface on one rear fender and on the rear spoiler so the car is "dull" there. With that exception, the car has not looked so good since she bought it 14 years ago in 1991.

When her G35 arrives I intend to go through this same procedure with it - Dawn washing. Clay bar. Zaino wash, and two Zaino treatments. Then, we will be driving to Ellicott City for a Clear Bra installation by Rob at PROFORM.

In nearly fifty years of car ownership I've dealt with some labor intensive schemes to polish/protect automotive finishes, but as is sometimes said, "We've come a long way baby." I am sure that there are lots of good systems of care, but the Zaino package of products was relatively easy. The clay bar being the most tedious - and that's not due to Zaino.

 

just washed my yesterday car...used meguiars car wash concentrate and the NXT wax....and about 4 hrs later....overrated...NXT is just as good as turtle wax IMO. im going the zaino route, b/c im spending 4-5 hrs that shine better be a damn good one and the meguiars NXT just doesnt cut it IMO.

 

really....wow I think I'm gonna have to go zaino now. It's just Zaino looks like it would take a long time to do.

 

The "prep" on my wife's, soon to be mine, 14 year-old car was probably three hours.

Wash it with Dawn. ½ hour.

Clay bar it 1½ to 2 hours.

Wash it again. 15 minutes. (More a rinse.)

That time would be the same no matter what product you were going to use.

Zaino products.

1) Spritz with glosser. 15 minutes.

2) Apply protector/polish. ½ hour.

3) Wait one hour.

4) Buff off with towel. 15 minutes.

Repeat.

Again, the only part I found hard was the clay bar use... and that is satisfying as you see those pesky tar spots and other pieces of grit come off the car.

Lest I sound like a shill for Zaino, I have not tried any other of the popular products and have nothing to compare Zaino to - except the products of yesteryear.

 

Yeah I detailed the **** outta my car yesterday, and it is raining now. Needless to say, not too happy. But, it'll give me a chance to see how well the Wheel Wax worked.

I am going the zaino route too, I can't wait to claybar this thing. There are spots everywhere.