For all you guys that wax your cars,i thought i would give some tips on how to keep your babies beautiful...

1)make sure you are in a shaded area
2)wet each panel seperatly
3)wash panel,then take clay bar and rub out the panel till smooth
4)wet down panel
5)do next panel
6)when done with all the panels(make sure you do the ft. lights too!!)
7)wash the whole car,and rims
8)dry with chamois(the absorber is the best one)
9)dry door jambs,and blow out the car(with compressor,or buy a toro leaf blower..a must
10)apply wax with a small applicator and when done with whole car remove wax...
11)after you are done,your car will look awesome..

good luck...
ps...i sell a wax that is really awesome....if anybody wants it,pm me

 

I agree with some of what you say...but if people don't know what they're doing - then you've created a recepie for disaster.....

So here's my method:

TO WASH:

1)Wet entire car (roof down), not light rinse but a down pour of water.

2) Wash as much as you can before it dries (I prefer to use a wash mit. Sponges leave marks, and seem to catch dirt, hence grinding it into the paint; where a wash mit catches dirt, but sits further in the pile and does not abrade the paint surface)

3) Rinse the car

4) Dry car with "The Absorber" (this is the actual brand, it's synthetic, and doesn't strip wax off like a chamois)

5) After washing and the car is dry, run your fingers over the paint surface. If you feel grit, dirt, etc.. use a clay bar with the accomping spray (two three swipes and it should be ready to wax)

TO WAX:
1) Depending on the wax it is really crucial to apply it as recommended. Take for instance, Meguiars, Mothers, etc... these are petrolium based and you can apply to entire car (proveded in shady area) and then buff it off.

2) However, Zymol (I have Zymol Destiny) for instance has all natural emulsiphiers. You have to apply it (by hand, not cloth) and remove it immediatly or you'll never get it off.

2)When you're buffing, don't do it in circles, but rather forward and backward or side to side. It's prefered by professional detailers.


Couple IMPORTANT THINGS:

1. Get Micro fiber finishing towels.

2. DO NOT USE ARMORAL PERIOD!!!!!! Get 303 Aerospace Protectant - again not pertrolium based, hence it will not clog pores, and it isn't really high sheen!

Hopes this helps!

P.S.
As for the interior: "Leatherique" - it is the Be All End All to leather care!!

 

Thanks Detailer and GT2GRL:
...and to add to GT2GRL's comments, I hear that the sides should always be wiped vertically to enhance the reflection of light and minimize seeing any of the wipe marks. I hear this applies equally to washing and waxing.

And, I am curious as to when in each of your sequences you do the wheels? I have always done them last - seperate bucket, microfiber cloth, etc. and one at a time making sure that no suds gets on (or dries on the car body).

 

ohh, and washing and rinsing with DeIonized water leaves NO spots, even if you do not do not dry the car. The DI tank is the best car care item I ever got.

 

I always do the wheels last, seperate bucket, microfiber cloth as well!

 

I learned from Darren that a bit of Final inspection at the end goes a long way. It takes off water marks and adds some depth to the shine.

 

I prefer to use a California Water Blad and a Microfiber cloth. It takes no time at all to dry off the car using this method. On my black car, I had trouble with the Absorber streaking unless I wrung it out constantly.

 

I just bought my blk/blk 99' 996 a couple weeks ago. Can anyone recommend what conditioner/cleaner to use on the dash? I don't have the leather upgrade, so it's the basketball texture interior. I'm assuming Armorall is not recommended...

I bought Lexol leather conditioner for the seats... can that be used for the dash as well?

Steve

 

Wheatever you do, dont use Armorall. It cracked my leater in my '87 benz. Only use it right before you are going to sell your car, because it makes it look nice.

 

What I used:

6 Terry cloths
1 Griot's Micro Fiber Drying Towel (not necessary see below)
1 Absorber
6 Griot's Cotton Polishing Cloths
2 Zaino Bros. Applicator pads
Zaino Brothers Z-1 Polish Lok
Zaino Brothers Z-2 Show Car Polish
Zaino Brothers Z-6 Ultra Clean
Dawn
15 sheets of Brawny
Windex
1 Griot's Concours 100% Cotton Towel
Sheepskin Wash Mitt for Tires
Washing Pad for Car Body

1) Washed each wheel separately using Sheepskin Wash Mitt & TurtleWax car wash liquid.

2) Hosed down car

3) Washed Car Body using Dawn & Washing Pad

4) Hosed down again (starting with roof on down)

5) Dried: 1st using Griot's Micro Fiber Drying Towel, however that seemed to leave tons of water (maybe I didn't use it correctly) ... quickly switch to The Absorber, which worked great.

6) Dried wheels using 1 terry cloth for each wheel.

7) Took a smoke break

8) Used Z-6 and 2 Griot's polishing cloths to remove some remaining dirt spots, road grim, and some remaining adhesive from the tape they cover the new cars with/etc.

9) Time for the waxing to begin. First used Z-1 Polish Lok, applied using Zaino applicator pad. Very easy.

10) Don't need to remove the Z-1, just applied Z-2 over it using another Zaino applicator pad. Now need to wait approx. 45 mins to 1 hour to dry to a haze before taking off.

11) During 45 minute wait time ... polished the wheels applying Zaino Z-6 and removing/wiping with a terry cloth (2 used)

12) Windexed and cleaned the windows.

13) Smoke break

14) About 45 mins had passed, so used the Griot's Concours Cotton Towel to remove the Z-2. Very easy.

15) Applied Z-6 Ultra Clean, 1 section of the car at a time, polishing/removing using the Griot's Polishing Cloth. Total cloths used - 4.


That's it ... as this was the first time I've waxed I think I made some errors here and there ... tomorrow I was going to do the interior but damn, this sh#t took me almost 4 hours ... never worked so hard in my life ... don't think I'll be doing this again anytime soon.