Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
Options
Store Bought Waxes Part II (No Zaino Posts)
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
But to anyone out there who's thinking about trying it, it's awesome stuff!
The Sandman
The S100 is a great wax. Lent it to a friend at work who just got a black Civic EX coupe and the shine is blinding now...truly awesome! She also was very impressed with the ease of using the S100...easy on and off. Hopefully my 18 year old son will be able to wax my Sentra this weekend before he heads back to school. Since my accident last year, I'm no longer able to wax anymore cars. He hasn't done it since Thanksgiving and it shows!
The Sandman
Shifty the Host
The Sandman
http://www.meguiars.com/?liquid-car-waxes/NXT-Generation-Tech-Wax
I've used Meguiars NXT since before it was available in stores. It's a good synthetic product for about $15. Durability is better than most carnauba waxes but not as good as most sealants, about 6-8 weeks or so. Looks especially good on black and red but I don't care for it on metallics.
Another good retail synthetic is Mothers FX Synwax. Similar to Meguiars in performance and durability but leaves a brighter shine. A few $$ cheaper, too.
For paint that is in like-new condition, I'd recommend the above three over NuFinish. But on an older car that needs some TLC, NuFinish is a decent choice.
I used to use Blue Coral, but I will never go back to that soap again. I'm sure there are other great car soaps to use, but if anybody wants to switch the Gold Class shampoo is a great choice. The suds stay forever in the bucket and when you put it on the car they just fall right down taking dirt with them.
I clayed the car (Mothers), then used a cleaner wax (Mothers), then used the Harley scratch/swirl remover on just the hood, then glazed the entire car (Meguiars), and finished it all off with the S100. I didn't finish until late last night, and it all looked really good under the lights in my garage, so I am anxious to get it out in the sun this afternoon to see how it looks. When I finished, I sat my diaper cloth on the hood of the car by the windshield, and noticed it started sliding down the hood, and fell off onto the ground all by itself!!! The S100 was a breeze to work with, and left no residue/powder at all.
The Outlander is a third car, and only gets driven once every 2 weeks or so and on trips, and spends the rest of the time in the garage. I am anxious to see how long this wax lasts.
Claying really surprised me. I thought it was just some people who were really anal about their car care that liked the claybars. I did it on the newer car and was shocked at the outcome. I clayed the 98; good result.
I'm a believer. Now I just need the time and energy for all this finish care!
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I personally have an 06 phantom grey corolla S that I bought in January. Last week i washed it with Dawn, then Mequiar's Gold Class, then glazed, then S100'ed it. All in all, it took about four hours. I also put protectant on the interior. Mexyl, is it? I forget the name.
The S100 is amazing. Previously, I put on the Gold Class by Meguiar's. Bleah. Took me hours and attracted dust like crazy. Here in south tampa, where pollen is a serious problem, my car turned quickly GREEN with the stuff.
The S100 was only 15 bucks at the local harley dealership (it was embarressing when they asked me what kind of bike that I had, and I had to admit that it was for my Corolla), and it was a BREEZE to put on. I put on two coats and it looks amazing. It also doesn't attract dust and pollen like the Meguiar's. One question, though, when I put on bug cleaner, I'm assuming that I have to rewax that portion, yes?
I also used it on the headlights and taillights, and the effect is astounding. Can you put the wax on the windows as well?
Yesterday, I worked on my gf's car (she has an '03 Corolla, Cherry Redish. I forget the actual name of the color. And yes, I know our cars are the same...lol).
Took me all day. First, I washed with dawn, since her car had wax on it too. Then I used the Mother's Clay Bar. Does anybody know if the Meguiar's is any better? The clay worked very well, but it's a four year old car and I didn't really think that it was as astounding as I had hoped.
After the claying, I Dawned it again to get rid of all the lingering gunk, then finally used the Gold Class wash. What was interesting is that the Liquid Glass, which I used next, said to go ahead and apply in the sun and heat! That took me more than two flippin hours. I waited four hours, since the directions said to allow the sealant to 'bake' in the sun. Later in the day I applied the S100.
The car looks fantastic. Claying really did bring out the natural luster of the red.
A couple more questions: how long does the liquid glass last? Does anybody have a preference for what to use to clean the tires? Can one use the wheel cleaner on tires?
Additionally, does anyone have a recommendation on what to use on the clear plastic for the instrument gauges? Any prefered carpet cleaners? Finally, any thoughts/critiques/questions on the procedure I used?
To buff and gloss I used a combo of terry cloths and microfiber towels. I find that the microfiber lifts the liquid glass/wax more easily, but to achieve a richer shine the terry cloth is much better.
I also previously purchased a craftsman orbiter but found it worked like crap.
Again, thanks, guys, for all the advice!
For thre red car, I probably would have clayed it, used a cleaner wax (to remeove any oxidation), then a glaze (to remove swirls and help with the luster), then top it off with the S100. But if you are happy with the results, who can argue with what you did?
Yes, I would wax back over the area you applied the bug cleaner.
Lastly, regarding towels, I typically wash new towels a couple of times (with no fabric softener) before I use them to wax. I find that this softens up the towels a little.
However, the impulse red of the car really shown through right after I clayed and washed it. The Liquid Glass helped but it seemed to shine prior to that. Toyota really does make a beautiful red.
Are there any bug removers that are better than others? My main concern, obviously, is the remover's impact upon the clear coat.
Like wax and protectants, clay is designed to be sacrificed in order for your paint to be clean and shiny. Give it a hearty send off and start anew with a fresh bar.
Suggestions for a source to buy the clay alone? All the major auto parts stores are in town.
Let's see if we can't answer some of these questions:
One question, though, when I put on bug cleaner, I'm assuming that I have to rewax that portion, yes?
Yeah, you'll need to rewax that section. The bug cleaner is more than strong enough to remove wax. Plus the fresh coat will make bug removal easier next time 'round.
I also used it on the headlights and taillights, and the effect is astounding. Can you put the wax on the windows as well?
Sure! But the Liquid Glass (LG) will probably repel water better and last longer.
Took me all day. First, I washed with dawn, since her car had wax on it too. Then I used the Mother's Clay Bar. Does anybody know if the Meguiar's is any better?
The Meguiar's clay was redesigned this year so it should be comparable in performance to the Mothers product. Mothers clay is excellent and is better distributed so it is probably easier to find locally. There are only two mfr's of paint detailing clay so most clay products are very very similar. Buy whichever is cheaper or the one you prefer.
A couple more questions: how long does the liquid glass last?
Hard to say. In general, polymer sealants like LG last longer than waxes. But there are a lot of variables, such as weather conditions, your maintenance regimen, whether the car is parked outside or inside regularly, etc... etc... A reasonable expectation from LG is 6-10 weeks.
Does anybody have a preference for what to use to clean the tires? Can one use the wheel cleaner on tires?
I prefer using dedicated products for both but there are a few cleaners you can use on tires and wheels. One of the best available is Eagle One A2Z Wheel and Tire Cleaner. It comes in an orange bottle and is (was) available at most auto parts stores. A friend and I tested dozens of wheel and tire cleaners and this product finished #1. Eagle One has changed the packaging recently and now its called All Wheel & Tire Cleaner and comes in a silver bottle. They say the formula is "new and improved" but I haven't tested it so cannot say for sure if its the same as the old product. It's worth a try, though. Historically the Eagle One tire and wheel cleaners have been fantastic products.
Additionally, does anyone have a recommendation on what to use on the clear plastic for the instrument gauges? Any prefered carpet cleaners?
Do you need to polish the plastic or just clean it? If you want to keep it clean, a damp microfiber towel is all that should be needed. If you have some minor scratches, try a product called Plexus, found at most motorcycle shops. It's a spray polish that works great on plastics like Lexan, plexiglas, etc.
The best way to clean carpets is to determine what made the carpets dirty (grease? food? coffee stain? dirt?) and use a cleaner made for that residue. For spot cleaning of stains, a great product is Folex, available at Target. If you are cleaning things like floor mats, most foamy-type carpet cleaners will work. I used Resolve carpet cleaner for years and it's always worked well for me. A good all purpose cleaner will do a good job for most interior cleaning needs. Pet "deposits" require specialized cleaners. The key to an immaculate interior is frequent maintenance. Vacuum and wipe down surfaces every time you wash and wipe up spills pronto.... ya know, common sense stuff.
I hope this info helps. Keep up the good work and let us know if you have any more questions.
Beyond that, you're best off purchasing the clay bar from an online detailing supplier. A couple of choices are:
http://www.topoftheline.com/claysapovrem.html
http://www.properautocare.com/claybars1.html
What I have found is the retail clay packages are a better value than just the clay-only items. For example, I can buy the Mothers clay kit for about $15, which comes with a clay bar, 16oz bottle of detail spray and a 4oz bottle of their cleaner wax. I recently bought a large bar of clay only from a detailing supplier and paid $27. I saved a whopping $3.00 but didn't get the spray or the wax.
Thanks a ton, my friend! I really appreciate your help. I'm going to wash and then lg her windows later this week. For the carpet, it's just a bunch of dirt and so forth.
I really appreciate the help. Wht other sealants would you recommend aside from the LG? Would you recommend a sealant on a brand new car? Personally, I think that I should just use the S100 every other month for the life of the car....
To answer your question, I used to be a dyed-in-the-wool carnauba wax user but since I've started using sealants, I'm happier. As much as I like to detail cars, I don't want to be out there every few weeks doing a full wax job just to maintain a good level of protection and shine. But waxing is fun and using a good product like S100 is super easy, so I say keep on waxin'!
I would definitely apply a sealant to a brand new car. They offer better protection from the elements, a bright shine and are more durable than wax.
Other good sealants are Zaino (there is a dedicated discussion forum for it here), Klasse, Duragloss, and a few others. Almost none of them are "store bought" products so you'll need to get them via mail order. Some web surfing will turn up online retailers.
Question: I've got a black 2005 Camry. It's exactly one year old and even though it has been washed carefully in the warm weather and only thru the so-called "soft cloth" car wash in the winter (maybe 5 or 6 times), there are lots of tiny scratches (only visible up close and at the right angle). Will a clay bar remove any of these?
I looked at the Klasse website. It appears all you do is wash the car with it? seems very easy compared to everything else. Still looking at Duragloss as well....
No, clay will not remove the swirl marks. Clay removes contaminents that are on the surface of the paint, such as paint overspray, tar specs, bug residue, tree sap, anything that would fall onto your paint and sit there. Next time you're at your car, lightly rub your hand along the roof and hood. If you feel any roughness, clay can probably remove it.
Since swirl marks are below the surface of the paint, you need to remove them using an abrasive polish, or hide them with a product that has fillers in it. I don't know what kind of wax you're using and how often you use it, but if you want to reduce or eliminate the swirls, apply a pre-wax cleaner or swirl mark remover, then follow with a good wax or sealant. A good choice would be Meguiars NXT Tech Wax. It has swirl filling capability and looks great on black. Start with a good wash, then clay, apply a pre-wax cleaner or swirl remover to polish the paint, then top with NXT. Your car will look virtually showroom sharp after that process!
Klasse is really a two-step product line. Step 1 is their polish/paint cleaner/acrylic sealant called All In One. This is one of the most versatile products I've ever used. After you apply the All In One, you can top it with Klasse Sealant Glaze (Step 2) for extra shine and durability. SG can be fussy to use but a few coats can give 4+ months of shine and protection.
These boutique products are going to out perform almost anything you can buy in a store. A big part of what you're paying for is the engineering behind them instead of the marketing and fancy retail packaging. For the larger market they're expensive and more challenging to use but for the experienced detailer or passionate car lover, they're about the best you can buy.
http://www.automagic.biz/news.htm
The link has a number of press releases and a copy of the judgement against Kucala. Please note that the owner of the website, AutoWax, Inc., also holds the US patent to paint detailing clay and is the originator of the lawsuits against Kucala and others.
My family has decided to buy a black car (despite the many opinions on how difficult it is to keep it clean!). It is the wife decision and the son, a black 2007 Camry SE V6.
Can you kindly summarize for me how to maintain a black car once again (I know if I search I will find one). I promise I will copy this and just post it in my garage so it will guide me (and a lot I am sure) even for my future cars. Please do include some good waxing or polishing products and materials that I may need?
Thank you again sir. I might post the same in the other product just to compare if you don’t mind.
FiloD
Never take it out in the rain
The problem with black is that every tiny scratch/rub/ding is visible and even the slightest sprinkle will leave it covered with water spots. Looks great freshly washed and waxed though. Just make sure you don't wash it in the sun because the water will dry into spots before you can ever get it dry.
Caring for black really isn't different than any other color. It just takes more diligence and TLC to keep it looking sharp. Here are my suggestions to keep it showroom new:
(1) Wash and Dry - This is the most important step with a black car. If you can minimize the wash-induced swirl marks, you won't have to polish and wax as frequently. I highly recommend using two wash mitts, either 100% cotton chenille or the softest lambswool mitts you can find. Use a separate brush or sponge to clean the wheels and tires. The goal here is to use the softest tools and the safest methods in order to avoid installing micro-scratches and swirls while washing. As always, wash from the top down, when the car is cool to the touch, and wash in small sections if its really hot outside to avoid water spots.
For drying, the important thing is to use microfiber towels instead of cotton terry or a chamois. Microfiber is much softer and more absorbent than cotton terry yet has a nap to hold grit that a chamois doesn't. The best ones are available online but WalMart sells a decent drying towel in the automotive section for about $10.00. If microfiber is new to you, try a few inexpensive ones and see how you like them. Target also sells a decent towel at a good price.
(2) Waxing - With a new car it should not need polishing or swirl removal. Since you're starting with a clean canvas, I'd suggest using one of the new synthetic waxes on the market. On black I like Meguiars NXT or Mothers FX Synwax. Both are easy to apply, will hide minor swirls and leave a nice glossy shine that will last about 2 months or so. The Meguiar's wax looks a little richer and deeper while the Mothers wax leaves the paint looking glossy and reflective. Both are available at most auto parts stores. Plus, both companies offer companion spray waxes that will give your wax job a boost between detail sessions.
Like washing, I recommend using the softest applicators and towels. Again, microfiber is the hot tip for both. I only use cotton terry for "dirty duty" like cleaning wheels or doorjambs. Everything else gets the microfiber treatment.
Here's a simple shopping list using the stuff I described above:
*Meguiars NXT shampoo or Mothers Calif Gold shampoo
*Meguiars NXT tech wax or Mothers FX Synwax
*1-2 microfiber drying towels (WalMart or Target)
*2-pack of microfiber wax applicators
*4 med. size microfiber towels for wax removal, etc.
I don't know what you've been using for cleaning glass, cleaning interior or dressing tires so I'll just focus on the exterior washing and waxing. If you'd like some suggestions for those tasks, lemme know.
I hope all this helps. Feel free to hit me with any questions you may have.
I didn't see you list claying. What's your recommendation on that step?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Step 1 - Wash and Dry
Step 2 - Clay
Step 3 - Polish
Step 4 - Wax
Step 5 - Everything else (glass, interior, wheels, etc)
As for clay products, there are two major players at retail, Mothers and Clay Magic. Both are excellent products and are recommended. The Mothers kit is more expensive but it does come with a small bottle of wax which the Clay Magic kit does not. You might find the Meguiars kit at some stores, too. Make sure its their new and improved clay bar kit that includes a small bottle of wax and a microfiber towel. Their old "quik clay" kit wasn't a very good product but their new one is fine.
I would really appreciate it if you can advice on how to clean the interior and glass too.
For my current Honda Accord, I have been using -
Lexol for the leather seats
Vinylex for the dash and tires
Invisible glass and sometimes windex for the glass
Personally, I am not very satisfied with the tires using the vinylex (any suggestions?).. I do not like something that is very shinny though.
By the way, the black SE V6 is suppose to arrive in 2 weeks, but I might defer it for awhile because of some tranny problems for the 2007 to some owners (a thread is now open for this just for the 2007 V6 Camry Tranny problem). A Toyota Motor Sales representative is monitoring the forum just for this problem
I am incline to wait for a few months until the new car kinks are gone. In the meantime, I will be guided with with your suggestions when I clean my Accord V6 - Graphite Pearl, now that the rain finally stopped in Northern California.
Thanks a million again!
FiloD
Five different people are going to give you five different answers on the "best" wax. Just pick one, use it, and enjoy the shiny car.
I just answered this question in the Honda forum and went looking for a better place to post. Since you asked, I'll paste my reply here:
"I'm looking for a good cleaner, instead of a protectant...after you try the new stuff you bought, would you mind letting me know if it was good?"
There's probably a better place for this but you asked the question here so I'll post my reply here.
First of all, I'm not affiliated with Griot's Garage in any way. I read a thread somewhere on Edmunds about leather seat care and that started me looking into other areas of exterior and interior car care. It was actually my secretary, who is a bit of a car nut, who told me about Griot's Garage. I read through their website and ended up ordering several items. A few weeks later I discovered that their headquarters (and a store) are right in my neck of the woods. And I paid for shipping on my first order!! Argh.
Anyway, I just tried the Interior Cleaner and had to run in to respond to your original message. This stuff is great! I have the tan cloth interior in my 95 Accord. One of the reasons that I got black on my 06 was because the tan is hard to keep clean.
I tried the stuff on the seats, seat backs, console, carpet, plastic rocker panels, emergency brake handle, and doors. I followed the directions and used the brush I got in a kit (they sell an interior cleaning kit with a brush and some towels along with the cleaner... but the cleaner is available separately). Every stain came out. It took some scrubbing on the rocker panels (dark soled shoes scrape across there all the time) but it looks great now.
There were some stains on the carpet in the back that the kids added a few years ago. I never thought they would come out. Now there isn't a mark.
So I'm impressed. There may be other products that do the trick and I'm sure someone will pass along that info but I'm sold on this stuff. If it is inappropriate to post Griot's website, someone can remove it but here it is if you want to take a look: Griot's Garage
Good luck!
PS: They also have a great detailer's handbook that you can download for free.