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Comments
The "ritual" first use of Zaino is a bit tough, physically. So a person who has not treated their cars in 10 years would have somewhat of a tough time. However, Dawn, and clay are recommendations that cross brand lines. A good first detailing of your vehicle will involve these procedures, regardless of what protectant you're applying. The Dawn wash only needs to be done once. I've read advocates of claying every time you polish. In my personal situation, I would clay only when I am doing the first detailing after winter.
2. First things do I use Z2 or Z5?
Actually, you use Z1 before either. (I'm not being funny; a customer of mine applied Z5 before appying Z1.) Z2 (and Z3) and Z5 are compatible so, you can do either. The visual effect of Z2 (or Z3) is supposed to be more pleasing than Z5; Sal Zaino recommends Z5 followed by Z2, but there is nothing critical about the order of application. If you have a lot of micro scratches and swirling, you would probably want to apply Z5 first, and perhaps more than once. Given the ambitiousness of the first-use "ritual," you might want to get your high shine look first and go back to tweaking the look on another session.
"Z7 Is that just the car wash? When is it used"
Use Z7, the wash concentrate, when your car is so dirty that dusting and a Z6 rubdown don't really get the vehicle clean. The dust appeared so light to me one time, that I started Z6ing, but the towel kept stopping in the resulting muck. Three attempts persuaded me to wash first.
"My plan
Blue Dawn Wash" OK
"Car must be dry (can i used california waterblade)" Don't know why you think the car MUST be dry since you're turning right around and spraying clay lubricant; I'd only say the Dawn residue must be completely rinsed off. Use a waterblade only if you know how to without scratching the paint.
"Z18 Clay Bar" OK
"Blue Dawn Wash (Is this necessary??)" A wash would be necessary to get the claying residue off, but it could be with Z7.
"Car must be dry" OK
"Z1 Polish wait overnight then........" No need to wait at all. Since Z1 does not haze very strongly, you need to be sure you've covered the entire vehicle; some amount of waiting may help in this area. But you can turnaround and apply polish with the same side of the same applicator right over the Z1.
"Z2 or Z5 polish (Is 2 coats necessary?)" OK; multiple coats is your choice. You have to let each applicationg of 2, 3, or 5 dry thoroughly. Multiple coats are not necessary, only beneficial and it improves the vehicle's look.
"Z6 (When should this be done?)" Z6 can be done as a washing of "light" material on the car, or as part of your routine after you wash. It adds UV protectant, so it would help keep an outdoor vehicle from being too badly affected by the sun. It helps restore the "just-polished" look without as much effort.
As a Zaino distributor, I say, email Sal Zaino at sal@zainobros.com and ask if he has a distributor near you. Otherwise, I believe you can walk in at Zaino's Howells, NJ, location if that's coinvenient; check that out through email, too.
I have found that Meguiars professional products "Swirl Remover" followed by "Show Car Polish", used with a good quality orbital buffer to be vastly superior to claying or other products for removal of the top layer of scratches, oxidation, etc. These products are mild abrasives and I would not use them if the paint is in really good shape. But sometimes I'm not working with a new car. These products are "paintable" in that they are not leaving a wax or polymer residue behind to interfere with later applications of Z2, Z5, etc. Even so, I wash the car again, with Dawn, after the polishing steps to get ready for Zaino.
Preparation like this is an all day process. But for cars with less than perfect paint, it is well worth it.
The other thing I like to do is use Gloss Enhancer on the car after a wash. Keeps the finish really bright and seems to prolong the life of the finish.
What do I use on the alloy wheels?
I read somewhere about specific washing instructions for the towels????
....and about hosing down the water????
Thanks everyone.
On Z2 vs Z5: I only use Z5 when I can easily spot swirl marks or the super small ones called "spider webs". And yes, Z2 can be used on your alloy wheels.
On Zaino's Leather products: I think they are the best. I use the Leather Cleaner spray about once a month with great results.
On washing the 100% cotton towels: Simply wash with liquid Tide in cold water. No bleach and no anti-static add-ins.
In March or April, I want to do a full blown renewal. Does this procedure sound correct?
Day 1: Dawn Wash, Claybar, Dawn Wash (get clay off), Z1 (is this necessary since I put it on in Dec?), Z2, Z6
Day 2: Z2, Z6
I try to wash my car every week to keep it clean. From reading some of the posts here, it seems like some of you guys don't wash every week and just do a Z6 wipe instead. Assuming the car is simply dusty, is a Z6 wipe effective or is the wash still recommended? Any info or advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance.
In side by side testing the GC lasted app 1.2 mo vs 6 mo for Zaino (24/7 in driveway) So, a BIG so, if you want to maintain good results, the ratio of GC to Zaino is app 5x more. So, if 5x more work works for you, stay with GC.
If I want to go with just one, which should I opt for?
Thanks
I didn't clay mine, just washed it once with dawn to get the old wax off (it IS reasonable to wash a car before waxing it, isn't it?), Apply Z1 (15 minutes for a 300m), Apply Z2 (again, 15 minutes) let it dry (variable, depending on humidity) and wipe it off (20 minutes max). Some of the folks here a fanatics. The Z6 is optional, but it takes 10 minutes max to go over the car.
I'm not a betting man, but I'd be willing to bet that I could do all 5 of the cars you mention with $16 worth of Zaino and one day.
(They all have numbers, but at this writing I am not near the stash)
#1124
Thanks for putting $ and time values to the equation. Sometimes saying things slightly different or in reverse jogs a different set of people.
morenike - Strongly recommend you order and use both leather treatment products. The cleaner will remove the dirt and grime, and the conditioner will keep the clean leather soft, lustrous and supple. Don't limit yourself to one product.
tinindiana - Suggest you visit www.zainobros.com and review all the info there. All your questions regarding Zaino and how to use the products will be answered there.
ryguye - You can use Z-6 instead of a Z-7 wash IF there's merely a thin layer of dust on the paint. But be sure to remove that thin layer first, using a California Duster or wiping it off with a clean 100% cotton towel, using VERY LIGHT PRESSURE so you don't scratch the paint. I determine whether to Z-6 or wash by checking the dust/dirt layer on the windshield -- if it's heavy, I'll wash. But if not, the wipe-off and Z-6 application works well. Hope this helps.
tinindiana: Again, see mbdriver's post above for the reference to the Zaino website. That site has a very good general introduction to all these products.
bluebeast: Interesting stalking horse post which was well answered by pjyoung. In general terms, Zaino has a complete range of products which will server the average user through the complete car finish fanatic. If you just want to protect your car and not bother with it for a few months, simply use Z1 & Z2. And by the way, after the initial Z1 application, you only have to use Z2 on future applications. Simple, easy, and very cost effective. If, however, you wish to have a better shine, the same product line will more than meet your needs. Flexible, as good as you wish, and still very cost effective.
If I hear you right, you buy only GC to do all the functions that Zaino products do? I have to try GC again it seems it has vastly improved!!
The old GC you couldnt put on the glass, plastic, rubber, and if you did it was hell to pay to get it off. The old GC was a dust magnet and needed rehab about the same time that you have mentioned. It was easy to put on and more difficult to take off than Zaino.
Zaino has been around for more than 10 years. Its legion of enthusiastic users keeps on growing, simply because Zaino proves to virtually everyone who tries it that it's the best car care product available anywhere. Zaino does not advertise, nor is it mass distributed. I have yet to come across anyone who has tried Zaino and then gone back to another product. You ask for someone who has tested Zaino against others -- again, just reread the posts here -- we all switched to Zaino because we compared it and the results it produces to the product(s) we have used previously!
Judging from the number and type of cars you've owned since 1996, you're obviously a "car guy." So do do yourself a favor. Invest the 22 bucks and see for yourself. I'd be willing to bet that you'll soon join the rest of us Zaino fanatics in this forum.
If you want to try it, start small. Nobody said you HAVE to do the entire treatment. If you don't like it, change. I'm betting you'll be pleasantly surprised.
http://smiley.tzo.com/fbody/pics/zaino_art1a.jpg
http://smiley.tzo.com/fbody/pics/zaino_art1b.jpg
http://smiley.tzo.com/fbody/pics/zaino_art2a.jpg
http://smiley.tzo.com/fbody/pics/zaino_art2b.jpg
I hope this answers some questions and may help others try it.
I've Zaino'd 4 cars with one purchase of the set of polish. I'll be Zainoing an S500 soon and I'll post pics as soon as I finish that.
Taison
So the more you know about proper washing and polishing techiques and the less you manually touch it, the better! If you need to wax 1.2 months as opposed to 6 months you have 5 x more opportunities to put scratches on the paint NO MATTER how careful.
You can use Z2 and Z6 with no problems. I only use Z6 on the glass areas...kind of gives a rain-X effect. I have lots of glass and I prefer to save Z2 for the paint finish but I do put it on the headlamps/tailights too because it is very convenient while polishing the finish. Another reason I don't put Z2 on the glass is that when I want it sparkling clean most glass cleaners will remove the Z2 anyway.
Bluebeast: When I first priced out what all the Zaino products plus towels, etc. would cost, I too had a bit of a "sticker shock". The initial purchase wasn't cheap. But I went ahead because was dissatisfied with everything else I tried. And yes, I am more than satisfied with the results. But then I realized something else: cost effectiveness. After many washings, for example, I still have my original bottle of Z7 Car Wash. It just keeps on lasting! And at almost 3 years, I'm still on my original bottle of Z1. And so on. Its really true, a little Zaino goes a long long way. These products may look like they cost a lot, but in reality, they cost me less in the long run. Now that's quality.
I haven't had enough chance to thoroughly evaluate the Z16. I used it on the interior vinyl and it gives a nice slightly shiny surface. It has not been sunny lately so I have not had a chance to see if it causes any glare on the windshield. The Z10 leather conditioner will give a duller finish.
The tires look more natural, and not very shiny, but there is no fling, and no silicone, but I want to try more than one coat. It is my understanding that Z16 also will not deteriorate the rubber; a problem that so many other products have.
-Larry
He was chased away by a few people who got anal about his postings with regards to his belief in using Zaino. No one could argue his results (if you ever saw any of his pictures).
We all lost a really good person who forgot more cumulatively about waxes, techniques and the best procedures for achieving great results than any of us even remember (with the exception of Sal).
I bought as instructed 100% Fieldcrest white towels. But it doesnt say Made in USA. They were bought at Macys. Is this OK??
What country does the towels say they were made?
Fieldcrest does make a cheaper line of towels I believe.
http://www.fieldcrestcannonoutlet.com has a nice sale going on through January 26. Stock up. Free UPS ground shipping on orders over $50.00.
-Larry
The only solution would be to machine re-sew the edges using cotton thread. If I cut the edges off my towels I was warned that I would have to wash them at the laundromat.
If I can get hold of a sewing machine I may take my own advice. Until then I just try to be careful keeping the edges from touching the finish.
That other (NO Zaino) topic: I'm almost (but not quite) afraid to contribute to that topic. Every time one of us does so it seems to set off a whole lot of negative vibes. What's with them anyway? Maybe we should just leave them in the dark. I've tried to be helpful without pushing Zaino and aiming my comments in a general manner. Maybe it would help if we all took a laid back objective stance when commenting there (if at all). Any thoughts?
Go in peace. . .
1) It involves the paint
2) Makes the use easier and faster.
This is as much info. as is available. If I find out more I will post.