Cleaning Process
- Wash the car with car shampoo to remove all the old wax (you can use dishwashing soap, like Dawn or Palmolive, on an very infrequent basis). Do not use dishwashing liquid on a regular basis (more than once a year for instance) as it often contains salt that can harm the paint. Rinse with water to make sure all the soap is off.
- Clay Bar: This removes all the impurities from the paint, including tar, bird crap, and dead bugs.
- Wash the car again. Rinse with water again.
- Dry the car. Microfiber towels seem to work better than chamois cloths; don’t drop them as they will pick up any and all dirt, grass, leaves etc. that are on your driveway. MR2OC
- Swirl removal: If you have any scratches or swirls, now is the time to work on them.
- Polish: maximizing surface gloss and at the same time hiding/masking paint defects that were not taken out by cleaning. Let it cure in the shade for 30-60 minutes.
- Protect: the final layer to “lock in” all the work you’ve done. Adds depth and visual pop to the color and shine, surface slickness, UV protection, and a barrier from the elements. There are various kinds of polish (MR2OC):
- paint sealants: Zaino
- polymer-based waxes: Meguiars NXT Tech Wax
- carnauba waxes Vanilla Moose, P21s
See also: http://www.autopia.org/