What do you use to clean your car?

[niq_nak]

So what do u guys use to clean your car? Soap, "applicator", waxes, etc. and how long does it usually take u to give ur car a good cleaning.

[bimmerphile]

a quick job takes me about 4-5 hours


a detailing is about 2 days.

[niq_nak]

a quick job takes me about 4-5 hours


a detailing is about 2 days.

to do only the outside? damn. it only takes me 3 :D

what kind of products and stuff do u use?

[Erick]

Takes me an hour to wash my car's exterior.

Quick job is 30 mins.

I use Meguiar's for everything, except the tire shine, which I use Black Magic.

[bimmerphile]

I never do just the outside. The inside is just as important, if not more. It's what I get to look at when I'm driving, right?

As far as products, do you want a start-to-finish list of everything, or is there a particular area you want to know?

Reason I ask is at any given time there's about 30-40 products I use on my car.

[niq_nak]

I never do just the outside. The inside is just as important, if not more. It's what I get to look at when I'm driving, right?

As far as products, do you want a start-to-finish list of everything, or is there a particular area you want to know?

Reason I ask is at any given time there's about 30-40 products I use on my car.

sounds like u really do a job on ur car so im very interested in the process you do, if u dont feel like writing the whole thing up i mainly just wanna know like what kind of soaps u use, what kind of wax, and any other little things u wanna add in. i ask cus i just got a new paintjob on my car and this is my first car and im trying to take really good care of it.

[bimmerphile]

I never do just the outside. The inside is just as important, if not more. It's what I get to look at when I'm driving, right?

As far as products, do you want a start-to-finish list of everything, or is there a particular area you want to know?

Reason I ask is at any given time there's about 30-40 products I use on my car.

sounds like u really do a job on ur car so im very interested in the process you do, if u dont feel like writing the whole thing up i mainly just wanna know like what kind of soaps u use, what kind of wax, and any other little things u wanna add in. i ask cus i just got a new paintjob on my car and this is my first car and im trying to take really good care of it.

How recently did you get your car repainted? Reason is, you want to allow the paint to completely cure before you put a wax or other sealer on top of the paint. If you do, the solvents used in making the paint sprayable will be trapped, causing your new expensive paint job to look like shit.

General rule of thumb is 2-3 months before wax, however some higher quality paints (Such as those BMW uses at the factory) take 5-6 months before fully cured.

Sometime I'll compile a list of everything I use inside and out, but for now I have a calculus exam to study for.

[niq_nak]

oh, well i got it painted about 2 months ago id say so i guess ill wait a little longer before waxing it, thanks

[e30evolution]

60-90 days.....

i use wesmar products....

car shampoo/wax

[NC325iC]

common guys go for the zymol wax
and just water to wash it

[UNHCLL]

water and 3000 grit paper

[LowR3V'in]

Poop..
Urine for the windows and carpet.

I havn't washed it in over a month (probably wash 1 time every 3 mounths)
But when I do I use some dawn, then give it some turtle wax.
Takes about an hour. :up:

[nando]

I consistently spend 4-5 hours every time I wash my car.. it gets waxed, all the door jambs get cleaned out, the interior gets dusted and I clean my wheels with a soapy rag. :)

as far as products, I'm not too particular on the soap, any will work fine. I like the way zymol soap smells, made my car smell nice too.. heh. I like Zymol cleaner wax, your preference may differ. a regular sponge for the outside (with a "rough" side for cleaning tires/lower areas).. microfiber cloths for waxing and polishing. and you can't forget, the 5 gallon bucket I got from work! :)

[spencers]

Well I use megs wash, polish, and wax normally.

This next detailing I'm going to use megs wash and polish, except this time finish up with Clear Kote Vanilla Moose Wax and Poorboys EX-P sealant.

My VM and EX-P comes in tomorrow. :)

[bimmerphile]

OK, Here's my list

Exterior

Body Soap
Zymöl Auto Wash
SM Arnold Wash Mit
Stoner Tarmonator (Tar/Grease/Grit/Bugs/etc)

Wheel/Tire Soap
P21S Special Performance Gel Wheel Cleaner

Detailing Clay
Meguiar's QuikClay (Clay bar)
Meguiar's Mirror Glaze #34 (Lubricant)

Buffer
Porter Cable 7424 RO Buffer

Polish
Meguiar's Mirror Glaze #83 (Medium Cut)
Scratch-X (If needed on some fine areas)
3M Rubbing Compound

Sealant
Pro Products P-39 Paint Sealant

Non-Synthetic Wax
P-21S Carnauba Wax
Zymöl Creame Wax
Zymöl Councours Estate Glaze

Cleaner Wax
Zymöl Cleaner Wax

Synthetic Wax
Rain-X Wax
Meguiar's Mirror Glaze #26

Quick Detailer
Meguiar's Mirror Glaze #34
Zymöl Detail Wax Enhancer

Body Trim
Stoner Trim Shine
Meguiar's Gold Class Trim Detailer

That's just the exterior stuff. Please note that not all of those are applied at the same time (i.e. in winter I'll use rain-x synthetic wax rather than mirror glaze, etc). Interior is another list at least that long. For engine bay cleaning I use Zymöl Strik, because it cuts through cosmoline like nobody's business.