Washing advice?

[BigR]

BigR Just for complete clarity, did you use wax or polish, there is a world of difference you know (I only know because one of the guys who works for me is so knowledgeable about this type of product). Come on, please be specific, what exactly did you use?

Started with Meguiar's for the normal wash, using a lambswool mit (and two buckets - wipe on / wipe off karate kid). Then, rinsed with cold water and dried it off with a drying towel (not a chamois - gone in the bins a couple of years ago).

After that it was onto the Meguiar's clay kit. I started with the boot lid and then did perhaps 2sq ft at a time, so that the detailer and panel didn't dry off in the sun - partial sun by late morning, but fortunately not too hot. After doing the whole car I moved on to waxing it.

For this I used Ioncoat Naviwax ultimate. To avoid smearing I used a mechanical polisher to buff it after rubbing on, but this doesn't give a full sheen so then a bit of a manual buff too. I also used the wax on the trim and windows (just did the sides, not the windscreen) - the black trim e.g. around the door mirrors came up well with it.

All in it took just over 4hrs to do the car (no interior). The finish is very good and I'm glad I went through the whole thing. The car wasn't too dirty from the claying - a bit of brown muck and I'm sure my regular day to day car would turn the grey very brown with all the muck!

 

[Felonious Crud]

Swissvax Autobahn seems to be good stuff. About 30 mins per wheel, including a thorough clean with some unpleasant chemical or other, a good scrub, drying, waxing and polishing outer and inner rims. Very impressive results. Shame that the back wheels need to go back to the paintshop next week to have some touching up done where they were clumsily refitted and chipped the new paint and lacquer before it was fully set. *sigh*

 

[Phil the Brit]

Started with Meguiar's for the normal wash, using a lambswool mit (and two buckets - wipe on / wipe off karate kid). Then, rinsed with cold water and dried it off with a drying towel (not a chamois - gone in the bins a couple of years ago).

After that it was onto the Meguiar's clay kit. I started with the boot lid and then did perhaps 2sq ft at a time, so that the detailer and panel didn't dry off in the sun - partial sun by late morning, but fortunately not too hot. After doing the whole car I moved on to waxing it.

For this I used Ioncoat Naviwax ultimate. To avoid smearing I used a mechanical polisher to buff it after rubbing on, but this doesn't give a full sheen so then a bit of a manual buff too. I also used the wax on the trim and windows (just did the sides, not the windscreen) - the black trim e.g. around the door mirrors came up well with it.

All in it took just over 4hrs to do the car (no interior). The finish is very good and I'm glad I went through the whole thing. The car wasn't too dirty from the claying - a bit of brown muck and I'm sure my regular day to day car would turn the grey very brown with all the muck!

Thanks for info, much appreciated. One of the guys who works in our company is doing mine soon and he is putting on a polish between claying and waxing. Better for the paint allegedly!