Advice on purchasing cleaning & detailing gear

[sig2269mm]

Greetings all:

My car (non-Toyota) recently died after 152K, and I am replacing it with a 2007 Corolla LE. I plan ontaking much better care of this vehicle than my last, including how it gets washed and detailed. I've been reading all sorts of advice on the internet, and it's been a learning exprience. Naturally, this led me to TN.

So, instead of bath towels and nylon brushes, it's time to get serious about car care. what can anyone tell me about the following:

Wal Mart microfiber drying towels, wool washing gloves, polish and wax applicators, etc. How do they compare to top end stuff, such as Griot's Garage products? Is it the same quality, without advertising costs and customer support, or is the Griot's product worth the extra money?

Who has the best wheels, pads etc for the 7424? Stick with Griots or not?

Polish and wax for dark blue corolla LE: water based Griots, Meguiars, other?

Car cover, worth the money? It's hot in the California valley, and I was looking at Griot's weatherguard.

Thanks in advance

[Pb]

The stuff at WalMart is usually lower quality. I wouldn't use it on my paint, but it might be fine for wheels and interior cleaning. Try not to buy Chinese made microfiber. Korean microfiber is usually better. Griots has good stuff, but they're kinda overpriced on towels. I get most of my stuff from Autopia and Autogeek. Check out the Autopia PC Buffer group buy we've got going on in this forum. Now's the time to get a good buffer and detailing accessories.

[ToyotaJimD.]

I've heard fairly good things on other forums about the better towels that Wal-Mart sells, though I haven't tried them. They just started carrying more Mothers stuff, so that's a plus... including their Clay Bar and FX SynWax... and their prices are amazing. Just stay away from dirt cheap stuff and you'll probably be fine. I got my Turtle Wax Ice Liquid Clay Bar there and regret bothering with it, but I just had to try it even if I did take it back.

Likewise the premium towels at Target (their Vroom brand) are ok, too. (Avoid their cheap towels -- though they're handy and cheap enough for the grungy tasks.)

The nicest towels you'll get from referred vendors online as PB stated.

But I will say that if you've got an AutoZone near you, they started carrying Mothers towels and applicators, which are really, really nice... Korean-made, by the way. Their dual-nap plush detailing towel is excellent and the waffle weave drying and wheel & jamb towels are very handy. You've got to look around the store as they're not always in detailing section. Worth a look.

A car cover is nice, but it's a bit of an obligation (it only works if you keep the car clean and if you use it). At least get window tint and use shades while parked.