Got some supplies!

[thejmeister]

reading about all this stuff last nite got me ready to do a good truck cleaning, so i went and got a microfiber drying towel, a pack of microfiber glass towels, and a pack of just regular microfiber towels(for just wiping dust off of stuff, etc i guess?) i got a good water hose nozel, a micro chenille washing mit, and a 64 oz bottle of meguiars gold class car wash, do yall think im set or am i missing somethin?

[Tideland Prius]

how far did you want to go? just basic car wash or wash and wax?

cause it seems like you're set for a basic car wash.

If you wanted, you could always get tyre "polish" (forgot the proper term) to make your tyres shiny.

[thejmeister]

ive got some wax i mite use after i wash it, its turtle wax, is that any good, is it worth using?

[johnv]

your definetly on the right track now,later on you can buy some fancy boutique products online they more expensive but are really good ones theres alot of recommendations you can choose from. I started out like you with basic wash/wax over the counter stuff Meguirs brand NXT wax,NXT Glass cleanerNXT dash protectorant.Have since graduated to Magic Clay claybar kit Klasse AIO and DP Surface Shield Sealant purchased on line most were recom mendations from this site. Its a great feeling to put hard effort into your truck detailing and seeing the results,this has become a favorite hobby of mine now because I like my Tacoma and try to do the best for it inside and out,plus people compliment me on a well taken care of vehicle,plus at resale or trade time it all pays off

[ToyotaJimD.]

Any wax is probably better than no wax... and you want to use some sort of wax to protect your finish. Turtle Wax makes some decent products, but they also make some crummy ones, too... though it depends... the end result can vary greatly depending on what you're starting with and how discerning your eye is, and what your expectations are based on the amount of time and money you want to spend.

While it appears you've got a good start on your car washing supplies, it's probably more helpful to know where you've been and where you want to go before offering too much advice. You can never have too many towels, so consider your towel purchases a start. I'd also get a second mitt for your wheels and lower body areas. And use two buckets (one as a rinse bucket) if you have a darker car.

There's some general car car stickies in this forum, and lots of other resources that might be helpful reading when you have some leisure time... www.detailguide.com is one of 'em I like.

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by thejmeister

ive got some wax i mite use after i wash it, its turtle wax, is that any good, is it worth using?

Like JimD. said, any wax is better than no wax.

I used Turtle Wax before (liquid) and while they're extremely easy to apply and buff off, they don't last very long. (a few weeks tops).

I'm currently using Mother's California Gold carnuba paste wax. It seems to last longer (months instead of weeks).

[touringcamry]

^ Which Mother's California Gold Carnauba wax are you referring to? The cleaner wax or the pure wax?

I previously used Mother's California Gold Cleaner Wax and that usually lasted about 2 or 3 months tops parking my car outdoors. When I garaged my car, it would last significantly longer than 3 months. My judgment is based purely on whether water beads up on the hood or not so it may not be completely accurate but that is my indicator of whether or not the car needs to be waxed again.

I don't know about the Mother's California Gold Pure Carnauba though since I've never used it.

[Tideland Prius]

Pure wax. My car is garaged at home and in the parkade at school.

Edit: My dad's Camry who has two coats of the wax (we let one week go by before applying the second coat.. after washing the car of course) was done in August. It's holding up fairly well despite being outside 24/7 and being silver lol.

I think the depth has to do with the claybar before the wax. I never seen it (or at least don't remember) it being this shiny esp. since it's silver. It has lost a bit of shine since August, naturally but like I said, it's still holding up well.

[thejmeister]

the turtle wax i have is pretty old, a couple of yrs at least, does it go bad?

[Pb]

Yes wax can spoil. Sometimes old wax can be hard to remove, or cause streaks. Just get some new wax. No more Turtle Wax.

[thejmeister]

I LOVE MICROFIBER!!
I couldn't stand it any more, having all my new cleaning stuff in the garage and a semi-dirty tacoma in the driveway so i got out and tried out all my new washing stuff, and i followed the how to detail thread, the truck came out really good, i love washing with my new chenille microfiber mit and i absolutely love drying with my new microfiber drying towel, its night and day compared to my old car wash supplies(rag and regular towel) anyways, thx for everybody's help in getting me started i appreciate it

[Tideland Prius]

have fun and good luck on your detailing journeys hehe.