Cleaning my S

[cycro27]

Hey guys, so I just recently got my S and she's already dirty! So to clean it, I was just gonna wash it properly with car wash soap, dry it off and then use spray detailer. Is that fine? Also, my sister also has a Corolla, which is older (9th gen) and we wanted to clean that up too. She wants to use what we have available (don't have a clay bar kit); I have polish, wax, spray detailer and obviously soap:P. What would be the best thing for her car? I was thinking after washing it to polish it and then would I HAVE to use wax after a polish or should I just use the spray detailer? Thanks for the help!

[RjKlement15]

Originally Posted by cycro27

Hey guys, so I just recently got my S and she's already dirty! So to clean it, I was just gonna wash it properly with car wash soap, dry it off and then use spray detailer. Is that fine? Also, my sister also has a Corolla, which is older (9th gen) and we wanted to clean that up too. She wants to use what we have available (don't have a clay bar kit); I have polish, wax, spray detailer and obviously soap:P. What would be the best thing for her car? I was thinking after washing it to polish it and then would I HAVE to use wax after a polish or should I just use the spray detailer? Thanks for the help!

Hey, I just got my S not to long ago in black sand metallic. I just washed it and it looks great. I went to the local touch free wash, dried it with a chamois, then got some turtle wax spray on wax. Usual deal, spray, wax on, wax off. I just keep a microfiber rag in the glove box for dust. Looks great IMO. Just gets dusty, but what black car doesnt.

As for the older one, if it has small scuffs or what not and a little fade, Hand glaze should do the trick followed buy the same wash a wax.

Im sure there are better way, but thats what I did. Quick job and looks great.

[qcfc88]

When washing, use a mitt and two buckets, one with water, the other with water and soap. After each pass with your mitt, dip it in the bucket with water only, squeeze the water out, then dip it in the one with your soap and do another pass on the car. This reduces swirling.

Regarding your sister's car, wash it well, polish and then wax. BUT, I would highly suggest you get a clay bar and clay it before it's polished.

I use a five step process, wash, clay, polish, protect and maintain. If you search for auto detailing forum in Google, you'll find many with a ton of great advice.

[cycro27]

Danngggg that black Corolla is SHINY, good stuff. Thanks for the help guys, I understand what to do now. I'll definitely use that two bucket method . I'll try to convince her to shell out the cash for a clay bar kit :P.

[OkSlim]

Hand washing with the two bucket method is the only way any one of my 7 cars gets washed.

I sometimes Prewash them on the way home at a car wash with the power wash. No brushes ever touch the paint. Brushes are the way you get swirls and scratches in your paint.

Mequirs Quick Detailer is good between waxes.
You don't need to clay after every wash either.

I am not a professional Detailer by any means but I know a little about making a car shine.

Here is an example.

MIL's Oldsmobile
Before


After



On another note, I bought an 08 Tundra yesterday. It's white and I am not good enough to make a white vehicle really shine but I can give it the wet look. A hand wash and clay is in store for it this weekend.

[cycro27]

Woah nice work on that oldsmobile! Yeah I cleaned my car today with the two bucket method and then just used the quick spray detailer because I just got it (I'll wax it maybe next month) and hopefully in a few days will clay bar my sisters car with a wash, polish and wax. Hehe the clay bar kit went on sale today too, what are the odds

PS. I feel weird driving my car now after putting in so much effort to clean it (took me between and hour or two):P

[SuperchargedMR2]

I just washed, clayed, polished & used a paint sealant from Griot's on my white 95 Previa. Not bad for a 15 year old Toyota, huh?

[cycro27]

Originally Posted by SuperchargedMR2

I just washed, clayed, polished & used a paint sealant from Griot's on my white 95 Previa. Not bad for a 15 year old Toyota, huh?

Hahaha nice! Its hard to get white stuff looking nice and you got it there!

[cycro27]

Ok guys, I'm kinda confused about some stuff, I need help! So I am going to be washing and detailing my sister's 9th gen Corolla still, but am confused about some of the products I have. Ok so I have the tire shine and rime cleaner, which makes sense to me, but I also bought the Turtle Wax Ice Car care kit (this stuff: http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows....jsp?locale=en). So it comes with spray detailer, interior clean and polish. The last one of those three is what I'm confused about. Is the polish a polish or a wax, or am I missing something about the difference between a polish and a wax? From my understanding you wash the car, clay bar it, polish it and then wax it. But, this polish stuff in their commercials is being compared to waxes and even on the shelf at the store and on the site its listed as "Premium liquid wax" (http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows....jsp?locale=en). So what is this stuff? Also, the other wax I have at home is the "Turtle wax hard shell", is that good stuff? Sorry for all the questions and thanks for your guys help!

[msncorolla422]

Originally Posted by qcfc88

When washing, use a mitt and two buckets, one with water, the other with water and soap. After each pass with your mitt, dip it in the bucket with water only, squeeze the water out, then dip it in the one with your soap and do another pass on the car. This reduces swirling.

Regarding your sister's car, wash it well, polish and then wax. BUT, I would highly suggest you get a clay bar and clay it before it's polished.

I use a five step process, wash, clay, polish, protect and maintain. If you search for auto detailing forum in Google, you'll find many with a ton of great advice.

Swirls drive me crazy!!.....I got to try this 2 bucket method... Im gonna clay it too

[SuperchargedMR2]

Originally Posted by cycro27

Ok guys, I'm kinda confused about some stuff, I need help! So I am going to be washing and detailing my sister's 9th gen Corolla still, but am confused about some of the products I have. Ok so I have the tire shine and rime cleaner, which makes sense to me, but I also bought the Turtle Wax Ice Car care kit (this stuff: http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows....jsp?locale=en). So it comes with spray detailer, interior clean and polish. The last one of those three is what I'm confused about. Is the polish a polish or a wax, or am I missing something about the difference between a polish and a wax? From my understanding you wash the car, clay bar it, polish it and then wax it. But, this polish stuff in their commercials is being compared to waxes and even on the shelf at the store and on the site its listed as "Premium liquid wax" (http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows....jsp?locale=en). So what is this stuff? Also, the other wax I have at home is the "Turtle wax hard shell", is that good stuff? Sorry for all the questions and thanks for your guys help!

The polish is designed to give shine & take out swirl marks. It actually removes dead paint to restore the shine. You can get different levels of abrasiveness with a polish so be careful of what you use. New cars don't need to be polished as the paint is new & still shiny, it simply needs to be protected. By washing & claying you are removing any contaminants in & on the paint. You than want to protect it with a wax or sealant. Wax will give the most shine but will not last as long as a sealant. Sealants are what the dealers charge you many hundreds of dollars for doing. I hope that helps!

[cycro27]

Thanks for the help! So this Turtle Wax Ice stuff is polish and NOT liquid wax? I'm confused cause its advertised as if it is wax and the site and store said it was too. Also, for my sister's car, since its older (2007), should I use the polish after the washing and clay bar and then wax? Thanks!

[SuperchargedMR2]

Originally Posted by cycro27

Thanks for the help! So this Turtle Wax Ice stuff is polish and NOT liquid wax? I'm confused cause its advertised as if it is wax and the site and store said it was too. Also, for my sister's car, since its older (2007), should I use the polish after the washing and clay bar and then wax? Thanks!

I'm not sure about the Turtle Ice as I've not used that product. But this is the order to follow:

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. Polish - if needed with proper strength
4. Wax/Sealant

Wax will give maximum shine but sealant will protect longer. You could even wax to give maximum shine & than apply a sealant for maximum protection if desired. I'm sure there is a lot of info online about this & you can look at griotsgarage.com for good general info to follow no matter what products you use.

[cycro27]

Originally Posted by SuperchargedMR2

I'm not sure about the Turtle Ice as I've not used that product. But this is the order to follow:

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. Polish - if needed with proper strength
4. Wax/Sealant

Wax will give maximum shine but sealant will protect longer. You could even wax to give maximum shine & than apply a sealant for maximum protection if desired. I'm sure there is a lot of info online about this & you can look at griotsgarage.com for good general info to follow no matter what products you use.

Thanks so much for your help!

[SuperchargedMR2]

Originally Posted by cycro27

Thanks so much for your help!

You are most

Any thing to help others drive a beautiful car with a nice shine!