I know quite a few people think I’m crazy for this, but I enjoy detailing my car. While I’m not as obsessive as some of my other car friends, I definitely take it to a much higher level than most people. Once a year, I’ll do a complete detail on my car and protect it for the summer. I’ll do the complete detail in the spring, and then polish and seal throughout the year.
The first step is a really good wash. This wash will serve two purposes by getting all the dirt and grime off the car, but also to remove as much of the previous sealant from the last time the car was completely detailed. The options are a good car soap like Simple Green, or a diluted dish soap like Dawn. Only use Dawn when you’re doing a complete detail - it should not be used on your car over and over during the year.
Proper washing uses two buckets, one for fresh soapy water and another to rinse the mitt/sponge you are using. Living in a condo I usually don’t have this luxury unless I borrow a friend’s garage (thanks K/M!).
Using a clay bar is something not many people do. A clay bar will remove particulates off of the clearcoat of your car much better than a good scrub. Originally developed to remove overspray on a car, many detailers use this to prep for the coats of polish/sealants that come afterwards. To use a clay bar, you prep the surface of the car with detailing spray or “clay lubricant” and then gently rub the bar across the car. I usually move the bar along the lines of the car (the way the wind would go along the car when it’s going forward). You don’t have to use a lot of force but you do have to make sure that the surface is prepped with detailing spray.
The polishing step can be done using a random orbital polisher or by hand. All my cars have been silver, so I have never felt the need to use a power polisher. However, they will really help in removing swirlmarks and paint imperfections that you can see on dark cars. A good polish will make the finish smooth and shiny and last many years. Currently I’m using the Wolfgang Prewax Polish Enhancer which also contain fillers to smooth light swirl marks. Other choices are Klasse All-in-One, 3M Swirl Remover and 3M Imperial Hand Glaze. There are more polisher options if you use an power polisher.
The last step is the sealant. I’m a recent convert to synthetic (non-wax) sealants. They last longer and give much more shine than carnuba wax. I currently use Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant, but have also tried Klasse High Gloss Sealant and Zaino Z-CS Clear Seal. Both the polish and the sealant go on using the same method. They’re applied very lightly with a soft pad, let haze, then wiped and buffed off with a clean microfiber towel.
Enjoy your shiny car!
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