Wax Options?

Meguiars

 

As the others have noted. the newer polishes (non-wax) are great. I just bought a bottle of Meguiars for next time.

JeffD

 

I still use Zaino polish on cars with good paint. Once they start to get rock chipped up then I just use Meguiar's.

 

Another vote for Zaino! Lasts a long time and an incredible shine.

 

Still have my Zaino's someone on this site recommended 5 yrs ago. Hope it has a good shelf life. The Zaino's kit comes with (or used to come with) a clay bar which I think is good thing for new car to get rusty particles off from the shipping.

 

You are past the optimum life.

Zaino Store: Frequently Asked Questions

 

I have mine professionally sealed and pasted when I buy them. (also a good idea to have the interior fabric protected too) After that I wash and wax with Meguiars gold class. I am thinking of trying Zaino.

 

I like 3M Performance Finish. It is a synthetic polimer resin (no wax) that chemically bonds to the paint and gives an incredible, long lasting shine. Best thing is it is so easy to "wax on" and "wax off." It has no cleaning compound in it so you can apply it to clear bra without scratching it up. Best of all, it leaves the paint feeling "slippery." It's hard to describe but you and all your friends will notice it. Here is a video about it.

It is not easy to find in auto parts stores but you can get it from 3M or Amazon. A lot of the guys on auto detailing sites I go to have given up the multi-step process requred by Meguiars and other products and gone strictly with 3M Performance Finish. (And no, I don't work for 3M.)

 

I use Meguiars Gold, very happy with results. Then every other year or so clay bar. When I first heard about the clay bar I thought it was a marketing gimmick. It is not, it really works. If your paint does not shine like new, then you need to clay. It pulls all the junk out of your old paint and makes it look new again.

 

I have been using the Meguiars 3 step (paint cleaner, polish, and wax). It works great, but take a bit of time to go through all 3 steps...

 

like Meguiar's tech 2.0 wax liquid. smells goood.

use light colored, high quality wash mitt / sponge, check for dirt in mitt. rinse in 2nd bucket. wash carefully my friend. two 5 gallon buckets with grit guards. measure out soap might as well.

*maybe* clay as needed, or not. thin coat of wax easier to buff off.

spritz a little Quik wax while drying (after regular wash). makes car glow.

 

There are three important things to remember for good paint care.

1, Clean the paint before waxing or sealing it, including clay-barring and stay away from abrisives. Clay is an abrasive but it won't touch your paint if you use it the right way, just micro-stuff that sticks up from the paint.

2. Use a decent quality wax or sealant.

and 3, the hardest part...

3. Actually do it.

Actually doing it is far more important than which product you use, even though some products are far better than others.

To tell if your paint will benefit from a clay bar, put some soapy water on the paint, put you hand in a thin plastic bag or in saran wrap and lightly rub it over the paint surface. You will feel grit that you can't feel with your bare hand.

 

DP Poli-Coat is a great product. Easiest sealant I have ever applied/removed, great shine, good paint cleaning capabilities as well. I am anxiously awaiting the DP Max Wax Carnauba that I just ordered as well.

As the others mentioned, clay barring the car is important. Periodic polishing to remove swirls is also quite beneficial towards maintaining an excellent shine.

 

I wash my 2011 Blizzard Pearl every two weeks and wax it every three to four months.

I start by hand washing it with Meguiar's Deep Crystal Car Wash applied with a microfiber mit. I dry it using a blade to remove the majority of the rinse water and finish with a microfiber drying towel.

I apply Meguiar's Gold Class Carnauba Plus Paste Wax by hand. I hand buff using a micro fiber polishing cloth.

 

I've gotten away from trying completely dry and buff out with drying towel. When it comes in garage, water's been 'sheeted' off, little water blade and electric blower for crevices. Then get the water off large area with towel, set down. Spritz with Quick wax (any quick detail wax), wipe with polishing cloth. Takes a little longer, but the shine, oh my.

 

(since noone mentioned) go with brazilian