My Favorite Detailing Products

And, it's MADE IN USA!!! :rockon: :cheer2:

 

Given your strong preferences for car care products (and thank you for those!) what's your position on the 3M paint protective thingie? If you have it, are there any special tricks to your cleaning/waxing regime to be aware of?
Thanks.

 

I used Zaino on the '06 and will continue. It's pretty easy!

 

Did you look at my pics of the arourtec? quite invisible!

 

see my post:
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...troubleshooting/64015-armortec-installed.html

 

We have all three cars (including the Prius) 3M protected on the front and the side mirrors + door keyholes. The oldest car is 6 years old now and still looks great. No seam issues or wax/dirt accumulation (thanks in part to using Zaino products). I think that the protection is worth the noticeable lines . The first week I had my Boxster done an overhead light fixture in the garage fell on the front bumper and the film protected the paint. I just wouldn't consider getting another car without the protection. At a minimum, I'd do the headlamps and fog lamps. Just my $.02..

 

So what is suggested for someone who wants to wash their car only once every few months at most? Is it even worth it to do all the waxing steps if I'm going to be lazy about washing? I'll spend a some good quality time and money on it once, but I don't want to have to think about it for as long as possible, and I definitely won't be doing much of anything at all in winter.

Am I right in thinking one solid day of of Dawn, claybar, Z2 Pro (for silver car) and maybe Z6 will do the job on my new car? Anything else to consider?

 

Wow! Looks real nice dbacksfan!

 

Putting a long lasting sealant like Zaino on early in the life of your new car will help you keep the car clean, believe it or not. Rain will sheet off the dirt more easily. Without regular washings, the sealant may not last as long, requiring reapplication not after 6 months but probably 3-4 months, which still is about triple that of regular wax.

To extend the life of Zaino back to 6 months or longer, one very simple thing you can consider is, after one of your quarterly washes, to spritz on and wipe off something like Z8, Meguiars ultimate quick wax, or Duragloss Aquawax. Takes about 5 minutes. These sprays have synthetic polymers which help patch up weak spots in the sealant.

I would strip and reclay prior to subsequent applications of Zaino. The cleaner the surface is, the better Zaino will bond.

Here is water beading on the roof our other car after a recent rain. I applied Zaino >6mo ago, and maintained with regular washes and spritzing with Duragloss Aquawax:

 

I agree with Paradox. I have not used Griot's, but some spray like it or ones I mentioned should be used in your case, to extend the life of the Zaino. It's really not bad at all to spritz on and wipe off.

 

Deleted, Paradox answered my question.

 

Thanks a ton!

Should I do anything between the clay bar and Zaino Z2 wax steps? Do I wash and use spray wax then, or just on my infrequent washes? Thanks again.

 

I would want Z2 bonding to clean clear coat. No gloss agents, no wax, nada. Just Z2 (+/-ZFX) and clean clear coat. The less in between, the tighter the bond, the longer it will last.

So what I recommend in 6 steps:
1. Strip off all residual waxes/sealants with a strong soap (e.g. Dawn).

2. Perfect the paint with clay bar and if necessary, polishing.

3. Make sure clear coat is as clean as possible. I generally wash again with strong soap after claying/polishing (step2). There are some who use isopropyl alcohol and do a wipedown to make sure the clear coat is clean.

4. Apply Zaino sealant (Z2pro in your case). If you layer, use ZFX. Layering gives more uniformity and completeness. Buff off and let it cure overnight. You can use Z6 in between coats, but don't spray on Z8 or any other spray-on sealants until the Z2 cures (see Zaino instructions).

5. Maintain with washes when you can, and end it with spritzing of Z8 or another extender spray-on sealant.

6. When your paint starts feeling like it's contaminated again or if you lose sheeting/beading, go back to step 1.

Oh, one more step. TAKE PICTURES AFTERWARD AND SHARE WITH US!!!

 

I have a bunch of stuff on the way. Zaino Z2 and a claybar. I also got Griot's spray on wax and the interior kit which has interior cleaner and rubber and vinyl dressing.

Do you recommend waxing the plastic spoiler? What should I do with that and the black plastic around the windows, etc? Any way to slow down the fading?