easy, but not so quick, and not necessarily cheap

a brand I never heard of that has amazing customer reviews on advanceauto.com is called Surf City Garage, everyone gives all their products 5 out of 5 stars. Advance Auto won't ship it and my local stores don't have it but if you find some locally let me know how it works.

step 1 is wash, I like to use a little bit of nice car wash from meguiars or some other name brand, 2 buckets, one with just water to rinse the dirt off the sponge/mitt. speaking of sponge, I personally like to just use a cheap new sponge everytime I wash the car, top to bottom of course.

step 2, don't bother drying the car off, just start claying!! most of the good $20 clay kits include 2 80 gram bars and one bottle of spray detailer. if you are fortunate to find a supplier of just the clay bars you could just use a garden spray bottle with water and a little detergent to help the clay glide.

step 3 is to protect your hard work with some wax, paste wax always is better than liquid, and synthetic wax long outlasts caranuaba wax. Eagle One Nanowax has always been my favorite of recent years but that's a liquid so I've bought some Turtle Wax ICE paste synthetic wax and will be trying it out soon. I buy cheap non-microfiber white applicator pads from walmart and never had any problems. I also buy cheap walmart microfiber towels, I don't know why people buy expensive ones than wash them I don't want that stuff in my washing machine that will later wash my clothes. In order to get a little extra moneys worth out of the microfiber clothes after I am done with them I use them to clean the door sills, and any painted parts inside the car (i.e. B & C pillars), then I use them to detail the engine bay and its off to the trash can.

I skipped step 0 which is dent/scratch repair, the 3M kit works great as it comes with 3000 grit sandpaper (that you use wet) and it has 2 different pads (one for rubbing compound, one for polish) that mounts right onto your drill. I prefer 3M's rubbing compound and Meguairs Ultimate Compound Polish. You'd be surprised how many scratches on your car are actually just in the clearcoat and you can repair yourself easily. You may not have the skill to repair scratches beneath the clearcoat. My Bondo dent puller fixes small dents and greatly reduces large dents.

tips: There are plenty of items on the market that can give your interior plastic/vinyl parts that wet look for awhile. Washing and waxing is done top to bottom so that your sponge/rags/applicators get dirtier as they get to the bottom of your car. try to do everything in the shade and wax and buff just a few body panels at a time. Never use a gas station car wash unless it is touch-free. Be careful not to use too much tire shine as that stuff tends to fling of onto the paint, especially at high way speeds.

you've made a good start but you need all these steps for a complete job. I like to do this every 4 months, before winter, after winter and mid-summer, you'll even get an mpg boost (probably too small to measure) as your car will glide thru the air with less resistance . . . good luck!!

one more thing, buy a car duster (such as california duster), you always see limo drivers using these while waiting for their clients. the reason is that dirt doesn't actually stick to a well waxed car, its just floating on the car and the duster removes it with ease, this reduced the # of times you have to wash the car which increases how long the wax lasts.

 

Is this what you're talking about?
eShine Canada: P21S Bodywork Conditioning Shampoo

They are a Canadian company as well.

 

No problem.
I just figured you probably won't find one in a local store (you never know though), and this can be a last resort.

eShine.com and (American) Autogeek.net both have great products.

 

Be careful with this. Dust is abrasive. And once the duster is full, you're basically dragging sandpaper across your finish.

You're much better off using a quick spray detailer and a clean microfiber towel to maintain you car's shine.

(Owner of two black cars here -- hardest color to keep swirl-free!)

 

This isn't true with a California Duster.
And I certainly wouldn't suggest using a spray detailer with a microfiber towel on your finish without dusting the car off first.

(Owner of a swirl free black show car)

 

Go on, we're listening. How does the duster magically empty itself of dust?

My towels go through the wash regularly. That's how I get rid of it...

Again, feel free to explain yourself.

I use the detailer + towel to remove dust. It's been working like a charm.

 

You shake the California duster. Simple as that.
California Car Duster Company - FAQs

All you are doing is grinding the dirt into your paint first.
If you're wondering why you have swirls, this would be one reason.

The detailer is designed to be used on a surface that is already clean and dust free.

Tell me, how would you clean your car at a outside show in the hot sun and you have a layer of dust on the car?

 

I think that's some good snake oil they're selling... "the dirtier it is the better it is". Right. I'll rub a dirty old stick all over my car.

Grinding? Who ever said grinding?

Who said I have swirls?

Hoo boy you've got a vivid imagination. Why don't you imagine yourself some friends and leave me alone?

 

Believe what you want.
But considering myself and others use them (and mines from 1997) and have paint jobs that cost $10,000 or more.....it's obvisouly safe to use.

You did, when you told me how you 'dust' your car.
You will NEVER see any detailer do what you're doing.

I'm not aruging with you about the detailing spray, I use it as well. But it even says on all my spray bottles to use on a cool, dry, clean surface.
The dust on the car, no longer makes it clean.

Right.......
Thanks for telling me how you would dust your car in the hot sun with your detailing spray.

 

People buy $250k cars and drive them into curbs on a regular basis. Numbers don't impress me.

Who in their right mind would buy and use a product to clean a car that's already clean?

I don't use detailing spray. I use my accelerator pedal. Cars are for driving.

 

Here's my "butt in" opinion on California Car Dusters.

I've used them..on black vehicles.

But I think the key? Is using them on well waxed and protected vehicles, as a minimal maintanence tool.

I have never had a problem using them lightly, on a relatively clean vehicle, that is well waxed and protected, to remove pollen or any light dust that might appear.

I would NOT use it at any level of dirt or dust that represented MORE than that, or on a vehicle that doesn't have a good surface protectant wax or sealer already on it.

As far as dust build up within the duster itself?

Yes...if you believe it is an issue, like with any duster....you shake it out..away from the vehicle...you keep the duster from ever building up a damaging amount.

 

It's about time!

 

I use this:
Channel Lock 215 15" Oil Filter Plier

I use to complain about getting filters off of cars.
Not since I bought these though.

Another option is this:
IMPERIAL Parts & Accessories - Oil-Filter Cup Wrench - Cycle Gear

Just make sure to pick up the right size.
Toss an extension onto a ratchet and away you go.

 

No problem.
They are a bit expensive, but it's a one time buy.