Recommended wash frequency, wax brand

I searched the forum, but didn't see a post discussing this. I've only owned beaters up until now, so I rarely washed them and never waxed them. Obviously, when the car gets "too" dirty, you wash it - but assuming regular dirt accumulation, roughly how often do you wash your Prius?

Also, any recommendations for good cleaning and waxing products that treat the Toyota paint "just right"?

Thanks.

 

Tideland, thanks for the link to the detailing thread (which uses the word "wax" many times - do not know why search for "wax" didn't pick it up).

Your recommendations are certainly thorough, though I suppose the inference I was leaving was a little too vague - I didn't do any car cleaning before now, so I was looking for perhaps a recommended regime that is as minimal as possible, while still being "acceptable" (to varying degrees of "acceptable" of course).

For example, reading through the detailing thread, and the 'users' Owner manual, and other linked threads, and other searching, I am wondering about how workable the following is: Get the Mr. Clean Auto Dry (MCAD) device, use that to clean the car. Then use NuFinish Paste (once - maybe twice - a year). Then continue to use the MCAD on an as needed basis (twice a month or less if possible). If I were to do a claybar-ing - that would be after the MCAD and before the NuFinish, right?

I suppose what I am asking is for the simplest and most efficient methodology, rather than a detail oriented, time consuming one. Most of the multi-step procedures seem to be written by people who like cleaning their cars (not that there's anything wrong with that ). If there is a one-two punch that'll do the job - that's perfect for me.

 

Thanks again. And for any others reading this - I figured out better search terms that found the following threads that address this exact topic (...)
Washing 101
Car or hand wash
What brand of cleaning products

 

Ooh - I'm interested in the response, since I just put in an order for some Cobra microfiber cloths to go with the Optimum No-Rinse, and the Klasse All-in-One that I also just ordered...

 

Haven't received my care products yet, but I have another question - I've got an OEM hood deflector on my Prius, and I'm wondering whether/how to wax under it. I can probably swipe a cloth with the no-rinse cleaner on it, but I don't think I can get my hand under it enough to apply the Klasse. Should I remove it to wax, or just try and reach as far under it as possible?

Thanks again.

 

Well, I finally got my various products, and tried them out today. 4 hours later, I am very impressed with the Optimum No Rinse (ONR) solution, and I can't tell about the Klasse All-in-One (KAIO), and I am not sure I used the Mother's Claybar (MC)correctly...

The ONR is a cinch to use, though I think I put more water than necessary in the bucket, hard to tell - I don't know how much is needed to rinse the dirt off the microfiber towel (I want to buy a wash mitt), and leave enough for cleaning - I certainly didn't need all of the roughly 1 and 1/2 gallons I prepared. I also think I need a bigger drying towel, since the Prius is very much a MID size car (I thought it was spacious inside - I didn't realize until I started washing it how big it is outside...)

I did the MC on the driver's half of the car, front to back. I found very, very few spots where it appeared to be picking anything up, and I didn't feel much of a difference on the texture of the paint surface from the side I claybarred compared to the passenger side. It may be that at around 40 Fahrenheit (5 Celsius) that it doesn't work at its optimum, or I just don't know how to properly use it - although the instructions are straightforward - spray with lubricant, and rub the clay back and forth over the lubricated surface.

The KAIO is probably good, though it is difficult to get a sense of where it has been applied, and where it hasn't - I'm sure I put on way too much, but it is very hard to see if there is any left on the applicator, so I figured better safe than sorry. The part I like about it is that you just put it on everything - plastic, glass, painted surfaces, etc. I guess now is a waiting game, to see how long the stuff lasts, and to see how evenly I distributed the product on the surfaces of the car.

I am sure my arms and back will be sore tomorrow from this experience, and I am delighted that I should only need to do the KAIO 2x a year. (I am thinking that the MC will be an as needed thing -with KAIO only to touch up a MC wiped area). I figure with a wash mitt and a bigger drying towel that I can get a car wash done in a bit over an hour, which is OK if it is once a month or so. I do not know about every two weeks...