Cadillac Detailing and Appearance Modification Interior and Exterior including Body and WheelsForum for discussions regarding cleaning, detailing, painting, and accessories for enhancing appearance.
Its almost springtime, and washing the car is going to be a regular practice. Since I dont really know what im doing, what are some good products to use. What im saying is good stuff for waxing and polishing, leather cleaning, even all purpose cleaners. I want these products to be available in stores like pepboys or autozone. I dont really need to mail order professional stuff since I am not trying to make it show worthy, i just want to make look nice.
IMHO if you are going to take the time to clean & wax you maby want to look at Zaino. Plenty of time to order before wash season. The stuff lasts & lasts. Gets me through a MI winter and no wax has ever done that. In 40 years of car waxing I have not found a better product. Easy on & easy off, even for an old fart like me. www.zainobros.com
My favorite combo is a clay bar and then some The Wax Shop wax. This wax shop stuff used to only be available in California (you guys out there should know the stuff), but now it's available nationwide. It goes on thin, and buffs out really nice. It's gone in a few weeks, though, but it takes no time to reapply. I personally don't like heavy waxes on my car. I like to reapply the wax at least once a month, and The Wax Shop lets me do that without having to strip the old wax each time.
You can buy that in a store -- Advance Auto Parts sells it, as well as other auto retailers I would think. I know that at least Advance sells it. I don't think Wal-Mart carries it.
Man, it IS almost spring time! It's an absolute DELIGHT outside today, here. Just about 60 degrees, no clouds, no wind. Wonderful! I forgot what the Northstar sounds like at full song with the windows open.
If it's one of those deals where you don't know when the last time it was waxed, I wouldn't start with The Wax Shop -- it's a thin wax, and I'd be more comfortable applying it over a known clean surface than one already possibly damaged or coated with something else.
I'd get Meguiars clear coat cleaner and start with that. That will strip it down to the paint. Then, I'd use a Meguiars clay bar and their spray on lubricant (forgot the name for the moment) and further clean the paint that way. That cleans/polishes it. You won't BELIEVE the quality of the job just at that stage. Then I'd apply The Wax Shop. Possibly even two thin coats if this is your first time waxing the car.
I bought my Nissan truck in November and this is the first nice week we've had since I bought it, and I want to wax it dearly. I think I'll take the opportunity this weekend to do so, and I plan to follow the exact procedure above.
I reallly like the Meguiars products (as you can plainly see above), but they don't have a wax that I like. I really don't like the paste wax, and even their liquid waxes dry thick. The Wax Shop's wax is great -- when you buff it off, you don't get that wax powder usually associated with thick waxes. I'm not saying that Zaino is bad or anything, just relaying my good experiences with The Wax Shop.
As for interior stuff, is it Eagle Leather or something that is the original supplier for Cadillac? They make a leather cleaner that's supposed to rock. I've never used it, but have heard good things. Somebody please jump in here and help me out with the name.
As far as waxes, i was looking through meguiars catalog, and do you think that the "Gold Class Clear Coat Car Wax" would be fine, or should i get the other stuff you mentioned. Also, what is wrong with having the powdery stuff come off after a wax? It has never bothered me, is there something bad about it. Or is it a matter of personal preferance? Also, I noticed the cleaner wax. Would this not do as good of a job as using the cleaner and a wax seperately?
