Well I need to wash my tC for the first time and was just wondering what you guys do. With my old car (accord) I would always just wash it myself and chamois it dry.

Does anyone ever take theirs to a car washing place?

Should I use wax? I've never really used wax before

Any suggestions would be great

dont take your car to a car washing place unless you dont car about your car because they scracth your car.

The wax topic has been covered before
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=56948&highlight=car+automobile+wax

I use the mr. clean autodry.
Works great.

I have waxed my tC a few times with Meguairs NXT Tech wax.

But in your case I dont know, I hear that youre supposed to start waxing after the first 6 months.
Maybe someone else can elaborate on this...

i take mine to a car wash to spray it down real good with the high pressure water/soap. then come home and use a brush with lots of soapy foam. then clay bar...your car still has dirt on it after washing, next time rub your hand on the surface of your car and you'll feel dirt galore. so clay bar, then wax. with this method, i find there's no need for drying because i apply the wax on even if the car's wet. after the wax dries, i just wipe off.

dont take your car to a car washing place unless you dont car about your car because they scracth your car.
The laserwash ones don't touch your car at all, they will not scratch it. Just don't go to the ones with brushes.

There's probably a ton of info in the Car Care forum: http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=5

Mr. Clean Auto Dry is the shiznit.

-Z

well aside from the wax question....

What is some good soap and drying towels (microfiber?)

Obviously wouldn't need any towels with the mr clan auto dry

I do what I gotta do to loosen up the bugs/tar stuck to the front. I usually mix bug and tar remover with water and go over everything with a waffle sponge.
Then I bust out the mr cleans auto dry. I dont use the soap that came with it though...its to weak. I bought a bottle of mcgueirs (sp?) auto shampoo and conditioner. Suds up alot better and cleans better, imo.
After that, ill rinse it with the mr clean filtered water rince and chamois the windows. If im impatient, ill chamois the body too, although its not needed with the filtered water rinse.
Then, once its dry...I clay bar it, polish it, then wax it.
All mcgeueirs (sp again lol)
Oh, I use mr cleans magic sponges to clean the tires and rims then rince off during the initial wetting part of cleaning the car.
Voila!

good soap.....blue coral car wash......don't get any fancy wash/wax products as they don't work as well....here are the steps I take and products I use...

Hand wash with Blue Coral car wash and a Chinelle wash mit/pad....be sure you rinse the pad BEFORE you put it back into the bucket-every-time-, it will minimize the swirl marks by taking the majority of the yuck off the mitt better than just dunking it into water. I use a combo of AquaDry Chamois and microfiber cloth for drying. Always blot, don't drag the cloths over your paint(this also causes swirls). After that, I use a claybar(Meguiars) in spots that are prone to embedded grime (front end, side skirts/area behind tires, rear bumper)...I then use Meguiars 3 step system of 1)paint cleaner. 2)paint polish. and 3)wax....the last 3 steps are applied with an orbital polisher and buffed with a combo of orbital polisher and clean microfiber....

make sure your car is cooled down and in the shade when you're washing/waxing...

here is some good info on detailing:
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum///showthread.php?s=fc3d5a46e02a991c37273271f9b95a8c&threadid=158378

I use the Mr. Clean Auto Wash too...great product.

The soap in it isn't all that bad, though I think I'll try something else next time around just to try...

Haven't waxed yet...Only had the car a few months. I wanted to last weekend but never got around to doing it....

Also finding a shaded area for me is a pain! I live in an apartment complex w/ no hose hookups!! So I have to either go to my girlfriends parents and mooch from them or to a buddy down the street. Neither one have much shade so I usually do it when the sun is going down in the evening lately...

I always pay someone to clean my car because I am lazy

Mr. Clean auto dry is the best!

also I use Eagle One All Wheel Cleaner, It cleans the tires and wheels without any scrubbing.

I've washed/polished/waxed my own cars for over 40 years, but these days I pay the guys at the local detail shop to do it while I watch while drinking a latte...Much better use of my time. :)

Mr. Clean auto dry is the best!

also I use Eagle One All Wheel Cleaner, It cleans the tires and wheels without any scrubbing.

Mr. Clean system is great for a quick no spot wash..........

Where is the best place to find Mr Clean Auto dry and I'm assuming you guys recommend changing the soap on it.

WALMART

thats what I figured

moved...

:bow: Anyway with ordering my xB the other day, and my g/f wanting to wash her car she got the Mr. Clean Autodry Pro-Series. We got it at the local walmart for I think 27$. Used it tonight to clean her car and it worked great, I agree that the soap could be better and might try something else myself. But I think its a good investment considering I will be cleaning my xB all the time.

Mr. Clean auto dry system on sale for Father's day at Kragen's: $19.99!!

Mr. Clean Auto Dry & http://www.p21s.com/ :bow: :bow: :bow:

Ahhhhh, ahhhhh, ahhhhhh!!!!

You guys are killing me!!!

I need to write my wash/wax/detail article ASAP!

The laziness and misinformation in these threads is killing me!!

For starters, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, watch these videos
to see how to wash and wax a car! You don't at all have to
use his products (but they are damn good), but the methods
are pretty standand.

http://www.adamspolishes.com/videos/


I can give lots of reasons why you shouldn't use drive through
car washes, but that will be part of the article I'm writing.

Ahhhhh, ahhhhh, ahhhhhh!!!!

You guys are killing me!!!

I need to write my wash/wax/detail article ASAP!...

http://www.adamspolishes.com/videos/

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

I hate to see people ruin their paint when it's easier to do it the right way. A good mild soap that won't strip off your wax, a bucket and a wash mitt. Dry with waffle-weave microfiber, or plush cotton towel.