With the winter weather hopefully ending soon, it’s time to detail my car. Just a few questions.

I’m going to be clay barring and waxing my car. Someone told me to first wash the car with Dawn (or any dishwashing soap) to help remove the old wax. Is this right, or do you guys have any other recommendations?

After drying, I will clay bar the car. I got Meguiar’s clay bar kit. After that, I’ll wash the car again but this time with regular car washing soap. Then I will be waxing with Meguiar’s NXT Tech wax. When I wax the car, can I apply wax to the entire car first, then buff? Or should I do smaller sections? I know I should let the wax dry before I buff but could it overdry?

I also plan on cleaning my engine bay as well (before I clay bar and wax). From what I’ve read, I plan on using Simple Green, sponges, brushes, and a hose. I’ve read the DIYs and I know to watch the electrical stuff. I haven’t fully cleaned the engine bay since I bought the car over 2 years ago (I know, shame on me…). I’m pretty careful when I change my oil and stuff so it isn’t really grimey or anything like that, just dirty. Any other products I should try or do you think simple green will cut it?

Sorry for the long post, but if any of you guys have any pointers or recommendations it’d be appreciated.


-Jim

 

Make sure you keep your car wet while you clay it, thats a biggie. As for waxing id just do the whole car, but make sure its in the shade. And as for the engine bay, simply spray it down with an all purpose cleaner (simple green will do fine) and if you have access to a pressure washer, pressure wash the crap out of it. It wont hurt anything.

 

I’m going to be clay barring and waxing my car. Someone told me to first wash the car with Dawn (or any dishwashing soap) to help remove the old wax. Is this right, or do you guys have any other recommendations?

Theres a lot of mix feelings about the "Dawn" procedure.

After drying, I will clay bar the car. I got Meguiar’s clay bar kit. After that, I’ll wash the car again but this time with regular car washing soap. Then I will be waxing with Meguiar’s NXT Tech wax. When I wax the car, can I apply wax to the entire car first, then buff?

It depends on how fast you are, We prefer small sections, it is much easier to work with

Or should I do smaller sections?

We do small sections one by one

I know I should let the wax dry before I buff but could it overdry?

Depends on the product, sun light and how much you apply, apply a small amount ,do one section at the time and you should be fine.

I also plan on cleaning my engine bay as well (before I clay bar and wax). From what I’ve read, I plan on using Simple Green, sponges, brushes, and a hose. I’ve read the DIYs and I know to watch the electrical stuff. I haven’t fully cleaned the engine bay since I bought the car over 2 years ago (I know, shame on me…). I’m pretty careful when I change my oil and stuff so it isn’t really grimey or anything like that, just dirty.

Any other products I should try or do you think simple green will cut it?

Make sure the mix is ok, if is not that bad we use a damm cloth to wipe everything out, then use a plastic protectant.

I hope that helps


Here's a sample of step by step of how we did an extreme detail job not long ago, I hope it gives you a good idea

2004 VW R 32 Dealer Trade In

Exterior
Wash
Bug/Oxidation Removal
Swirl Remover
Pre Wax
Wax
Tires/Wheel cleaner
Tires Gel
Wheels Spray Wax

Roof as found


Roof as Found 2


Hood as Found


Hood as Found 2


Bug/Oxidation Removal


Wash


Microfiber towel was brand new all the dirt from paint surface


After wash prior to dry, surface has zero wax, clearly a neglected surface


After Drying, paint is dull with no shine


Finish Roof


Finish Roof 2


Finsih Roof 3


Finish Hood


Finish Hood 2


Side Finish


Car ready to be deliver back to Dealership

 

^did you do all that by hand or by a buffer? I'm thinking bout buying one this summer.

 

That was done by both hand and machine, machine to remove the swirl marks the rest by hand, we like the Porto Cable all do there's many others on the market, I have heard good things about one call the Flex, I haven't use it yet do, save your money and buy a good machine they last for ever, stay away from the inexpensive ones like the ones you find in Sears.

Hope that helps

 

Thanks for the responses. The pics are very nice too.

The whole “Dawn” thing I’ve only heard from one person. Is there anything bad about using dishwashing soap or is it just as good as regular carwash soap? I personally always use car washing soap but I found this very interesting. Thanks again.

-Jim

 

dawn is used to remove the wax on the car

 

Dawn strips wax, that's why you would use it. I personally wouldn't, but I used to be a detailer, so I have professional stuff for that. I usually clay bar while the car is wet, not just with the quick detailer. Stick to sections when waxing, and make sure you are not in direct sun light.

 

This can be a complicated subject, to be 100 % honest I think that the only people that could really come up with an answer are the "Myth Busters" LOL, many people think that it is ok and that is the correct way to "strip" the current wax of the vehicle surface, others thinks that it will harm the plastics and such, others prefer Alcohol, and there's a few options all together.

My best answer is that we haven't seen the direct damage, when use it in a limited base, we however have seen that if used very often it will make the surface dull, since you are going to be doing a complete detail job, I could wash the car, if needed clay it ( which will remove a lot of the previous wax) and then wax, before I use the dawn I could buy that cheap car shampoo that you see on the auto part stores, usually they are purple and come in a 1 gallon for like $2.50 that will remove any wax you have for sure, but after you're done with the detail you want to use a car shampoo that is PH 7 so it won't strip the wax next time.


I hope that helps

 

Thanks for all the answers! I'm definitely a newb when it comes to detailing cars. I think I'm going to stay away from using 'dawn' and let the clay bar take care of everything. Now I just have to wait for it to be warm out and for all of the ice and snow to melt.

-Jim

 

Just a heads-up if you don't have the wax already, but Megs released NXT v2.0 recently.

 

Thank you for your support

 

why use Dawn to strip wax when a claybar can remove the wax without any question to damage to paint?

 

Very good point I think that one problem is that there's many clay bars with different grade's so for the comsumer can be somewhat difficult to understand, that's the main reason we came up with our own system.

Product Description

New generation and Technology , environmentally friendly product for dropping & insect grime remover on surface of paint finish.

Purpose:

Turbo Wax Bug remover can be used to quickly and safely remove bonded contaminants, dropping and insect grime from automotive finishes. For automotive paint finishes, this product has the same function and environmentally safety as clay-based stain removers.

The value and benefits:

1)Just use with water, no need to buy other tool or special detergents for rigid stain.

2)Reduce over half time of removing contaminants: Use friendly and it is very easy and quick to remove dropping, insect grime and containments, which bonded on paint finish and only operate with water.

3)Extra value: This product also has same function of clay based and polish when use properly, Will work better than any clay bar.

4)Environmentally friendly: Just use with water and decrease water pollution.

5)Long lifespan of product: At least wash 20 to 35 times in properly use and store.