I used to detail professionaly, but not enough money in it, so now I do it on the side and of course all my own cars so here are a few tips from my experience.
1. Always use a 100% pure carnuba hard paste wax, not anything like the the running paste of Turtle wax, its more like a bar of soap consitency.
2. If you have a dark color use a Chamois to dry it off, if its light a soft towel will do just fine.
3. If you can find a good wash n wax soap use it, it helps maintain the wax that you have already put on the car. I use one from Malco, but I have acces to the dealer, most don't. I did like the Meguires Gold Class car shampoo for washing, but its not wash n wax.
4. If you have bugs on your car the safest way to remove them is using a bug sponge that is soft to the touch, always wet it down good first. I take a bit of my wash nwax and mix it in a spray bottle with water and after rinsing the front end off spray it on then scrub. This also works great for the wheels, just use a different bug sponge. Also if wheels permit than clean the backside as well.
5. After drying always wipe out your door jambs, it looks nice when your entire vehicle is clean and they won't get really bad dirty either.
6. Use Dupont Teflon's interior dressing if you want to protect the plastics, it is water based and smells great, and isn't overly shiney or greasey.
7. Also use Dupont Teflon's tire dressing, again water based and dosn't sling off the tires and on to teh paint. Always use a tire applicator, either a foam wax pad, or specific tire shaped foam applicator, to apply the tire dressing by spraying a few sprays on the applicator and then wipeing the tire with it. You will have to move the car to do the bottom of the sidewall but it is better than spraying directly on your tires because once dressing hits your wheels it will begin attracting lots of brake dust and you wheels will turn black from it. Nothing worse tha a clean car with brake dust all over the wheels.
Any questions or comments, post or PM me. I hope this enlightens some of you and makes you 5s look great.
1. Always use a 100% pure carnuba hard paste wax, not anything like the the running paste of Turtle wax, its more like a bar of soap consitency.
2. If you have a dark color use a Chamois to dry it off, if its light a soft towel will do just fine.
3. If you can find a good wash n wax soap use it, it helps maintain the wax that you have already put on the car. I use one from Malco, but I have acces to the dealer, most don't. I did like the Meguires Gold Class car shampoo for washing, but its not wash n wax.
4. If you have bugs on your car the safest way to remove them is using a bug sponge that is soft to the touch, always wet it down good first. I take a bit of my wash nwax and mix it in a spray bottle with water and after rinsing the front end off spray it on then scrub. This also works great for the wheels, just use a different bug sponge. Also if wheels permit than clean the backside as well.
5. After drying always wipe out your door jambs, it looks nice when your entire vehicle is clean and they won't get really bad dirty either.
6. Use Dupont Teflon's interior dressing if you want to protect the plastics, it is water based and smells great, and isn't overly shiney or greasey.
7. Also use Dupont Teflon's tire dressing, again water based and dosn't sling off the tires and on to teh paint. Always use a tire applicator, either a foam wax pad, or specific tire shaped foam applicator, to apply the tire dressing by spraying a few sprays on the applicator and then wipeing the tire with it. You will have to move the car to do the bottom of the sidewall but it is better than spraying directly on your tires because once dressing hits your wheels it will begin attracting lots of brake dust and you wheels will turn black from it. Nothing worse tha a clean car with brake dust all over the wheels.
Any questions or comments, post or PM me. I hope this enlightens some of you and makes you 5s look great.