Since others are posting "how I wash cars" threads, here is mine

[Scottwax]

How to wash and wax a car in an hour or less!


I posted this on another board, aimed at those who are just not going to spend a whole lot of time detailing their cars. Also included is my basic detailing guide and product recommendations. For most of y`all, it is pretty basic but for new members, I expect it will be more helpful.


First, I`ll tell you how to wash and wax your car in an hour or less. This does not include any polishing so this method won`t correct any defects. However, if your car is in good condition already or you just want it clean and protected, this method is excellent.


Products you will need:


2 gallon capacity bucket

1 wash pad, I like to use microfiber covered foam pads

4-5 16" x 16" microfiber towels-500 to 600 gram weight in 16 x 16 size

2-3 terry cloth or 300-400 gram weight in 16 x 16 size microfiber towels (for wheels only!)

Wheel brush(s)

Tire protectant

Glass Cleaner

Optimum No Rinse Wash and Shine or Optimum No Rinse Wash and Wax

Optimum Car Wax


Steps:


1. Using a capful or approximately one half ounce of Optimum No Rinse (ONR), add it to one gallon of water in the bucket (1 OZ for 2 gallons of water)


2. Clean your wheels, tires and fenderwells using the ONR mixture and your brushes, wipe dry with the terry cloth towels or lighter weight MF towels.


3. Dress the wheels and fenderwells with your tire dressing-and don`t forget the fenderwells! Dirty fenderwells detract from an otherwise clean and shiny car!




The reason to do the wheels and fenderwells first is so when you apply the tire dressing, any overspray will be washed off the car during the washing step.


4. Empty out your bucket and refill with clean water, adding one half to one full ounce of ONR depending if you are using 1 or 2 gallons of water


5. Using a microfiber covered foam pad or a wash mitt, wash one section of the car at a time and dry immediately using two microfiber towels, one for the first drying pass and making sure you leave a little moisture behind, use the other towel for a second drying pass. If you get the panel completely dry with the first towel, then don`t go over it with the second towel because rubbing even a soft microfiber towel on dry paint can leave streaks.


Once you get the process down (it may take a couple washes to really nail it) you should be able to wash the body of your car in 20 minutes or less unless it is really filthy.


6. After washing open your doors, gas cap door and trunk or hatch and wipe down all the jambs.


7. Using Optimum Car Wax (OCW), spray onto a section at a time. Don`t soak the panel, just a mist should do. Spread the wax over the panel, flip the towel and wipe to a haze free shine. If you can use a detail spray, you can use OCW, it is that easy. Depending on your area, wash habits, etc, you can expect 3-5 months durability. Honestly though, it is so easy to use you will probably use it every few washes. Shouldn`t take more than 10 minutes to do the whole car. In fact, you can also apply it as you dry each section when washing with ONR to save even more time, or apply while washing and apply a second coat for even better protection with very little additional time spent.


8. Clean your glass inside and out.




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Scottwax`s Offical Comprehensive Detailing Guide®

HARD SUPPLIES


- Wet/Dry Vacuum (>1.5 HP) w/ an assortment of nozzles and a thin crevice tool

- Bucket

- Spray nozzle-if washing conventionally

- Microfiber covered foam pads, or wash mitts

- Wheel brush, thin brush for tight areas, interior brush w/ soft bristles

- Lightweight (300-400 gram in 16 x 16 size) microfiber towels (wiping/drying inteior, wheels, tires, door jambs)

- Microfiber towels (washing, removing product)

- Foam applicators (wax application)

- California Car Duster

- Q-Tips (Cleaning Vents)

Optional for power buffing:

-Porter Cable 7424 XP, Meguiars G110 v2, Griots DA Polisher, or if you want the Rolls Royce of DA polishers, a Rupes 21 Bigfoot.

-An assortment of 5-6.5" finishing, polishing and cutting pads. Polishing pads are your workhorse.

<span>Detailing products


I have listed products I have personally used.

No Rinse Washing


Optimum No Rinse Wash and Shine

Conventional Washing


Optimum Car Wash

Duragloss #901

Mothers California Car Wash

Meguiars Gold Class or NXT Car Wash

Kit Carnauba Wash


--honestly, any quality car wash soap should be fine. Do not use dish soap!. It strips wax from your paint and dries out your rubber seals and trim. Regular use will also dry out your paint.

Drying


Microfiber towels-waffle weaves for conventional washing, plush microfibers with Optimum No Rinse.

Wheel Cleaners


Personally, I don`t use wheel cleaners. I prefer to use either ONR or when washing conventionally, car wash soap. If you keep your wheels clean there should be no reason to have to use a wheel cleaner. Improper use (as in not following directions and apply to a hot wheel) or using the wrong wheel cleaner on your rims can damage them and require refinishing to correct.


Optimum Power Clean diluted 3:1 is a good all purpose cleaner, including for use on wheels, won`t make ONR foam or suds up either.

Clay Bars


Most of the clay bars now available are made by Clay Magic since they hold the original patent and sued the crap out of anyone who copied their clay-so really, the brand doesn`t matter much.


Clay bars removing imbedding grit, contamination, tree sap, paint overspray, etc from your paint. If you run your hand over your just washed paint and it has a gritty feel at all, you need to clay. This will pull all that gunk out of your paint leaving it glass smooth.


Spray a quick detail product (usually clay kits include the spray) onto your paint (about a 2` x 2` section) and rub the clay bar using moderate pressure over the paint. When it glides effortlessly and quietly over your paint, wipe off the clay lube and move on to the next area.

Polishes and compounds


My favorite polishes and compounds are:


Optimum Polish, Compound and Hyper Compound

Meguiars #205, #105, #100, D300

3D HD Cut and HD Polish

Menzerna Intensive Polish and Final Polish


Use by hand:


Use a microfiber towel, folded into 1/8ths size to form a thick pad and so you can apply even pressure. Use moderate pressure, enough to build up some warmth on the towel and work the product into the paint until it looks nearly clear and dry, then wipe off immediately. Refold the towel and move on to the next section.


By DA polisher


Using a polishing pad, apply a circle of product about 1" from the edge of the pad and for the first couple of areas, before turning on the PC, spread the product over a 1` x 1` area to prevent dry buffing. With the pad pressed lightly against the paint, turn on the PC and set it to `5` and spread the product over a 2` x 2` area using moderate pressure. Kick the speed up to 6 and slow down your passes to about 1/2-1" per second with 50% overlapping passes, up/down, across, diagonally. Use enough pressure to lightly bog the PC and then back off just enough to pick the speed back up. Work the polish until it begins to clear or dry. Wipe off excess product, inspect your work, one or more additional applications may be needed with heavy defects.


Always start with a medium grade polish and a polishing pad and step up the aggressiveness of the polish before moving up to a cutting pad.

Final Polishes and Glazes


You will use these to further refine your finish or if the paint is in good condition and you just want to add more depth and pop to the finish prior to waxing.


Optimum Finish

Clearkote`s Vanilla Moose and Red Moose Machine Glaze

Menzerna FPII or PO106FF (at $50 a quart!)

3D HD Speed

Optimum G-P-S

Jeff`s Werkstatt`s Prime, Prime Carnauba or Prime Strong

Klasse All in One


3D HD Polish


Just a suggestion-You can mix in about 30% of Clearkote`s Red Moose Machine Glaze into either Menzerna polish to cut down on dusting and add more depth to the super clear wet shine of Menzerna.

Waxes


As a rule, waxes have a deeper, more liquid look than sealants, protect a little better against bird bombs but need to be reapplied more often than sealants.


Clearkote Carnauba Moose

Optimum Car Wax

Poorboy`s Natty`s and Natty`s Blue Paste

Meguiars #16 (discontinued, you may be able to find a few vendors who still have it, still sold in the UK though), #26 in liquid or paste

Collinite 476 Paste

P21S or S100 Paste Wax-the S100 is essentially the same as P21S but widely available at Harley Davidson dealers and costs less too!

Pinnacle Souveran-yeah it is $70 but amazing on black and red paint, good for 50+ applications

Jeff`s Werkstatt Carnauba Jett-spray carnauba

Sealants


Optimum Opti-Seal

Jeff`s Werkstatt Acrylic Jett and Acrylic Jett Trigger (Trigger is in spray for, extremely easy to use)

Duragloss #105

Klasse Sealant Glaze

Meguiars #20 Polymer Sealant, NXT High Tech Wax, or #21 Sealant


`


Coatings


`


I have a lot of experience with Optimum`s coatings, Opti-Coat 2.0 and Optimum Coating. They lay down up to 2 microns of permanent ceramic resin protection. Basically like adding extra clear coat to the paint that is harder and more scratch/chemical/bird bomb resistant than the clear coat already on the car. Application is similar to Opti-Seal but you have to get the high spots before they completely dry or you will have to polish that area and reapply the coating.`


`


Optimum Opti-Coat 2.0 (consumer version) and Optimum Coating (pro version)

Quick Detail Sprays


You can use these after washing to give you the `just waxed` look.


Clearkote`s Quikshine

Poorboy`s Spray and Gloss

Jeff`s Werkstatt Acrylic Glos-meant to be used with the Werkstatt system, but should be fine over any sealant

Meguiars #34 Final Inspection

Duragloss Aqua Wax

ONR Wash and Wax diluted 32:1

Interior Cleaning Products


I use an 20:1 mixture of water and Woolite (the laundry soap version) in a spray bottle as my interior cleaner (20 parts water, 1 part Woolite). You can use it on leather, vinyl, carpet, fabric, etc. Spray, scrub with a small brush with nylon bristles as needed, wipe up and wet vac as needed.


Meguiars and several other manufacturers have great all purpose cleaners that are safe for most interior surfaces but read the label first! I`d only recommened the water/Woolite mixture for leather though.


3D Carpet Shampoo at 16:1 dilution is a great dedicated carpet/upholstery cleaner

Interior Protectants


Vinyl, rubber and weather stripping-


Optimum Protectant Plus

Meguiars #40, Meguiars Interior Quick Detailer, Natural Shine Vinyl & Rubber Protectant

Poorboy`s Natural Look Dressing

Armor All Original Shine

303

Vinylex


Leather-


Meguiars Gold Class Leather Conditioner

Duragloss #221

Tanner`s Preserves

Lexol

Leather Master`s Leather Vital (it ain`t cheap!)


Miscellaneous


Glass cleaners:


Meguiars NXT Glass Cleaner

Eagle 20/20 Class Cleaner

Stoners Invisible Glass

ONR Wash and Wax @ 32:1


Tire/fenderwell dressing:


Armor All Original Shine

Poorboy`s Bold N Bright Tire Dressing

Optimum Tire Shine

Meguiars Hyper Dressing (can be cut with water up to 4:1)


Trim dressing:


Meguiars #38 Tire and Trim Gel

Poorboy`s Trim Restorer

Mothers Back to Black

Engine Cleaning


1. Make sure engine is warm, but not hot. Cold engines are harder to remove grease and oil from.


** Check the directions on the engine cleaner/degreaser you are using, though. Some specifically say to clean the engine when cold only. **


2. Cover your distributor (if you do not know what or where it is, get a manual for your car), alternator and fuse box. Most electronics under your hood are adequately sealed for rain water splashing up on them, but high pressure water is another story.


3. Spray Optimum Power Clean diluted 3:1 liberally all over your engine and engine bay. Let it sit for about 1-2 minutes. If your engine is really dirty, then after the 1-2 minutes, spray it down again and wait an additional 5 minutes.


4. Spray the engine and engine bay with high pressure rinse water - but even though your distributor may be covered, still use lower pressure around it to be on the safe side.


5. Any remaining grime, spray again with Orange Blast, and use a stiff brush if needed. Rinse again.


6. Remove the plastic coverings and start the engine. Let it run until it is dry. You will have to dry the painted surfaces in the engine bay and the underside of the hood with a towel.


7. Dress any hoses, etc. you want with rubber/vinyl dressing.


All my current detailing related youtube videos:

Videos of me using Optimum No Rinse:


YouTube - Washing with Optimum No Rinse


YouTube - Optimum No Rinse Wash beading

How to apply Opti-Seal


YouTube - Applying Optimum Opti-Seal

Carpet cleaning using a Cyclo brush attachment and a Meguiars G110


YouTube - Carpet cleaning

Fenderwell cleaning with ONR and a pesticide sprayer


YouTube - Fenderwell cleaning with Optimum No Rinse Wash

Claying with Optimum No Rinse at wash strength


YouTube - Claying with Optimum No Rinse

Cleaning wheels with ONR


YouTube - Optimum No Rinse and wheels part 2


YouTube - Wheel cleaning with Optimum No Rinse Wash

Cleaning wheels with ONR and Optimum Power Clean


YouTube - Optimum No Rinse and wheels part 1

Proper Rotary technique


YouTube - Proper rotary technique when using Meguiars #205

Headlight polishing using a Meguiars G110 DA buffer


YouTube - Headlight polishing

Paint polishing with a Meguiars G110 and Optimum Polish


YouTube - Proper DA polisher technique

Compounding with a Meguiars G110 and #105


YouTube - DA polishing-KB Method

[SpoiledMan]

Dammit man! I feel like I`ve just been SHKOOLED!

[3fiddyz]

awesome read dude, thanks for putting that together



re-affirms why i spend so much time here



what did you use on those wheels to polish them up without scratches? what tools and products? i need to do the wheels on my M3

[Scottwax]

awesome read dude, thanks for putting that together



re-affirms why i spend so much time here



what did you use on those wheels to polish them up without scratches? what tools and products? i need to do the wheels on my M3

Just washed the wheels with ONR. Don`t remember if I used Wheel Wax on them after washing them or not.

[imported_Grouse]

Great post. This is mostly to track the thread so i can link to it....

[sneek]

haha you can eliminate all those steps by using driwash and guard at 1500rpm on a rotary.

[Autoeng]

You forgot to include the â„¢ symbol. Your proven process should be protected!

[imported_fishbonezken]

and I thought I knew all about detailing...



THANKS SCOTTWAX!

[Pats300zx]

Awesome write up Scott. Thanks for putting that together.l

[imported_JoshVette]

Nice write up Scott, very informative and helpful.:2thumbs:

[imported_Yal]

Bookmarked!

[Driven Auto Detail]

I love threads like this! Scottwax, this is REALLY awesome. One of the most informative threads I`ve come across here.

[tyoung]

Awesome. I really appreciate the pros putting down their wash methods, very helpful! Thanks



I printed this out and am going to tack it on my garage wall for reference. :thx

[imported_topnotch]

great info Scott, as always your a real asset to this community!

[imported_DieselMDX]

lol i saved this post from when that dude stole it from you, awesome post basically read this and apply and your cars will come out alot better.