Hi. I read the article that say not to use a cleaner wax for four to five times a year. I want to know what is the reason to this? Is there things that is bad to the car if the car is not wax in the correct way? Like is a car damage if it is wax not correctly but has the right things, like a good microfiber towel, applicator and wax? Is a carnuba wax use after the cleaner wax is use? I am new to detailing and my car is black. What Mothers or Meguiars product is good and easy to use? This is because it is easier to get these product for me. If the car is going to be wash once each one or two weeks, is it bad for the car? There are usually dust on the car and there isn't that much dirt. Thanks.
How Often to Wash and Use Mothers Cleaner Wax?
- Thread starter jlau
- Start date
Cleaner waxes are either abrasive cleaners or chemical cleaners. As far as I know, Mother's uses chemical cleaners. Either way, the idea behind not overusing a cleaner wax is that the cleaner can eat away at your clear coat. Don't worry too much about that though as you can't do too much damage by hand. People around here will say that actual polishing by hand won't net very good results so using, even an abrasive cleaner wax, won't take away enough of your paint for you to start to worry.
As far as I know, almost all paints are clear coated. Anything with any sort of metallic or pearl flake in it will have a clear coat, nowadays.
As for Mother's Cleaner wax, it's impressed me. It lasts admirably long for an over-the-counter wax (I usually get about a month with it) and impressively long compared to other cleaner waxes.
As far as I know, almost all paints are clear coated. Anything with any sort of metallic or pearl flake in it will have a clear coat, nowadays.
As for Mother's Cleaner wax, it's impressed me. It lasts admirably long for an over-the-counter wax (I usually get about a month with it) and impressively long compared to other cleaner waxes.
Accumulator
Well-known member
jlau said:
Welcome to Autopia! Adressing the above in no particular order:
Every cleanerwax I can think of is *so* gentle that you can use it as often as you like. Even abrasive-based ones like EinZett Metallic Polish with Wax are unlikely to *ever* cause any problems.
Yeah, you can apply a "straight" (i.e., non-cleaner) wax over the cleaner wax. It works well and is a time-tested approach.
Rewax when some criterion that you value (beading, slickness, etc.) diminishes to the point that you've noticed it.
The problem with using a MF towel to wash could be one/more of these:
Doesn't hold much shampoo mix compared to other wash media; MF can retain dirt and that can cause scratches; most towels are sorta thin compared to other wash media so you might end up applying excessive pressure when you wash (insufficient cushioning); many MF towels have coarse edge stitching that can scratch.
Thanks for the help. I am trying to add the depth to the black car. The Mothers cleaner wax does not put that depth to the car. What is a good Mothers or Meguiars product to use to do this? Is the Mothers three step good? For the microfiber towel, I changed to using microfiber from the Meguiars wash mitt is that swirl marks are made using the wash mitt. It seems that it is hard to wash the dirt out of the wash mitt even when I use two buckets. Any advice on how to do this? The car is new and thats how I know the swirl marks are from times the wash mitt is use. Thanks.
Setec Astronomy
Well-known member
That Meguiar's synthetic wool wash mitt is terrible. Pick out a nice Eurow sheepskin mitt from Wal-Mart (or you can try one of the muppet head mitts or pads--just don't use the mesh side--Target has muppet head wash pads with MF on the other side). Or you can go to one of the online suppliers for wash media, or to Home Depot for a grout sponge...but whatever you do stop using that Meg's mitt.
Using a pure wax after the cleaner wax may get you the depth you're looking for, or it may be that your wash-induced swirls are dampening your shine.
Using a pure wax after the cleaner wax may get you the depth you're looking for, or it may be that your wash-induced swirls are dampening your shine.
How can I remove the swirl marks to get the depth? I want to do it by hand. The products that I can get is not that much and it is usually Mothers and Meguiars. The swirl marks is not that serious since it is only seen in the sunlight. I am looking for the wet paint look for the car. Thanks.
If you haven't done so already, check out this section of the site for in depth tips on detailing: http://autopia.org/forum/guide-detailing/
Accumulator
Well-known member
jlau said:
The only stuff I'd recommend by hand is from 1Z (available here: Welcome to Exceldetail! or Aloha & Welcome to Our Oasis for All Your Auto Detailing Supplies & Accessories ). Seriously, IMO if you're gonna try this without a polisher you oughta get the 1Z polishes.
A good OTC wax for depth is Meguiar's #26.
This mean that you use a microfiber towel to wash the car after folding it to quarter? If the car is wash once each week, what can be done to the car to keep it looking good? If the paint is shiny and smooth after the wash, how do you know if the clear coat is getting thinner? I want to know if it is bad to the car if it is wash once each week. Thanks.
Accumulator
Well-known member
jlau said:
I just let it get dusty/dirty and I don't touch the paint until the next time I wash it (lest I scratch it). I find it hard enough to wash without scratching, so I don't try to clean it with quick detailers/etc. between washes.
Just use common sense with regard to abrasive products and don't worry about it. By the time you can tell it's too late...removing more than one-half to one-third of a mill (that's .0003"-.0005") will result in premature failure and there's no way to measure paint thicknesses that accurately without an electronic paint thickness gauge, which is pretty expensive.
Stuff like cleaner-waxes won't thin the clear even if you use them all the time, those products are too mild to do that.
No, it won't hurt anything and many people wash at least that often. Frequent washing will eventually strip the wax, so just rewax it when the beading/slickness/whatever seems to change.
What thing need to pay attention to using the Mothers cleaner wax. I got the one that need to squeeze out. I got the Meguiars applicator sponge, the one that is round and yellow. I used it on a part of the car to try it. Put the cleaner wax on the applicator and then put it on the car in circular motion. Waited the wax to turn white and then use the Meguiars microfiber towel, I think it is for removing wax, to wipe it off. The applicator is pretty wet after using it for a small part of the car. Is the applicator put to let it dry before using it on another part? How much wax to put on the car? How to know when to remove it and how to remove it? If want to try remove swirl marks, is the wax apply in horizontal motion? Other things that makes it come out better? Thanks.
I read that people apply the wax in circular motion and the article on the website say to apply the wax using a left and right motion. Which is the right way to apply and remove wax? Can the Mothers carnuba wax, the one that is step three, be use a month after the car after the car is wax using the Mothers cleaner wax? Thanks.
Accumulator
Well-known member
jlau said:
Keep the applicator moist. Don't use much wax, just enough for thorough coverage. Let it sit for while so it removes cleanly and easily, if it smears you need to wait longer. I like circular motions for good coverage but Maxi's suggestion sounds good too.
I read that people apply the wax in circular motion and the article on the website say to apply the wax using a left and right motion. Which is the right way to apply and remove wax?
The direction doesn't matter with non-abrasive (or minimally abrasive) products. Do what seems easiest/best. Uniform, thorough coverage is the important thing.
Yes, but if the paint isn't perfectly clean you might want to either use the cleaner wax first or clay with Sonus green Ultra-Fine clay.
buja said:
That stuff is so mild I can't imagine it ever causing a problem no matter who often you use it. I've used it on the Jag's soft lacquer and it was very, very gentle (too gentle IMO)