Show Off/Discribe your Detail Routine

[jem7sk]

I've been researching a lot on this forum to try and figure out what I need to do to my cars and what I need to do it with. I have a lot of knowledge but in a way I'm even more confused. I would love to hear what you all do to your car(s) from when you first buy them through a normal yearly routine and what products you use to do these procedures. I know if I could see the way you all do it (I know they will all be different) it will help me get over the confusion.

 

[trekkeruss]

Have you clicked on "Detailing How-To's?" The flow chart shows the basics to get started. Auto Detailing Facts, auto detailing Tips, How to detailing Guides, how to polish, how to wax, DIY detailing, do it yourself guides

After that, it comes down to maintenance, and inspection for if you need to start anew. Technology has brought new products to the market, which last much longer than the traditional waxes and dressings...you can go a looong time without needing to do a full-on detailing routine, which is great for the daily-driver.

 

[SATracker]

New car:
1) Spray the car with a waterless product (Detailer's Pro Waterless Auto Wash or Chemical Guys Eco-smart), wipe down with pre-soaked, blue microfiber towels in ONR, dry with green microfiber guzzler towels.
2) (New cars, especially white) Carpro Iron-X Iron remover
3) Clay with ONR as the lubricant, Pinnacle clay
4) Sealant or wax (depending on what I grab)

Every couple of weeks (depending on the weather); Step #1
Every couple of months or so I'll run a clay bar over part of the car to see if it gets anything, a light coat of wax. Sometimes I use a PC to put the wax on, sometimes it's by hand because I want to take time to examine the paint and feel it.
Once a year I'll use a paint cleaner like Pinnacle Cleansing Lotion or I'll polish with a finishing polish like Menzerna 4500 or Optimum Finish Polish; wax or sealant.
On "not new cars": Steps 1,2,3- then polish with Optimum Polish II or Meguiar's 205 using PC with white pads; wax or sealant. Same routine as stated.
I does get confusing, everybody as their on routine, find what works for you- gives you the results you're looking for. Best of luck, guy.

 

[AeroCleanse]

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. Examine paint
4. Polish as needed
5. Apply sealant or coating

Those are the basic steps.

 

[parttimer]

Usually weekly I have been getting the crud off my truck, last weekend was the first time I managed to do the wheels. Routine lately has been as follows:
Mix up wash and gloss rinseless in a bucket, toss in a dozen or so towels. Mix up spray bottle of waterless (wash and gloss.)
Spritz panel heavily, wash with mf towel from bucket, dry with MF towel. Last full clean i followed with nano skin towel wipe down. No IRON X since it was 20 degrees out and no hose to rinse.
Polish with tangerine hydro tech pad and Menz 2500, followed it up with Pinnacle Black Diamond. I was lookig at it yesterday, not a spot or a swirl on her!

 

[dcjredline]

1. Power rinse vehicle
2. Foam Cannon Soak
3. Power rinse
4. Two bucket wash
5. Dry with Meguiars D156 or Aquawax
6. Clay (if needed/if doing this step)
7. Polish as needed
8. Real Wax or Sealant

 

[VP Mark]

Onr wash
Nano skin sponge or towel clay
Dress tires/fender wells
Polish/compound/aio
LSP if needed

Sent from my DROID RAZR using AG Online

 

[jem7sk]

Have you clicked on "Detailing How-To's?" The flow chart shows the basics to get started. Auto Detailing Facts, auto detailing Tips, How to detailing Guides, how to polish, how to wax, DIY detailing, do it yourself guides

After that, it comes down to maintenance, and inspection for if you need to start anew. Technology has brought new products to the market, which last much longer than the traditional waxes and dressings...you can go a looong time without needing to do a full-on detailing routine, which is great for the daily-driver.

Hey thanks! Yes, I have read that and other How To's. I understand the basic steps, however, many of the people here do a lot more than that... like using Iron-X or clay bar vs. the foam scrubber, etc. I would love to hear about all the steps along with products used during the stages of the great folks here's routine.

 

[jem7sk]

5. Dry with Meguiars D156 or Aquawax

This is the cool stuff I am looking for! What do you do? Spray the wax on while the car is wet and use a MF to dry with the wax and water on the car? I would have never thought of that or even what to use to accomplish this. Sounds like a real time saver knocking out two things at once!

 

[jem7sk]

There is some great stuff here... too much to comment on right now. Just trying to absorb it all right now. Keep it coming please!

 

[trekkeruss]

Hey thanks! Yes, I have read that and other How To's. I understand the basic steps, however, many of the people here do a lot more than that... like using Iron-X or clay bar vs. the foam scrubber, etc. I would love to hear about all the steps along with products used during the stages of the great folks here's routine.

I'm pretty sure that those who decontaminate with Iron-X also use clay or a clay substitute. I think the only other steps people add (beyond what is in the flow chart) is maybe to wash again after decontaminating. I personally have only gotten back into detailing after a many year absence, so a lot of product is new to me. So for now, I am just doing a traditional wash, clay, polish, and wax (sealant). I was dressing the tires, but I have switched to Tuf Shine so I don't have to dress anymore. I plan on going to a coating too, to lessen maintenance. I'd love to use a Nanoskin towel in place of clay, but since I only have one car, the eBay clay I bought is fine, and a tenth the cost. I'll probably get a pressure washer and foam cannon, but just for the fun of it; I honestly do not need those things. I have never used a rinseless wash. I'd try it, but I have a hellalotta regular shampoo so I may as well use it.

 

[Jaretr1]

Once a year I clay, clean the paint (Wolfgang Paintwork Polish enhancer), seal with Wolfgang Liquid Seal, coat with Fuzion. Seal all trim with Carpro DLux. I wash the car weekly, use a quick detailer during the drying process (Pinnacle XMT Final Finish) and every other week spray a spray wax (Pinnacle XMT 360 Spray Wax).

 

[AeroCleanse]

1. Power rinse vehicle
2. Foam Cannon Soak
3. Power rinse
4. Two bucket wash
5. Dry with Meguiars D156 or Aquawax
6. Clay (if needed/if doing this step)
7. Polish as needed
8. Real Wax or Sealant

Have you tried a foam cannon soak as the first step rather than wetting the car first?

 

[Audios S6]

For the twice per year routine:

Apply long dwelling wheel cleaner (P21S)
Set up pressure washer, fill buckets any other prep work
Clean wheels, tires and wells
Foam Pre-soak, brush nooks and crannies, rinse
2BM
blow dry 90% of water
clean door jambs
Test spot Iron-X, wash & rinse
Clay Decon
Dress tires/wells
Compound/Polish as necessary
Sealant
Dress trim
Wipe sealant off


Note: Every time I switch things up a little bit or try something new.

 

[SATracker]

Oh yes, Audio S6 is correct and I forgot. I use an air compressor to blow the ONR out of the "cracks". It's frustrating to "finish the car" and then see a liquid streak down the side of the car next day.