What do you use to Prep your car for Polishing?

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Rez90

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I've always done a dawn wash and then an IPA wipedown. Seems to do a good job of stripping whatever might be on the surface.

I'm just curious what other products you guys use as it seems there are more and more stripping products out there.

Thanks.
 
no need for dishwashing liquid, still have doubts it could remove all of a well cured sealant anyhoo. I would suggest a good wash, clay and then polishing. You can certainly include a paint cleanser too as desired, look to Pinnacle and P21S.
 
A4 1.8tqm said:
+1 for Citrus wash and Clear
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Citrus Wash and Clear is made not to strip LSP's, however Citrus Wash will. If you're polishing/compounding you don't need to remove wax/sealants as these will remove any protection you have on the car. A paint cleaner, P21S TAW, or CG Citrus Wash should suffice for what you are looking for.
 
JonM said:
Citrus Wash and Clear is made not to strip LSP's
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Not true, Citrus Wash and Clear is dependent on dilution, and IMO if it can, it does. I do not use Citrus Wash and Clear unless I am intending to strip LSP. Note the quote below:
product description from another site said:
"One of our most versatile shampoos that can strip off previous coats of protection or maintain it depending on dilution"
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JonM said:
If you're polishing/compounding you don't need to remove wax/sealants as these will remove any protection you have on the car. A paint cleaner, P21S TAW, or CG Citrus Wash should suffice for what you are looking for.
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Maybe you don't need to, but IMO it is a good idea. If you remove the wax by polishing, all the wax that is removed, builds up in your polishing/compound pad. Which is both a hindrance to cutting ability (a clogged pad doesn't cut well), and wax is more difficult to clean from the foam than polish (making cleaning on the fly more difficult). Though it is not necessary to remove LSP's before polishing, it is a best practice to do so. :dblthumb2:
 
A4 1.8tqm said:
Not true, Citrus Wash and Clear is dependent on dilution, and IMO if it can, it does. I do not use Citrus Wash and Clear unless I am intending to strip LSP. Note the quote below:





Maybe you don't need to, but IMO it is a good idea. If you remove the wax by polishing, all the wax that is removed, builds up in your polishing/compound pad. Which is both a hindrance to cutting ability (a clogged pad doesn't cut well), and wax is more difficult to clean from the foam than polish (making cleaning on the fly more difficult). Though it is not necessary to remove LSP's before polishing, it is a best practice to do so. :dblthumb2:
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I don't want this to turn into a fight and get off topic, but I know exactly where you got the info you quoted above and while it is true why recommend a product that wasn't created for that purpose? This is a direct quote from the true manufacturers page, not a resellers "A hybrid formulation from our Citrus Wash and Gloss, Citrus Wash Clear is formulated and pH Neutral for extreme hyper sudzzzzzing action that is 100% safe for all waxes and sealed surfaces." Thats like me saying I'm going to use a bottle of Pinnacle Soap to remove protection, because at high concentrations most soaps will remove wax/sealants. Also, I agree with you on the removal and that is why is suggested other products that will remove protection. It really isn't necessary though as a layer of wax, in my experience isn't going to gunk up a pad. Let me know what protection you're using as I'd love to try it out.

Citrus Wash and Clear
"The ultimate daily wash Shampoo pH neutral to ensure that even after daily wash Citrus Wash Clear will not strip off any wax or sealant. Go ahead wash your auto everyday, now you can. The unique Chemical Guys Formulation offers unmatched lubricity to assure that particles glide gently across surface and safely rinsed off."

Citrus Wash
"Chemical Guys Citrus Wash is an extremely concentrated paintwork cleaning shampoo. The citrus based cleaning agents are extremely gentle and safe to use on your vehicle's entire exterior. Just add one ounce per gallon of water to create a paint safe shampoo formula that can remove the old sealant and wax on your paint. Your washing bucket will quickly fill up with tons of suds that makes washing very safe and easy. Having a paintwork cleaning shampoo like the Citrus Wash around is critical for any detailer who wants to start off their detail with a fresh surface."
 
JonM said:
I don't want this to turn into a fight and get off topic, but I know exactly where you got the info you quoted above and while it is true why recommend a product that wasn't created for that purpose? This is a direct quote from the true manufacturers page, not a resellers "A hybrid formulation from our Citrus Wash and Gloss, Citrus Wash Clear is formulated and pH Neutral for extreme hyper sudzzzzzing action that is 100% safe for all waxes and sealed surfaces." That's like me saying I'm going to use a bottle of Pinnacle Soap to remove protection, because at high concentrations most soaps will remove wax/sealants. Also, I agree with you on the removal and that is why is suggested other products that will remove protection. It really isn't necessary though as a layer of wax, in my experience isn't going to gunk up a pad. Let me know what protection you're using as I'd love to try it out.
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No worries, I'm not here to fight. The label on my bottle of CG Citrus Wash and Clear, clearly states that it can be used to strip protection. In my experience using the soap, I feel that it does in fact have very good cleaning ability, including the ability remove old wax. IMO CG's are a bit unorganized, their products are full of typo's and slang and being aimed at a younger market results in a lack of a professional image, again IMO. This causes mix-ups like the discussion we are having. Still, I do like their products.

As far as wax build-up in your pad, it is highly subjective and just my personal preference to do so. You may not be able to detect it, but wax IS getting into your pad if it was not removed prior to polishing. Whether or not it makes a sizable difference is admittedly questionable. Not having a Grit Guard Pad Washer, I do everything in my power to decrease the amount of pad cleaning I have to do.

I have been on an Autoglym HD frenzy, for 35 bucks, this is a wax that everyone should at least try. If nothing else, just for the beading/sheeting ability that lasted, for me, longer than I wanted to wait before reapplying.
 
So in all reality a good wash with a dish soap would strip the LSP and a good claying so I could start over on my pickup to buff out some of the swirls and scratches and do a basis 3 step process. Right???
 
Redneckmafia said:
So in all reality a good wash with a dish soap would strip the LSP and a good claying so I could start over on my pickup to buff out some of the swirls and scratches and do a basis 3 step process. Right???
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IMO it doesn't really matter what you wash it with as the polish is gonna strip off and wax/sealant on the paint.
 
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