What are some good products for washing, waxing and all around taking care of my car?

 

the best products by far are maguires
they make everything and can be found at pepboys or anywhere else

 

go to the detailing forum for more, but as far as a wax, for my money nothing beats Zaino

 

I use Zaino, personally -- I use Z2, ZFX, and Z6 for "waxing" and I use Z7 as my car wash. For plastic, I use Plexus plastic polish and 303 Aerospace Protectant. For plastic scratches, I use Novus. For glass, I use Stoner's Invisible Glass.

I use 100% cotton chenille mits, natural wool mitts, and microfiber cloths for washing, drying, etc.

If you really want to learn the proper way to do things, spend a little time on the following website:

http://www.autopia.org

See ya,
JS

 

JSTines,
Wow, I just took your advice and spent about 30 minutes on the Autopia site, I thought I knew aomthing about cleaning and detailing, now I am totallydizzy and confused and really don' know where to start!!!!!!!!!!

 

Zaino for sure, and claybar first even if your car is new. It is worth the extra effort. I use Maguires Gold (bought too big of bottle at Costco a long time ago) on my wife's 323i and my E320 Mercedes that is becoming a museum piece since I bought my MCS last July. Maguires is good, but Zaino just seems to last longer, and looks better. Also, I sent an email to Sal at Zaino with some questions I had about his products. My email response back was within hours. I did the mail order thing and I had my shipment within a week. Awesome product and even better service IMHO>

 

Read the two threads in the Detailing section that have PINs in them to keep them at the top of the list. That should give you great ideas for keeping your car looking new.

 

I personally don't use Zanio, but I hear that the initial work is well worth it. The only thing I have heard negitive about Zanio bros. is that their site isn't e-commers savvy.

I use Klasse All in one, P21S, then top it off with a carnuba wax by Griots Garage. I like the layering factor of this setup.

It's like Hank suggests, You may think you know, but I don't think anybody realy does.

 

What's the best way to remove wax/polish that has inadvertently gotten onto the matte finish plastic parts (especially wheel arches)?

Thanks -- Tom

 

Wern't you listening? Best is not an option

MINIACK

 

Actually I believe it is the carnuaba content that leaves the white stuff...the higher the % the more chance of it leaving white marks on plastic....though waxes with high percentages of carnuaba often also have silicone filers as carnuaba is a very hard substance and doesn't spread well so they use silicone to thin it out and make it more workable.

 

MINIACK - the steps involved in zaino are no different then that of any other product...alot of them don't tell you though but it still should be done....prep work is 99% of the finish with the wax only being 1%. I agree P21S rocks...zaino as well - but I prefer p21s on my black car. The stuff in zaino i wasn't impressed with was their claybar as it seemed to crumble and their z5 - it doesn't do the greatest at filling swirls or fine scratches and doesn't do much for depth. For swirls try somethign like 3m smr and for depth just top your zaino finish with p21s and it will look awesome.

 

You are probably right about the carnuba causing the white marks, but I have had more problems with polishes than "Best of show" wax. Both are supposed to be sillicone free. Since I've gone professional with my detailing, I've dropped the Griots garage products for customers. The prices are too high for the results. I can get better results for far less money and get it in bulk.

I am still stocking up on products, so Zanio may still be in my future. But for now I am going for, easy on, easy off, so I can get my work done in a profitable time. Thanks for the tip Casey, I haven't heard of putting anything over the Zanio.

Sorry everybody, I guess this should have been in the "detailing 101" forum.

MINIACK

 

Always glad to help.

And in regards to the Zaino site being an old-fashioned send-in-your-check kind of deal, there is a new site, now, that accepts credit cards.

http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc

See ya,
JS

 

Zaino All The Way.

I spent (sadly) about 2 full days on all the post here including the Detailing 101 Forum.

There were many link to other sites with test, result, and time test (1 month, 2 months and so on for shine and protection).

Zaino was the best. The Claybar is a must if you haven't done it before.

Things I've learned from all the "fact" I read.

1. Zaino is the best (although everyone has their suggestion)
2. Mixing to many company's products don't help - they are chemically designed to work with their own products. Mixing products can take way from your hard work.
3. Almost any Claybar works, Zaino is great but over priced, many recommend Mothers.
4. Stoners invisable glass is the way to go for glass cleaner.
5. NEVER use towels in you house. Have microfiber towels for your car and only use them on your car. If you clean them only use liquid detergent and no fabric softer.
6. Give yourself about 3-4 hours the first time.

My 2 Cents

 

Thanks guys and gals for all the suggestions. What helps get tar off the car?

 

Toe - to expand on your post...zaino by far provides the best protection and I think most agree on that. There is times when it isn't the best to use though...it all comes down to what you want and willing to put into it. For instance on darker colored cars zaino tends to shine well but show little depth compared a carnuaba so if your willing to wax more often and want the better depth on a dark colored car then a product like p21s would be ideal. Mixing products can be done but only to a certain extent...for example topping zaino....do the complete zaino process and then top with something like p21s for more depth if you want the added protection of zaino as well.

You can use towels on your car, MF is great and mostly what i use, but if you do use towels make sure they are different then the ones from the bathroom...they need to be 100% cotton and have restiched edges or just cut them off(but they tend to fray then)...the stiching on most towels is pretty poor quality polyester and will scratch. Also don't use dryer sheets in the dryer...it is best to air dry, but what I find works great is to dry them till they are about 4/5ths dry - just slightly damp and then air dry the rest...without using fabric sheets MF tends to get really static clingy if dried all the way in the dryer.

Ditto on the stoners glass cleaner - i'm yet to find something better then it.

for great affordable MF towels get them from pakshak.com (he also sells them cheaper on ebay as well) You don't need the 25 dollar per MF ones...they are a waste.

For the claybar ClayMagic and Mothers are the two most liked it seems...I use the claymagic and love it and haven't had time yet to try the mothers but plan on it next stripping.

For washing don't use a sponge - there is no knap(sp) for the dirt to settle away from the paint in and will scratch the car. I prefer wash mitts myself but get a good quality one...not the walmart ones.

For plastic 303 aerospace products are great.

 

For tar, dried bugs, chewing gum, etc, I really like Stoners Tarminator product. It works great. Spray on, wipe off. Clearcoat safe.

See ya,
JS

 

I picked up the Meguiars wash and 3 step system. How is the Meguiars Deep Crystal Carnauba Wax? It's jell based, however, I've heard the paste was better. I didn't buy that because I didn't see it at 2 of the Pep Boys I went to. Is ZAINO only on the net?

How long should I wait till I actually wax it and how often do most of you use the 3 step system?

Also, my girlfriend bought the Mothers 3 step set, just to see the difference. How's the Mothers brand?

Let it be known this is my first NEW car, my other was pretty beaten up when I bought it so it wasn't worth doing anything else to it but wash it. So this whole wash polish and wax is all new to me.

 

>>So this whole wash polish and wax is all new to me.

Here a thread in support of Zaino:

That Zaino Shine


_________________

I'm growing older but not up. My metabolic rate is pleasantly stuck - J. Buffett

 

>>I picked up the Meguiars wash and 3 step system. How is the Meguiars Deep Crystal Carnauba Wax? It's jell based, however, I've heard the paste was better. I didn't buy that because I didn't see it at 2 of the Pep Boys I went to.

I've used Meguiars for the last year. It's OK and makes the car shine. But when I look at people who use Zaino on their cars, my car seems dull and old.

>>Is ZAINO only on the net?

Nope, they have some distributors. None in the PHX area. see this thread,


>>How long should I wait till I actually wax it and how often do most of you use the 3 step system?

Wait? No need to wait. The paint is cured well before the time the car is off-loaded from the cargo ship.

 

I bought Zymol wax system last week.
I've not use it yet, but expect to keep my MCS shining.
I will try this weekend.