Car Paint Care:
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Car Paint Care made Simple
As an auto detailing professional I have to be able to know what works and what doesn't! It is as simple and basic as the ability to produce results. And the only way to be able to produce results is by using products and techniques that work.
Any frequent reader of my detailing sites knows I like to keep things simple. The forums are filled with so called "experts" who regurgitate glorified and exaggerated terminology, all with the attempt to self-inflate their position into something they are not! ( not that I have an opinion on the subject ). This is not only self-serving, but adds additional confusion to an already confused group of consumers. On top of this, we have an industry driven by an insatiable need to sell more and more product all in the name of profits. As consumers, we are bombarded with misleading and confusing marketing, which is further compounded with inconsistent terminology; is it any wonder people are left chasing their tails looking for solutions.
Paint Care 101
The fact is, car paint actually requires very little; the problem is that most people don't understand the few basic needs and requirements. Through the use and application of a few key car care products, the paint on your car can remain healthy and look amazing much longer than most people realize.
Car Washing
Let me make this really simple for you: Outsourcing!
The reality is that most people will consume and hour or more of their time simply washing the dirt off their car in the form of car washing. Now you are so tired and have used up so much of your time, guess what gets neglected? You've guessed it; detailing!
By consuming so much time on simple car washing duties, most people generally quite after this and their car never gets any of the more critical steps of proper car paint care like waxing and other detailing steps. So my biggest recommendation to you is outsource the car washing duties to a local car wash.
- Find a local quality 100% all cloth, or hand car wash.
- Go during off-times to avoid the crowds.
- Make it part of your regular trips out to maximize your efforts.
- Do this on a weekly basis.
Do not underestimate the necessity of regular washings to remove the superficial dirt from your car. Removing excessive build-up of dirt from your car is damaging in and of itself.
Car Washing Products
If you insist on washing your car yourself, then the following products will help you achieve better results.
Meguiars Gold Class Shampoo & Conditioner 64 oz.
Water Sprite Plus® Chamois 4 sq. Feet
Darren's Tips
If you are still using dish soap to wash your car you need to abandon this practice. Any grease cutting dish soap is also going to be stripping any remaining wax you might have on your car. Using a quality car wash product is a requirement of proper car paint care.
The second most common mistake is to use bath towels or terry cloth towels to dry your car after washing. Not only does this do a fair share of scratching, but will leave lint all over your paint. The Water Sprite chamois is the most amazing synthetic chamois and the exact version I have used professionally for over 20 years! Imagine all the benefits of a natural chamois, with non of the drawbacks.
Cleaning Your Car Paint
Detailing clay remains one of the biggest unknowns to people. This amazing synthetic wonder is the answer to clean and smooth paint. Not to be confused with washing your car to remove superficial dirt, the clay bar is used to remove dirt and pollution that embeds into your cars paint; this is what gives your paint that unwanted texture. Normal washing and waxing will not remove these forms of embedded contaminates and proper car paint care must include regular use of detailing clay. The clay bar should be used prior to waxing anytime you start to feel any form of texture to your cars paint.
Meguiars Professional Detailing Clay - C2000
Darren's Tips
If you have never experienced the use of detailing clay, you are in for an amazing experience and treat! I get more feed back from excited readers after using detailing clay for the first time than any other subject of car paint care. People just can't believe just how smooth and silky their car paint looks and feels after using this amazing "tool of the trade". This choice from Meguiar's will last you for years and deliver professional results in the process. In the field, we place the clay bar underneath a damp Water Sprite chamois like the one mentioned above, and use the clay bar as normal. The damp chamois keeps the paint surface wet for lubrication which allows the clay bar to be rubbed back and forth across the car paint. You seriously need to make the clay bar part of your ongoing requirements of proper car paint care.
Waxing Your Car paint
Wax serves 2 essential purposes:
- Protection
- Visual enhancement
Think of car wax as you would sun screen for your skin; an invisible layer that protects against harmful UV rays from the sun, as well as overall protection from the elements of weather. In addition, car wax fills in micro scratches and blemishes while creating a uniformed reflective layer to create gloss and depth to the paint. Consistent application of a quality car wax also remains as a critical requirement of proper car paint care. There are many choices when it comes to car wax products, and you could spend a lifetime researching them all. For the sake of keeping things simple, I am going to lay out my specific favorites.
The Best Car Wax!
Whenever we try to define best of anything, it will be a personal call only an individual can ultimately decide; finding the best car wax is no exception. I will tell you what I think is the best based on the following criteria:
- Easy to use.
- Easy to get.
- Affordable.
- Excellent visual results.
- Excellent durability.
Any of my frequent readers of my various detailing sites knows I am a big fan of Meguiar's car care products. Simply put, I recommend them so frequently for the following reasons:
- They are easy to get.
- They deliver superior results.
- They perform in the real world of professional detailing.
- They are very affordable.
Simply put, they represent the winning combination of benefits and represent excellent car paint care products!
Biggest Bang for Your Buck Car Wax!
If you had to buy just one single wax product, you would have a hard time finding a better choice than the Meguiar's Ultimate Paste Wax. Not only do you get the visual performance of a quality paste wax which is ideal for any dark colored car, but you get the added protection made only possible with synthetic polymers; this product really has it all!
Easiest to Use Auto Wax
If you are looking for the absolute ease of use auto wax for your car paint care needs, then this sample from Meguiar's is an excellent choice! Use as a stand alone car wax, or as a wax extender to be used in between applications of the paste wax from above. The trade-off for such ease of use is less durability than that of the paste wax from above. This product is so easy to use, I use it as a quick detailer almost on a weekly basis. It also performs at such a high visual level, I can use it on black cars to achieve that just waxed look in fractions of the time a traditional paste wax would require.
Car Paint Care Summary
I hope you have noticed the fact that there are very few items required when it comes to proper car paint care. With these specific examples of quality products, combined with a little consistent effort on your part, you can have car paint that not only shines above the crowds, but will endure in beauty and value long past what you might expect! Let me end with my summary list of steps you need to take for years and years of enduring beauty with your car paint:
- Wash car weekly.
- Save yourself time and energy by outsourcing to quality local car wash.
- Use detailing clay prior to waxing to remove any form of embedded pollutants.
- Apply the Meguiar's Ultimate Paste Wax as base coat for protection and beauty.
- Use Meguiar's Ultimate Spray Wax to extend life of base coat, or whenever you want that just waxed look with an ultra easy to use product.
I hope these tips has not only shown just how simple car paint care can be, but also help to renew that love affair you used to have with your car when it was brand new!
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