Steps to washing a car?

[S-Spy]

Ok I have decided to finally try to understand how to properly wash a car. I have been used to the water, soap, and then dry car wash that I have been doing for a while. I was just wondering what are the steps to a proper car wash? I think I can do some of the steps.

1. Clean car with water (I hope this is right )
2. Water and soap
3. Rinse
4. Dry
4. Wax??
5. Claybar?

I'm not quite sure guys, so help would be GREATLY appreciated. And also I always see the word polish and my question is what and how do you use polish on the car? Thanks for any help you guys can give.

[BullShifter]

Never clean/wash/wax in direct sunlight

1. Quick rinse
2. Spray chemicals, scrub, rinse. bugs, wheels, tar, tires wheels wells, etc.
3. Wash main body with car wash shampoo
4. Dry with a chamois, all crack, door & trunk jambs, gas filler door, etc.
5. Clay bar to remove contaminants(clay bar=cleaner)
6. Polish
7. Glaze
8. Wax or sealer(alway protect after you clean)

Polishes are designed to produce a shine in the paint surface. It does this my removing the top layer of paint, also light oxidation & light scratches/swirls. Polishing by hand can have very little effect. Apply it as you would wax except buffing off before it dries. When working by hand I dont do the circular motion, staight back and forth to reduce any swirling.

Glaze fills imperfections/micro scratches

Compound is highly abrasive to remove heavy oxidation/scratches.

Wax is to protect, may only last 30-60days. Carnauba wax!

Sealant is polymer & last longer than normal wax. 4-6months Car dealer sell this stuff on new car for $500 or more. My cost to apply the same product is $3-5.00 per car/truck.

By far the best reults will come from a multi step process done with a high speed polisher. These give major swirls in the wrong hands. Random orbit buffers will give decent results with 50% less work time than by hand & no swirls!

[S-Spy]

Wow jackasssi, thank you very much for this, it was real informative.

[jon@af]

Originally posted by jackasssi


1. Quick rinse
2. Spray chemicals, scrub, rinse. bugs, wheels, tar, tires wheels wells, etc.
3. Wash main body with car wash shampoo
4. Dry with a chamois, all crack, door & trunk jambs, gas filler door, etc.
5. Clay bar to remove contaminants(clay bar=cleaner)
6. Polish
7. Glaze
8. Wax or sealer(alway protect after you clean)

W3rd yo, that's how we do things where I work. I agree completely with teh no direct sunlight. We had a guy bring his car by because he couldnt get the wax off and it turned out, he had waxed it in his driveway, went in and taken a nap while it sat in the sun, and then tried some poor excuse for a towel to get it off. People amaze me sometimes

[BullShifter]

We had a guy bring his car by because he couldnt get the wax off and it turned out, he had waxed it in his driveway, went in and taken a nap while it sat in the sun, and then tried some poor excuse for a towel to get it off. People amaze me sometimes

[BullShifter]

If you were to clean the interior also, do that before any exterior work. You dont want wet seats & carpet.

Remove all the junk from the inside

1. vacuum - dust brushes & crevice tools do wonders
2. clean headliner if vinyl(be very careful cleaning cloth headliners)
3. clean interior plastics/vinyl
4. clean seats (leather/vinyl)
5. shampoo carpets, mats, seats
6. clean int. windows (clean 2 or 3 times)
7. dress int. panels/vinyl (try not to get on freshly cleaned windows)
8. condition leather seats

Dont let any cleaners on the plastic guage cluster cover or radio display window // any clear plastic -- use plastic cleaner & polish for that.