I would like to know your opinions. I am sick of going to the spray style car wash every weekend to clean the beast and blowing 5 bucks for something that doesn't make it look good, when I know I can get some good stuff and save some money by doing it myself. I'm looking for a good quality soap, polish and wax but at a decent price too. Also any ideas on what type of cloth to use so that the car doesn't get scratched, that would be awesome. Finally, where did you find the stuff you like and how much does it cost you? I trust the opinions of fellow thirdgeners, so your opinion is valuable to me.
Thanks guys,
JCRULZ

 

well id say use mequires products i think they are on top with eagle 1. to dry use a nice new chamois. to wax i use eagle 1 nano wax which is good with swirls and scratches and it feels nice too. take it off with some microfiber towels. and youre good to go my friend

 

First off, don't use dishwashing soap like Dawn to wash the car. It's very harsh, will strip off any wax and will dry out the paint over time if used regularly. Pick up something like Meguiar's Gold Class or Meguiar's NXT car wash soap. You only need to use a capful in a bucket of water - lots of suds and great lubricity. Use a lambswool mitt to wash the car, not a sponge. I also much prefer a waffle weave microfiber towel for drying, like the Meguiar's Water Magnet towel.

Keep in mind that the real key to getting a great shine out of your paint is not so much the wax but the clay bar and polishing to prepare the surface. The wax (or polymer sealant) is primarily there to protect. Here's a good rule of thumb when using polishes and waxes: Polishes need to be worked into the paint with some elbow grease - it is not an easy process if you don't have a buffer. Also, don't let a polish haze over and dry, wipe if off before it dries. Waxes or sealants just need to applied in nice, even, thin coats. Repeat, THIN coats. Seriously, if you end up with a thick white haze that hides the color of your car, it is on waaay too heavy and will be a real pain to remove. If you think you're putting it on too thin, then you're probably doing it right!

Modern sealants, like Eagle One Nano Wax or Meguiar's NXT, last far longer than traditional carnauba wax and are generally easier to use. Seriously though, if you do proper prep work like claying and polishing, the final wax or sealant you use almost, almost, doesn't matter.

Take a look at forums like Autopia - Car Detailing (Wash, Wax, Polish) Enthusiast Forum. or Meguiar's Online to learn more than you ever thought possible about washing/polishing/waxing a car.