[RicheyBMW]

Hi everyone,

1. Is waxing necessary? I'm a simple guy, and I was just thinking of giving my car a basic wash whenever I need to and nothing too fancy, however, I also want to protect my paint etc. Therefore if I just wash it would there be any negatives about that? Does not waxing hurt my car? Any downfalls about just doing basic washing and nothing else?


2. What is a very good car wash/shampoo for cleaning? I was thinking of buying one of the chemical guys product but would that strip off any wax? Because I don't intend to wax my car that often (unless I should?). If chemical guys is too strong of a soap, should I get meguiars gold class? Once again I plan to do routinely basic washes so I don't want any product that is too strong and strips stuff off and requires me to add layers of other waxes/polishes/sealants etc.

[Brian_TII]

1) yes you need a wax or sealant to protect your paint. If you want one that lasts months and is really easy to use I'd recommend blackfire wet diamond. If you want some thing over the counter any meguairs stuff that IS NOT in a red bottle should be good. NXT and their hi tech yellow wax come to mind, but neither last as long as blackfire.

2) For me megs gold class works just fine, but I'm sure some of the chemical guys stuff works great too. I'd focus more on technique than product. Look up the two bucket method.

[dday]

If you're looking for the easiest way to keep your car looking good I'd do the following:

1. Use a sealant instead of a wax. Check out 1Z Glanz, it's very easy to apply/remove and lasts for months.
http://www.detailedimage.com/Einszet...470/500-ml-S1/

2. Use a nice mild soap that won't strip off your sealant. Dodo Juice Sour Power would be a nice option for you. http://www.detailedimage.com/Dodo-Ju...327/250-ml-S1/

[MuttGrunt]

Originally Posted by RicheyBMW

Hi everyone,

1. Is waxing necessary? I'm a simple guy, and I was just thinking of giving my car a basic wash whenever I need to and nothing too fancy, however, I also want to protect my paint etc. Therefore if I just wash it would there be any negatives about that? Does not waxing hurt my car? Any downfalls about just doing basic washing and nothing else?


2. What is a very good car wash/shampoo for cleaning? I was thinking of buying one of the chemical guys product but would that strip off any wax? Because I don't intend to wax my car that often (unless I should?). If chemical guys is too strong of a soap, should I get meguiars gold class? Once again I plan to do routinely basic washes so I don't want any product that is too strong and strips stuff off and requires me to add layers of other waxes/polishes/sealants etc.

1. No, it's not. Your paint isn't going to fall off. Modern waxes and sealants are more for making sure your car cleans up more easily than for protecting the paint. Even "damage" like swirls, scratches, or etching won't ruin the paint. It might ruin the aesthetic appeal, but it won't make the clear-coat peel off. If you keep your car waxed/sealed, you'll find it stays cleaner for longer and that it cleans much easier when you do wash it.
The frequent members of this sub-forum care deeply about aesthetic appeal, so it's important for them to keep their car "protected" which will lead to easier washes which leads to their cars looking like-new or (if polished out) better-than-new for a long period of time.

2. If you don't want to wax/seal your car, feel free to use something like dish soap. Normally, dish soap strips wax or sealant off very easily, but if you won't have any form of a sacrificial barrier on your paint anyways, no biggie. Car wash shampoos should be diluted according to the directions from the manufacturer (most dilute one ounce of soap per gallon of water AKA 128:1) so that they'll be more gentle on the wax/sealant layer laying on your ride.

[RicheyBMW]

When waxing the car, Do I use a microfiber detail towel to spread the wax around my car? How is it done? sorry for the dumb question.

[MuttGrunt]

Originally Posted by RicheyBMW

When waxing the car, Do I use a microfiber detail towel to spread the wax around my car? How is it done? sorry for the dumb question.

Wax should be applied as thin as possible with something that won't scratch the finish. A microfiber towel is acceptable, but more often people like to use a foam applicator pad or microfiber pad. Because waxing is performed on a clean car, the applicator doesn't need to have a thick dense pile like a towel does. Additionally, foam applicator pads won't "absorb" the product as much, so you don't end up wasting as much product.
Once again, apply as thin as humanly possible for the best result, allow to set long enough to haze, and then wipe off with a CLEAN microfiber towel.

[Glim]

Originally Posted by RicheyBMW

Does not waxing hurt my car? Any downfalls about just doing basic washing and nothing else?.

Carry a microfiber towel and quick detailer in the car to wipe off bird droppings, without wax you cannot let droppings sit very long to etch your clear coat and/or paint.

[TOGWT]

A paint or metal surfaces natural sacrificial protection is oxidation; the so called white rust on aluminium is in fact oxidation. Eventually, any mechanical abrasive action will wear away the oxidation; this could be caused by washing the paint surface, using a car duster, placing or removing a car cover, etc.

The micro thin layer of wax or polymer sealant, apart from their aesthetic qualities provides a film that resists the adhesion of dirt and etc and allow you to wash the paint surface without using undue pressure, thereby micro marring the paint. Be cognizant that they are limited in their ability to resist scratches, although some of the newer coatings are more resistant than clear coat paint.