Well I bought a new scion tc and now I really want to know how to properly take care of the paint. I planed a schedule type thing to wash my car on teh first and 15th of every month waxing it and detailing the interior on the first of every month. I wasnt sure if you are you suppose to wax your car ones a month or maybe if its even counter productive.

I bought all the stuff for it pretty much a meguir set of soap wash microfiber, chamoise for drying, meguires liquid wax, and interior detailing, wheel cleaner and interior microfibers.

So the main question is can I wax my car every month with the meguires liquid wax or not a good idea?

And is there anything else that I should get for the stuff that I got?


Also is there something that I can do for the winter about washing my car since I know that the witner is the worst month for it? Should I take it to a car wash in teh winter?

 

I hope the weather allows you to adhere to this strict schedule.
You sound like my kind of OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE, and that is O.K.
You have come to the right place.
Are you washing and waxing in an indoor garage?
Cold tempratures are not optimal for Mguyers liquid wax, but it will work.
Post up photos.
Buy an applicator to use when you apply armor-all to your tires. Use less armor-all and it keeps your hands clean. 99 Cents. See thread:

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...079&highlight=

 

You don't need to wax your car once a month. Just look and see when the water beading isn't tight on the surface anymore...then it's time to rewax.

It's always smart to remove all the wax and then rewax when this happens to allow for maximum protection.

 

how do you remove all the wax?

If its not good to wax it every month then can I atleast apply the spray wax every month the stuff that just makes your car shiny?

 

Please, do not use Armor All on your car, or anywhere. Definitely not on your interior.

I like Meguiars Endurance Tire Gel. Shining Monkey also gets high marks.

No Armor All! You'll be sorry if you plan on keeping the car for a while.

Lots of good info here in the Car Care forum.

Good Luck!

 

I stay away from the spray wax as it tends to get overspray on everything and I don't think it works as well or lasts as long.

Dawn will remove the wax.

 

no i didnt mean to use it as an alternative i meant wax the car every 3 months and then in between waxes when i wash the car use the spray wax ? will that work or can i wax every month? or I mean i need some ideas here on how often to do this so far I came up with this:

1st - Wash and spray wax exterior - Vacume, clean and use protector on teh interior.
15th - Wash and spray wax exterior, -vacume and clean the interior.
every 3months - wash and apply real wax to the exterior, vacume interior, detail with protectant and carpet cleaner.

 

I still say forget the spray wax and use 'real' wax every 1 to 2 months. And if you are ****, which is a good thing when it comes to car care, keep some Meguiars Quik Detailer and MF towels in your car for bird poop and whatnot. That's how I roll.

 

ic, but isnt it bad to wax that often? or no?

 

Cannot help, per se, but I have not had problems with waxing mine very frequently, and I'm quite particular about my paint. I have never Dawned my wax off. It will die off on its own.

 

[quote="Max"]Yup, you are rolling right! Get any crap off before it has a chance to attack your paint.

I would also recommend you look into a California Car Duster.

 

I wash my car at least once a week. I wax about once a month, sometimes twice with spray detailer used in between to keep the car nice and shiny. I HATE seeing my car dirty.

 

With all the different types of waxes, polishes and cleaners out there, it can be a real daunting task to find the ones that are right for you. First of all remember different products for different problems and only use what you need when you need it.

If getting your car clean is your goal, use a concentrated wash specifically made for painted surfaces. Never use dish soap, shampoo or the like. No matter how gentle these soaps say they are, they’re meant to cut through wax and grease. So unless you want to wash away all your car’s protective wax or your car’s got some greasy glandular problem, stay away from these types of soaps.

If your car’s surface is rough to the touch even after washing, use a clay bar. Clay bars grab a hold of impurities on the paint’s surface and lift them out leaving your paint as smooth as a baby’s butt. Now, clay takes a little getting use to but anyone can do it. Start by kneading the clay into a comfortable shape. The secret to using clay is to always maintain a substantial amount of lubricant on the paint surface so that the clay glides and allows it to work effectively. (Use your favorite Quick Detailing Spray as a lubricant). Work the clay bar across the paint surface until it glides effortlessly. Wipe off the excess residue from the paint. Then move on to the next section. Continue to knead bar as you move on to new sections. You may also want to check the bar frequently and remove any large particles it may have picked up. After claying, the surface should feel perfectly smooth. However it’s also unprotected, so you’ll need to follow up any claying with a good coat of wax.

For removing light scratches and swirl marks you’ll need something more aggressive like a polish. Not to be confused with a wax, a true polish works by abrasion. Due to these abrasive properties a pure polish is very good at removing scratches and swirl marks too. It also conditions the paint, eliminates light oxidation, and creates a high gloss not possible with car wax alone. Because it leaves nothing behind, it too should be followed up with a good coat of wax.

Wax, on the other hand, seals and protects your paint's finish from oxidation and harmful road junk, and brings out the true luster of your car's paint. I like Carnauba wax because it tends to produce a deeper, darker, richer shine than any other wax.

There are also quick detailing sprays for those in between touch ups. These are great but they don’t replace a good washing and waxing. But when used regularly, you should have to wash and wax less often.

One thing I don’t recommend are product blends. Many manufactures make these hybrids and then advertise them as a best of both worlds sort of thing. But chemistry doesn't work that way. For example, when you use a Carnauba/polymer wax blend you don't necessarily get a wax with the shine of carnauba and the longevity of a polymer. What you may get is a car wax that shines better than a polymer, but not as well as a carnauba, and lasts longer than carnauba, but not as long as a polymer. So what blending often does is reduce the efficiency –and result– of both parts.

As for when and how often to do these steps the best answer is when needed. Though good surface care products won't hurt, the repeated rubbing of your paint may leave you with micro marring and swirl marks. So to help reduce this apply care only when need not just because your on a schedule. And always use clean soft towels.

Hope this helps

 

do you wash with dawn to remove wax then use clay bar or oppisite?

 

I personally would not use Dawn at any time. Those types of cleaners, no matter how gentle they say they are, are not meant for painted surfaces. They are meant for greasy dishes and what not.

Besides, a clay bar will remove old wax on its own. And if you are using a Carnauba wax , it will break down on it's own naturally overtime (one of the reason I like Carnauba because you don't get a build up).

 

so 1 wash 2 dry 3 clay to remove debris and old wax 4 caranuba?

 

Yes, those would be the steps when claying. But again, you don't necessarily need to clay every time you wash. Clay is meant to remove the debris that imbeds in your paint. So if your paint feels rough to the touch even after washing it, then clay is the thing. But if your paint is already smooth then there is no need to clay at that time.

Nor is it necessary to remove all the old wax before applying a new coat. If you're worried about wax build up just keep in mind that all waxes, over time, will break down on their own (exactly why you need to reapply it ever so often).

It is important to note, however, that synthetic waxes don't break down a quickly as a Carnauba. And for those of you who don't like or have the time to wax every few months, these kinds of waxes my be the kind you like. But they can build up overtime and leave your ride with a milky haze (it takes a while, but it can happen). So if you're using this kind of wax, it's important to use it only when you need it.

A nice thing about Carnauba is that it never builds up. In fact just the process of applying a new coat will soften and remove the old coat. Pretty cool eh?

 

When i purchaced my box the recent owner used p21s carnauba and i dont think a synthetic wax can get up with the performance?

 

If you use good (carnuba, sans abrasives) wax and apply/buff properly, waxing once a month is not going to hurt anything.
Just make sure to keep your microfibers clean!
Don't use fabric softener or dryer sheets as they leave gunk on the towels.
In-between detailer spray on a microfiber is what I do - it's good to put a little extra protection on and gets off the last bits of water-beeds that may end up on after a wash/dry.
If you sue Turtle wax or some other cheapo wax with abrasives, waxing a lot will likely damage your paint over time.
Just keep it clean, clay when needed, and wax with good stuff - your car will look sweet.

Scott

 

nice info, learned a lot