Need some advice!

[IvanDRios]

Hello everyone!



Ok well I need some help. I am a noob to cleaning cars. In the past i have cleaned my car with one bucket and the same wash mitt. Ive been reading through the forums for a few weeks and soaked up some info on how to clean properly. So i went out to my local autozone to look for some cleaning supplies so that can go ahead and clean the car with my new found knowledge on how to clean properly but as i start looking at some of the cleaning supplies i kinda ran lol It was too overwhelming. I didnt know what to get. Now i dont have any machine so i would have to wax my car by hand. Can someone please write me a list i can pick up and any local store (ie. walmart autozone pepboys etc.) Again i am a noob so i dont want to start off with professional stuff just maybe a good car shampoo, clay kit, and wax. Thanks in advance!

[the other pc]

If your paint is in good shape to begin with and you want easy to find, over-the-counter products at PB, AZ, etc the simplest way to go is Meguiar�€™s



shampoo �€“ either NXT or Gold Class

clay �€“ Smooth Surface Clay Kit

swirl & stain removal �€“ ScratchX

wax �€“ NXT



Also pick up a handful of foam applicator pads and a few microfiber trowels.



That�€™ll get you ahead of 99.99% of the automotive public.





PC.

[IvanDRios]

Thanks for the list!



now with the foam applicators can i do this by hand?

[the other pc]

Yes. You can do it all by hand.



The caveat is that some defects can be too deep to remove by hand (scratches, pitting, etching). That�€™s when you need a machine. But if you don�€™t have severe defects then working by hand is fine.





PC.

[citizen arcane]

In addition:



washing the body - pick up at least one other wash mitt (in case you drop one.) Rinsing your mitt outside the wash bucket to remove grit is fine (w/ pressurized water at a wide dispersion) however another 5 gal. bucket is marginal in cost and would help to further ensure a non-marring wash. Also grout sponges from Lowe`s can be had for $1.87.



wheels - another dedicated 5 gal. bucket, soft brush or utility mf (for wheels) and stiff brush for the tires is recommended. Once wheels are cleaned and waxed a quick wipe at the next wash using car wash detergent is all that is really needed. Don`t forget the tire dressing while you`re shopping.



drying - an electric leaf blower works wonders. Blow dry to about 70% then finish up w/ mf.



towels - can`t ever have too many mfs, from utility to drying & polishing/waxing. Bundles of utility mfs can be had most anywhere (Costco, Walmart, Sam`s.) Drying (3 or 4) and polishing towels (10 or 12) can be had from Kmart (Viking brand) and Target (Vroom.)



glass - Stoner Invisible Glass is available anywhere. 2 utility mfs for applying and 1 Glass Polishing Towel should do you.



exterior trim care - a bug and tar remover and 303 Aerospace Protectant (for plastic trim - available at most boat stores.)



That`s all I can think of off the top of my head.

[IvanDRios]

thanks for the advice i will def. stop by lowes and pick up a few grout sponges since they are only 1.87



i will look into buying a leaf blower somewhere

[NCZ13]

i dont know how far you are from this place, but autogeek.net main store is in florida



check out the site, and maybe you can visit the facility first hand and pick up some product there. it would cost around the same as going to autozone, but at autogeek you can talk to people who know what they are talking about

[BigAl3]

i will look into buying a leaf blower somewhere

Walmart.com: Weed Eater WEB150 Electric Blower: Lawn & Garden

$26.76 at your local walmart and it`s money well spent... :up

[imported_RZJZA80]

Walmart.com: Weed Eater WEB150 Electric Blower: Lawn & Garden

$26.76 at your local walmart and it`s money well spent... :up

I bought that one and used it the other day for the first time, I wasn`t too happy with it. It did move the water beads around and got most of it off, but it wasn`t strong enough to get ALL the water off the car, and I had to use Megs QD on the whole car to remove the water spots.



I can either use it and an MF immediately after, or get the 200mph one and see how that works

[Eliot Ness]

I bought that one and used it the other day for the first time, I wasn`t too happy with it.................or get the 200mph one and see how that works

A leaf blower isn`t for everybody and for it to work well you have to have a pretty decent LSP still on the car. I`d say if that one didn`t work well for you then the 200mph wouldn`t make you much happier. That blower would still come in handy for blowing out water from all the little nooks and crannies like rear view mirrors, wheels/tires, etc.



For someone looking for a much smaller solution this little blower does a decent job on the hidden areas where water likes to hide and then drip:



ELECTRIC PORTABLE BLOWER - GARDEN - DRIVEWAY | Lawn / Garden



Then buy a stack of the following WW drying towels and you`ll be all set:



Excel Monterey Waffle Weave Drying Towel



or



Blue Perl Drying Towel

[IvanDRios]

great! thanks for the advice eveyone!



I joined autogeek last night andthey are about2 hours from me so its not bad at all i might take a trip down and visit their facility.

[citizen arcane]

Wow, you thought you were flummoxed at the offerings at Autozone...just wait until you look around Autogeek; you won`t know whether to sneeze or wind your watch! :getdown

[BigAl3]

I bought that one and used it the other day for the first time, I wasn`t too happy with it. It did move the water beads around and got most of it off, but it wasn`t strong enough to get ALL the water off the car, and I had to use Megs QD on the whole car to remove the water spots.



I can either use it and an MF immediately after, or get the 200mph one and see how that works

a leaf blower isn`t a means for a 100% drying (too many people rely/depend on it for a complete drying method, which they shouldn`t). i use a ultra-soft waffle weave and/or x-large mf drying towel for most of the drying, and use the leaf blower in conjunction with it. the main thing i use the leaf blower for is to get into the seams, windshield wipers, AC vents, front/tail lights, wheels/tires, in/around emblems, etc., and anywhere else water is buried...

[BigAl3]

A leaf blower isn`t for everybody and for it to work well you have to have a pretty decent LSP still on the car.

agreed, and even a 200mph blower isn`t that much of a dicernable difference. i returned the 200mph leaf blower i had and stuck with the 150mph which works more than adequate (much lighter to handle and you can hold it with one hand while you have a microfiber in the other).

Excel Monterey Waffle Weave Drying Towel



or



Blue Perl Drying Towel

agreed! :2thumbs: