I want to wax my car I have a few light scratches I want to see if I can get out. Im embarrassed to say I have never waxed a car before. Can someone give me list of the things I need and any tips I should know to get the scratches out and get a good shine for the whole car.

 

General process:

Wash thoroughly
Claybar to remove surface contamination
Wash/rinse
Polish with abrasive and/or cleaner as necessary to remove swirls, oxidation, etc.
Seal and/or wax

Basic Weekly Wash Supplies

Wash Mitts - Eurow genuine sheepskin mitt or a 100% cotton wash mitt.

Car Wash Soap - some popular ones are Eagle One Wet wash (cheapest), Meguiar's NXT soap, Zaino Z7, and Wolfgang auto bathe.

Drying - Waffle Weave microfiber towels from www.pakshak.com , California Water Blade (use with caution), and 100% white cotton towels, made in USA.

Washing, Drying and Waxing Tips

- Never use circular motions. Always wash, dry, and wax using front to back and top to bottom motions.

- Don't use the same mitt or bucket for wheels that you use on your paint. The brake dust, etc. from your wheels will cause scratches and swirls in your paint.

- Use two buckets for washing paint. One with a soapy mixture, the other with plain water to rinse the mitt between panels.

Caring for Mitts and Towels

- Wash on the Hot/Cold setting
- Use Liquid Detergent only w/ no bleach and NO fabric softener
- Add White Vinegar to the rinse cycle for added softness and soil release
- Rinse twice
- Dry towels on low heat w/ no fabric sheets

 

No need to be ashamed...we all start somewhere. Zane has given you some good advice, so I would listen to him.

Oh, and he's the one responsible for my detailing addiction. You bastard Zane!!!!

 

 

Thanks for the tips, I need to wait till I get some money to buy some supplies but i'll let you know how it goes. I was also wondering is there any tools that I should get to make the job easier?

 

A Porter Cable 7424/7336 with some foam pads will really help with removing swirls and light scratches if you're willing to make the investment.

 

Whoa thats a little more than I really want to spend. I have a good Milwaukee drill is there any attachments or any thing I could buy and just put on my drill? Also I have some stains on my carpet is there any product you would reccomend to take out the stains. Thanks for all the help.

 

I have heard that carnuba is a BAD wax and that you should avoid it, anyone else hear this? I am going to be ordering some Zaino, and see how it works, heard that they're the best.