We can remember when washing...
We can remember when washing the car meant grabbing some dishwashing liquid from the kitchen and dumping it in a bucket. The problem is that normal soaps are harsh, and in most cases they strip off the wax you worked so hard to apply. Today, companies like Meguiar’s offer suds specifically made for a car's finish. It’s also a great idea to use two buckets -- one with soapy water and one with clean rinse water. Dirt is your enemy here. Lastly, start at the top of your car and wash your way down.
In the last issue we gave you some pro tips on how to get your Camaro’s paint shined up and swirl free, but all that hard work is wasted if you put those pesky scratches back into your car’s finish. The main culprit here is grit, and when it comes to washing and detailing your car, it’s critical that you keep anything abrasive away from your finish and use the correct tools during the process.
There are also quite a few products on the market to make the non-painted areas of your car look great as well. Plastic trim can be revitalized to look black again, aluminum polished to perfection, and tires given just the right amount of sheen. After all, a good lookin’ car involves more than just shiny paint.
You might have a big stack...
You might have a big stack of microfiber towels for waxing your car, but if you use a cotton towel for washing, you’re doing more harm than good. To keep the scratches out, use a microfiber wash mitt, and remember, keep it as clean as possible.
Just like washing and waxing,...
Just like washing and waxing, cotton towels can wreak havoc on your finish if used to dry off your freshly washed Camaro. And you can’t really use traditional microfiber towels for drying since they tend to quickly become saturated. The answer is something like this Water Magnet, shown in the middle. According to Meguiar’s, it holds twice the water of a terry cloth towel and is soft enough not to scratch your finish.
No matter how careful you...
No matter how careful you are, there’s a chance you’ll eventually put one or two light scratches into your finish. Here are Meguiar’s Ultimate Compound and their Scratch X 2.0 products. Which one sounds more aggressive? One would tend to choose the Scratch X product, but if you already own a bottle of Ultimate Compound, then use it and save the money since it’s actually a bit better at cutting down scratches.
When working with any towel,...
When working with any towel, there’s a right way and wrong way to use it. Wadding it up in a ball causes the towel to hit the surface unevenly. It’s best to fold it into quarters and flip it around as you go. This gives you eight clean segments to work with.
Getting the paint looking...
Getting the paint looking good is only half the battle, especially on newer cars that use black plastic trim. Over time these pieces turn a faded gray color, which really drags down the overall look of the car. Meguiar’s offers Ultimate Protectant Dash and Trim Restorer that turns these plastic bits back to black and helps keep them looking good with UV inhibitors.