Stripping the wax....

[MSP#735]

If i am wanting to strip the wax off of my car, by using Dawn dish soap, will i have to re-wash it with regular carwash soap or can i just continue to the waxing steps? I have a slight bit of grit on my car (hood, roof and trunk area) and im gonna use bug and tar remover (once the car is stripped of everything) and see how much of the grit i can get off before i buy the clay bar kit. Suggestions and opinions are much appreciated..

thanks

 

[speedhawaii]

i think u have to wash it again

 

[Petey Turbo]

Dawn help get the wax off but this is what you want to do..

1.Wash car with dawn
2.Use meguiars "paint Cleaner" on all painted surfaces
3.Use Meguairs "deep crystal polish" on all painted surfaces
4.Use Meguairs "caranuba wax" on all painted surfaces

With this methos you will strip down everything to the bare *squeaky clean* clearcoat,Fill in small scratches and add oils to the paint with the polish, and lock everything in with the wax.

 

[jersey_emt]

I'd use a claybar instead of the paint cleaner...much more effective.

 

[Newf]

Dawn help get the wax off but this is what you want to do..

1.Wash car with dawn
2.Use meguiars "paint Cleaner" on all painted surfaces
3.Use Meguairs "deep crystal polish" on all painted surfaces
4.Use Meguairs "caranuba wax" on all painted surfaces

With this methos you will strip down everything to the bare *squeaky clean* clearcoat,Fill in small scratches and add oils to the paint with the polish, and lock everything in with the wax.

kind of agree with this, except meguiars products are well, half assed and more hype then anything.

Ok, maybe not that bad but there is better.


1. Dawn wash it
2. Clay it
3. Wash with normal car wash
4 wax away.

You could put a wax cleaner on as well, but really if you dawn wash it, then clay the entire car, your pretty safe with that on most cars.

 

[Aaron]

Use a clay bar that is what is for

 

[jersey_emt]

Then Zaino.

 

[MSP#735]

i was tryin to get out of using the clay bar, i tend to spend a while on my car (wash, vacuum and polish takes me about 2.5 hrs maybe 3) clay baring my car, wow, now that would take an entire afternoon literally...maybe i may just clay bar the hood, roof, and rear of the car...

 

[Newf]

clay one day, and wax the next. nothing wrong with doing that. Just wash before wax as usual.

 

[Gen1GT]

What's wrong with you guys? Why the hell would you clay-bar a new car? Clay-bar is for removing oxidation, surface scratches, spider-webbing, and is not for everyone. You have to know what you're doing to use it properly. You do not need to remove previous wax from your car...repeat, YOU DO NOT NEED TO REMOVE WAX FROM YOUR CAR! The more coats of wax, the better. I fully wax my car once a month, and wet wax it every time I wash it. The difference in detailing products is soo overrated. Most of the waxes you can buy off the shelf are good enough. What's more important than the wax, is how often you do it. Do it 4 times a year, even if it doesn't need it. It's like putting on sunblock. You have to re-apply.

What makes my opinion matter? I manage a car-wash, with a full-service tunnel-wash, 8 self-wash bays, and a detailing shop. I've picked up a thing or two in 4 1/2 years too. (thumb)

Here's my 11 year old car....never seen clay-bar in it's life....original paint of course.....

 

[oldzoomer]

holy freaking cow that protege looks nice.

I've never stripped the wax off between waxes on any type of car. As long as you aren't suffering from problems that have eaten through the old wax and/or clearcoat you don't need to use a clay bar.

Go take the Meguiar's test to help determine what you should do:
http://www.meguiars.com/carrx.cfm

 

[MSP#735]

very nice! thanks guys for all of your replies.....i think for the time being, im gonna continue to wax away, i am however, gonna try that bug and tar remover, hell, that may rid some of the few things i have on my car. thanks again!

 

[Bremmer]

I dont' know why you would ever use dish washer soap on your paint. It harms the paint but no one seems to care. If you insist on using it then dont use it a lot. Why would you use something made for washing dishes on your paint? Dishes don't have paint on em! And the statements above are correct, you don't need to remove wax. And I'd only claybar the paint if it starts to feel rough to the touch even after a wax. Oh and dont' use dishwasher soap. Did I already mention that?

 

[Newf]

bug and tar remover is a good cheap and easy way to have smoother paint. Clay is still the best method, but I only clay once a year, usually after the winter is over to get rid of the winter grime. From then on I just wax.

Dish detergent, also something you use once maybe twice a year. It's not going to harm your paint that easy, relax. Removing the old wax is sometimes necessary to allow for a better shine and reflection. Each car is different, depending on environment and how the owner maintains it, but a rule of thumb is that preparation before wax is the most important part. A little bit of elbow grease in the beginning will make your shine last longer. I've been doing this for years and I got people always asking me to do their cars......yeah right.