How to take care of your car

Automotive Paint, especially modern clear coats paints, are sensitive to scratching, especially during the washing step. When washing, it is important to use clean quality accessories, a pH balanced car wash solution, and proper technique, to help minimize the chance of inflicting swirls and/or scratches. 

Recommended Meguiar’s Products: Wash and Wax Shampoo, Microfiber Wash Mitt, Water Magnet Microfiber Drying Towel

After cleaning and drying the car’s paint, the next step is to evaluate the paint. There are two levels of defects that need to be taken car of:

• Above-Surface Contaminants: these include dirt, dust, road grime, tree sap mist, industrial fallout, and paint over-spray. Over time, these environmental contaminants can bond to the paint finish, and washing the car alone do not remove them. Detailing Clay or a “Clay Bar” removes above surface contaminants from the paint finish.
• Below-Surface Contaminants: these include Swirls, scratches, stains, water spots, & oxidation. Meguiar’s Paint Cleaner or Compound Product can be used with either a foam pad or a DA Machine to remove the below surface contaminants. 

Recommended Meguiar’s Products: Smooth Surface Clay Kit, Ultimate Compound.

The use of a polish helps to create a brilliant gloss & depth to your paint finish. They also have the ability to remove light to moderate defects because they contain mild abrasives. Polishes also work to perfectly prepare the paint surface after a paint cleaning or compound step.

Note: Polish also does not offer protection, so it is not a substitute for a wax.

Recommended Meguiar’s Products: Ultimate Polish

At this stage your vehicle should feel smooth, have a deep, high gloss appearance, and be nearly defect free. Now it’s time to preserve this high gloss finish by applying a wax. Wax serves as your protection against the sun, your sacrificially barrier against elements of the environment, and works to preserves your high gloss paint finish. 

Recommended Meguiar’s Products: Ultimate Wax Paste, Hybrid Ceramic Wax

Now that you have your vehicle looking the way you want it, and it’s well protected, you will want a proper maintenance routine to keep it looking it’s best. We refer to maintaining as the frequent removal of fresh contaminants before they have a chance to bond or etch into the paint finish.

Recommended Meguiar’s Products: Ultimate Quick Detailer, Hybrid Ceramic Detailer