Cleaning Supplies

[1quikV6]

Ive always been picky about how and what I use to wash my car and Im just curious to hear what you guys prefer? I myself use Meguiars Gold car wash and a wash glove made by the same company who makes the California Car Cover. However I have some bugs on the front that Id like to remove without something abrasive or corrosive... what works?

Also I'd like to get a coat of wax on it since it is black after all... any suggestions? How about favorite tire shine?

[lowflyn]

Try a clay bar system. I use the meguire's clay bar, just spray some of the solution on the bar and the bumper and it'll take the bugs right off with a little elbow grease, and best of all, you won't damage your car. That's the only way I keep bugs/tar off my white car.

[1quikV6]

I thought that with a clay bar you have to go over the entire car... Ive never used one either and Im hesitant to haze the paint or something...

[lowflyn]

I just use mine on the spots that have bugs/tar on it. Been using clay bars for a few years without any ill effects on my car (white) or my girlfriend's car (redfire). I'm not absolutely positive on black, but you can PM spectorv and ask him, he used to have a 01 black V6 and he can tell you exactly what you'll need to keep the car looking better than factory. When he sold his 01 last year it definitely looked better than what it did from the factory.

[1quikV6]

I just kept a coat of premium wax on my SC and i think the coat of wax kept the bugs from getting to the paint. Ill def give the clay bar a try though =)

[05STANG]

Ihave had my stang 2 years now and have only washed it with water 3 times (hand wash). The water in Vegas is so bad I prefer not to use it on my cars, It doesn't rain much out here so the main culprit is dust. I use Zano wax twice a year for a good base wax and follow up 2-3 times a week with Eagle 1 Spray detailer. I have no paint swirls and my cars look showroom clean at all times. The best thing I have found for bug removal is a cloth soaked In HOT HOT water it desolves bugs with no abraisives or chemicals Do a small area at a time. Invisible glass cleaner is the best I have found for windows. Oops gum and glue remover works great on removing road grime and will not hurt the clear coat or paint ( I have used this on all my cars). Unfortunately as far as tire shine goes It all depends on the brand of tire ??? what works on my wifes Michelins does not work well on my Falkens so the detail shop at my local Ford dealership sells me this stuff that works great but they won't tell me whats in their mix? As far as the interior, I have found that Ford products, cloth carpet and dash work the best. Hope this helps.

[PureVenom]

As long as I stay on top of it, the bugs just wipe off when I wash the car...then again, I have 15 coats of zaino (10 base wax, 5 show polish). I have slacked as of late so today is clay then start building the zaino again...it seems to work as long as you don't let them go for extended periods.

[bbunt302]

Meguiar's Tire Gel is the best tire shine I've ever used. Plus it smells like grape kool-aid.

[1quikV6]

ironically I bought my car in September and still have yet to wax it. It gets a wash once a week because the less I wash the less I scratch it speaking of which I need to get some touch up paint from ford for a rock chip.

[SpectorV]

I use waterless car wash once a month and meguiars tire gel (if it has time to sit long enough so it doesnt throw off on my car) for the inside I use meguiars interior detailer (NON greese) and basically thats all I need. I also have a cali duster to remove dust after im done with cleaning it.

[timpryor]

i like zaino i've allways had great results with it.

[1quikV6]

Black is just a tricky color. Either it looks really bad or it looks amazing. I learned big lessons with my SC but ive never used zaino or a clay bar. Carnuba wax works pretty well for me but you have to stay on top of it about every weekend. And with winter coming Im a little worried that i wont be able to get out there as much.

I saw a commercial about the wash&wax... what do you guys think? Too good to be true?

[SpectorV]

I would take the car once a year and wash it twice with dawn very good then go over the car with rubbing compound (3m perfect it II) and do this once or twice. After this wash with dawn quickly and clay bar the car, rinse it off (one more wash) and then go to your protection/shine of choice.

[1quikV6]

I did use dawn on my SC once every 6 months or so to get all the carnuba off, etc. Im just nervous about the clay bar because ive never used one before.

[SpectorV]

its really not abrasive at all if you keep the surface wet it just slides right over. I did my 01 black mustang and it didnt do much due to the paint was pretty much super clean anyway~ but it seemed to smooth it a little bit. Just use a meguiars clay bar and dont worry... and dont drop it on the ground

[1quikV6]

Will one bar do the whole car? So I run over the entire car in sections or all at once keeping the car clean? And what are the steps after Ive gone over the car with the bar?

[SpectorV]

one bar will do the whole car and then some it doesnt really wear away or anything. After you go over the car just wash it again to remove any residue it left (dawn) then you should be good to go with your wax. I use Redirect but thats just me~ you can do what ever as long as its a good product and you use it regularly your good. One of my pet peeves is trim... most clean and wax the car's paint but ignore the trim, headlights, and tail lights~ and they look like POS ... my 01 mustang after it was 5 years old had trim like the day it was drove off of the assembly line, people have actually asked me if it was painted/replaced/etc lol... I said no.. I just take care of it stuff.

[1quikV6]

Ford is famous for crappy plastic trim pieces... I think in the 4 years I owned my 89 SC I replaced every piece of trim. Not to mention the notorious tape they put on the B pillars on the doors of the MN12 Tbirds... how crappy.

Hey Spector I really appreciate your help =)

[Rick0636]

I got my 06 last February, it has not been washed yet, and doesn't need it either. About every day I use mist detailer on it, it has been waxed all over one time, and I have spray waxed it several times.