spray polish for car

[robmarl]

what do people recommend for maintaining the show room shine on your vehicle.

[NFT5]

This is what we tell our customers:


1. Never, EVER, put the car through a brush type car wash and avoid the high pressure ones as much as possible. The brushes DO damage the paint and the detergents used in the high pressure washes are so strong that they literally strip the surface coatings off.


2. Wash regularly using fresh, clean water to rinse grit off first. Use a bucket with cold or warm water and a pH neutral detergent. Morning Fresh is my favourite. Clean bucket, clean sponge and wash from the top down. Rinse well and chamois thoroughly when done.


3. Use a polymer based polish, not wax. Polymers will bond with the top layers of the paint and last much longer. Waxes don't last and don't offer the same degree of protection. Polish four times a year if the vehicle is generally outside, more often if in a harsh environment where there is fallout, salt or dirt.



In the shop we use Gelson polishes. Long lasting and having extreme clarity with very high gloss they're about the best I've ever used. But, they're professional products and designed for specific machine application, not hand, so no good for home use. In terms of retail products there are many but I think that the Meguiars range is about the pick of the bunch and they're reasonably priced.



Don't waste money on spray on type glazes. They look good at first but are mainly silicone and literally fall off. Protection value is zero.



4. If you can find someone near where you live that understands paint correction (not just a detailer) then have them do the car once a year and do the intermediate polishes yourself.


5. Have any damage, even minor, attended to quickly. Once you let appearance maintenance go you'll lose that sense of pride that you have in the car when it's new and it will end up a mess because you no longer care.


Just as an example, here's a car that's 15+ years old but is well cared for. Except for the bar and hardlid, that's all original factory paint. Looks better than my Paj in the background.

[marlin1856]

This is what we tell our customers:


1. Never, EVER, put the car through a brush type car wash and avoid the high pressure ones as much as possible. The brushes DO damage the paint and the detergents used in the high pressure washes are so strong that they literally strip the surface coatings off.


2. Wash regularly using fresh, clean water to rinse grit off first. Use a bucket with cold or warm water and a pH neutral detergent. Morning Fresh is my favourite. Clean bucket, clean sponge and wash from the top down. Rinse well and chamois thoroughly when done.


3. Use a polymer based polish, not wax. Polymers will bond with the top layers of the paint and last much longer. Waxes don't last and don't offer the same degree of protection. Polish four times a year if the vehicle is generally outside, more often if in a harsh environment where there is fallout, salt or dirt.



In the shop we use Gelson polishes. Long lasting and having extreme clarity with very high gloss they're about the best I've ever used. But, they're professional products and designed for specific machine application, not hand, so no good for home use. In terms of retail products there are many but I think that the Meguiars range is about the pick of the bunch and they're reasonably priced.



Don't waste money on spray on type glazes. They look good at first but are mainly silicone and literally fall off. Protection value is zero.



4. If you can find someone near where you live that understands paint correction (not just a detailer) then have them do the car once a year and do the intermediate polishes yourself.


5. Have any damage, even minor, attended to quickly. Once you let appearance maintenance go you'll lose that sense of pride that you have in the car when it's new and it will end up a mess because you no longer care.


Just as an example, here's a car that's 15+ years old but is well cared for. Except for the bar and hardlid, that's all original factory paint. Looks better than my Paj in the background.

[Ian H]

I use Meguiar's NXT Polymer Sealant. It's brilliant and the water does bead off for a long time as they claim.

There's a video here.......https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rd_US5BEYU

[paceman]

I have been using Bowden’s for a while now and have been really happy with their products...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[HeavyPizzaz]

Hang on, Morning Fresh as in dishwashing detergent??

[Ian H]

Hang on, Morning Fresh as in dishwashing detergent??

And the best window cleaning detergent ever.

[ron2503]

Hang on, Morning Fresh as in dishwashing detergent??

Wouldn't that strip off everything?

[NFT5]

Hang on, Morning Fresh as in dishwashing detergent??

Absolutely! Far more effective than "purpose made" car washing products and a fraction of the price, especially since you don't need very much.


Takes off the grime but not any polish and much gentler than truck wash, especially on your hands if you've a number of cars to wash in a day. Rinses clean and clear with no streaks.



We've been using it for years.

[ddeane]

I believe that Morning Fresh like most dishwashing detergents has a high salt content and should be kept away from cars

[JohnFromPerth]

I have heard negative reports about using dishwashing liquid for washing cars.
Removes any protective wax, especially around joints in the bodywork, letting in moisture an causing rusting. Also has high salt content as mentioned.

[nj swb]

I believe that Morning Fresh like most dishwashing detergents has a high salt content and should be kept away from cars

I have heard negative reports about using dishwashing liquid for washing cars.
Removes any protective wax, especially around joints in the bodywork, letting in moisture an causing rusting. Also has high salt content as mentioned.

I'll take NFT5's advice on this.

Salt content? How much do people think they're going to use? A few drops of detergent in a bucket, then rinse. It's not like washing the car in sea water...

[BruceandBobbi]

I have heard negative reports about using dishwashing liquid for washing cars.
Removes any protective wax, especially around joints in the bodywork, letting in moisture an causing rusting. Also has high salt content as mentioned.

Yep. Salt is a definite ingredient in dishwasher liquid.

The salt also gets under the rubber seals.

Formula for Morning Fresh.

Note these are in percentage order.

Aqua, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Lactic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Limonene, Geraniol, Citral, Linalool, Colorants, Vinegar.

[marlin1856]

My dad washed his car with a variety of dish washing dets for 17 years and when I sold the car a few months ago the paint was shmick except for the standard stone chips that all cars get over that period of time so it may have a salt in it but it definitely did nothing but good things to my dads paint.

[kod10]

Thank you NFTS for the advice. Would you recommend using a Nano/Ceramic paint protection applied to a brand new Pajero Sport (due for delivery next week).