Thanks for the awesome post! This will relly help me out when I detail my car on Monday. I just bought a big brush the works really well when I was the car. I keep it very clean so hopefully I don't have to worry about stuff the one would at a self serve car wash. I use a chamy (sp) to dry and use Meguiars products religiously. I think i'll go with the four step process. Clay, cleaner wax, polish, gold class. I remember when I first used a clay bar I was shocked at how beautiful the car's natural finish looked. I am going to have to whore after this.
Seriously, use a sheepskin mitt to wash the body (I use an old mitt for wheels, tires, wheel wells and other grungy areas with a separate bucket of suds -- I do that first if I'm doing a good job). Do not use a brush -- brushes have pretty much no place on the paint (unless it's an SUV and you can't reach the top).
Do not use a chamois to wash or dry -- not enough nap and it removes your wax and causes streaks. Use a quality waffle weave microfiber to dry -- Most auto stores or Wal-Mart or Target or even Home Depot (in a little roll) have a decent towel that'll do in a pinch. If you can't find a suitable waffle weave, the large gold Viking drying towel at K-Mart or I think Checker also has them and they will also do the job just fine. (I really dislike Meg's microfibers, JMO.) Even the Vroom drying towel from Target will do in a pinch, and their Premium towels are decent for everything else. These aren't mail-order alterternatives, but they're light years ahead of a chamois. Use plush 100% cotton bath towels if you can't swing the microfiber route (don't use those cheap 3/$1 Pakistani towels).
Again, with the products... you're using two of the same product, just one's more expensive than the other.
Meguiar's Cleaner Wax is polishes/cleaners and wax.
Meguiar's Gold Class Liquid Wax is polishes/cleaners and wax -- just a more expensive version.
So pick one or the other, and skip the polish -- unless you really think you need polishing, then maybe you could use that before the Cleaner Wax or Gold Class (whichever of the two you chose) -- do test areas if you like to compare results.
Remember that a 3-step system is not just any three products -- it's 3 products that are meant to be part of a system -- cleaner, polish/sealer/glaze, and finally, carnauba wax. Meguiar's is called the Deep Crystal System -- Paint Cleaner, Polish and finally Wax. Mothers is called Ultimate Wax System -- Pre-Wax Cleaner, Sealer & Glaze, and finally Pure Carnauba Wax (liquid or paste; I like the paste).
So either be adjust the use of the products you have, or buy new products if you think your car needs a little extra TLC.
