Comments for paint cleaners, polish and waxes are based on application by a random orbital sander and Meguiars W8006 buffing pads (unless otherwise stated). While comments may state that a polish or wax is expensive, if applying by a sander the amount of product used is considerably less and the cost per application is not a significant issue. We estimated that using a sander means often results in you using onlyabout 20-25% you do by hand. High-grade carnauba waxes are best applied by hand. Car shampoo Judging the performance of a good car shampoo is probably the hardest of any car care product. A good quality shampoo will: not strip off wax; create a good foaming action to help with the removal of dirt and road grime, this foaming action      helps break the bond between paint and dirt; are usually pH controlled; contain gloss enhancers; needs to have lubrication properties to minimise scratching of the paint while washing; and does not have harsh chemicals that may damage the paintwork. Wax Wizard is not a supporter of wash n wax products. Wax Wizard questions the effectiveness of such products and we do not sell them. A wash n wax product is not a substitute for a regular polish and wax. Overtime a car cleaned with a wash n wax product will not bead water, a sure sign it has no effective wax protection. Whether these products extend the time between waxing is debatable. A good quality car wash coupled with a regime of cleaning (when necessary), polishing and waxing gives a superior result. Water spotting on the paintwork is a common side effect of wash n wax car washes, unless you chamois dry and then buff with a 100% cotton terry cloth. Mothers California Gold car wash suds well; resists water spots; will not strip wax; removes most bug spatter; a good all round car shampoo. Mothers Reflections car wash suds well; no streaking; resists water spotting; pleasant smell; will not strip wax; overall, marginally better than Meguiars Gold Class; contains salt, a matter that does not appeal to Wax Wizard. Meguiars Soft Gel car wash mildly scented; suds well (marginally better than Mothers California Gold, but less than Zymol); resists water spotting; will not strip wax; a good all round car shampoo. Meguiars Gold Class car wash suds well (marginally better than Mothers California Gold and Reflections, but less than Zymol); tends to streak, at least on dark coloured cars; will not strip wax. Zymol Natural Concentrate Auto Wash smells great suds very well and the suds last and last will not strip wax natural ingredients resists water spots better than most shampoos cleans car well Wax Wizard recommended. An impressive product. Wax Wizard recommendations Zymol is the best all round shampoo, although it is not cheap, it is worth the price. There is little difference between Megiuars soft gel and Mothers California Gold and either choice will give good results. Wax Wizard is not convinced that you get noticeably improved performance on either the Mothers or Megiuars premium car washes to justify the higher price. Consider buying these products when they are on special or part of a bundled package. Sponge A good sponge will: clean the car; capture the dirt and move it away from the paint; help the foaming process of the shampoo; hold a reasonable amount of water and shampoo; wears well; and is easy to clean. A hydra sponge is a synthetic sea sponge and is good for dirty cars as it has some large 'bubbles' on the sponge surface to help draw away dirt and grit. Hydra sponges come in small and large, and the large size is preferable. Even the large size is flexible enough to get into hard to each places on a car. The hydra sponge is Wax WizardsÍ sponge of choice. Another good option for those that regularly maintain their car is the Meguiars Soft Buff Magic Sponge. This is a smaller sponge with smaller size holes in the surface. Chamois Wax Wizard prefers to use the Plas Chamois or the Meguiars Soft Buff Chamois. Synthetic chamois are easier to clean and maintain in good condition. A leather chamois has a tendency to pull and remove wax while a good quality synthetic reduces this risk. If you are using a leather chamois only use a genuine cod tanned English chamois which are more expensive but are the best leather chamois. A leather chamois also deposit "lint" on the car surface as they age. Window cleaners Three important considerations when buying a window cleaner; first, that it cleans streak free. Secondly, that it does not damage window tinting (if any). Lastly, that the product does not affect the paint. For example, while an ammonia based cleaner may clean glass well, it will damage or even destroy window tinting as well as damaging the vinyl and rubber trims. It is also not very good for your health. Wax Wizard believes that most windows can be safely and effectively cleaned without chemicals. After the car has been shampooed, take a clean and damp chamois and clean the outside and inside of the window, then go over the window with a clean 100% cotton terry cloth (to remove the fine water droplets still left on the window). Final detail the window with a dry or damp microfiber cloth. Ever had that hard to remove residue from the rubber seals on the windows? A microfiber cloth will remove it easily and will not scratch the glass, you just need to add a little elbow grease! Warning: while the cloth will no scratch the glass, any particle caught in the cloth may. Microfiber is comprised of polyester and polyamide, commonly in a ratio of 80/20 or 70/30. The polyester is effective for scrubbing and cleaning, while the polyamide is an absorbent and quick-drying fibre. Together they make a formidable cleaning combination. You will be amazed at how effective microfiber is at cleaning windows or general detailing of the car. Wax Wizard sells several microfiber cloths, one for use on class and another for general detailing work. We also stock high quality microfiber products from 3M and the amazing Miracle Towel. Microfiber is machine washable and are durable. They are an effective, cost saving and environmentally friendly alternative to chemical glass cleaners. Wax Wizard recommendations Microfiber is our preferred method of cleaning windows. Our own Wax Wizard glass detailer and general detailer are great. A step up is the 3M Detailing Cloth and the best microfiber product we have seen or used is the Miracle Towel. Wheel care A wheel consists of a tyre and a rim. The care of each differs. Regular cleaning of rims and tyres can save a great deal of time and effort. The main source of the problem is the brake pads. Brake pads are made of several components including, carbon fibres, metal filings, synthetic graphite, kevlar and resins. When wet the brake dust turns acidic. This mild acid can and will damage the finish of your rims. Extremely hot metal filings from the pad and disc can also damage the wheels finish. Your may believe that you have tar on your rims, but this can be adhesive from the pads, and it is very difficult to remove. Allowing a prolonged build up of brake dust will permanently damage the finish on your rims. Because of the harsh environment in which wheels operate, most wheel cleaners use powerful chemicals (mainly mild forms of acid, yes acid!). So exercise extra care when using these products. We have heard too many stories about the finish on rims being severely damaged because the instructions were not followed or products were left on for too long. The finish of a rim influences which cleaner is best for you. Chromed rims are easy to clean, but need to be polished. A painted rim needs a good cleaning and maybe a wax to help stop dirt build up. A polished rim needs to be cleaned and polished. Wheel cleaners can be among the harshest products you use on your car, so exercise caution when using them. Some characteristics to consider are when deciding on a product are: cost per application and ease of use; ability to remove road grime and brake dust; polishing qualities; does the product help prevent brake dust build up? possible damage to the rim or brakes. Acidic cleaners can damage brake calliper paint or even      painted rims if left on too long. Meguiars Non Acid Wheel Cleaner cleans and brightens coated and non-coated Alloy Wheels; biodegradable suitable for all alloys, clear-coats, chrome, plastic and painted wheels; although it is non-acidic, spraying the brake callipers can still cause discolouration; loosens and dissolves brake dust & grime. For painted rims a cheaper alternative is sugar soap      which does a good job if used regularly. Meguiars Endurance Tyre Protectant Gel no runs, overspray or stained driveways; comes with special applicator, which makes application more economical; long lasting, the marketing blurb states it lasts "weeks not days". While the product is the longest      lasting tyre coating Wax Wizard has used, it will not last weeks on a car driven daily in our      experience. Nevertheless, this is the best all round product for tyres Wax Wizard has used; available in 'natural look' and high gloss finishes. Meguiars All Metal Restorer Safely cleans, polishes and protects all metal, wheels and trim; polishes and protects without scratching; restores a mirror like shine; removes surface contamination and scratches; safe for all metal (except gold plating). Zymol Brite Spray-Gel wheel wash (Kit) Kit contains wheel cleaner, anti-brake dust wheel coat and a good quality horsehair brush; natural formula; horsehair brush is gentle on rims; cleaner will remove long term dirt and dust, but several applications maybe required for badly      affected wheels. No trouble removing dirt and dust for regular users; anti-brake dust wheel coat reduces (but does not eliminate) brake dust by 50-60%. Coating should      be applied each time rims cleaned. Coating applied to rims not tyres; well balanced package of quality products; price is a draw back, but if you want a good product you will not be disappointed. Wax Wizard recommendations It is hard to go past Meguiars Endurance Tyre Protectant Gel and the Zymol Brite Spray-Gel wheel wash kit. For polished rims consider 3M All Metal restorer. Paint cleaners Meguiars Deep Crystal¬ System Step 1 Paint Cleaner Does the job well. No abrasives; Can be left on over night, but no reason to do so; Easy to apply and remove; Removes tar without much trouble, better at removing tar than the polish. Wax Wizard recommended product. Meguiars Gold Class Clear Coat Prep and Swirl Remover A cleaner with the ability to remove swirl marks and minor scratches; Harder to apply and remove than the Meguiars Deep Crystal¬ System Step 1 Paint Cleaner; Remove product once it dries to a haze, do not leave on for any extended time, as it becomes      difficult to remove; A good product for those wanting some cutting power in their paint cleaner. Mothers California Gold Paint Cleaner Does a reasonable job, but not as good as Meguiars Deep Crystal Cleaner; Remove product once it dries to a haze, do not leave on for any extended time, as it becomes      difficult to remove. Important not to use too much product on the buffing pad as makes to harder to      apply and remove; Harder to remove than Meguiars Deep Crystal Cleaner. Klasse All-in-One See under Polish. Zymol Natural Liquid Cleaner Wax See under Wax. Wax Wizard recommendations For most purposes Meguiars Deep Crystal¬ System Step 1 Paint Cleaner will do the job well. If swirl marks are a particular problem, consider Meguiars Gold Class Clear Coat Prep and Swirl Remover. Polish Characteristics you are looking for in a polish, include: cost per application ease of application and removal drying time depth of resulting shine gloss improvement scratching of paint surface ability to remove fine scratches and swirl marks cutting qualities to remove fine scratches and swirl marks. Avoid regular use of a product with      heavy cutting properties, unless you need to cut. Despite what maybe stated all true polishes have      cutting properties, otherwise they cannot remove scratches 3M Finesse-It II Finishing Material a very good product for removing grade 1500 sand scratches and swirl marks; very easy to apply and remove from the car; allows cutting of paint in a controlled fashion; particularly suited to machine application; more aggressive than Mothers Polish, but less than Meguiars Medium Cutter. Mothers Reflections Polish this polish is a cut above most polishes. One of the best polishes available; very easy to apply and remove from the car; leaves a deep shine on the car; lasts longer than Meguiars Gold Class; reflections is a bit of hybrid polish/wax; not cheap (about $35 a bottle), one bottle will last about 10 cars; removes tar, but requires more effort than a paint cleaner; when used in combination with Mothers California Gold Wax, dirt, bugs and insects just wash off      easily (if you wash within 24 hours of hitting the bugs); can be left on overnight and easily removed next day; Meguiars Gold Class Wax when applied after Mother Reflections Polish on dark coloured paint seems to enhance shine. The      two in combination seem to work very well on dark surfaces; wax does have some polish components. Like Mothers Reflections it is a bit of hybrid polish/wax; you can get disappointing results if you apply by hand; not cheap (around $35 a bottle), one bottle will last about 8-10 cars; does not last as long as a good wax or Mothers Reflections Polish. Wax Wizard would not      recommend this product for a vehicle used daily of one which is exposed to the elements; easy to wash and clean car after application; can be left on overnight and easily removed next day. Meguiars Hand Polish removes light buffing or swirl marks; adds depth of colour and gloss, especially on dark paints; body shop product not normally available to retail customers; using a random orbital sander with Megiuars W8006 buffing pads will deliver faster, superior      results. Klasse All-in-One paint cleaner, polish and acrylic protector all in one; very easy to apply and remove Ü arguably the easiest of any product. No drying time is needed; effective cleaner and leaves a shine with good depth and clarity (even better if you finish with a coat      of a good carnauba wax or Klasse High Gloss Sealant Glaze); better products for heavy oxidised or weathered surfaces; not cheap; doesn't haze or streak if there are water droplets on the surface; contains no abrasives or silicones; acrylic protection lasts up to six months; does not stain plastic, vinyl or rubber trim. A good choice for those that don't have the time to do the three-stage process, but want to achieve decent result in one go. Wax Wizard recommendations Mother's Reflections Polish is hard to beat as an all round polish. It gives a great shine and the protection lasts months. If you need a little more cutting power use consider 3M Finesse-It II Finishing Material (for best results apply with random orbital sander). For those looking to minimise effort Klasse All in One is the way to go. Glazes/Sealants Glazes are paint treatments used to fill small surface scratches and swirl marks and enhance shine. Some glazes also provide a barrier against the elements. Glazes do not generally contain any cleaning agents and should be applied only after using paint cleaner. Commonly glazes are silicone or acrylic based. It is best to remove a glaze every 12-18 months with a paint cleaner to avoid yellowing over time. Yellowing will not be an issue if you use the three-stage process. 3M Imperial Hand Glaze enhances shine and fills in scratches. Can really add depth to the shine; is not intended to provide any real long term protection from the elements (cosmetic product); a well respected product; must apply a coat of wax after applying Imperial Hand Glaze for lasting protection. Klasse High Gloss Sealant Glaze highly concentrated acrylic formula glaze for new cars and oxidation-free surfaces; no cleaning properties; easy to apply, harder than Klasse All in One to remove; gives lasting protection for over 6 months (depending on climate may be as long as 12 months); good depth of shine; more expensive than many of the other glazes; does not stain plastic, vinyl or rubber trim. Meguiars Speed Glaze removes light to moderate swirl marks; creates a glistening wetlook shine; Wax Wizard recommendations Both the Wax Wizard Eraser Acrylic Paint Sealant and the Klasse High Gloss Sealant Glaze are very good products. For value for money the 3M Imperial Hand Glaze cannot be beaten. Waxes Characteristics you are looking of in a wax, include: cost per application; ease of application and removal; drying time; depth of resulting shine/gloss; depth of resulting shine (a wax can also add depth to a shine); gloss improvement; ability to fill and hide fine scratches and swirl marks; how long the wax - and therefore protection - lasts; Resilience to road grime, bug splatter, tar, etc. Mothers California Gold Carnauba Wax (Paste) according to Choice Magazine this is the longest lasting of the waxes they tested, by some margin; if applied over Mother Reflection Polish, the paint will lose some of its lustre (but not much - trade      off is less shine and may be more paint protection). According to the Mothers' Representative in      Australia, Mothers Reflections Polish lasts longer than this wax anyway; harder to apply and remove than waxes in liquid form. Nevertheless, applying using a random      orbital sander is still much easier than by hand; remove product once it dries to a haze, do not leave on for any extended time as it becomes difficult      to remove; when used in combination with Mother Reflections Polish, most dirt, bugs and insects can be      washed off easily; not cheap for initial purchase, but is value for money as it should last 20-25 cars the size of the      Impreza WRX; pure wax, no cleaning properties; a Wax Wizard recommended product for endurance. 3M Perfect-It Show Car Paste Wax harder to apply and remove than waxes in liquid form. Nevertheless, applying using a random      orbital sander is still much easier than by hand (Hint: slightly dampen the buffing pad with water); remove product once it dries to a haze, do not leave on for any extended time as it becomes difficult      to remove; a little harder than California Gold Carnauba Wax (Paste) to apply, but it does not dull the shine like      the Mothers, but adds to the depth to the shine; by chemically grafting silicone and fluorine onto an acrylic backbone, a new fluoropolymer is      created that is slippery, water repellent and bonds to the paint. This fluoropolymer helps repel dust      and dirt; pure wax, no cleaning properties; a very good all round product for a reasonable price. Pinnacle Paste Glaz (hand application) easy to apply and remove by hand; formulated for light coloured cars; gives excellent colour depth and shine on clear coat paints. On older paints the results are not as      good. Wax Wizard recommends Paste Glaz be used on clear coat paints only; while not cheap it does offer value for money as it lasts for about 25-30 medium sized cars (most      people use too much wax when applying a quality product and do not get value for money); pure wax, no cleaning properties; A good product, but in our view Pinnacle Souveran is a better choice. Pinnacle Souveran (hand application) relatively easy to apply and remove by hand, although not as easy as Pinnacle Paste Glaz; high carnauba content (refined white carnauba wax); formulated for red or dark coloured cars; gives a good balance between protection and a deep shine; pure wax, no cleaning properties; this is a quality product. Correctly applied and removed on a properly prepared surface gives      super results. A Wax Wizard recommended product. Zymol Natural Liquid Cleaner Wax combination cleaner and wax. These combination products do a reasonable job in one step, but      do not expect miracles; they are not as good as a cleaner and a separate wax. Their strength is      that you are doing two jobs with one product and this involves some compromises. They are ideal      for those who like to do less work on their car, but still it have it looking good; does a good job of cleaning, but if you have swirl marks or minor scratches you will need another      product; leaves a good shine on the car; protection does not last as long as other wax products. Protection can be extended between waxes      but using a quick detailer such as Eimann Fabrik Clear Pearl; natural formula. Specialist waxes Products such as Souveran are not marque specific. While these products give very good products, marque specific waxes have their place. These are waxes developed for the different paints used on different brand cars. While they are sometime harder to apply they can give great results. Ask about the Marque specific waxes we stock. Suggested combinations of polishes and waxes At Wax Wizard we understand that the needs of clients varies. Listed below are some of the results which people wish to achieve and what products you should use. It is assumed that the paint is in good shape (ie no major scratches, heavy swirl marks, oxidation, etc) and you are applying the products using a random orbital sander using Meguiars buffing pads (W8006) and high grade waxes by hand. Value suggestions (good products for a reasonable price) For those lazy bones out there, where any work is too much work, use: Meguiars Deep Crystal System Step 1 Paint Cleaner Mother Reflections Polish Or Zymol Natural Liquid Cleaner Wax and apply a quick detailer every 2-4 weeks (takes about 5-10      mins) Or Klasse All-in-one (the product that requires the least amount of work! Also best option for non-clear      coat paints) The first combination is best suited for cars that are more heavily weathered or scratched. If you are after a deeper shine and colour (great for reds and dark colours), use: Meguiars Deep Crystal System Step 1 Paint Cleaner Mother Reflections Polish (or 3M Finesse-It II Finishing Material if you need a little more cutting      power); For longer a lasting protection but reasonable colour depth, try: Meguiars Deep Crystal System Step 1 Paint Cleaner; Mother Reflections Polish; Mothers California Gold Carnauba Wax (paste) or 3M Perfect-It Show Car Paste Wax. Premium suggestions If you are after a deep shine and colour (great for reds and dark colours), use: Meguiars Deep Crystal System Step 1 Paint Cleaner. Klasse High Gloss Sealant Glaze 3M Imperial Hand Glaze (to hide any micro scratches and add depth the colour) Pinnacle Souveran (consider using Pinnacle Paste Glaz if you have a light coloured car). If may       wishto use a marque specific wax depending on your make of car. Or Zymol HD Cleanse Zymol Natural Creme Auto Polish Zymol Creme (light colours) or Carbon (dark colours), these waxes do not have the durability of      other Zymol premium waxes Ultra Premium suggestions (where only the best will do and if you need to ask the price you cannot afford it!) Take the Premium selection but use Pinnacle, Souveran, or Zymol Concours. Kits Wax Wizard Exterior Starter Kit (no 3 Stage Cleaning Process) Meguiars soft gel car wash Mothers Reflections polish Small hydra sponge Classique 12 litre bucket (can be bought from Mitre 10 Hardware stores) 100% cotton terry cloth - Wax Wizard Premium x 3 Plas Chamois Foam Applicator Pad x 2 packets If you do use the 3 Stage Cleaning Process, add the following to the above list: Megiuars Deep Crystal System Step 1 Paint Cleaner Wax. If you want endurance try Mothers California Gold Wax (Paste) or 3M Perfect-It Show Car Paste Wax. 100% cotton terry cloth - Wax Wizard Premium x 3 (ie 6 in total) Foam Applicator Pad x 2 packets (ie 4 in total). If you use a random orbital sander to apply product      buy 3 Megiuars buffing pads instead (W8006). Wax Wizard Exterior Premium Kit Zymol Concentrate Auto Wash Large hydra sponge Classique 12 litre bucket (can be bought from Mitre 10 Hardware stores) 100% cotton terry cloth - Wax Wizard Ultra Plush x 3 Plas Chamois Foam Applicator Pad x 2 packets Meguiars Gold Class Clear Coat Prep and Swirl Remover Zymol Natural Auto Polish or Mothers Reflections polish (or 3M Finesse-It II Finishing Material) Optional: Klasse Sealant Glaze or 3M Imperial Hand Glaze or Meguiars Show Car Glaze to hide      any micro scratches and add depth the colour. Highly recommended on non-clear coat paint.