MEGUIAR'S 5-STEPS PAINT CARE CYCLE

Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle

With the wide variety of detailing products available, choosing the right products can be a bit overwhelming. Once you understand Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle, choosing the right products becomes much easier. Below is a quick video that provides a general overview of Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle:

Below are some factors to keep in mind when asking yourself - "Which product do I use?"

Condition of the Surface?

Goals?

Tools Available?

Time Available?

Skills & Abilities?

Achieving Great, Show Car Results can be as simple as three steps:

1. Evaluate the Surface

2. Choose the Right Product

3. Use Good Technique

Step 1 - Washing

"The removal of loose contaminants from any exterior surface"

Below is a quick video which provides a general overview of Step 1 Washing:

When washing, it is important to use clean quality accessories, a pH-balanced car wash solution, and proper technique:

The Importance of Clean Quality Accessories

For washing, Meguiar's recommends using a premium Microfiber Wash Mitt, such as our X3002 Microfiber Wash Mitt. Meguiar's X3002 Microfiber Wash Mitt is designed to lift & trap grime away from the surface to help prevent scratching. The absorbent microfiber carries plenty of wash solution from the bucket to the vehicle. Contaminants trapped in the wash mitt are also easily rinsed out. We also now produce a wash mitt, made specifically for our Hybrid Ceramic Wash & Wax, Meguiar's X210200 Dual-Sided Hybrid Wash Mitt.

For drying, Meguiar's recommends using a premium microfiber drying-specific towel such as our X2000 Water Magnet Microfiber Drying Towel. Waffle weave microfiber drying towels like our Water Magnet are made specifically for drying, are soft & and gentle for the paint, and make drying much quicker & and easier. We also now produce an additional style of drying towel sold in select markets, our X190400 Supreme Shine Drying Towel.

Our X2010 Supreme Shine Microfiber Towels are great all-purpose microfiber towels for a variety of uses such as using quik detailer sprays, quik wax sprays, removing compound, polish, wax, various interior applications, and cleaning glass.

Meguiar's recommends using a pH-balanced, automotive-specific car wash solution. Using a pH-balanced car wash solution will preserve your wax protection whether using a traditional wax, sealant, or coating. Washes that are not pH balanced or contain strong detergents can remove your paint protection.

All of Meguiar's Car Wash Products are pH-balanced and do not contain harsh detergents.

Meguiar's Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo & Conditioner is a more premium offering designed to both wash & and condition paint in one step. The premium formula gently foams away tough dirt, road grime and contaminants without compromising protection.

Meguiar's Ultimate Wash & Wax is the perfect way to clean and shine your car's finish in between regular waxing. Ultimate Wash & Wax works to boost your wax protection, gloss and provides a "just waxed" slickness to the paint finish. Ultimate Wash & Wax is compatible with all Meguiar's waxes.

Meguiar's Hybrid Ceramic Wash & Wax brings two unique liquids together in one bucket to deliver advanced SiO2 based Hybrid Ceramic Protection just from washing. Meguiar's Dual Sided Hybrid Wash Mitt ensures maximum performance & even application of our the SiO2 Boost Additive.

Using Proper Technique

The Two-Bucket Wash Method - The two-bucket wash method consists of two buckets, one with your car wash, and the other with water. The water bucket is used to rinse out your wash mitt. The wash mitt should be rinsed before retrieving more car wash. This releases any dirt & and grime on your wash mitt into the water bucket, instead of into your clean car wash. The two-bucket wash method reduces the chance of the dirt & and grime you are removing off the vehicle, from getting back up onto the vehicle. Using this technique will work to reduce the chance of inflicting swirls & and scratches into the paint.

Always work on a cool surface, ideally in the shade - Washing a warm or hot surface can increase the chance of water spots being developed during washing. Always work on a cool surface, ideally in the shade. Wash and rinse one section at a time, and start at the top of the vehicle.

Use a stream of water for your final rinse - This technique can be used to dramatically reduce the amount of water on the surface required to dry. If using an attachment on your water hose, remove the attachment for the final rinse. Turn on the water to a steady stream. Use this steady stream of water to sheet off the majority of water on the surface. This will make the drying process much quicker.

Grit Guard - Meguiar's X3003 Grit Guard is simply used as a baffle in the bottom of your wash bucket which works to keep the loose contaminants on the bottom of the bucket, lessening the chance of them getting onto your wash mitt. Many users will use two grit guards, one in their wash solution bucket and one in the rinse bucket. You can also agitate your wash mitt against the face of the grit guard if you happen to need help loosening any stubborn contaminants within the microfiber.

Never use dishwashing detergent as it can strip your wax protection. Meguiar's recommends washing at a minimum of once a week, to keep your car looking its best & and free of contaminants. Any duration beyond one week & and your vehicle is much more subject to contaminants becoming above-surface bonded contaminants, which will then need to be removed with detailing clay.

Step 2 - Clean/Prep

The removal of above surface contaminants & below surface defects.

Evaluation

Now that we are working on a clean & and dry surface after washing, the next step is to evaluate the paint finish. There are two types of defects we are evaluating for:

Above-Surface Contaminants - Our vehicles are exposed to a variety of environmental fallout especially when outdoors. Examples 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 does not remove them.

To Evaluate for Above-Surface Contaminants - When the surface is clean & and dry after washing, feel the paint surface with your hand. If the paint is not completely smooth or feels rough, this is an indication the vehicle has above-surface bonded contaminants. Don't be surprised if your car feels rough, this is very common, but also no need to worry, these are easy to remove. We will discuss how to remove these contaminants in Step 2 - Clean/Prep, but to evaluate, feel the paint when it is clean & and dry.