When to use cleaner wax?
- Thread starter danforz
- Start date
SilverSeven
New member
Well I use cleaner wax when I lose some gloss or shine on my car. My car is 24/7 outside and claying does smooth the paint but it can't remove oxidation or light scratches. I feel that one must a least have a btl of cleaner wax. I only have Meg's Cleaner Wax & ColorX. Our country doesn't have Klasse AIO, Mothers & etc. Other Autopians might have more experience to tell u more.
Just to share with you. On Tuesday while I was on the way back to office. There was a roadwork tar-ring the road. And those big machine that kinda like have a conveyor belt that runs the tar onto a lorry. And when I got back home the whole car has tiny black oily spots over the while surface. It was late & I was really tired. I tried QD but not doing the job. Its makes the oil streak more. So I wash it & took out M21 to wax the car to remove those oily spots. Not cleaning it up. So I took ColorX & it was so easy to wipe those oily spots off. My applicator pad was full of black dirt stuff. And ColorX was easier to wipe off when it dry. I was so glad I got a btl cleaner wax. Or else I was having a hard time buffing with the M21 to remove those oily tar spots. It also means tht the M21 cleaning power is very mild.
Just to share with you. On Tuesday while I was on the way back to office. There was a roadwork tar-ring the road. And those big machine that kinda like have a conveyor belt that runs the tar onto a lorry. And when I got back home the whole car has tiny black oily spots over the while surface. It was late & I was really tired. I tried QD but not doing the job. Its makes the oil streak more. So I wash it & took out M21 to wax the car to remove those oily spots. Not cleaning it up. So I took ColorX & it was so easy to wipe those oily spots off. My applicator pad was full of black dirt stuff. And ColorX was easier to wipe off when it dry. I was so glad I got a btl cleaner wax. Or else I was having a hard time buffing with the M21 to remove those oily tar spots. It also means tht the M21 cleaning power is very mild.
a cleaner wax is (obviously) a one step product. I have long since used such a product up until optimum poly seal and hi temp paint perfection and midnight express were avalible. I, along with most of us here, find that a step system to paint polishing and protection is the ideal way to go. Normally, I compound or level a surface (if needed), and then follow with a finishing polish, followed by a LSP. I used to use cleaner wax for door/trunk/hood detailing, and as a favor to some people who were low on funds but wanted their paint to be a little better with some mild protection.
some cleaner waxes are slightly abrasive, but also leave behind a small ammount of protection....
who knows . . give it a try . . . you really dont have much to loose. . . .
some cleaner waxes are slightly abrasive, but also leave behind a small ammount of protection....
who knows . . give it a try . . . you really dont have much to loose. . . .
Ceezer said:
Nxt isnt a cleaner wax at all.
Claying removes above surface contaminants (sp?) and a cleaner wax will remove the bellow surface contaminants. People that use cleaner waxes are ussually people who cannot do a multiple step polishing with a machine and only work by hand.
These people *ussually* do this:
clay
cleaner wax/ AIO type product
pure wax or sealant.
imported_turbomangt
New member
The first word in that phrase is key....."cleaner= abrasive" I never use a CWax on a car, I use it sometimes under the hood where I need some cleaning ability....just my thoughts, gk
imported_turbomangt
New member
At my shop, I only do high end detailing, no dealer work, I never do a quick wax, as its called. all cars go through the hand wash/ clay bar/deep cleaner/ (optional compound if nessessary) then seal. I teach this stuff, so you don't need to remind me about what a cleaner wax is, its a short cut, I'm just not fan of shortcuts, (unless I'm doing my wifes car !LOL) gary
imported_turbomangt
New member
Believe me I;'m not trying to cause conflict, only voice my opinion, I don't do one steps, or express details, so cleaner wax will not fit my scenerio. Thier are shops near me that do that, and they can have that business. everyone molds a business plan in their martket, I target the anal customers (lucky me) and they pay a high price to bring me their cars. gary
violentveedub
New member
Setec Astronomy
Well-known member
Before you guys get your shorts in a bunch, we've discussed this many times before, and that people (non-Autopians) could do far worse for their cars if all they did was an occassional (wash and) use of a good cleaner wax like Meg's #6 or the maroon bottle A-12.
To answer the OP's question, and since you mentioned Meg's statements, if you look at their 5-step process, clay removes the above surface contamination, while a cleaner removes the below surface contamination, so a cleaner after clay isn't redundant.
Cleaner waxes have their place, just like shampoo/conditioner for your hair. As was mentioned, if you're doing a multi-step, wash/polish/seal, if you needed to inject a chemical cleaner in there, you would likely use a cleaner-only product. But if you are doing a quickie one step, or say, removing a paint transfer from your wife's car out in your driveway in the winter...a cleaner wax is completely appropriate. One problem with them is they tend to stain trim badly, and it's hard to remove residue from emblems, etc.
If you're talking about the A-12 in the maroon bottle, I think it has a little of everything, chemical cleaners, abrasives, trade secret oils, and wax. So it's doing a little cleaning, a little polishing, a little filling, and a little waxing.
To answer the OP's question, and since you mentioned Meg's statements, if you look at their 5-step process, clay removes the above surface contamination, while a cleaner removes the below surface contamination, so a cleaner after clay isn't redundant.
Cleaner waxes have their place, just like shampoo/conditioner for your hair. As was mentioned, if you're doing a multi-step, wash/polish/seal, if you needed to inject a chemical cleaner in there, you would likely use a cleaner-only product. But if you are doing a quickie one step, or say, removing a paint transfer from your wife's car out in your driveway in the winter...a cleaner wax is completely appropriate. One problem with them is they tend to stain trim badly, and it's hard to remove residue from emblems, etc.
Danforz said:
If you're talking about the A-12 in the maroon bottle, I think it has a little of everything, chemical cleaners, abrasives, trade secret oils, and wax. So it's doing a little cleaning, a little polishing, a little filling, and a little waxing.
imported_turbomangt
New member
Thank you Mike, ditto to that................gk
I just used Poli-Seal with a polishing pad and it worked great, Give it nice shine and had great cleaning action. Then i put a coat of nattys on.... Just a quick little bit of fun before i went back to school for a long long long winter 
Plus poli-seal has a great price just like all optimum products.
Plus poli-seal has a great price just like all optimum products.
Conundrum
2006 Accord V6 6spd Coupe
Just to confirm...does anyone know if Klasse AIO uses only chemical cleaners or are there any abrasives in it? I'm planning on doing a once over AIO after winter is over before doing anything else to my paint (thinking I might try the AIO > RMG > WG DGS > Liquid Souveran route), since I don't own a PC and will be doing this by hand.
Setec Astronomy
Well-known member
I think it has been stated that KAIO has a 1-micron or sub-micron abrasive. Certainly the "nano" term has been used with the newer versions (not KAIO).
Setec Astronomy said:
Exactly!
I hardly have the time anymore to do a complete detail on my cars. So, when I need to "freshen them up", I'll reach for some Meguiars Color-X to do the job. One step, and my car paint looks better, and it is protected.
I usually top it off with some OCW, though it really isn't necessary with the Color-X.