How to take care of cars in uncovered parking?

[spongee]

ok guys...this is it...i'm hell-bent on washing and cleaning my car on my own...except that once-a-month "professional date" with the experts...but on a day to day basis, i'd like to do it on my own.

to start...after experimenting with a few washing/drying cloths...I now have the CALIFORNIA MICROMITT, MICROTEX DRYING CLOTH, and the CALIFORNIA CAR DUSTER...

SHAMPOO...right now i'm using Formula1 carnauba wash n wax kasi that's what i have pero parang hindi ako masaya kasi it doesn't suds that much as per direction na timpla with water..i'm reading previous threads about shampoos at talagang nawindang ako kasi i saw some "hairshampoo, dishwashing" stuffs..since bago lang oto ko kaya stick muna ako sa carshampoo..the other day i went at MOTHERS and saw MOTHER'S California Gold car wash...is this ok??

WAX...i haven't waxed pa since my car was delivered (2mos ago)...but i have Formula1 carnauba car wax...honestly, i don't know how to wax...i have a fairly good idea on how it says in the bottle direction tho...but i'm scared kasi baka hindi magpantay pagkakaapply ko or what...is it the same principle on waxing the floor of the house???like apply evenly, allow to dry then buff(is that the term)?..how about those spraywax? is this ok??kaya lang from what i know, spray wax is like booster lang over existing wax..i find it easier for me kasi u can spray it on wet surface after cleaning then parang nagtutuyo ka lang ng oto..MOTHER'S also have this spray waxes...

TIRES..what shall i use for tires? brush, cleaning suds, etc..i dont know anything about tires.

here's the thing...WALA AKONG COVERED GARAGE..kaya my car is exposed to everything...araw, ulan, i've tried using car covers pero ganun din at pag umulan, yung alikabok ng cover napupunta sa oto at nagpuputik lang..

to summarize..please help me on what products shall i use...the system and all that.. that will really work for me in the easiest and most affordable way...

thanks in advance mga ka-tsikot

[chris_d]

Maganda yung mothers car shampoo, gamit ko ngayon meguiars.

Just remember to wash from the top down and use lots of water, if possible use a hose, not just using one pail of water or soap. Have a second pail of water for rinsing the rug while washing.

[spongee]

Maganda yung mothers car shampoo, gamit ko ngayon meguiars.

Just remember to wash from the top down and use lots of water, if possible use a hose, not just using one pail of water or soap. Have a second pail of water for rinsing the rug while washing.

got your point...will take note of that...medyo matrabaho but makes sense...thanks

[diesoline]

spongee, since you don't have a garage, why don't you invest in a sealant treatment as protection against the elements.

afaik, BB has a paint protection program that is more convenient and cost-effective than d-i-y waxing, polishing and the like. input mo na lang would be the daily dusting, washing of your car using the cleaning aids you enumerated in your post. get a jelly blade (water blade) as well, it's a time saver.

[artpogi]

spongee,

IMO stay away from those car shampoo with wax, it's pretty useless, it's marketing gimmick. Mothers car shampoo are okay, or if you have time to visit Big Berts, ask them if they are still selling car shampoos.

IMO car covers available from our suking car shops are not paint friendly, personal observation ko lang yan. There are high-end car covers I saw sa net but I doubt they are available here and if they are they're pretty expensive.

sa wax you can't go wrong with both Meguiars and Mothers but there are also other brands available out there na okay din.

punta ka sa www.autopia.org they have good reads regarding waxes and how-to's

[miLes]

i also still wash my car myself at least once a week, i leave the paint protection to the professionals--BigBerts, i just top it off with a spray wax now and then

[rion]

right now i'm using Formula1 carnauba wash n wax

that shampoo is crap. I have it, but I'm not using it anymore. it feels like it's actually peeling my wax, not adding it.

mas ok pa yung 3m shampoo, It's not the best, but it's just good enough for simple light cleaning.

kung my budget, I'd go for Mothers brand...