Car Detailing basic knowledge :

1.    The proper steps of car wash and wheel cleaning

You will need the following tools and accessories for a proper car wash :

-       2  empty buckets

-       Wash mist or microfiber cloth for applying car shampoo

-       Microfiber cloths for cleaning

-       Wheel brush

-       Optimum Car Wash or Optimum No Rinse Wash (No Washing detergent !)

-       Optimum Power Clean

-       Optimum Tire Gel or Optimum Tire Spray

Get ready the 1^st bucket with 1 oz of Optimum Car wash for a gallon water, spray water hose to create Sud / foam. Fill up 2/3 water on the 2^nd bucket for rinsing of wash mist or microfiber cloth.  

Spray on the tire and wheel with Optimum Power Clean, leave it for around 30 second to break down and dissolve road dirt, grime and break dust, brush with wheel brush over the tire and rims, rinse clean with medium flow water.

Rinse your car with mild to medium sprinkle flow to remove light dust, pollutant and loose dirt.

Wash the car exterior with a washing mist or microfiber cloth, gently pull around the top panel of your car then put the wash mist/microfiber cloth in 2^nd bucket contained clean water to remove dirt and pollutant so that it does not create scratches on your paint body. Same apply for middle then final wash on the bottom panel. 

Rinse the car with clean water. (this does not apply for Optimum No Rinse Wash)

Then clean your car with a piece of microfiber cloth. 

Finally, apply tire gel or tire spray for maximum protection.

Caution: Never do a top to down and up motion in one go, this will definitely create scratches on your paint coat.

2.    What is Detailing clay

Detailing Clay is an abrasive system. When use properly it only remove or pulls away contamination off your paint.

Claying is an important step to remove bonded contaminants, like tree sap mist, pollution and road tar that cannot be removed by regular washing to provide a silky smooth surface for polishing.

3.    Do I need clay lubricant for claying

Yes, clay lubricant is required so that it work as aquaplaning for clay bar to glide along the body panel.

Otherwise, your paint coat will be scratched as Detaling Clay itself is an abrasive system. 

4.    I have a new car, do I need to clay

It depends on your paint coat condition, after you wash, dry your car, runs your fingertips over the surface of your paint coat. If you paint coat feel trough and bumpy, it’s time for claying. 

5.    Do I need to clay before polish

Clay first of course, contaminants can only be removed by detailing clay where polishing is removal of swirl marks and scratches.

6.    What is polish

Polish is a motion to remove swirl marks and scratches either by hand or polisher for final wax or sealant.

7.    What is wax

Wax is made from natural wax, a protecting coating for applying to the paint to prevent damaging to your clear coat foundation.

It makes the surface of the car reflect more lights especially if the wax contain Carnauba, a type of ingredient extracts from the leaves of Carnauba tree in Brazil.

Most car enthusiasts prefer the shine of carnauba waxes, especially on dark colour cars. The higher percentage of Carnauba in a wax, the deeper, the darker and the richer the gloss.

8.    What is sealant

Sealant is synthetic car wax made from modern polymers or acrylic resins offers excellence durability and easy application, it last longer than a pure wax or carnauba wax. 

            A very good quality of sealant like Optimum Opti-Seal can last for many months, see the following video:
  

9.    I purchased a paint protection package, do I need further care on my paint

We do not believe such statement as “maintenance free… never wax again” car care system.

Read the fine print in the contract terms and conditions, they usually need you to go back for periodical maintenance, if it was really possible to achieve years of protection with maintenance free, you bet the car manufacturer would have use it in the factory.

All cars need to have regular maintenance for a new car look.