Ok, I'm a bit of a moron when it comes to detailing and car care. I wash my car frequently, and wax it now and again...but I'd like to _really_ clean the damn thing, and don't know exactly what the best way is.

I clay bar-ed the thing when I first got it, and was very happy with the results. So right now my plan is to do that again:

- Wash (dish soap)
- Clay Bar
- Wash (car soap)
- Wax

Now, if I want to use a polish, where would that be done? What is the proper way to use the polish? I used rubbing compound once on an older car, and it seemed to help...but it also seemed to reduce the "shine" of the paint down the road...although that was a white car.

What can I do with the plastic? Namely the bumpers. My front bumper has all kinda of marks, specs, swirls, you name it. If I really cared I would get it re-painted, but I don't. Can I use polish on that?

I'm thinking about getting a buffer to do all this...a smaller handheld orbital one. Do I use that to poilsh and wax?

I'm so confused!

 

Here's the drill:

Wash (Dawn to remove wax, Car Shampoo, otherwise)
Clay (Remove embedded contaminants)
Polish (Swirl Mark Removal)
Wax

 

By hand? Use a buffer? Does it matter?

 

Either way is fine. I do mine by hand and have no problems. However, if the finish is too neglected or swirled, you will definitely need a buffer.

 

My finish isn't "neglected", its just seen better days. I was hoping that a polish might clean it up a tad.

 

What product were you planning to use? By default you should try to use a milder product first if you're not 100% sure about how bad it is or how to proceed. A swirl remover from Meguiar's or 3M would be a good place to start, but I understand that the Wal-Marts (in the US anyway ) carry 3M Finish Restorer, which might be a good step up if a swirl remover isn't strong enough.

If I were to speculate about your past experience with a compound on a white car, I'd say the product used was too harsh and left a dull rather than a fine finish.

 

Thanks.

Sounds about right.