1. How do I remove the wax? I am wanting to rewax my truck and do a really in-depth detail job. I've been told that Joy dish-soap does the trick...true?

2. How do I get those damn waterspots off? My sprinklers were spraying the truck at night and now I've got millions of stupid water spots all over it.


Thanks guys

 

1. Dude, DO NOT USE dishwashing detergent. It's for dishes. Joy will eventually strip all the wax off your paint and your clearcoat starts to peel. Not a good thing. Find yourself a good paint cleaner, polish and wax combo from any auto parts store - (FYI: get better friends )
If you choose dishwashing detergent to take off the wax, be careful. I've never heard of that technique. (?)

2. The majority of the guys here try claying to remove water spots. Do a search and you'll find plenty of info on washing, waxing, etc. - Og

 

Did a search on dish detergent as a wax stripper - I see some people actually use it. Who knew? :o - Og

 

First off, use the sticky and search feature. But I will answer your questions anyway.

Washing with Dawn is a good technique to intentionally remove all layers of wax. I do it on all first-time details and occasionally on my own to prepare for an in-depth detail. Claying can remove parts of your LSP, but dont expect it to remove EVERY bit of wax. Another method is just to wash with normal car wash solution (ie: Gold Class, NXT wash, etc) and know that the abrasive step in your detail will remove everything.

I prefer to do the Dawn wash followed by washing with Gold Class. If you do wash with dish soap, be aware that it dries things out, so you will need to use the conditioning oils found in a good wash afterwards to prevent your clear from failing in the long term. Also, understand that washing with Dawn should not be used more than once to twice a year; I use it about once a year to start fresh...

If I remember correctly, RP just washes normally, clays, then uses his abrasive polishes that are being used for defect removal to take off any previous protection on there.

as for water spots, do a search on that. There is Oodles of info on these forums about it. No sense typing it out again.

 

You don't need to use Dawn or Joy anymore....as F150Sport pointed out, if you clay the truck then use type of polish like the one step from Megs it will remove any wax left over from the clay process.

I had this same conversation with another local detailer yesterday. He was using Poorboys products, he is using SSR1 as his correction step...I assure you, using clay and SSR1, that will remove any wax you have on the truck.

Dawn and Joy can be very tough not only on your paint but your plastics as well. I would skip that step all together and just use a good car soap.

 

I use to use Dawn before a full detail. Now I just use my normal car soap. When you clay and use a paint correcting polish, it removes the wax anyways. Clay and Polish the paint, it'll remove the water spots. I'm sure your windows have them, too. After you're doing claying, use it on the windows.

 

like I said, I had heard dish-soap works...but I'll avoid it.

I'll grab some clay and give that a try. I've got some sap and other fine grit in the finish that needs to go...cool that the clay will take the wax off also

Appreciate it guys.

 

There are no oils that need to be replaced on clear coated paint jobs. The paint does not breath either. So that info is false. That stuff was started by Zymol years ago. Dawn will dry out your weather stripping and your hands, but not the paint. Why do people use Dawn to strip wax, I dont know. Its another one of those online forum things. Dawn as well as Woolite for that matter, have no use in the detailing world. Or should I say proper detailing. Use a strong soap such as Chemical Guys Wash n Gloss. That is what I use before a full detail on customers cars. Then clay the car. See how much beading you get after that. You'll get little to none and the paint will not be slick. Those are signs that the LSP is gone. Any remaining LSP will be removed by your abrasive polish or paint cleaner.

 

The guys have pretty much covered question one.

As for the hard water spots...

You can try clay, and you might remove some of them.

You can use a good polish and you might remove more of them.

You can even try straight vinegar with a sponge (and wash/rinse off thoroughly), if the spots are pretty severe. This may or may not help.

In the end, if the spots are really severe, you might want to try a good "decon" kit (decontamination).

I like the kit from Finish Kare.

http://www.fk1usa.com/decontamination.htm

Even the kit may not work if the spots are too far gone.

Hope this helps, and good luck.

 

I disagree slightly. I only use it to clean my lambswool mitts. other than that i dont use it.

 

wow, I'd heard that this was a expert area, but...wow

The waterspots have been there for about 1 month. they come off with somewhat with elbow grease, so I'm sure a little chemical help will do the trick.

 

Hey Tylus - why don't you try to hook up with wxscpo? I do believe he's stationed in HI too. He's a very experienced detailer.