How To Clean & Detail Your Car For The Summer

How To Clean/Detail Your Car For The Summer
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First and foremost, let me start this out by saying that I was NOT paid for anything having to do with this article. I was NOT given the products I'm going to talk about. I'm a genuine fan of these products and a genuine fan of detailing my car. I thought it would fun to pass along my "secrets" to you. So, now that we have that out of the way, let's get into it shall we?

I love having a clean car. I love having a car that's so clean that people stare at it while you drive by. I love having a car so clean that my friends ask me "What did you use on your car?!!" It's just a little bit of satisfaction and knowing that all of your hard work has paid off. Let's be honest here, if you've ever detailed your car, you know it's hard work. But at the same time, you know it can be EXTREMELY fun too. Hell, it's even a lucrative side business for some.

Today I want to talk about 4 products that I recently used on my 2004 Explorer. I've kept Miles (that's the car's name because that's all I put on him) in great shape over the years. After 12 years, it's just starting to show signs of rust. I can't complain about it. He's treated me good.

So, recently I've discovered a car cleaning brand known as Chemical Guys. No, it's not a bunch of dudes mixing stuff together in a laboratory. I found out about these guys via YouTube. I was watching videos of people detail their cars, and more and more people starting reviewing Chemical Guys products. I liked the results I saw, so I wanted to test it out myself.

The first product I used was Chemical Guys Slick Finish Cleaner Wax. This is a GREAT product to use right after you've washed your car and clay barred it. What's clay barring? That's something you can Google yourself or you can wait until I do that video. It's up to you.

This product made my paint feel very clean and also left a nice shine to it. You could use this as a stand alone product because it does have carnauba wax in it, but where's the fun in that if you're detailing your car?

Check the above video for the results.

After applying the Cleaner Wax, letting it set, and then buffing it off, it was time to use Chemical Guys Blacklight. Look, I'll be completely and brutally honest with you with this stuff: It's AWESOME. It leaves your car with such a DEEP shine. This is a great polish especially if you have a dark car. If you have a white car or maybe silver-ish car, you could always use the Chemical Guys Whitelight instead.

I love this product and it's ease of use. You apply it, let it sit for like 15-20 minutes, and then buff it off. Get ready to be amazed. You'll soon begin to be the envy of your neighborhood.

After using the Blacklight, it was time to seal in this beautiful polish. It was time to apply Chemical Guys Jetseal. This is something you have to use BEFORE you put your wax on. I know what your thinking. "Why wouldn't I want to seal in the wax protection?" That's because this doesn't "stick" to wax. Ok? Ok.

Jetseal is so, so, effortless to use. Like all the other products, I applied this with a DA polisher and then I waited. I think you're supposed to wait like 20-25 minutes. I waited an hour. I applied it, and went and made some lunch, ate, and then came back to buff this off. The GREAT thing about this is that you CAN apply it to windows as well. It has that Rain-X effect on your windshield. It works fairly well too.

This sealant will help keep your car looking amazing and will also help bead water and help keep waterspots from forming on your paint. I would recommend applying this and buffing it off on days when there is not going to be any rain. Once applied, you CAN'T get the car wet for at least 12 hours. Put it on at night, buff it off, and then slap another coating on in the morning. I'm OCD like that. This is supposed to hold up for 6-12 months, so yeah. You probably don't need that second coat at all. But at almost $40 a bottle, you better use this stuff.

Finally, I applied Chemical Guys Butter Wet Wax. The product name is basically what it sounds like. This wax damn near melts into your paint. This is by far the easiest carnauba wax that I have EVER used. Ever. Ever. Ever. You apply it, let it cure for 15 minutes or so, and then wipe it off with a microfiber towel (like everything else). The "wet look" your car has is incredible. If you wanted to skip the other steps and go right to this, that'd be cool too but you won't have the awesome polish and sealant. Also, the smell is intoxicating...in a good way. It's like being surrounding by 1000 bananas.

This Butter Wet Wax and the Blacklight are my absolute favorites. The shine both of these products bring is just remarkable. You will not be disappointed. If you are, then you did something wrong.

I probably should've started with the above video, but just in case you feel you're washing your car wrong, you probably are. I've given you a review of the Chemical Guys Foam Blaster Wash Gun and also the Mr. Pink Soap too. I love the foamer but I wasn't a big fan of the soap.

Wrapping this up, again I was NOT PAID OR SPONSORED for this article or products. These are my thoughts and when something is awesome, I want to tell people about it. Just like you tell your friends about a great restaurant you ate at or great movie you saw.

I'm a fan of car detailing and I know there's more people like me out there too. But if you're just getting into it or you've been a novice for a while and want to step up from the products you get at your local auto parts store, then check out Chemical Guys. They basically have everything a car cleaning guru would need.

If you have any further questions, feel free to leave them in comments section of the videos and I'll try my best to answer them for you.

Now, if it's a nice day, get out there and clean your car. I'm sure it's filthy. Take some time and make it look great. Become the envy of your neighborhood.

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