I'm just putting together a bunch of stuff to clean my X, and am curious what you all consider the essentials to keeping the X looking new.

After reading through this forum, I have identified the following:

Two plastic buckets
Dishwashing soap
Absorber for drying
Meguiar's 3 step wax
Terry Towels 100% usa cotton
Mother’s Back to Black
Meguiar's Quik Detail

Am I missing anything?

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'01 Aztec Red XE 3-pk

dishwashing soap???? I am curious....

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triXie
Silver Ice '01
only a 2 pack

First thing do not use dishsoap. Use an actual car wash soap. Meguiar's makes a couple of different ones.

Secondly don't use those absorber. I am a firm believer in chamois. They work well and will stand up to a lot of wear and tear.

That is all.

Scott

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Math svcks!! -- Jimmy Buffett

http://www.gpxo.org

CRIKEY!! That croc nearly bit my arm off!

Yeah, the dishwashing soap should be a once a year thing, like before you start the whole 1-2-3 step Meguiar's. It helps clean off the nasty stuff that has a good grip on your paint. You *will* have to re-wax if you use dishwashing soap. Otherwise regular car wash soap is much gentler, and pretty much leaves your wax intact.

Two buckets? Nah, just dump the soap out halfway and start fresh. Two mitts wouldn't be a bad idea though, one for the top and one for the bottom.

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For a good time call 800-565-3673

Uh, yeah.

How 'bout some Shiner Bock or Celis Pale?

And if you're X is relatively new and/or hasn't been exposed to the elements skip the dishwashing soap and use car soap.

Then drive that shiny beeyotch to the G-Man and reward yourself again.

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"Xterra Pride"
"all your beer are belong to us"

Eeeekkkkssss... Dishwasher soap... Why don't
you just use a scrub brissle too... Use
something else... Specifically for a vehicle!
Other than that, you're cleaning package
looks good!!!

- Air B

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Xterra 2001 Alpine Green SE 4x2
Air Butchie Productions
Baq to Baq - World Champion LA Lakers '00 & '01...

Austin X must be using the dishwashing soap coz he cooks, eats and prepares food on top of the X. And besides, its easier than finding a giant dishwasher to put the X into.

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"People who think they know it all really annoy those of us who do!"
X2DMaX!

I too like the chamois.. I used it on my old car. I'm too damn lazy to wash my X..

Dishwashing soap? It's time to move this baby to ALR!!

You got tire wash and all that stuff? Armor All? Bumper cleaner?


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And that's the bottom line, cause Tatsuo2k said so!!
SilverIce2k XE V-6 4X2

Tire wash, I use a sponge and Simple Green. Gets all the road tar of easily without having to use stiff bristle brushes, and I don't use tire shine because my X like to go offroad frequently and I don't want to look like a soccer mom.



Don't worry about Austin X getting flamed because you just became the human flame shield!
Don't use Armor All, it looks good for a few days but feels greasy and makes the plastic go white after time.

One of the best apperance posts I read was one about keeping a pledge Grab-it in the car to wipe the dust off when you're at a red light. I did it and it works great, after four-wheeling on a dirt road with the windows down I use the Grab-it and by time I was home the car looked like it had come off the showroom floor, at least inside .

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2000 Silver Ice V6 4x4 3pak
"Experience is not what happens to you; it's what you do with what happens to you."
-Aldous Huxley

Another item that comes in handy is is one of those 'california dusters'. They're good for removing pollen or light dust.

dave and xtoy - but nothing more

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I dunno, I've pretty much used Dawn my entire life on my cars and never had a problem. Sometimes I'll buy car wash soap if I happen to walk by it in the store, but I use Dawn all the time. Works for me. Nothing abrasive about it at all.

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01 SE 4x4
Silver Ice

Cygnus-X1
It's not that Dawn and other dishwashing products are abrasive. They have a reputation for removing some or all of the wax finish. Nothing wrong with that. That method is often used when you want to clean the surface to start with a new product or to re-start with your current wax.
So by using dishwashing soap you may be reducing the usefull life of the wax on your vehicle. Just making more work for yourself in the long run.

dave and xtoy - work less, play more

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Well to defend myself I am going to point to Ian (xoc) who said...

"Is there really a difference ?

I've used Dawn (or whatever is under the sink) forever. We even used dish soap when I detailed cars for Nissan in 1982.

I've never had paint problems on any of my vehicles."


But you anti-dish soap ppl will all be glad to know that I did NOT wash my X with dish soap. The dealership did a nice job on the wax before I picked it up, and I didn't want to remove it yet, so I went out and bought some Meguairs Car Wash instead. So now my kit looks like this:

Two plastic buckets
Large Sponge
Tire scrubber
Meguairs Car Wash
Absorber for drying (worked very well)
Meguiar's 3 step wax (tested on our 1998 Maxima...hard work but worth it)
Terry Towels 100% cotton (couldn't find usa, only pakistan)
Mother’s Back to Black
Meguiar's Quik Detail
Meguair's Endurance Tire Gel

Thanks for your input and I'm just glad I didn't forget to pick up my flame-retardant suit when I signed on to this board.

AX

PS gmaxis - you have got to try my Xomelet. On a hot Austin day with the engine running I can cook one right on the hood in 10 minutes flat. Mmmmmmm good!


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'01 Aztec Red XE
3-pk auto 4x2

I HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT

Good lord....I can't believe what I WAS going to do to my new X when I wash it!!! I may has well taken a sander to the hood and waxed it with nails and egg yolk!!! Geez...Armor All in the trash, wax in the trash, towels to dry in the trash....man, what a rookie I am. I feel like I should go out and apologize to my baby for even thinking of what I was going to do to her.

I've only had her for 3 days and I'm itching to wash her...but it keeps raining in Houston...for god's sake would someone fix that damn ozone hole!! Anyway...I'm off to AutoZone for Meguires 3 step, B2B, Endurance Tire Gel, Simply Geen and some APC for the engine. Maybe I should start lifting more weights to get in shape for this marathon wash. I can't wait to see the results...of the wash, not the workout.

Oh yeah...I almost forgot...and a six of Anchor Steam.

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'01 SuperBlack SE 4x4 Auto with Neoprene panties

I just cleaned my X for the first time using the proper techniques according to XOC Washing and Waxing Rules and Regulations....and IT LOOKS AWESOME!!! I truly cannot believe how incredible my truck looks. It took 4 hours, but it was so worth every second. It kept getting better looking hour after hour. For anyone who just bought an X and needs to know how to clean it....Meguire's 3 step process rocks...and the Mother's worked wonders. I used Endurance on the tires along with Simply Green and they shine like new. Now where is that ice chest and the remote...I want to watch the 'Stros kick some Randy Johnson Kentucky waterfall azzzzz....

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'01 SuperBlack SE 4x4 Auto with Neoprene panties

Uhh, you need any help??




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"Xterra Pride"
"all your beer are belong to us"

Dude...you're about 3 days too late....but worry not....I've still got a Double Chocolate Stout sittin' here with your name all over it.

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It's going to be fun to watch and see how long the meek can keep the earth after they inherit it.

'01 SuperBlack SE 4x4 Auto with Neoprene panties