knowledge centre
You've arrived at the Meguiar's resource for automotive surface care knowledge. The useful information shown below will help you understand the importance of automotive surface care and how Meguiar's products can help you keep your car looking its best at all times.
Secrets of the Pros - Watch Your Step
Professionals understand the critical value of each of the following appearance care steps:
1. WASHINGRemoving loose contaminants on the top of your car's paint surfaces. |
2. CLEANINGRemoving bonded and embedded contaminants, blemishes and oxidation that washing cannot remove. |
3. POLISHING (Not waxing)This is the key step for restoring rich, vibrant paint colour with sparkling, swirl-free high gloss. BEWARE: Not all products labelled "polish" are truly pure polishes. Some are abrasive and some are waxes. Meguiar's polishes are pure polishes. |
4. PROTECTINGApplying a barrier coat of tough waxes, silicones, resins and/or polymers on top of the paint finish to repel contamination and oxidation. |
5. MAINTAININGRemoving the daily accumulation of surface contaminants (i.e. fallout, diesel exhaust, overspray, hard water spots, tree sap, bird droppings) the instant they are discovered, before they have time to bond or etch into the paint finish. Meguiar's® Quik Detailer™ detailer quickly removes fresh contaminants on the spot without scratching your paint finish. Carry it in your car for ready use. (Maintaining has become the most important step for keeping a sharp car looking sharp all the time.) |
Paint Surface Evaluation Test
Wash and dry both your car and your hands. Now run your finger tips across the paint surfaces, which should feel as smooth as glass. If not, you are feeling bonded contaminants that can be safely and quickly removed using our Meguiar's® Smooth Surface™ Clay Kit, and oxidation can be removed with a mild, clear coat safe, abrasive cleaner like Meguiar's® Ultimate Compound before applying polish or wax.
Protection Test
To determine if your paint has enough wax protection, wad a clean, dry towel and rub it against the TOP surfaces of your car after it has been washed and dried. If you hear squeaking, it needs to be waxed.
Important Car Washing Tips
Do not use dish washing detergents or cheap car wash shampoos because they can strip off paint protection and accelerate oxidation. Only wash your car when it's cool and in the shade to avoid water spotting. Start at the top and work down. Soft water is best.
Tree Sap Mist
During spring and summer, trees release tree sap mist. Unlike droplets of sap, tree sap mist can travel for long distances before landing on parked cars or cars passing by. It's impossible to avoid, yet easy to remove when it first lands, by maintaining with Meguiar's® Quik Detailer™ detailer. Hardened deposits of tree sap are best removed with the Meguiar's® Smooth Surface™ Clay Kit.
Tire Care Tips
Avoid ordinary silicone emulsion protectants that cover surface contamination with a shiny synthetic coating. These cause tire discolouration and decay. Clean your tires while you dress them with a complex formula like Meguiar's® Endurance™ High Gloss Tire Gel that cleans, beautifies and protects in one easy step, leaving tires looking like new, and free of that "plastic" look.
Wheel Care Tips
Most wheels now come with clear coat finishes that require special care. Do not use abrasives or scouring pads on these wheels. One of the safest, most effective wheel cleaners is Meguiar's® Hot Rims™ All Wheel Cleaner. It contains no acid, toxins or abrasives, yet effectively removes stubborn road grime and brake dust and leaves the surface bright and shiny.
Interior Care
Common silicone emulsion protectants cover over surface contamination, create glare on the dashboard, and leave seats and steering wheels dangerously slippery. Use non-silicone vinyl cleaners and one-step cleaner conditioners such as Meguiar's® Supreme Shine Protectant. Only use specialized leather care products (like Meguiar's® Gold Class Leather Cleaner & Conditioner) on leather surfaces.
Clear Plastic & Window Tinting
Maintaining clear plastics and window tinting is a delicate matter. These materials can easily scratch and lose their original clarity. We highly recommend the use of Meguiar's® PlastX™ Clear Plastic Cleaner and Polish to safely remove surface contaminants and gently restore optical clarity. Use it on window tinting, convertible rear windows, instrument panel lenses, helmet face shields, sun glasses and hundreds of other clear plastic surfaces.
Special Detailing Tips
Use 100% cotton terry cloth towelling on your paint finish. The nap protects the finish from particles caught between the surface and the towel. Synthetic blends may scratch your surface. If your polishing cloth pulls colour your finish is probably not a clear coat. Avoid turning your application cloth over to its other side to apply a different product, because some ingredients may penetrate through and change the chemical balance of the product. Avoid putting pressure on tops of ridges where your car's paint is the thinnest. Use Meguiar's® Quik Detailer™ detailer and a soft 100% cotton terry towel cloth to remove wax residue from emblems, lettering, etc.