Cleaning the new truck for the first time, any tips?

[DUSlider]

Alright, this is gonna sound dumb but with my old s10 all I ever did was run it through the automatic car wash and be done with it. Now though I'd rather do it myself and I'm not sure what exactly I need to get, what a god car wash product is etc..... Should you use different sponges/buckets to clean wheels/tires/paint etc.... Good methods of drying.... I told you this was really dumb...... Be gentle, also if the things I need to get are gonna be available at pep boys even better.

Thanks

[V6MaroFL]

Everybody has their own technique and products they like, so I'll just give you my run down.....

1. Wash with Armor All or Mothers car wash soap. Don't use dishsoap. I use traditional sponges.. some people say dirt will get stuck in it and it will scratch your paint but I think its bull.. I never had a problem

Dry with the absorber or a traditional chamios if you perfer. This can be used to dry the windows as well. Wash the windows with some kind of automotive window cleaner (don't use blue alchohol based windex, it will eat up your tint on the inside of the window, get the clear stuff, I use the stuff made by armor all).

2. Clay Bar Refer to another recent thread on this topic that has all you need to know about clay.

You can do a cleaner wax (meguiars) here if you really want to be extensive, and/or use scratch x if you have those really annoying swirls in the paint (or once again very extensive, 3M rubbing compound and a buffer) Scratch X and the 3M stuff is a mild abrasive and will eat into your clear coat so you don't want to use it too often.

3. Polish - I like Meguair's # 7 Show Car Glass Polish if you can find it. Apply with a traditional applicator and use only 100% cotton towels to buff off. Let dry to a haze before taking off.. don't do circles, just apply up and down or side to side.

4. Wax - Meguair's Gold Class paste.. otherwise same techniques as polish.

5. Tires - Clean them first with Simple Green. Afterwards I like Meguair's Gold Class Endurance High Gloss Tire Gel, its good stuff, a bit pricey. Just make sure you apply it with a wax applicater, then wipe it off well, or you'll get horrible spin off and after hours of trying to make your truck look nice it will look like **** again.

6. Wheels - Kinda depends on what you have. Eagle One Wadding Polish is good stuff.. works well on exaust tips too.

Don't forget to clean the little things like the door jams and wheel wells. I use good ole WD-40 to make the wheel wells shine, you can use the tire gel on them too but that crap is expensive.

7. Interior - Armor all.. wipes or spray with a towel. And, of course, vaccum it good.

8. Engine Bay - Simple green and a water hose. Just don't hit the alternator or any electrical stuff with the water and you won't have a problem.

This will take all day if you're doing it right, but when its done it'll be worth it! If anybody has anything to add feel free.