Your best tips for wash, wax, polish, buff, detail in prep for a sale

[vt_maverick]

That's why I recommended to not even bothering with the polishing step since he is just putting them up for sale. Unless they have some pretty significant scratches all over the whole car, a good cleaner wax with another coat of a nicer wax on top will make it look great without the need to get buffing stuff if you are only planning to use it for the pre-sale prep. If it does have some small localised blemishes you want to fix a hand applied compound will work as a cheap alternative.

I like to use Meguiar's cleaner wax if I'm doing a detail that doesn't involve polishing and then after that cures for a day, put a coat of nice wax on top. Here is a picture of my dad's truck that I did. No polish, just a wash, clay, cleaner wax and then Meg's NXT 2.0 for a final coat. The clay had the biggest affect on it I think. Polishing it is on my list of things to do though, but its a daily driver and work truck so its racking up new scuffs and scratches all the time.

+1 - Right on the money. Here's what I use, it's certainly not super top-end, but you get great results:

• Meguiar's Gold Class Car Wash or NXT Generation Car Wash
• Wool Wash Mitt
• Meguiar's Cleaner Wax (fabulous for covering scratches and removing water spots)
• Meguiar's NXT Generation 2.0 Wax (use it as a second coat as Etfren said)
• Meguiar's Microfiber Wax Applicator (comes in the NXT 2.0 box, or you can buy them separately - far superior to terry cloth applicators IMHO)
• Eagle One Glass Cleaner (cleans glass without leaving streaks, great for when you need to detail in the sun)
• Meguiar's Endurance Tire Gel (aka Grape Jelly - leaves nice shine that lasts)
• Tire Swipes (these are like $1 each and make applying tire gel much easier)
• Meguiar's Gold Class Leather Protectant Wipes (super quick to apply with wipes)

Some folks may chime in for Armor-All on the interior, but personally I don't like the super high-gloss look - Meguiar's Interior and Exterior Trim Cleaner leaves a much darker, more subtle look.

All of the above can probably be had for $75 or less.

[VX KAT]

Some folks may chime in for Armor-All on the interior, but personally I don't like the super high-gloss look - Meguiar's Interior and Exterior Trim Cleaner leaves a much darker, more subtle look.

I use 303 on the interior...not shiny, and leaves the panels and dash a little darker and rich looking.