How often should I wax/polish the car? ive washed the car this evening and after wiping it down with a chamois left it. It received the full works two washes ago (polish n sealant autoglym stuff) and just wondered how long this stuff lasts on the car before it needs to be reapplied? many thanks in advance!!

Autoglym usually lasts a couple of months or so, but for better, longer lasting results you need to use some better products and modify your washing technique.

Wash :-

Use a lambswool mitt and 2x buckets (1 decent car shampoo (not washing up liquid), 1 warm clean water). Sud-up the mitt and do one panel in straight lines, then rinse in the clean water before repeating on the next panel. The mitt has a deep pile allowing grit to be transferred away from its and your paint surface, preventing swirls. By rinsing it in the clean water you rinse out collected grit prior to cleaning the next panel. Keep the whole car wet by hosing regularly if it's drying quick. Hose well at the end.

Drying :-

A chamois has nowhere for any remaining dirt to go as you dry the car, so it's better to use a deep pile microfibre towel. I use two, one which ends up really wet to remove the majority of surface water, the other to mop up what's left which remains almost dry. This again prevents swirls. A blade or chamois can be used on the glass.

Polish :-

There is a difference between polish and wax. Polish has abrasives in which delicately grind away your clearcote to leave a smooth and shiny finish. This should be done as little as necessary. The white residue from your Autoglym is clay, which is the abrasive. Personally I never use polish until my car has a couple of years worth of light surface marking, and then I get it machine polished which will leave it as new, but can only be done a few times as you only have so much clear-cote to go at.

Wax/Sealants :-

Different to polish as they should have no abrasives in. There are two main types, wax and polymer. Wax sealants usually contain an amount of Carnuba Wax which is expensive, but as hard as concrete when it sets. A quality Carnuba based wax is ideal in winter as it will be hard wearing and very water/dirt repellent. However, wax tends to degrade at about 180 degrees F, and in the summer your paint can exceed 240 degF. During the hotter months polymers are better, as they remain stable to over 400 degF, although they aren't as hard wearing so need more frequent application.

A good coat of Simoniz Original Carnuba sees me right through the winter, but the polmer products I use (Blackfire, Chemical Guys M-Sealer, Meguiars NXT etc) have me reapplying every two months or so from spring through to autumn.

Apply with a foam pad and buff off with plush microfibre towels.

Clay Bar :-

Once or twice a year, usually in the spring and autumn, it's worth cleansing the surface to rid it of surface contaminents such as tar, tree sap, bird dropping etc. These things often don't fully come off with conventional washing, but a decent clay will wick them off gently leaving a glass like surface ready for a good coat of sealant.

HTH.

Great advice there..

I find that an extra coat of something akin to egp after 24 hours prolongs the 'bling' effect, and makes it a lot easier to keep clean in the long run.

hi again and thanks, now im confused. im already using the mitt and two buckets method and was reccommended autoglymm for washing and protecting my car, but now being told not to use it??? I only ever bought the stuff after it was reccommended on this site!!

It all depends on how long you intend keeping your car tbh.

If, like most people, you only keep it 2 maybe 3 years, then using srp 2 or three times a year won't harm it.

It's the wax that sets hard to give a better finish.

As Corradoy boy says, clay bar the car first, then polish, then layer wax on to give a longer lasting gleam.

I've been using Autoglym stuff for nearly 100 years, and I've still got a clearcoat, albeit thin in parts.

HTH.

I've been using Autoglym stuff for nearly 100 years

Good on yer old man. That old Benz must have a lovely shine

I use autogylm shampoo once a week

then just EGP every 2weeks and its mint

Oops, duplicate

hi again and thanks, now im confused. im already using the mitt and two buckets method and was reccommended autoglymm for washing and protecting my car, but now being told not to use it??? I only ever bought the stuff after it was reccommended on this site!!

Fear not chap! AG products are sadly under-rated. SRP+EGP is a very good combination and can last quite a while. As has been mentioned another coat of EGP 24 hours after the first gives very good results.

Top that off with a wax such as Collinite 476S, and that will last for months.