I just found this thread and everything that has been posted is great advice. Meguiars has a great car detail forum that has videos showing you everything from how to wash your car (2 buckets and a grit guard) to claying, polishing and waxing. We have a big car show on this Saturday and I have taken a vacation day just to get the car ready. I will get up early in the morning to do a good wash, it goes back in the garage where a high powered blow dryer goes to work getting all the residual water out of the nooks and it will be dried with an Absorber. The car will then get clayed and polished, final step will be the wax - I love NXT Tech Wax. If doing work by hand be careful of how much pressure you put on your fingers - you can cause hazing if not careful. Once the exterior body is done, PlasticX is used on the Mugen vents and I detail the interior(Q-tips with some Supreme Shine work great on the vents), Supreme Shine on the dash, doors and middle console , sweep the seats and carpets. Take a lint brush to the meet, it is great to use on the carpets and seats if you have any lint that appears. Windows get cleaned inside and out (Perfect Clarity is awesome) and then I use Back to Black on the pillars to make them look like new. I also use this on the cowl and the grill using a small paint brush. Next the engine bay gets wiped down and I use Megs Engine Cleaner if needed. I have a CF manifold cover so it will get treated and I move down to the wheels and rims. I always use a soft brush to remove anythng off the wheels and make sure the rims are cleaned and polished. I save the tire dressing until I get to the show and stage the car. Then it is under the car to wipe down the Megan exhaust and I use Never Dull on the stainless stelle which makes it sparkle. Always keep products so you can see what you are grabing. You don't want to put Supreme Shine on your paint when you thought you were spraying Quick Detailer. The Megs microfiber towels are all that I use. The Auto Zone ones are only for the windows or rims. I had no clue how to do anything when I got my Fit and by watching the Megs Videos over and over again - have really learned alot. My 2007 Honda Fit looks great when it is detailed for a show. Here is a picture from this past weekend we went to a Cruise In for the Make A Wish foundation and it rained but my Fit still looked good!

 

Thanks, I'll seek an upgrade w/ the "detailer", (they have great reviews so I would think they have the capacity to do such things) and start shopping to keep it clean before and after. I really appreciate it!

Btw...I'm obviously not a car show guy, but I really admire all that you all go through to get ready for such events...holy cow!