I searched through the forums and found this great article for keeping black paint looking great:
https://dodgeforum.com/m_156644/tm.htm

However, I'm seeking advice and comments on how to keep my SRT-4 extra special nice looking.

First off, I'm a really brand specific person. Everyone seems to tell me that Meguiar's is the best wax out there, so I bought their entire system. I realize that the article suggest Klasse, but I thought the system of Meguiar's would work really well used together. I got:

The Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo and Conditioner
The Gold Class Wheel Cleaner
The Deep Crystal System Paint Cleaner (Step 1)
The Deep Crystal System Polish (Step 2)
The Deep Crystal System Carnauba Wax (Step 3)
The Gold Class Spray detailer
1 drying cloth, 3 microfiber, 1 terry cloth, and 1 drying blade, 6 foam waxing applicators, a huge brown sponge

After reading that article, it seems like I should follow these steps:

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Initially: (Start at 7PM sundown)
1. Rinse with a spray
2. Wash with gold stuff (starting from the top, yadda yadda)
3. Rinse without spraying.
4. Use a drying blade to make sure it's nice and dry
5. Use the Microfiber to remove all dust from the car
6. Apply Meguiar's step 1 paint cleaner to car with applicator pad, wiping clean before it dries with terry cloth or more microfiber, one panel at a time.
7. Use microfiber again to remove all dust that got on while using paint cleaner.
---- (This is where I need advice for sure) ----
8. Apply Meguiar's polish to car (step 2) with applicator pad, wiping clean before dry, one panel at a time. 8PM application
9. Wait 4 hours
10. Apply Meguiar's polish (step 2) to car with applicator pad, wiping clean before dry, one panel at a time. 12PM application
11. Wait 4 hours
12. Apply Meguiar's polish (step 2) to car with applicator pad, wiping clean before dry, one panel at a time. 4 - AM application
13. Wait 4 hours
14. Apply Meguiar's Wax (Step 3) to car with applicator pad. Allow to dry in the shade. 8AM
15. Use tire shine and wheel cleaner somewhere in there.

Every day:
Use spray detailer and microfiber cloth to keep shine up.

Every Week:
1. Rinse with a spray
2. Wash with gold stuff (starting from the top, yadda yadda)
3. Rinse without spraying.
4. Use a drying blade to make sure it's nice and dry
6. Use tire shine and wheel cleaner

Every Month
1. Rinse with a spray
2. Wash with gold stuff (starting from the top, yadda yadda)
3. Rinse without spraying.
4. Use a drying blade to make sure it's nice and dry
5. Use Meguires Step 1 Paint Cleaner
6. Use Meguires Step 2 Polish
7. Wait 4 hours
8. Use Meguires Step 3 Wax
9. Use tire shine and wheel cleaner

Every 6-12 months:
1. Remove wax? (i'm not sure about this)
repeat all steps in original waxing
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Now here's where I need some help.

Can someone explain to me the proper technique for buffing? I don't get this catch all word for swirling around a cloth at all.

What should I use on the interior? I'm already getting dust in there. I figured I would just use warm water and soap on the dash, and some kind of leather cleaner for the wheel. Vacuuming and maybe fabreeze auto for the cloth seats.

What is best for the glass? I figured the terry cloth would be best for cleaning the glass with some high quality glass cleaner. I haven't seen any Meguires glass cleaner anywhere. Can anyone reccomend something?

I live at an apartment, so the shade thing is going to be a problem. The only shade I'm going to get is from trees that have all kinds of squirells in them. Further complicating this is the heat. It's about 93 out there with a heat index of 98. How can I accomplish this "curing" of the polish with these conditions? My plan is to let it cure overnight, like that schedule up there suggests, and make sure I clean all the dust off of it before applying another coating of polish/wax, then parking it in the shade somewhere (like a parking garage) to let the wax set in.

Anwyay, I don't want to mess it up right off the bat, so this weekend I'm just going to give it a solid wash and wait for feedback on this post for next weekend.

Thanks in advance:

Doku

 

buy a buffer and use meguirs car polishes they are the best thing for paint old or new......... I paint and its commonly used by painting professionals. Waxing isnt that great for your car. Or at least some waxes.

 

Never use anything dry on the inside of the vehicle. Wet rags or use a spray cleaner before wiping the dash, consoles, or seats. I use to detail cars and I seen people wipe the dashboards with a dry towel and scratch the hell out of it with all the dust and dirt being drug across the dash. Use a specific cleaner for what you are cleaning, vinyl, leather, cloth, ect. If you leave the cleaners on to long they can burn the surface. Also buffing should be left to the experianced, you can burn right thru the paint if done wrong. if you want to do a mild buff, dont buy a high speed buffer, get a agitator buffer, anyone with a thumb can use one. never get wax on exterior vinyl or plastics, you will never get it off of there and you will be left with white stuff on your black vinyls. Tip for tire shine, dont spray it directly on the tires. Whatever doesnt soak or stick to the tires will be flung down the side of your car when you drive it, leaving oil spots on your car, which show up really good on black. Spray tire shine onto a rag or spong first then wipe the tires trying to keep access to a minimum. Paying to get you car detailed doesnt cost all that much. If you have it done once a year or once every 6 months, your car will stay looking nice. Just dont get the paint buffed out to many times, or you will be down to the primer in no time. frequent washes will keep it looking nice, wax jobs twice a year will protect the paint. Maguires also sales a clay product that cleanes the paint before you wax it, great stuff. you wont believe what comes out of your paint after you use the clay on your paint. hope this helps

 

Another good tip on the interior and keeping it dust free. - get a california dash duster. Works great.