So you want to make your car's finish shine like new again? When you wax your car, it never looks as good as a pro detailer's job? There are a few secrets to make your car look like new. First is to wash your car properly. How do you not wash it properly? DO NOT USE ANYTHING BUT AUTO DETERGENT. Many people make the mistake of using dish washing soap or even  body soap on their car's. There is a reason why they make soap for car's, it's a different chemical mixture that does not fully strip wax, and helps remove outside dirt and contaminants more efficiently. After you've soaped up your ride with a good auto soap and scrubbed it over with a good wash mit, spray down the car to rinse off the soap. Quickly dry off the car with a quality terry cloth towel (tip, wash and dry this towel at least two times before using. If not, the tiny fibers will be all over your newly washed car).

Now the secret part, using detailing clay. This is commonly recognized as an obsessive step in detailing, but it is completely necessary to getting that brand new shine. Detailing clay can be found in any automotive store. It's a unique type of clay that comes with a lubricating spray that aides in removing tiny contaminants from your cars clear coat. Everyday your car is outdoors, it's attacked by the elements, sap, tar, bugs, dust, sand, dirt, chemicals, brake dust and more. Picture all of those elements on your car. This is why when you wax your car and skip the clay step, you're actually rubbing all of those contaminants deeper into your car's finish causing permanent scuffing and clear coat damage. To start the clay step, make sure your car is dry form the rinse, form the clay into a flat bar about 4 inches by 2 inches. Spray the lubricant on to a two foot by two foot area. Take the clay and rub it on the finish back and fourth until it is squeaky clean and smooth. You'll know right away when it is because at first there is a lot of resistance to the finish, once the contaminants start sticking to the clay, it becomes easier and easier to rub the clay across the finish. Make sure there is enough lubricant on the section you're working on. Make sure not to drop the clay on the ground, if any large contaminants or pebbles get stuck in there, your car's finish is FINISHED!

Once you're done with the clay, rinse your car with water only and dry quickly with the terry cloth towel.

Next step, polish and compound. Polishes and compounds are similar in the fact that they are abrasives but are different grades. Polishes are fine abrasives while compounds are heavier to remove bad scuffs and scratches. Check your car over for scratches and scuffs and identify them by putting a smear of compound on it. I usually identify them all at once, mark them all, and then start rubbing. It's best to rub in one direction and not to crisscross your movement. Once all the compound is rubbed in, wipe off the excess with another towel.

Now is the polishing step. Personally I use Zymol and have had great success with a black finish. In apply all of my products by hand. Although it takes longer, the results are better and you have less of a chance of burning in your clear coat by using a electric buffer. With a towel or applicator pad, pour some polish on to the pad and then start rubbing it in using a circular motion on about a 2x2 foot section of your car. Repeat this until your car is covered. Then buff out the polish with a clean towel.

Last step. Applying the Wax. I use a true carnuba wax. You can try a synthetic, but I've had the best results using Mothers products.

Take a new applicator or towel and start applying the wax just as you did the polish. Buff out the wax, and then repeat one more time. After the second round has been buffed out. I like to use a spray bottle filled with water to mist sections of the car, while buffing again to make the shine really glare. This step usually brings out the mirror like finish.