Yesterday I washed my X for the first time since our trip from So Cal. I grabbed a special rag that was made for me by a friend. I have used it to wash glasses and plates in the kitchen and it makes them shine and removes residue better than any steel wool pad I've ever used. The best part is it's crocheted out of cotton string so it's non-abrasive. As I was using it to wash the car yesterday (won't be going back to the sink fyi) I got to thinking ....

I also found that the Mr. Clean magic sponge (white sponge) removes oxidization from the plastic bumpers, step rail, grille, and headlights! (that's in a different thread)

So these two things I will add to my wash bucket along with micro fiber chamois and the wheel brush.

What do you guys use on your Xterras to get the dirt off and make it sparkle? Do you have a special set of rags or a particular kind of soap or wax that you use?

Microfiber rags, scouring sponge for the rockers when they get caked with road grime, tire/wheel brush and wash it with the Turtle Wax soap. I also have a little bottle of a silicone polish made by some local dude that works as well as wax and I can do my whole X in about 30 minutes with it. After 3 weeks and two wheeling trips, water still beads on the hood.

wash bucket?

soap?

wax?

not sure what you mean by all that mumbo-jumbo

Turtle wax ICE. Everything turtle wax ICE!!!

LOL @ baf6 ... apparently you do not have bugs in your state.

Travis ... Turtle Wax Ice ... sounds cool. ;)

A clean Xterra???? I keep some of the mud under the hood so my X will know what runs through its veins

wash bucket?

soap?

wax?

not sure what you mean by all that mumbo-jumbo

x2

For the record I washed mine yesterday to get the bugs off so it wouldnt mess up the paint. After I left the boarding stable where I board my horse .... she was all muddy again.

At least it's not bugs. Mud I can take.

I use two buckets. One for soap and one for rinsing. You keep your soapy water much cleaner and don't drag debris across your car that is in the wash mit.

I use armor all car wash soap. Dish soap will strip the wax off of you ride.
Once a year I use a clay bar on my cars to get all of the tar and other impurities off of the paint. There are harsh chemicals in the air that simple washing won't take off.

After the clay bar I use a light polish (not wax) and apply it by hand. To much of a chance of burning your paint if you don't have practice with a buffer.
I follow the polish with a nice hard wax. 2 light coats is better than one heavy coat.
I use simple green on the wheel wells and under carriage and a heavy brush.
Since the X is 8 years old, I'll be using an enamel rattle can to repaint the frame and under body.

Oh, also you can use the clay bar on your window to get rid of nasty stuff.

Right now in my wash bucket is: A 16 oz Estwing, a box of 4" framing nails (for stump). Two sponges, one's a nice and easy one, the other's a bit tougher for the wheels and stuff. An old t-shirt for waxing, and finally some turtle wax.

A five gallon bucket never leaves my Xterra, any of you Military types can probably back me up on this if you've ever spent time in the field. A five gallon bucket in the woods is one of the most useful things to have. You can use it for everything from sitting on to washing your clothes in. Dead useful to have a bucket.

I keep air in mine. :)

We're talking washing the car, not personal hygene, right? If we're talking car washing, I use a Gilmour water wand (Lowes has them) for the underbelly (car, not me). It's about 36" long and adjustable to get all the crud and salt knocked off. Then I use the Mr. Clean car wash system. No bucket - no dirty water. The filter setting really does dry spot-free if you're thorough.

Five gallon bucket (free w/purchase last time I went to PepBoys)
bunch of toothbrushes and other detailing brushes
shˇtload of microfiber towels
shˇtload of wax applicators and assorted pads
Axion (mexican) dishwashing soap (this stuff will rip the hide off ur hands...will strip off old wax for sure)
Clay Bar. Always follows the dishwash soap.
Turtle Wax Car Wash soap...for when I dont wanna strip wax
Leather Shami
Mothers California Gold 3 Step Wax System
Zymol (for when I DONT wanna do three steps)
Bleche White Tire CLEANER
No Touch Tire Care...because I obviously dont believe in a 2 or 3 Steps in one anything
Two Random Orbit Polishers 6" and 10"

2 buckets
1 dodo juice "wookies fist"
1 foam cannon
Poorboys Super Slick & Wax Car Shampoo
claybars
microfibers
zaino
meguires hot shine tire gel (my only walmart bought stuff)
and last but not least
various DoDo juice waxes and P21S 100% (depends on which i feel like putting on that day)

thats just for the outside. this all comes from my show car 300c that i sold. i miss that car.

Eagle One Nanowash & Wax
Mother All wheel and tire cleaner

Rain

x2....why wash it when the enviroment does it for me

Honestly the best thing to get baked in mud and grim off of under car parts is simple green.
so:
rain-x soap
old style rag sponge
wheel brush
simple green
synthetic shammy (i still have that god awful leather one somewhere)

What is this wash thing you speak of??? Rain does the trick for me. If she is good to me and gets up and over the boulders that are 1/2 the size of here then I might give her a bath. :D