My 04' Xterra just turned 50k today and I have never washed it myself. I always took her to the car washes at the gas station. I am having new brakes put on her today and will be washing and waxing this weekend. I do not want to sound stupid, but what process do you all use, and what should I buy.

04' Black SE Xterra
Light scratchs all over, especially around the door and keyhole.

Thanks for any input on this.

For starters, if you still have the cargo basket on there....undo that and clean really well under there. I am sure there is a bunch of mold, mildew and whatnots under there. It is really easy to take off. You just twist the cargo net "hooks" of like a screw (4 of them) and remove the basket. Be sure to set them somewhere safe, so they do not get lost.

I use Meguirs products, car wash and wax. You may want to use the clay bar also for problem areas. Use Back to Black, also found in the carwash aisle in a red bottle for 5 bucks, on all of the plastic outside. Including the bumpers, mud flaps, door handles, grille. This stuff works great to bring back the original color.
Use it more than once if you do not get the results that you are expecting. It may take time to get it back to the original color.
I use express wax for a nice shine in between real waxing. You can spray it on while it is wet and wipe it off.

For the interior I use Finish 2000 I believe...It is in a bright flourescent green bottle you can not miss it. It smells like new car and is not too oily.
I use regular liquid bissell carpet cleaner...like for carpet machines.
$10 bucks at the grocery store. I use real hot water and the cleaner in a bowl to wipe the carpet down, with a wash cloth. Scrub the spots if you have any.
My carpet looks exactly like it did the day I bought the X. You can also use this on the seats. It's a 2002, I bought it in 2001!! You would never know. The whole truck still looks brand new.
:wink-big: http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll38/onehotmamma4/x013.jpg

I just use some standard auto soap, a bucket and water... It depends on how good of a job you want to do.. Give me some more input and let me know what you are looking to do and I will give you some more advice.. I used to do part time detailing on weekend so I know a little on the subject :)

Oh yeah under the roof basket on mine had about a inch of mold under it, I couldnt get it clean at home I had to go pressure wash it and scrub and scrub and scrub!!! And I took the pressure washer to the windows and mold was FLYING out of the trim around the windows...

I am wanting to try and get this thing as close to new as possible. I have just paid it off and was looking to go out and buy something new, when I realized that I have not had a bit of problems with it. It drives great, and it is PAID OFF.. :)

EXACTLY.......and its an X
You can not go wrong here.
Everyone always comments how nice my truck looks
for its age...follow my routine, and you will not be disapponited.
I usually spend at least 2 hours on it when I wash and wax.

thx

EXACTLY.......and its an X
You can not go wrong here.
Everyone always comments how nice my truck looks
for its age...follow my routine, and you will not be disapponited.
I usually spend at least 2 hours on it when I wash and wax.

2 hours for a wash AND wax? Holy hell!

The last time I washed and waxed mine, it took me over 7 hours!!! Granted I did hit it with a rubbing compound for the scratches first but I didn't even clean the inside. I had to do it the next day. I've yet to clean mine in under 2 even if all I do is wash it.

You gotta let me in on your secret! hahaha

LMAO
1.) It is hot as shit in FLORIDA.....so while it actually takes me like 5 hours total....3 hours are spent cooling off in the pool and inside taking water & AC breaks...LOL

2.) My truck is friggin spotless...I wash it weekly......and it has never touched a mud hole LOL. So it is not too dirty.

My cleaning has to come in stages it takes me so long. hahaha

Stage 1: Hi-Pressure rinse to get all the mud off the body. ($5)

Stage 2: Hi-Pressure rinse the undercarriage. ($5)

Stage 3: Me with a garden hose laying under my truck washing out the frame rails and skids and all the little nooks and crannys.

Stage 4: Pulling the wheels to wash the backside of the rims and tires along with the control arms, brakes, shocks and all the other stuff in the wheel wells.

Stage 5: Actually washing the damn thing!

Stage 6: Light detailing job.

Stage 7: Heavy detailing and buffing/waxing but only if I'm not planning to wheel for a few weeks.

Stage 8: The interior and the leather.

It's all day affair when I do it and usually ends up being a full weekend. But damn it looks good when I'm done! lol

My cleaning has to come in stages it takes me so long. hahaha

Stage 1: Hi-Pressure rinse to get all the mud off the body. ($5)

Stage 2: Hi-Pressure rinse the undercarriage. ($5)

Stage 3: Me with a garden hose laying under my truck washing out the frame rails and skids and all the little nooks and crannys.

Stage 4: Pulling the wheels to wash the backside of the rims and tires along with the control arms, brakes, shocks and all the other stuff in the wheel wells.

Stage 5: Actually washing the damn thing!

Stage 6: Light detailing job.

Stage 7: Heavy detailing and buffing/waxing but only if I'm not planning to wheel for a few weeks.

Stage 8: The interior and the leather.

It's all day affair when I do it and usually ends up being a full weekend. But damn it looks good when I'm done! lol

Stages 1 thru 4 would never apply to me. I strictly use mine on the asphalt..:engel-big:

i was gonna post something good up but drake has it down really good..

here are a few tips, once you clean the underside/wheel wells give it a good coating of "PAM" the cooking spray, it detracts dirt.. I am not sure if there are any long term effects though, but it does work well.. Also a good clay bar will work wonders.. And I have some simple 1 step wax I bought from the fair, I think its called Simply Z Best or something and that stuff is awesome, plus it removes small scratches and swirls..

My cleaning has to come in stages it takes me so long. hahaha

Stage 1: Hi-Pressure rinse to get all the mud off the body. ($5)

Stage 2: Hi-Pressure rinse the undercarriage. ($5)

Stage 3: Me with a garden hose laying under my truck washing out the frame rails and skids and all the little nooks and crannys.

Stage 4: Pulling the wheels to wash the backside of the rims and tires along with the control arms, brakes, shocks and all the other stuff in the wheel wells.

Stage 5: Actually washing the damn thing!

Stage 6: Light detailing job.

Stage 7: Heavy detailing and buffing/waxing but only if I'm not planning to wheel for a few weeks.

Stage 8: The interior and the leather.

It's all day affair when I do it and usually ends up being a full weekend. But damn it looks good when I'm done! lol