Reddit mentions: The best drying pads

Touchless car washes don't do shit to clean your car. I spent about $8 on that useless machine, and there was still a layer of dirt on my front/rear bumper, side skirts, and grill. Best thing to do if you're on a budget is buy one of these [microfiber wash mitt] (http://www.amazon.com/Chemical-Guys-Chenille-Microfiber-Scratch-Free/dp/B003TTL0TE/ref=lp_3020674011_1_2?srs=3020674011&ie=UTF8&qid=1454030316&sr=8-2) and the next time you head over to one of those self service car washes just pre-soak the car and the mit and scrub one panel at a time and rinse off the mitt with the pressure hose.

Edit : If you're not on a budget i would recommend doing the 2 bucket car wash method once a week or so. After about 4-6 months i would clay bar the vehicle and use ONR as a lubricant. There are many sealants out there, but only a few can last nearly 6 months. Chemical guys has some great sealants and waxes, but they have so many that it confuses the shit out of people. Save yourself the hassle and get some Jet Seal, some microfiber applicators and some microfiber towels and you're set.

Edit 2: Here is a list of tested waxes and sealants i found on the interwebs a few weeks back http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=85205

These have been shown to have lasted more than 4 months

"Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection
Chemical Guys: M-Seal, Jetseal 109, Speed Amor
Klasse AIO and Sealant Glaze
Hi Temp Paste
Zaino AIO, Z2 and Z5
Wolfgang Deep Gloss Sealant."

I'd get a fine grade nanoskin mitt or something similar for decon. Maybe a foam gun or foam lance and some soap. Might want to grab an APC for interior cleaning, although I think you can dilute ONR down as an APC... I really like Optimum APC though, very safe and effective.

I saw this today on slickdeals, choose subscribe & save to get it down to $13.35: 1-Gallon Chemical Guys Maxi-Suds II Super Suds Car Wash

I'm fairly new, myself. I've driven clunkers most of my life. Spent about five years downtown where I didn't have a car. Now I'm back in suburbia, so I've got a brand new GTI, and it's the first one I've ever cared to take good care of. Here's what I started with:

• Meguiar's D101 APC - the D103 APC+ has apparently been discontinued.
  
• Two Chemical Guys detailing bucket kits, which each have a bucket, lid, grit guard, 16oz citrus wash, and some washing pad thing I didn't really want.
  
• Two-pack of Rag Company Dry Me a River towels
  
• Five-pack of Rag Company detailing towels
  
• Bottle of Stoner Invisible Glass
  
• Two-pack of Griot's Garage microfiber wash mitts
  
• A Nanoskin wash mitt
  
• 32oz Optimum No Rinse Wash and Wax - for use as a quick detailer and easy maintenance washing.
  
• Lexol leather care kit
  
• Thee-pack of spray bottles
  
• A microfiber window towel
  
• A cheap electric blower
  
• 16oz Chemical Guys Jetseal
  
• Microfiber applicators
  
  I should have picked up some of Chemical Guys' citrus wash and clear, too, to help deal with a winter's worth of grime left by terrible touchless car washes. I've also got a tire brush, hand vacuum, and some assorted cheap microfiber towels around already.
  
  Your kit looks a lot more cost-effective, though. Throw in some cheap buckets, grit guards, wash mitts, and drying towel, and an extra stack of cheap microfibers and you're still under $100 for practically everything you would need for a proper two-bucket wash and wax.

That's probably the toughest part about detailing, is looking at the number of products and trying to find exactly what is perfect for you! That's the reason why detailing is so dangerous, once you get in, you keep searching and trying more products. If you want to keep up with maintenance, I'd suggest getting a nanoskin mitt. Lasts much longer, easier to use, less of a hassle, the pros go on forever, the only con is the upfront cost. If you want to clay once, clay is more economical but the mitt is DEFINITELY better in the long run. I do 2'x2' sections, and when you finish compounding, you wipe off. You don't want to mix products on the same pad. People say to buy 2-3 of each pad, as when one gets oversaturated it loses its effectiveness and may lead to micromarring, but I've never had a problem using only 1 Orange LCC pad and 1 White LCC pad for 105 and 205, respectively.

I would pick up the following, if you are ready for machine polishing, you will need to pick up a DA polisher and pads as well.

• Nanoskin Wash Mitt - Clay alternative
  
  
• Grit Guards - 2 of them for each 5 gallon bucket. This will keep the swirls from coming back after you correct them.
  
  
• Meguiar's D101 APC Gallon - This is a great wallet friendly APC which can be diluted for different tasks.
  
  

[Nanoskin Mitt] (http://www.amazon.com/Nanoskin-AS-016-AutoScrub-Fine-Grade/dp/B00DOS0LH2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1422296825&sr=8-3&keywords=nanoskin)

There is also a medium grade sponge that is smaller but works really well, as well as a combo pack that has medium and fine grade together.

Note that you shouldn't use this as a standard 'wash mitt' though. It is literally a substitute for a clay bar.

Is this the wheel cleaner you're talking about? Does it have a purple bleeding effect just like IronX or will I have to rinse based on timing?

For brushing the pads, what kind of brushes work? I don't have compressed air and will be working in a garage.

Taking everyone's advice with the cheap clay. I'll get the Nanoskin 7x7 Green Clay Towel instead. They also have a blue towel. Whats the big difference?

Since 50% is too strong, I'll dilute it to get ~10%

I would like a Rupes 21 or 15. If I were to get the 21, it would be with the 5" backing plate. Probably the only thing that I would want. As for Nanoskin, maybe a Nanoskin wash-mitt. These are awesome and make claying a lot faster. The only downside is tighter areas. I would keep traditional clay for that. http://www.amazon.com/Nanoskin-AS-016-AutoScrub-Fine-Grade/dp/B00DOS0LH2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1411408985&sr=8-2&keywords=nanoskin

The only 2 things I would change are your drying towel and I would get a nanoskin mitt instead of the clay. I recommend the Cobra waffle weave I have a full size 4 door truck and can dry the whole truck with one towel.http://www.amazon.com/Cobra-Guzzler-Waffle-Drying-inches/dp/B0015JAHTE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1404427157&sr=8-2&keywords=cobra+waffle+weave+guzzler

And the Nanoskin is way easier and quicker than clay.http://www.amazon.com/Nanoskin-AS-016-AutoScrub-Fine-Grade/dp/B00DOS0LH2/ref=sr_1_4?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1404427188&sr=1-4&keywords=nanoskin

Nanoskin Mitt Amazon

cheapest I have found and I love it.

If you plan on working on customer vehicles, grab your self one of these. It will make cut your time down by at least half. It is just a mitt that acts like clay removing contaminants from the paint. Like clay, you need some form of a lubricant. Your normal car wash soap works fine.

I buy red mechanics' shop towels. CostCo always has them in stock dirt cheap:

https://www.amazon.com/Auto-Mechanic-Nabob-Wipers-Commercial-Perfect/dp/B01BJJ3EAI/

At that price, I treat them as disposable rather than risk contaminate anything else trying to clean them.

? http://www.amazon.com/Nanoskin-AS-016-AutoScrub-Fine-Grade/dp/B00DOS0LH2

https://www.amazon.com/Nabob-Wipers-Auto-Mechanic-Commercial-Perfect/dp/B01BJJ3EAI

https://smile.amazon.com/Nanoskin-AS-016-AutoScrub-Fine-Grade/dp/B00DOS0LH2?sa-no-redirect=1

http://adamspolishes.com/shop/exterior/polishing/adam-s-visco-clay-bar.html

https://smile.amazon.com/Meguiars-Smooth-Surface-Clay-Kit/dp/B00063X7KG?sa-no-redirect=1

http://www.amazon.com/Nanoskin-AS-016-AutoScrub-Fine-Grade/dp/B00DOS0LH2

Works just as advertised. No worries of dropping and having to replace.