Meguiars Quik Detailer:
Going from Good to Great!

Meguiars Quik Detailer is a very good product and you will get no complaints from anyone.

But is there anything better?

I say there is but it's not for the reasons you think. 

Allow me to apply some critical thinking to this moment. Why does a person want o us a dedicated quick detailer on their car?

For the very reason these products are made:

• Remove light layers of dust between typical car washing
• Create that fresh and washed and wax appearance in a fraction of the time

Which is why the industry has developed these products and why they are so popular. And now here comes the critical thinking:

"If you are going to spend the time and effort to use a quick detailer on your car, why not get more bang for your buck?"

That's correct. You can get more bang for your buck by simply switching to an ultra-easy spray wax.

Now instead of creating that fresh washed and wax appearance to your car with a quick detailer, now you can actually create the same appearance with the same effort, but actually put some wax on your car!

Meguiars Quik Detailer vs. Meguiar's Quik Wax
Quik facts (typo intentional of course!)

Let's make a quik (pun intended) comparison to begin things:

Quick Detailer:

• Easy to use
• Remove light layer of dust safely
• Create that just washed and waxed appearance

Quik Wax:

• Easy to use (just as easy as the quik detailer)
• Removes light layer of dust (yes, just as safely as a quick detailer)
• Create that just washed and waxed look because you are actually putting wax on your car

Meguiar's Quik Wax on Amazon

• Double the impact of your efforts by using a quik wax
• Achieve that same washed and waxed appearance while actually waxing your car

Furniture Polish and Your Car

What could furniture polish and your car possibly have in common?

Glad you asked.....

It has been long accepted that we can spray furniture polish onto a dusty piece of fine furniture, wipe it down, and now be left with a dust free, piece of furniture that is not just dust free, but is shinier, and has a layer of protection to it. (at least this is what we have been taught)

This is the exact concept behind not just quick detailers and your car, but also what is called waterless washing or Dry Car Washing.

Somehow it has taken the car world much longer to embrace this way of "cleaning" our cars despite the direct parallel of cleaning and dusting our household furniture.

I know... you are probably saying that outside dirt is completely different than the dust in our homes. Which is a valid point, but I am not saying that a quick detailer, spray wax, or a dry wash product can replace traditional forms of car washing entirely.

But the same technique is just as valid in maintaining your car in showroom condition as it is for maintaining your fine furniture.

Meguiars Ceramic Detailer

Meguiar's Ceramic detailer on Amazon

• Excellent alternative to Meguiar's traditional Quik detailer or Quik wax
• Formulated using the latest in Sio2 technology (this is supposedly where the ceramic part of the equation is. Unfortunately the industry will forever come up with new technology that is often nothing more than relabeling of current technology. It is hard to verify and in many ways impossible to verify. Which means you have to trust, and simply verify the results yourself)
• A great product with newer technology (regardless whether this latest Sio2 technology is legit or not, the formulations are still improved)

Darren's Note: In the context of this page, this product may be a bit confusing as it is labeled as a detailer and yet it claims to be a ceramic "coating" of some kind which then really makes it a type of sealant or wax product. Detailers as a rule are visual enhancers, not forms of protection like a dedicated spray wax or spray ceramic sealant.

Once again, this industry is never consistent and keeps us consumers forever guessing. That doesn't mean this product does not work.

Meguiar's products and have used them for decades. The problem with most of this big name companies is their need to push sales.

From hyped-up labeling to ambiguous new terminology, these manufacturers continue to formulate that next "shiny object" and as consumers we have a hard time not being seduced into buying.

And it is precisely this reason I don't over-think most of these products. I go with what I know works and what maximizes my efforts. 

But as a rule, you will not be disappointed in this product.

Do you still need a dedicated wax for your car?

At this point it would be completely normal to now question whether you still need to apply a dedicated car wax or paint sealant product if I have successfully turned you away from the Meguiar's Quik Detailer, to one of the products listed above.

Afterall, the two products above contain wax and ceramic as forms of protection.

To this question I say yes. While the tow products above will excel at ease of use, the trade off will be at the form of protection. If you want greater protection I recommend the following schedule for your vehicle:

• Wash your vehicle regularly (dirt and sun are your paint's biggest enemies -you may not have a say so over sun exposure, but most of you will when it comes to how long you go between washings)
• Apply a base coat of a traditional car wax or paint sealant every 4 months (you will never get a single answer to this question as every person, every manufacturer will quote you a different number)
• Use one of the spray products above to extend the life of your base coat of wax/sealant while also adding additional protection between washes and wax applications.

A Quality Wax for Your Vehicle

Since we have come this far I think it fair to offer you my recommendation for a good base coat type of wax or sealant.

Since we are on the Meguiar's bandwagon for this page, let's stick with this theme:

Meguiar's Ultimate Wax on Amazon

• Easy on, easy off
• Won't stain black trim
• Can be used in direct sunlight
• Creates "depth" unlike spray waxes can
• Will establish a great base coat of protection moving forward

Use this paste wax as your foundation of protection and beauty for your vehicle. Then use one of the products above to extend the life of this base coat by adding additional protection and gloss in between the dedicated wax applications.

Meguiars Quik Detailer Summary

With today's technology, the line between quick detailers, spray waxes, dry car washing, and waterless washing products has become a blurred line.

And this represents one of the main reasons I have switched away from Meguiars Quik Detailer as well as most dedicated quick detailers, and now use a product that contains some form of wax or sealant in it.

This allows me to leverage my efforts so that I get more of what I want without having to put in a ton of extra work.

With that said, not all spray waxes are created equally and everything has trade-off's. There are many quick detailers that are incredibly easy to use and deliver exceptional results and a user experience.Meguiars Quik Detailer has always been know for both of these features.

But once again, if I am going to go through the effort to wipe down my car using a quick detailer, I am willing to switch to a spray wax knowing that it might require a trivial more amount of effort, but pays off greater dividends in the form of a wax protection on my car.

I hope I have helped in delivering a different perspective that you might find useful in your own world!

Sincerely,

Darren Priest