I just bought my 06 TSX last weekend, and I have already washed it once (exterior). I plan on washing it again this weekend (interior and exterior). I was wondering do i need to start conditioning the leather right now? or should i wait a while?

Also am i going to harm the paint washing it all the time? Right now i don't have the best stuff to wash the car with, and i have no leather stuff yet. I am using turtle wax soup, with a sheepskin wash rag, and then used a shammy to dry it off. I wash it in the shade, and make sure to keep it wet while i am washing it.

I don't want to get swirl marks at all, but i also like a clean exterior.

Thanks for any help

 

Start conditioning leather now and once every 2-3 months. Also use good cleaner twice a year with soft brush to get salts out and wipe dry before applying conditioner.

For car paint, wash as many times it needs cleaning. With a proper washing technic you cannot harm your paint. Now a days paint do not need curing, you can start washing right away. Seal your paint with porper wax/sealent ASAP. Sooner the better.

 

Not sure I agree about paint curing, but by the time it reaches the dealership it's more than ready for any TLC you want to give it. Too many outstanding sites out there to mention them all, but you'll gain some great knowledge from autopia.org for starters... Good luck!

 

Leather can be conditioned right away, but make sure not to overcondition it. You can use a cleaner on it as much as you like but conditioning more than every 2-4 months is unnecessary in all but the hottest/driest climates.

 

thanks for the help, i might hold off another week or so on working on the leather, so that i can keep that new car smell......


new car smell is so awesome...

 

Look for leather conditioners that have the new car smell. Maybe Zaino's leather conditioner.

When you wash, make sure you rinse the mitt in a bucket of clean water after each pass so that any dirt/sand/grit comes off the mitt before you put it back into the bucket with car shampoo. THis way, it is very unlikely you'll get swirls from washing often.

 

Yep, Z9 and Z10 have a very pleasant "new leather smell" to them. One of my favorites.

 

A link to a good discussion can be found here.