Keep Your Car Clean for Date Night and Thank Us Later

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Photos by A. Kazmi and R. Perea for Por Homme

Our digitally connected world has shifted the dynamic of dating, especially in major metros that have so many people, all now accustomed to swiping left or right in hopes of finding their mate, whether short term or long term. Speaking from experience, connections spawning from Tinder or from a meet at the local bar are equally likely to fail. The pool went from girls that lived in your neighborhood to virtually the entire world and it’s important to realize that the pool women are choosing from has also expanded. So the least you can do is keep your car clean.

We recently grabbed a Cadillac CTS-V and took a trip to Meguiar’s headquarters in Irvine, CA so the guys that have been doing car care right for over a hundred years could give us a few tips on getting things ready for date night. And all date nights are not created equal so we’ve broken things down a bit help to you prioritize. When comparing a quick 30-minute wash to something more invested, the tools of the trade vary as does the level of care needed to get the job done. Sound familiar?

The 30-minute wash

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Regardless of if you’re running late or you just don’t see this as a very committed situation, a quick 30-minute wash should put you in good standing, regardless of her exceeding your very low expectations in the end. Go with an easy solution that cleans off all the dirt from your call without the need for a hose or water. Meguiar’s Ultimate Wash and Wax Anywhere works really well and it puts you a few sprays and wipes away from having a presentable car. A glass cleaner will remove any smudges or fingerprints from your windows, while doing a quick sweep of the car for any garbage will go a long way as well. Simple enough, right?

The 60-minute wash

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So that girl you met on Bumble ended up having some serious relationship potential and you’re ready to invest some real time into making a good impression. Start with all the basics outlined in the 30-minute wash above and then look to give your car extra gloss and a quick wax job using Meguiar’s Ultimate Quik Wax spray. You’ll be surprised at what a difference this makes. Here’s where you’ll want to dress up the interior as well. Check out Meguiar’s Quik Interior Detailer as it works on all surfaces so you can spray and wipe to freshen things up a bit. Your car’s going to glisten and your lady friend will notice. Oh, and let’s look to get rid of any odors, whether it’s your gym gear or the spilled cart food from the night before. There are a ton of options out there but we’re really digging the scent of this car tag from retaW.

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The 3-hour wash

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Congrats, you found a unicorn and now it’s time to capture it. Clear some time on your schedule to make the best first impression possible. For this wash, dedicate about three hours to doing things right and gaining some much needed personal time in the process. Wash and dry your car to perfection using Meguiar’s Ultimate Wash and Wax for some added shine. Now that it looks good, use a clay bar to remove smaller specs of dirt and smooth out any areas that are rough to the touch.

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From there, bring out Meguiar’s Ultimate Liquid Wax. We’ve seen it at work and it’s a real gem. No matter the color, it delivers the best shine and paint protection and doesn’t leave any stains in case it hits some trim areas. Use the glass cleaner as instructed above to remove any window markings before setting your sights on the interior. This time, you’ll want to ditch the all-surface cleaner for something more dedicated to your car’s vinyl details or to the interior’s leather, whichever applies. Leather wears over time and so you’ll want to aim for something that cleans leather but also conditions it to give it some added life. Make sure you vacuum and pick up anything else along the way and toss in an fresh scent as we previously discussed.

Tire shine makes for the perfect finishing touch, just be sure to go with something that lasts long and dries fast.

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Por Homme is a contemporary lifestyle magazine dedicated to providing readers with the latest news around automotive, fashion, travel, tech and more.