Be sure to remove any dirt or salt that may be on the vehicle. You may have some road grime or tar along the lower panels of your car. This is easily removed with any sort of store bought degreaser. If you have road paint on your car, this is a little harder to remove. The best thing that I have found to work is to use detailing clay. You can get detailing clay at any auto supply store, and its best to get the most aggressive you can find. You will also need a spray on finishing wax in order to lubricate the surface for the clay to work its magic. You can use the clay on any part of the vehicle, and it works well on bird droppings, water spots, bugs, or any sort of build up. The clay will smooth out the surface to get it ready for buffing. If you have any sap built up on your car, a little rubbing alcohol and a plastic razor blade work wonders. The plastic blades will help with any extra build up that the clay can't pick up. Be sure to clean the surface after using the alcohol, just to be safe. Now you are ready to buff!!
Next topic: Buffing.
