I would wash it first to get rid of the heavy stuff then clay it, then wax it. Realistically the car is never going to get wet so washing it once in a while won't kill it.

 

By all means, wash it, or your clay will become so over-polluted it'll be like block-sanding your car...

Then clay, then wax..

Just wax your chrome. Chrome "polish" I've always found to be totally unnecessary. The act of waxing the chrome will arrive at the same amount of shine, AND protect, in one step. The wax will help prevent pitting/rust.

Use metal polish only where you've got severe deposits or residue on the chrome, or to spiff up bare aluminum..

 

As Todd said, Wash good, then 3 stage Meguires Clay bar system( just did this a few months ago, man what a difference) as far as the chrome I just use regular Turtle wax chrome polish.

 

Thanks guys. Is there anything I should do about this small rust bubble on the door? Or should I just leave it for now?

 

Congratulations Brian, now you are a real member of the club!!!That's how I felt at least....Did you know there is a self serve car wash right down Nammans road??If you come down my way, the traffic light before the light for the total wine/home depot, make a right and quick left, it's next to the overpass, and next to the railroad tracks. I took my stang there and gave it a good blasting, and I gunked the engine bay/front end, and blasted it off. It worked wonders. Another first I did was install a pertronix ignition, get rid of those points and condenser....I have a rust bubble on my door, I'm just leaving it be, I want it cut out and patched with some sheet metal, I have 3 holes[small] I need to have patched, I was told that is the proper way to deal with them....

 

Thanks guys. Is there anything I should do about this small rust bubble on the door? Or should I just leave it for now?

You need to clean out the drains inside the door, which is why the rust spot formed. Rust only gets worse, so fix it as soon as you can.

 

Clean the drain and spray some rust inhibitor in there through the inside.

 

Any rust inhibitor favorites? Boeshield T-9 OK?

 

I've used Krown as a rust inhibitor successfully for years. Had a 1983 Jetta I finally got rid of 4 yrs ago, still had 80% orig paint on it, 660000 kilometres, driven every winter, still looked great. Krowned every year. I've seen the documentation comparing it to Rust check, Ziebart, etc etc. Cities around here use Krown to rustproof their municipal salters.
A rattle can of it runs around $10.
Might go by different name stateside, but worth a try.

 

I just finished up Zoop Sealing my chrome. Pricy but one deluxe kit did the whole car. Interesting stuff. You clean with their cleaner, apply the zoop seal, let dry, then buff off with a purple cleaner solution. The zoop seal leaves a film that the purple cleaner takes off and the chrome really shines up. Can hide minor scratches and does ok with older chrome. On my magnum wheels with the black paint, I just applied and didn't buff off. Supposed to last 2 years, I'll let ya know....

Greg

 

I wash then clay bar then do a quick wash/rinse then wax. Should feel like a babies behind when you are done.