Apply Zaino Show Car Polish to a clean 100% cotton towel or applicator. We have found the best way of applying Show Car Polish is with our #314 Custom Polish applicator. Just slightly dampen the applicator with water or Z-6 “Gloss Enhancer” spray. Apply Show Car Polish directly to applicator. This technique will help increase flow and spreadability on the paint surface and yield more coats per bottle. Please use Show Car Polish on all wheels, metal, chrome, painted trim and plastic lenses. Remove with a clean 100% (Made in USA) Large Bath size White cotton towel, turning towel frequently until all polish is removed. A large towel is necessary to completely remove polish. You will see a “wet-looking” crystal-clear, ultra deep gloss. Note: TRICKS: Want people to envy the look of your vehicle. Want that Show Winning Edge and Custom Paint Look. Want the deepest, wettest, slickest, clearest, richest, and shiniest paint ever. Apply two more coats of Show Car Polish. Show Car Polish will continue to get deeper and wetter with each succeeding coat, up to five coats. You can however, apply as many coats as you want of Show Car Polish. You will not believe the depth and optical clarity of the wet-looking gloss. Follow up with Z-6 “Gloss Enhancer” Spray between every coat of Show Car Polish and see how Incredible your vehicle looks! Want an even higher level of optical light refraction and reflectivety. Here’s how. When applying Show Car Polish do the following; On all Top surfaces of vehicle, use a back and forth motion (from front bumper towards windshield). On all Side surfaces (doors, fenders, etc.) use a vertical motion, up and down. This technique will increase the way light attracts and reflects off of Show Car Polish. The body lines and contours of your vehicle will seem to glow. This trick really works. Remember to use Z-6 “Gloss Enhancer” spray between every coat of Show Car Polish. TIPS: Zaino Z-5 is the first non-abrasive polish that will eliminate swirl marks, fine scratches and spidering, without hurting the integrity of the clear coat. It does this in stages, anywhere between 1 to 5 coats, depending on vehicle color. With each application of Z-5 polish, you will see the swirl marks and fine scratches gradually lessen, until the marks are no longer visible and your paint will look flawless. Z-5 can be used initially or at anytime thereafter. You should switch to Z-2 as soon as you are happy with the way the paint finish looks. Example, no more swirls, scratches etc. It’s up to you. Z-2 has higher optical properties than Z-5. You can switch from Z-2 to Z-5 and then back to Z-2 as often as you want. All Show Car Polishes are 100% compatible. For the highest optical paint enhancement. You should always end up with Z-2 as the last coat of polish. Zaino Z-6 Ultra Clean “Gloss Enhancer” Spray is the ultimate maintainence product. It will remove light dust and soil between washes and will make your paint slicker, wetter-looking, deeper and reinforce the polish system and UV protection. Because of its unique optical enhancers, Z-6 “Gloss Enhancer” spray will create a three dimensional, ultra-high, light refracting paint finish. Its super anti-static properties will reduce dust and dirt pickup by up to 60%. The more you use Z-6 “Gloss Enhancer” spray the slicker and more dust-free your paint will be. NOTE: Z-6 “Gloss Enhancer” spray is really a great product. It really helps give a three dimensional look. Its antistatic formula will reduce dust and dirt pickup by 60%. Use Z-6 very sparingly, less than one ounce will do your whole car. Lightly mist only the center of a 1 foot section on the car. A dime size amount of Z-6 is plenty… Immediately buff with a 100% cotton towel until dry. You will feel the surface get slicker and slicker. Turn towel frequently. Repeat on next section until entire car is finished. Do not let Z6 dry on car. If Z-6 drys by itself just reapply Z-6 to affected area and rebuff until completely dry. Then get the sunglasses out. Less than one ounce will do an average size vehicle. Works great on rims, chrome, trim and plastic. Zaino Z-7 Show Car Wash will clean heavy soil from your car and deposit a reinforcing layer of polish and UV protection. It will not leave a film or haze like other car washes. Its great for maintaining that Show Car look, all year round. Zaino Z-10 “Leather in a Bottle”tm will maintain new leather and give old leather, the look, supple feel and smell of brand new leather. It contains the highest quality, leather oil concentrate available. Nothing on the market beats this product! Works great on vinyl interiors and dashboards. Zaino Z-12 Clear-View Glass Polish is great for restoring old glass to like new, using a low speed machine with a cotton bonnet. Zaino Z-16 Perfect Tire Gloss is a non-oily, non-greasy, rubber protectant and finishing treatment. It leaves an incredibly durable, water repellent, perfect looking satin finish, that’s only slightly glossy and dry to the touch. Use on all exterior rubber, tires, moldings, plastic trim, weatherstripping, underhood hoses and more. Just wet a sponge with Z-16 and apply to the surface to be treated and let dry. It will last thru rain and multiple washings. Z-16 is not recommended for interior seats or vinyl tops. Zaino recommends using only Large Bath size 100% Made in USA White Cotton towels with all of our products. Cotton T-shirts are too small for polish removal and not as absorbent or fluffy as towels and most contain polyester. We have found that certain towels; especially those manufactured abroad, although they say 100% cotton. They are not; they include a blend of polyester and nylon that will definitely scratch and leave swirl marks in your paint finish. The rule of thumb is to use high quality Brand Name large bath towels (Cannon or Fieldcrest) that say 100% cotton and made in the USA. Towels sold in bags in Auto Stores are not 100% cotton. Look carefully on the bag it will probably say made in Pakistan or Bangladesh or other foreign country. Do not use these towels. They will cause swirl marks and scratches on the paint surface. Always, remove the stitching around the towel prior to use. Bargain store polish applicators also contain polyester and nylon fibers and are not to be used. Also, when washing your towels, please do not use any type of fabric softeners. Always use White towels. Do not use Colored Towels they contain dyes.

I prefer high quality name brand 100% Cotton Towels Large White Bath Size for washing, drying and polishing. I don’t like sponges natural or synthetic or any wash mitts, since they all can scratch. Another great tip is to use a Toro 210mph Electric leaf blower. Dries your car in about 5 minutes…. without even touching the paint surface…. I prefer high quality name brand 100% Cotton Towels to dry the car. Chamois or the Absorber and especially the Water Blade are flat and could trap a piece of dirt and scratch the paint finish. Towels have nap and are much safer and forgiving. Even if it were to pickup a piece of dirt, the nap would cushion it. Again Towels must be name brand high quality 100% Made in USA. You must use only white. Not colored towels….. colored towels are not to be used because the dye leaves a chemical residue on the paint finish. Always wash your towels first before using. Use Liquid detergent and rinse twice. When washing your towels. Only use Liquid detergent such as All or Tide, etc. Do not use Bleach, Powdered Detergents or any kind of fabric softener. They will leave a chemical residue on the towels which will transfer to your paint finish. Make sure to run rinse cycle twice to remove all detergent. You should cut the selvages (borders) off the perimeter of the towels. This selvage contains nylon and polyester stitching that could possibly scratch your paint finish. The towels will fray a little once this is done. But it’s better to play it safe. Drying the towels on high heat will make them hold a static charge. I use the regular heat setting and remove them a little damp and let them air dry. You can fluff the towel real good when it’s dry to make it softer. As the towels get older they will lose there nap and absorbency and will have to be replaced. Where to buy towels…….. Some name brands make a lower quality version of their towels for K-Mart, Walmart and other big discount chains. These towels say 100% Cotton but that is not, totally true. The nap is 100% cotton but the backing material has polyester blend in it. So if you press a little to hard on the towel you can get some fine scratches or swirls. The point I’m trying to make is a lower quality towel is selling in a discount store for $6.00 or less (approximately) it is not the good stuff. I buy all my high quality towels at stores like Linens and Things and Bed, Bath and Beyond. I realize that Cannon-Fieldcrest aka (Pillowtex) is no longer in business… but there are plenty of other towels still available. I buy all my Cannon & Fieldcrest towels in the Bath & Linen shops in the bigger stores in the mall. I pay anywhere from $10 to $20 per towel. You can also try Linens and Things or Bed, Bath and Beyond… If you cannot find the Cannon or Fieldcrest line, then any high quality substitute towel from the above stores is acceptable. These are the real deal. I buy about 3 or 4 towels and they usually last me about a year.

With the Zaino Show Car Polish system, the term “polish” does not mean using harsh abrasives to remove scratches, swirl marks and other surfaces blemishes. We call this step “paint surface repair,” and consider it a measure of last resort. Zaino Show Car Polish products are applied like most car wax systems, but that’s where all similarities end. Zaino Show Car Polish is a complex formula of polymers suspended in a water-based emulsion. The emulsion allows our polish to spread so thin, so evenly, that the resulting finish is nearly flat and very, very smooth. With each coat of Zaino Show Car Polish you apply, the surface of your paint will become more level, increasing both gloss and surface clarity. It looks highly polished, like a diamond! How does it work? Simple, really, our polymer strands are exceptionally long, creating a very high surface bond with your paint for lasting protection. Plus, our special polymer formula creates chains that cross-link rapidly, allowing the polish to fill and level the micro-valleys in your car’s paint to produce an ultra-flat surface. Unlike most paint protectants, Zaino Show Car Polish does not use harsh solvents for cleaning or abrasives to “roughen up” the paint finish. An easy way to think of Zaino Show Car Polish is like a giant suction cup on a piece of glass. Properly applied, immense surface tension keeps the polish on your paint, for months of protection and beauty. The secret to using Zaino Show Car Polish is to start with a super-clean paint surface. Prior to applying your first coat of Zaino Show Car Polish, we highly recommend washing with Dawn dishwashing liquid to remove as much oil, grease, wax and road film as possible. If your car’s paint finish is perfectly smooth, you can then proceed to the Zaino Show Car Polish system. Using your hand, if you feel bumps and areas of roughness, we highly recommend using our Z-18 ClayBar, which will remove all surface contamination not removed by washing with Dawn. By the way, Dawn should not be used as your regular wash. Z-7 Show Car Wash is the proper shampoo to use with the Zaino Show Car Polish system. Used too frequently, Dawn will dull your paint (two to three times a year is fine). After washing with Dawn and using Z-18 ClayBar, a quick wash with Z-7 Show Car Wash is recommended. The gloss enhancers and lubricants used in Z-7 improve the ease-of-application of step two, ZFX™ Flash Cure Accelerator Additive enabled Z-2 Show Car Polish for Clear Coated Car Finishes, Z-3 Show Car Polish for Non-clear Coated Paint, or Z-5 Show Car Polish for Swirl Marks and Fine Scratches. ZFX™ Flash Cure Accelerator Additive should used with the first coat of Zaino Show Car Polish, but can be used as often as you like, see the ZFX™ Flash Cure Accelerator Additive page for details.  Pour one to two ounces of Show Car Polish (Z-2, Z-3 or Z-5) into a 2-ounce mixing bottle. For each ounce of polish, add 4-5 drops of ZFX™ (no more than 10 drops for two full ounces), screw the cap back on, and shake vigorously for 60 seconds. While you get your towels and applicators ready, allow the ZFX™ enabled Zaino Show Car Polish to sit for five minutes so ZFX™ can begin activating the polish. Give the applicator bottle a final shake for 10 seconds before using. The third step is to apply your choice of Z-2 Show Car Polish for Clear Coated Car Finishes, Z-3 Show Car Polish for Non-clear Coated Paint, or Z-5 Show Car Polish for Swirl Marks and Fine Scratches using a clean 100% cotton, made in the USA, Zaino Custom Polish Applicator. Our applicators are specially designed 100% virgin cotton pad, with special reversed stitching to prevent scratching of paint surfaces. Pour a small nickel (1 inch) size dab of Zaino Show Car Polish on your applicator. To help with even coverage, spread the nickel sized Zaino Show Car Polish out on the applicator pad like butter on bread before wiping on. On top panels, apply Zaino Show Car Polish using front-to-back hand motions.  On side panels, use up-and-down hand motions. This helps improve reflectivity. There’s no need to rub hard or long, just apply thin and even coats. Apply the Show Car Polish to the whole car and allow it to haze. Once hazed, you can buff of the light residue immediately or allow it to sit for a few hours or over night. No matter how long your let it sit, it will still be easy to buff off to a beautiful finish. To buff, use a clean, dry 100% cotton, made in the USA, cloth buffing towel. The higher quality towel you use, the better your results. For most cars, you will need two towels to adequately buff off the Show Car Polish residue. The final step is optional, but offers exceptional results. Give your car a final wipe down with Z-6 Ultra-Clean Gloss Enhancing Spray. Z-6 further enhances the Show Car Polish shine and picks up any remaining residue around emblems, seals and crevices. To increase and improve your show car shine, apply one or more additional coats of Show Car Polish. Wait a minimum of 12 hours between coats, or use our new ZFX™ Flash Cure Accelerator Additive. When you add ZFX™ to your Show Car Polish you don’t need to use Z-1 Polish-LOK™, and there’s virtually no wait time required between coats of Z-2, Z-3 or Z-5 Show Car Polish.

Zaino Show Car Polish is designed to be layered.  With each layer you apply, your car’s paint looks better and feels smoother.  Depth, gloss and clarity improve with each coat. Like all other polymer based polish and protection systems, Zaino Show Car Polish must cure before applying subsequent coats.  The curing process allows the polymer chains to cross-link, building strength and durability.  If the polymer strands have not cross-linked (cured), applying a fresh coat of polish will not achieve the optimum layered result.  Consequently, creating a show car finish can be a long process of applying a layer, waiting, and applying another layer.  The Wait is Over! Zaino ZFX™ Flash Cure Accelerator Additive Show Car Polish accelerator solves the wait problem.  We worked for several years to engineer a molecular reaction that causes the polymers in Zaino Show Car Polish to rapidly crosslink.  Using ZFX™ Flash Cure Accelerator Additive with your choice of Z-2 Show Car Polish for Clear Coated Car Finishes, Z-3 Show Car Polish for Non-clear Coated Paint, or Z-5 Show Car Polish for Swirl Marks and Fine Scratches, it is now possible to apply two or three coats of polish in a single day to create beautiful show car special effects.  The result is nothing less than stunning.  ZFX™ Flash Cure Accelerator Additive saves you time and effort.  It’s no longer necessary to keep your car in the garage for a whole weekend just so you can apply two or three coats of polish.  Using ZFX™ Flash Cure Accelerator Additive, you’ll apply multiple coats in just a few hours. Prior to using ZFX™ Enabled Show Car Polish Before applying ZFX™ Flash Cure Accelerator Additiveenabled Show Car Polish, wash, dry and inspect your car’s finish.  It should be very smooth.  If the paint has a rough, bumpy feel, you have surface contamination which must be removed using our Z-18 ClayBar. Prior to using Zaino Show Car Polish for the first time, we recommend using Dawn dishwashing liquid to wash your car.  Dawn will dissolve wax and other sealants, and easily removes grease, tar and bug remains.  Be sure to rinse your car very well after using Dawn.  After your first application of Zaino Show Car Polish, useZ-7 Show Car Wash for regular washing. Mixing ZFX™ with Show Car Polish Each ZFX™ kit comes with a 2ml vial of accelerator mix and several 2-ounce mixing bottles.  A single ZFX™ kit provides enough mix to accommodate up to 32 ounces of Zaino Show Car Polish. Pour one to two ounces of Show Car Polish (Z-2, Z-3 or Z-5) into a 2-ounce mixing bottle.  For each ounce of polish, add 4-5 drops of ZFX™ (no more than 10 drops for two full ounces), screw the cap back on, and shake vigorously for 60 seconds. While you get your towels and applicators ready, allow the ZFX™ enabled Zaino Show Car Polish to sit for five minutes so ZFX™ can begin activating the polish.  Give the applicator bottle a final shake for 10 seconds before using.  Applying ZFX™ Enabled Show Car Polish Follow these easy steps:

1. Apply Zaino Show Car Polish enabled with ZFX™ with our Zaino Custom Polish Applicator.  Use the polish sparingly.  A small amount goes a long way, and you will be applying multiple coats.
2. Squirt a dime size dab of polish on your applicator and rub it into your paint using circular hand motions.  Then, go over the same area using a straight back and forth motion on top panels and an up and down motion on side panels.  Allow the polish to haze for 20 to 30 minutes.
3. Buff off the Show Car Polish residue with a high quality, 100% cotton, made in the USA, detailing towel.
4. After buffing, spray the car with a light mist of Z-6 Ultra Clean™ Gloss Enhancer Spray detailing spray.  Z-6 will help buff away any remaining residue and enhances the brightness of the finish.  Using Z-6, the next coat of Zaino Show Car Polish will apply even easier.

You’re now ready to apply your next coat of Zaino Show Car Polish enabled with ZFX™.  There’s no need to wait.  Simply follow steps 1-4 above one more time.  Use a fresh cotton buffing towel to remove each coat of ZFX™  enabled Show Car Polish.. Note: Apply no more than three coats of ZFX™  in a 24 hour period. For optimum results, use your ZFX™ enabled polish within 6 hours of mixing.   Use a fresh cotton buffing towel for removal of each coat. Note:  When you are finished polishing, wash the mixing bottle inside and out with a heavy concentration of liquid dishwashing detergent (Liquid Dawn) and thoroughly rinse. The ZFX™ mixing bottles cannot be reused if the polish remains in the bottle for more than 12 hours. After 12 hours, it is not possible to completely clean the mixing bottle. Throw the mixing bottle and any unused polish contents away after 12 hours. Maintaining ZFX™ Enabled Show Car Polish ZFX™ enabled Show Car Polish is very durable.  If you’re using the Zaino Show Car Polish system primarily for protection, a single coat will protect your car for up to six months.  Two or three coats of ZFX™ enabled Show Car Polish will give your car up to 9 months of lasting, durable protection. For the best protection possible, we recommend sealing your car with ZFX™ enabled Show Car Polish twice a year.  To maintain the finish and good looks, wash your car three to four times a month with Z-7 Show Car Wash and give a quick wipe down with Z-6 Ultra Clean™ Gloss Enhancer Spray.  If you’re using ZFX™ enabled Show Car Polish to create an award winning, head turning show car finish, apply three coats of ZFX™ enabled Show Car Polish with a layer of Z-6 Ultra Clean™ Gloss Enhancer Spray between each coat.  The following week or month, apply another three coats of  ZFX™ enabled Show Car Polish also with Z-6 Ultra Clean™ Gloss Enhancer Spray between each layer.  Each month thereafter, apply a single coat of Show Car Polish. (Z-2, Z-3, or Z-5) Note: ZFX™ Flash Cure Accelerator Additive should be used with Zaino Show Car Polish (Z-2 or Z-5, Z-3 for non clear coated) twice a year on an everyday car and once a year on a show car. Also, please reapply ZFX™ Flash Cure Accelerator Additive after every ten coats of Zaino polish(Z-2 or Z-5, Z-3 for non clear coated). ZFX™ Flash Cure Accelerator Additive will never remove Zaino. Also the NEW ZFX™ Flash Cure Accelerator Additive  is an incredible product and could be used as often as you like… it’s up to you. It will tighten up and strengthen the polish system and increase the gloss.

Every car finish shares a common enemy: pollution. It relentlessly pursues your car from the second it leaves the factory until your car meets its ultimate demise. It’s in the air we breathe, it’s on the roads we drive, and it attaches to your car’s paint, where it bonds and begins a process of oxidation. When contaminants get a solid grip on your car’s paint, washing alone may not be enough to remove them. Pre-wax cleaners also may not be able to exfoliate large particles. In this case, you have two choices: use a polishing compound, which removes a lot of paint material, or use Z-18 ClayBar. Clay isn’t a polish or a compound, it is a surface preparation bar that smoothes the paint and exfoliates contaminants. USES FOR CLAY Clay is not a cure-all or a replacement for polishing. It’s a tool for removing surface contamination. One of the many reasons for using clay is the removal of brake dust. Brake dust contamination, which attaches to painted rear bumpers and adjoining surfaces, is a metallic surface contaminant that can be removed safely and effectively by using clay. Clay is also very effective on paint over-spray. If the over-spray is particularly heavy, you may want to seek the assistance of a professional. Tree sap and tar specks can also be safely removed with a clay bar. Recently, I have also started using clay on my windows (exterior) to remove heavy road film, bug deposits and water spots. It works very well, and seems to outperform even the best window cleaners. EVALUATING YOUR PAINT FOR CLAY How do you know if you need to use Z-18 ClayBar? After thoroughly hand washing and drying your car, stretch a piece of saran wrap over your hand extending past your fingertips. Gently slide the saran wrap across the finish of your vehicle. Does the surface feel bumpy or gritty? These bumps are contaminants attacking the finish of your car. Removing these surface contaminants (rail dust, road tar, bug residue, paint over-spray, brake pad dust, hard water spots, etc.) will improve both the look and health of your car’s paint. No matter how well you hand-wash your car, many of the contaminants that have worked their way into your car’s paint finish will remain. Have you ever looked at your applicator pad after applying a coat of polish? What do you think that black stuff is? It’s dirt, and you’re sealing it in. USING THE Z-18 CLAYBAR Before using a Z-18 ClayBar on your car, you must thoroughly clean and dry your car to remove any loose dirt. Direct sunlight should not fall on your car’s surface, and it’s best if the work area is relatively cool to prevent rapid evaporation of the clay lubricant. To use the clay bar, you spray a water-based lubricant (1/2 a cap of Z-7 Show Car Wash with 16 ounces of water) on a small area of your car and rub the bar back and forth with light to medium pressure. Z-18 ClayBar should glide across your paint like a hockey puck on ice. If the lubricant begins to dry, and the Z-18 ClayBar begins to drag, you’ll need to spray more lubricant. Clay is fairly sticky, and cannot be used dry.  After a few passes with the ClayBar, rub your hand over the area to feel if the surface contamination was removed. Keep rubbing until all contamination bumps are gone. Finally, wipe the clay residue off with a soft terrycloth towel, and buff to a nice luster. Just like waxing, work in small areas. Check your Z-18 ClayBar frequently for hard particles. When found, pick them off. Make it a habit to occasionally knead and reform the bar so that a fresh portion of the bar contacts your car’s paint. If you drop your bar of clay on the ground, it’s history. Toss it out. Don’t take any chances, discard the clay bar if it becomes impregnated with grit. Read the manufacturers’ directions for the number of uses of their clay bar. Do not overuse a clay bar. When you’re finished claying your car, you should wash it with Z-7 Show Car Wash to remove the lubricant film. Finally, polish and seal your freshly cleaned paint with your choice of Z-2 Show Car Polish for Clear Coated Car Finishes, Z-3 Show Car Polish for Non-clear Coated Paint, or Z-5 Show Car Polish for Swirl Marks and Fine Scratches enabled with ZFX™ Flash Cure Accelerator Additive.

As a Measure of Durability. Almost all polishes, waxes, etc. bead water initially. As they are removed, breakdown or dissipated by washing, exposure to sunlight and heat, expansion and contraction, abrasion, abrasion from pollen and other pollutants, the water beading is diminished. This is due to the reduction in surface tension of the polish or wax once it is removed or breaks down. If the surface has any protection when there is no water beading is the subject of much controversy. Especially when the polish or wax exhibits good water beading immediately after the initial application. If there is any protection left, how would one know? There are no scientific tests to my knowledge that can determine this. Most consumers and especially wax/polish manufacturers use the reduction in the height, contact angle and diameter of water beading as a gauge to know when to re-apply polish/wax for continued protection. If a polish/wax gives water beading initially but then stops beading after washing, part of the polish formula has been removed. If this happens, is there any protection left???? Was the chemical or film that caused the water beading also the protection???? If a manufacturer claims that their polish/wax will bead water initially and then magically change to sheeting… I say impossible!!!! Let them prove that the polish/wax film protection initially applied is still there… Until a specific test is developed and not some fake, razzle-dazzle test, these questions will remain unanswered and I will continue to use water beading, (height, contact angle and diameter) as a major factor in gauging a polish/wax protection. P.S. Please remember that healthy paint will bead water without any polish/wax applied. This confuses many people to believe a polish/wax is lasting longer than they think. To test your polish/wax, you must measure the water beading of your paint (height, contact angle and diameter) without any polish/wax applied. Next, measure the water beading of your paint (height, contact angle and diameter) within 24 hours after initially applying your polish/wax. This is your starting point. This will also be the gauge for determining the water beading (longevity, duration and changes) for that specific product. As the water beads start to diminish (get wider and shallower and loses contact angle), the polish/wax and its film protection factor is going away. When the water beading is the same as before you apply your product, the polish/wax and its protection are gone.