Back to basics: how to wash

I

imported_JetBlack

New member
I wash my car with very little pressure applied to the mitt. I go over the whole car twice at least, each time washing a panel and keep turning and washing the mitt to avoid scrathes by contaminants picked up by the mitt. After I dry the car and park in the garage I can see some stains still left on the car. So I am thinking may be I should try using warm water (normally I always wash with cold water so as not to remove the wax/KSG/Polish). I want to top up the KSG (I put 3 coats on about 3 months ago), but I feel I have to totally remove the KSG off in order to remove some of the stains remain on the car. This would mean much more work and time. The work I do not mind, but time I do not have.



So how do you folks deal with this problem? Do you top up the wax/KSG or whatever after a good wash, or do you remove the top layer first?
 
If the stains are waterspots you might be in trouble, they might be etched into your clear coat which means you gotta strip it down to the clear coat and use a Porter Cable or even a rotary. Good Luck to u waterspots suck.
 
JetBlack- One of my winter drivers has nothing on it except KSG (5 layers late last spring, plus one more in early November). I have to REALLY clean it (gets very dirty), but the SG is still going strong. Here's my $.02:



As eduhilera said, if you have etching, you've got problems. If it's just dirt that isn't coming off, that's different.



Your wash technique sounds good (and gentle) keep it up :xyxthumbs . Yes, use warm water. It WON'T strip the SG. Maybe use more detergent. I use Griot's Car Wash (VERY high lubricity) and even at about 1 oz soap/1.5 gallon water (stronger than I like) it doesn't seem to strip the SG (even with a foam-gun presoak). GENTLY clay stains that just won't wash off. VERY GENTLE claying does not seem to appreciably strip the SG. If the just-clayed surface doesn't bead the same, don't worry, it's still protected and usually beads just fine later, :nixweiss, but it usually does.



If you want to put on another layer of SG, just clay the areas where you're concerned about "is-it-clean-enough" first. That should get it clean enough for another layer.



If clay won't solve your problem, then you'll probably need to redo the whole surface-prep thing and start over (maybe wait until spring?).
 
The spots you may want to remove may be sealed under the sealant or wax u have used so it may be necessary to strip down to clear coat and start over. However my recommendation is for now keep it up with regular carnauba wax (as it is disgustingly cold outside), and when the spring comes around strip it down to clear coat and 1- dawn wash, 2- clay, 3- second dawn wash 4- apply a light swirl remover or a heavier compound depending on how the paint looks when stripped, 5- non carnauba body shampoo, 6- sealant or carnauba, and step 7 is optional ( if used sealant apply carnauba for added depth and shine...



PM me if in doubt of products u may need
 
Thank you :xyxthumbs all for your suggestions and tips. I was leaning towards stripping it down to clear coat and start over with new coats of KSG. But to be honest I cannot do it all in one day, to wash and dry the car alone takes me over two hours. But what you have said made me feel better because it kind of confirms my thoughts (well except for using warm water and the scary part of dealing with water spots, I do not have a polisher and I've never had much mileage out of clay bars). I did not mention, the cars is new, under a year old, always kept clean. So it is relatively easy to get great results.



Perhaps it is time I tried the clay bar again. I need to read up on it. Any pointers on that? Also how do you suggest I strip it down to clear coat?
 
Your problem might have to do with drying not with washing. If your drying towels have fabric softener on them they will leave stains. Make sure they are clean. Just my .02
 
hubris63 said:
Your problem might have to do with drying not with washing. If your drying towels have fabric softener on them they will leave stains. Make sure they are clean. Just my .02
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Hmm, I only use very small amount of washing powder to wash the drying towels, never use fabric softener for anything. I set the machine to use plenty of water, but I remember the towels feeling very sticky after I finished drying, which makes me think they were not properly rinsed, or the towels rubbed off some KSG and it fels sticky? How do you wash your drying towels?
 
JetBlack- "Very sticky" towels = something's wrong.



I use hot water wash/warm rinse ("softened", with potassium chloride- NO I've never had corrosion problems from it and my water is barely liquid without treatment) and plenty of LIQUID detergent with maybe a little Dawn added in. I might do additional wash/rinse cycles without detergent if I think there's still laundery detergent in the towels.



Loose the powdered detergent; one undisolved grain can cause scratches/swirls.



(flamesuit on) For cotton towels, I use a VERY small amount of Downy fabric softener in the final rinse. I have never had a problem with it decreasing the absorbency of the towels or causing smearing/streaking. (flamesuit off) I DO NOT use dryer sheets. Drying on a low temperature seems to help the towels stay soft.
 
Accumulator said:
JetBlack- "Very sticky" towels = something's wrong.



I use hot water wash/warm rinse ("softened", with potassium chloride- NO I've never had corrosion problems from it and my water is barely liquid without treatment) and plenty of LIQUID detergent with maybe a little Dawn added in. I might do additional wash/rinse cycles without detergent if I think there's still laundery detergent in the towels.



Loose the powdered detergent; one undisolved grain can cause scratches/swirls.



(flamesuit on) For cotton towels, I use a VERY small amount of Downy fabric softener in the final rinse. I have never had a problem with it decreasing the absorbency of the towels or causing smearing/streaking. (flamesuit off) I DO NOT use dryer sheets. Drying on a low temperature seems to help the towels stay soft.
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I do think there is any chance of having undesolved washing powder grains, but thanks for the advice, I am going to have to pay more attention to the drying towels (they are already treated with great care and respect, but may be not enough science), man it is so difficult to keep a clean car :rolleyes:
 
JetBlack- I got a kick out of your "..treated with great care and respect, but may be not enough science" remark! :D



If you DO think the problem might be coming from the drying step, maybe you oughta throw a little money at it, as in buying some waffle-weave microfiber towels. Microfibertech.com sells my current favorites. These do NOT seem pull any KSG off the paint during the drying process and they won't scratch (as long as the car is good an clean before you dry it). You can just launder them (WITHOUT softener) when they get dirty. I myself have pretty much retired my HUGE inventory :rolleyes: of cotton towels.
 
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