Best time to wash my car (1st post!!)

G

Glen

New member
I have a brand new black car and I have been washing it in the daytime. I'm finding I'm creating swirls like crazy! I heard washing your car in the evening will reduce the amount of swirls I put on my car. Is this true? This is what I have been using:



Sheepskin wash mitt

Meguiars Gold Class wash

California Water Blade

Big Blue Drying Towel



I was thinking of getting a chenile wash mitt or a MF one. Which ones are good and where can I get them?

BTW I have a fatty scratch on my roof and I think it was because of the Blade. I am going to stop using it now because that really bothers me. Its a HUGE 3in. white scratch!!!:mad:



Also, I plan on using the Klasse twins on my car next weekend. What should I use to get the swirls out by hand before I apply the AIO? Also, what towels work the best for buffing the excess wax off?



Thanks a lot. I'm a newbie to the washing thing because I have never washed cars before I got mine. Pathetic huh? Oh well, thanks for all the help!!:)
 
I tend to wash mine in the morning. However, this is because that's when my driveway is in the shade. I think being in the shade is helpful because it cuts down on water spots. However, I don't think the time of day will cause swirls. Maybe you need to examine your technique. Try using two buckets (one with the soap, and one of just plain water for rinsing the sponge before putting it in the soap bucket) to cut down on the dirt. If the water is getting real dirty, dump it out and refill the buckets.



If you are getting scratches, it's probably from dirt. I guess it's possible your wash mitt is to blame (I've never used sheepskin) but I would bet it's probably dirt. The only way I would think the CWB would scratch were, again, if there were dirt on it. You really need to make sure to get the dirt off that car!!
 
I really doubt time of day affects how many swirl marks you put in the car. Seems like the clear coat should be resistant enough to slight temparature variations to keep that from happening.



You might want to review your washing and drying procedures. Make sure you don't scrub too hard, you are using a super clean wash mitt, etc. Also, check out the "perfect drying method" in the Autopia Articles - don't rup and wipe - blot dry instead. (Of course if your car is perfectly clean, and you are using MF, it really shouldn't matter)



Just my opinions...
 
Its not what time of day, but rather if its in the shade or not. If the car is in the shade, the surface WILL be cool.
 
For most folks, the early morning is probably the best time to wash so that all the work/fun put in can be viewed and enjoyed on the same day. However, once in a while I would wash mine around late afternoon and leave it to dry indoors overnight. Friday after work would be a good example especially if one plans on doing some intensive detailing Saturday morning. According to some of the threads in this wonderful portal, supposedly the Zaino products will benefit from leaving them on overnight. I have a 2-months old white car and am still wondering if Zaino will be suitable for it? Now just if I could figure out if it required a PC for using this much praised product? So much good information here and so little time to absorb'em.



Wonderful wealth of information in this aUtopia! Aloha!
 
to get the swirls our, you sill need to use a PC and polish since swirls are actully scratches in the clearcoat.



as long as it's cool where you are washing and you are in shade, the time of day doesn't really matter. sometimes, sun is good som you can move your car into the heat to warm the wax and allow you to spread it better. (not for K twins, but for carnuba). it also helps to find defects easier.
 
I can't really afford a PC right now, but is there anything I can use to get the swirls out by hand? I was thinking 3M SMR or anything else you all suggest, but what all kinds of cloths or towels do I need to apply this correctly? Also, I decided to get rid of the sheepskin wash mitt, but should I get chenile or MF now?
 
medic said:
to get the swirls our, you sill need to use a PC and polish since swirls are actully scratches in the clearcoat...
Click to expand...



Thanks for your clarification, medic. I have seen detailers using a polisher machine in almost every step of the detailing job, except probably when applying wax onto the body. Read some other enthusiasts prefer to wax and buff the body by hand, while the PC video shows doing everything using the PC. Just wondering if it is a advisable to apply Z onto the pad and then buff it using a PC all the way? It would nice if Z2 or any maintenance wax coats can be applied using a PC instead of by hand. Golfus, please pardon if I am "off topic" on this thread.

Ejant, thanks for pointing that out. It would be a disaster to just leave it dripping wet in the garage, wouldn't it? Of course, I just meant to dry the car best one can and then leave it to air dry the crevices as well before working on it the next day.

Much Mahalo!
 
Golfus said:
I can't really afford a PC right now, but is there anything I can use to get the swirls out by hand? I was thinking 3M SMR or anything else you all suggest, but what all kinds of cloths or towels do I need to apply this correctly? Also, I decided to get rid of the sheepskin wash mitt, but should I get chenile or MF now?
Click to expand...



Personally I recently shifted to wool mitts because they seem to pick up dirt and rinse out much better than my chenille or sponges. I do put into a "delicates" wash bag and machine wash after evey use. However, I don't have a black car and that may make the difference.



For you I would suggest Micro fiber one. Chenile retains more dirt than wool if you hit a seriously dirty spot. Cleans up very well in the washing machine however.



On swirls I definitely prefer a polisher. 3M SMR is pretty mild, and Meguiar's #9 Swirl Mark remover says it can be used by hand. Be ready for a lot of work.
 
Golfus, please pardon if I am "off topic" on this thread.
Click to expand...



It's cool. I'm glad I started a topic that could help you find your answers!!



For you I would suggest Micro fiber one. Chenile retains more dirt than wool if you hit a seriously dirty spot. Cleans up very well in the washing machine however.
Click to expand...



Thank you much Mrdetailer. I'll be ordering a MF wash mitt now and I'm thinkin some 3M SMR. Figured I'd start mild then work my way up on the abrasive scale if it doesn't work.



Can anyone give me some detailed instructions on how to apply the SMR though?? Much appreciated!:xyxthumbs
 
The trick is not the time of day, nor the shade. It does no good to leave a car parked in the sunlight, then drive it to the shade and start washing. The trick is to make sure the body is cold to the touch. Also, the mit you use can contribute to scratches if it picks up dirt. I rinse my mit after each swipe of the car, i.e. I dip the mit into the wash bucket, wash the car, then rinse it with a water hose, then dip it back into the bucket.



But back to the swirl marks, always wash the vehicle when the body is cold. If it is warm you will create swirl marks. There are many products on the market that will remove them. Mequire's ScratchX, Zaino Z5, Mothers, etc....



RickC
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top