Mild cleaner/polish to use several times a year?

[2wheelsx2]

I am wanting to use a polish for minor swirl removal and paint cleaning 3 to 4 times a year at most. After DavidB's recent threads about overpolishing, I thought I would poll the masses about what polishes are good for that purpose.



The polishes/cleaners I am familiar with are:



Meguiar's (#9, #83)

Klasse (AIO)

3M SMR



I have no experience with 1Z or Menzerna.



What I have been doing is DACP once a year, and the other times just AIO by hand. But AIO really doesn't do swirl removal.



Edit: Oops....I forgot to add an "other" category. I guess I forgot about P21S or S100

 

[chml17l]

The P21S GEPC is a great product that doesn't seem to get much play on the board for regular paint cleaning. Of course, it won't really do anything for swirls.



I remember DavidB doing a test where he polished a panel every day for 30 days with GEPC. The before and after paint thickness measured electronically showed no measureable decrease in the clearcoat.



Now that seems like a mild cleaner/polish to me.

 

[Accumulator]

I voted 1Z. Their Pro (or consumer) MP or their Wax Polish Soft would be safe to use as often as you like.



FWIW, I've used stuff of a "pretty mild" nature on cars that I've kept for a *long* time, with no problems. And the 1Z stuff is even milder than that (probably about like the #9). You could also try #80 in place of your #83 and see if its combo of mild cutting and decent hiding is to your liking.



As long as you're not using something like a 3M RC or #83 all the time you should be fine. Note that most people don't remove *all* the marring with a PC anyhow, so IMO they're not removing all that much clear.

 

[2wheelsx2]

Right. I forgot about #80 (that was what prompted me to start the poll in the first place )



I have been loathe to polish the car more than once a year with DACP and because it's a daily driver parked 24/7 on a fairly busy street (at least until next month when I move), it accumulates swirls fairly quickly, although they are pretty light. I've been meaning to try #80 for some time but have not found a local supply yet. Since it can be bought locally, I haven't gone the mail order route yet. I'll likely try that, or the PB SSR1 this summer.

 

[Accumulator]

Heh heh, LOL about forgetting the #80 after it was on your mind.



I just order my #80 from Meg's online. Probably expensive, but it's easy to do when I'm thinking of it. Like now....