QEW and swirls

O

onemeanmachine

New member
Well I've looked through all the previous posts on QEW that I can find and thus far haven't found exactly what I'm looking for, so if this is a repost please just point me in the right direction. I've been looking into using QEW for a while as a substitute to my water tank in certain situations, particularly to carry in my truck for impromptu clean-ups. My question is regarding the method you use to apply QEW when using it to wash a vehicle (wash mitts, MF towels, etc.). I ask because I've tried the QEW a few times now and each time have found that I've introduced some very light, but very present swirls into the paint on my truck....I normally use 3-4 oz of QEW in a 5 gal. bucket, with two MF towels (as you would use mitts), and of course a second bucket of water to rinse the MF, then use a MF drying towel or two to dry off the section....what am I doing wrong here? The surface has never been all that dirty to begin with, just slightly dirtier than I want to use S&W for. All input is greatly appreciated.
 
In my opinion, using MF towels to wash is much better than a wash mitt, because the MF will pick up the dirt and the wash mitt won't.

My method is pretty simple, but methodical, and I've never had scratching, swirling or marring.....

The secret is in the folding of the towel into fourths and not wiping more that once or twice with any side of the MF.

Here goes.....

1. Fill 2 buckets with luke warm water.
2. Add QEW to one bucket, use the other to rinse.
3. Use 2 microfiber towels, one to wash, one to dry.
4. Dip the MF in the QEW water and wring out about 1/3 of the water. (the dirtier the car is, the more water you want to leave in the towel).
5. Start at the top and work down.
6. Fold the towel into forths, wiping in long strokes, flipping the towel about every two strokes. This gives you 16 swipes before you have to rinse (8 x 2).
7. Dry each panel after you wash. (no rinsing required)
8. Rinse the soiled MF in the clear water, wring, and re-dip in QEW water.
9. Repeat process, doing lower body panels and wheels last.
10. Use a Quick Detailer spray as a finishing touch.

You should be able to do the whole car, including wheels, door jambs, etc. in about 20 minutes. Add another 10 minutes for QD.

Hope this helps.
 
maybe its the pressure u're using. when i use qew or even spray and wipe for that matter, i let the mitt glide and literally hover over the paint. enough so that the mitts fibers tocuh the paint, but not enough so that i dont feel the surface. sort of like a sweeping motion but with no pressure at all. just that mitts fibers touching it. on top of all that i do it at a slower pace. i dont wash at the same speed i do when i wash my car with water and soap.
 
Well, I did a little experiment this morning by using a wash mitt for one side of my truck and using MF for the other side, and found that the mitt left more little swirls than the MF....I know I definitely go slow enough, as it takes me FOREVER to do my truck with QEW as compared to regular washing, because I'm so afraid of leaving swirls, and I always let the mitt or MF just glide over the surface as Joyriide1113 stated. Strangely I used some S&W afterward and found that a lot of the swirls were no longer there.....which brings me to this...the swirls are so fine that you can only see them in the right lighting and look almost more like a film with swirls, rather than scratches in the paint...is there any possibility that I'm not drying the surface enough and the QEW is leaving a film on the truck? BTW thank you for your quick responses guys, that's why I love this site!
 
I don't have a clue about the problem of possibly QEW leaving a film.

The time for washing your truck should be less with QEW than with a conventional carwash/bucket method.

It's the drying time using bucket & hose that takes the time. Nooks, crevices, etc.

You must have a big truck.

(I guess that's why I charge so much to detail trucks!!! LOL)
 
Luster said:
The time for washing your truck should be less with QEW than with a conventional carwash/bucket method.

You must have a big truck.
Click to expand...

Nope! I have an ext. cab '01 F150, so it's really not that big...I guess I'm just slow....washing, not in the head! I take a lot longer to do my washes and details than many of the detailers on here, which somewhat hurts my business since I can only do so many cars a day, but my business is really just part-time to pay my way through school so it doesn't bother me...after all "it's not how fast you get there but how good you look on the way!"
 
While I'm not presently using QEW, I don't recall any swirl problem.
1. 2 to 3 oz. per 5 gallon of water doesn't sound like quite enough QEW.
2. I only mix up a gallon at a time and that did my GTP with no problem.
3. I used a cotton chenille covered sponge and did not ordinarily rinse it unless I got into a real dirty or mud area. I saturated the sponge for each section and did only a section at a time, including drying. Like 1/2 the roof, 1/2 the hood, a door or 1/4 panel. I did all the vehicle above the bumper strip down the side first, then did the lower body panels.
4. I made one wipe with a MF towel to get most of the QEW off , but leaving it still damp. I then finished drying with another MF towel. If you think your MF is getting too dirty, get another one. 2 to 3 MFs would do the GTP.

The only reason I don't use it now is Spray & Wipe. When the vehicle is really dirty with the Iowa winter salt, I go to the DIY spray wash and knock off the heavy crud, then finish with the S&W. For me, that seems easier and leaves a litle less mess on the garage floor.

The following is from the Protect-All web site.
NO RINSE APPLICATION.
Use ½ ounce (1 capful) of Quick & Easy Wash in a bucket with two quarts water for an average size car. Use one ounce per gallon for larger vehicles. Quick & Easy Wash safely loosens and lifts dirt eliminating the need to rinse with water. Wash a section at a time then just chamois, towel or squeegee dry.

Quick & Easy Wash is non-abrasive. Remove oxidation, stains and heavy grime with a strong cleaner or polishing compound before using Quick & Easy Wash for the first time. Protect All FIBERGLASS Oxidation Remover & Color Restorer and heavy-duty Protect All Black Streak Cleaner and Degreaser are perfect for tackling oxidation, stains and heavy grime.

WASH ANYWHERE
Wash any vehicle wherever it is parked. This is especially important where water use is restricted. Because you don't need to rinse you can wash in your garage, apartment parking stall, campgrounds, parks, marinas and airplane tiedowns. Quick & Easy Wash is great for home and office, too.
Click to expand...

Charles
 
I have been using QEW exclusively in the winter the last two winters. I have always used a sheepskin mitt and never any swirls.

It's interesting that it's being suggested to use a MF towel for QEW in this thread. Most people agree that MF is not a good material to use for washing a car because it doesn't release dirt well. This is even more of a problem with QEW because there is more dirt on the car than there would be with a regular wash. This is because of not pre rinsing like you would with a regular wash. IMO it is even more important to use a washing tool that releases dirt well when using QEW and the best thing for that is a sheep skin mitt. Also the deep nap of the mitt will help keep the grit from marring the paint. MF nap is no where near as deep as sheep skin.
 
Anthony A said:
I have been using QEW exclusively in the winter the last two winters. I have always used a sheepskin mitt and never any swirls.

It's interesting that it's being suggested to use a MF towel for QEW in this thread. Most people agree that MF is not a good material to use for washing a car because it doesn't release dirt well. This is even more of a problem with QEW because there is more dirt on the car than there would be with a regular wash. This is because of not pre rinsing like you would with a regular wash. IMO it is even more important to use a washing tool that releases dirt well when using QEW and the best thing for that is a sheep skin mitt. Also the deep nap of the mitt will help keep the grit from marring the paint. MF nap is no where near as deep as sheep skin.
Click to expand...

Not arguing this point, but, I've found that, with microfiber, using a separate rinse bucket, the rinse water is very dirty at the end and the MF is almost as clean as it was before I started.

Perhaps it's because I tend to use very thick and plush MF's for car washing. They pick up a lot of dirt and do seem to rinse well. (I also use warm water).

I've used a wash mitt with QEW and it seem as if most of the dirt is picked up by the drying towel, not the mitt. Therefore you end up with a drying towel that is rubbing the dirt back into the paint.

That's why I prefer MF....

But I respect your opinion..... :yes:
 
To add another opinion I wash with a mit but then "dry" with S&W. That way if the mitt leaves dirty water on the paint the S&W in theory helps it not scratch when you dry with the MF towel. Also like it in case I miss a spot the S&W should help prevent scratching as well.
I get super fine swirls from QEW but also from lots of other things too because my red ss Honda paint is so soft (FPII/finishing pad/rotary leaves holograms every time on my car, but hardly ever on all other clearcoat cars)
 
wifehatescar said:
To add another opinion I wash with a mit but then "dry" with S&W. That way if the mitt leaves dirty water on the paint the S&W in theory helps it not scratch when you dry with the MF towel. Also like it in case I miss a spot the S&W should help prevent scratching as well.
Click to expand...


i like to use a qd as well. makes the surface glide a lot more. spraya nd wipe would msot definately help more. but as i only let my car get moderately DUSTY the qew takes most of the dirt off.

im sure that with qew and spray and wipe, no-1 with a garage should have a reason not to wash, detail their cars in the winter.
 
joyriide1113 said:
im sure that with qew and spray and wipe, no-1 with a garage should have a reason not to wash, detail their cars in the winter.
Click to expand...
While it can be done, it isn't all that easy for those of us with the cold to contend with.
The snow removal quite often consists of lots of salt and brine solution being put on the roads. This creates some salt crud build-up that you would have to see to believe. It will sometimes fill a wheel-well right up to the tire. It is often 1/2" or more thick on the body side panels. A little much for QEW or S&W. Add to that some cold temperatures, (high today 22, low of 6, fahrenheit), and it becomes somewhat of a challenge.
Actually, the only time it gets totally away from me is when we have the extended 0 degree stretch. When the temperature is 20 or above, I can heat my garage with a 90,000 BTU kerosene heater and do many projects. Maybe not too well, but at least do them.
And it isn't even winter yet.:)

Charles
 
HEre is how I do it.

Wash bucket

2 gallons of water / 2 oz of QEW and 1 oz of QD (S+G usually)

Rinse BUcket

2 gallons water / 2 oz of QEW


SO i will start by spraying some Spray and wipe on the panel to be cleaned. I will soak my mitt in the wash bucket and then do one panel with the wash. slowly. I will then toss my mitt in the rinse and "dab the mf towel on teh paint.. you must dab not wipe. I also like to use some QD when I am wiping of the panel. I usually will just dab the water and the rest will just air dry and it will all be cleaned up with a final QD.

I use a minumum of 3 mitts when I use QEW. MOre mitts the less amount of marring you shoudl get.

Make sure to work the cleanest areas first. Lower panels always last. Let the solution do the work and dont scrub or push hard.

Greg
 
CharlesW said:
While it can be done, it isn't all that easy for those of us with the cold to contend with.
The snow removal quite often consists of lots of salt and brine solution being put on the roads. This creates some salt crud build-up that you would have to see to believe. It will sometimes fill a wheel-well right up to the tire. It is often 1/2" or more thick on the body side panels. A little much for QEW or S&W. Add to that some cold temperatures, (high today 22, low of 6, fahrenheit), and it becomes somewhat of a challenge.
Actually, the only time it gets totally away from me is when we have the extended 0 degree stretch. When the temperature is 20 or above, I can heat my garage with a 90,000 BTU kerosene heater and do many projects. Maybe not too well, but at least do them.
And it isn't even winter yet.:)

Charles
Click to expand...


We have the same problems here in Canada. I just go to a coin wash and hose off the major stuff than drive home and wash in the garage with QEW.
 
man... that sucks. i kind of anticipate when it wil be cold, for the fact that the humidity is a lot less. but our lows are in the low 50's and never even as low as u'res.

sometimes i wish i had some of enclosed washed bay with air conditioning and lights EVERYWHERE. along with a bed, tv, radio, fridge, a and computer.

::wake up::
 
joyriide1113 said:
man... that sucks. i kind of anticipate when it wil be cold, for the fact that the humidity is a lot less. but our lows are in the low 50's and never even as low as u'res.

sometimes i wish i had some of enclosed washed bay with air conditioning and lights EVERYWHERE. along with a bed, tv, radio, fridge, a and computer.

::wake up::
Click to expand...
Add a furnace and I'll vote for that! :)

Charles
 
We all seem to be pretty "tight" in our use of QEW. Is this a case where we might be a little ahead to use more than the QEW folks recommend. I've been carefully measuring one ounce per gallon. I'm about ready to just start estimating the amount I use like I do with a normal shampoo. Might as well. I just bought a gallon of the stuff and you only go around once.:D

Tom :cool:
 
tguil said:
We all seem to be pretty "tight" in our use of QEW. Is this a case where we might be a little ahead to use more than the QEW folks recommend. I've been carefully measuring one ounce per gallon. I'm about ready to just start estimating the amount I use like I do with a normal shampoo. Might as well. I just bought a gallon of the stuff and you only go around once.:D

Tom :cool:
Click to expand...

I always use more than a gallon of water and an ounce of QEW. I typically use 3 gallons of water and 3 ounces of QEW when I wash. I really soak the mitt and go over each area several times. This way I am getting plenty of lubrication and I know I am thoroughly cleaning the car. My drying towels never have dirt on them so I know the car is properly cleaned. I never could properly clean the car with just 1 gallon.
 
I too always use two gallons (or more) of the QEW mixture on my trucks. I have yet to try QEW on a really dirty vehicle. Don't think I will either. :D

My comment was intended to ask if using more QEW in the mixture would add to the lubricity of the product and at the same time not cause streaking to occur as you dry the vehicle.

Tom :cool:
 
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