washing my car

[sk8_aholic]

ive been driving a 89 pontiac sunbird for a few years, and decided to do a big upgrade to a 04 mazda 6, i just got it. so i'm wondering how to take care of it, ive read on here that car washes are bad and scratch up your car?, what about the non-touch car washes?, i cleaned it by hand a couple days ago, and i got some swirl marks in places, if i shouldn't go to a non-touch pressure wash, what stuff should i use and in what order to make it nice and shiny!

thanks a lot.

[dizbmikuni]

The no touch mechanical washes are the bad ones. Not sure about the pressure washes, sounds like a good idea. The hand washes should be okay...not sure how you got the swirl marks.

If you want to do it yourself, clean it with microfiber sponges/mitts/towels. Google Meguiars 3 step system, it's a good starting point.

[4U2NV]

Best way to get a non-swirl and avoid micro scratches - Sheepskin, microfiber sponges and mitts. Use a grit guard and always use good quality microfiber towels to dry the car.

[MS6-582]

www.autogeek.net

More info than you could ever want. Get some good towls, good lubricating and conditioning soap, a bucket grid (like $10 and stops alot of dirt from getting on your rag) a good wax, and a good polisher. If you want to take it a step further get a clay bar to help remove dirt and fallout from your paint and prevent it from getting in your rag and create more swirls.

You can do more than that and spend a fortune doing it but this is a good start and you don't have to go huge and get top name brands. I like wolfgang brand. Easy to use and good results.

Post some pics when you get it all nice and shiny!

[Venom6]

QUOTE (dizbmikuni @ Jul 22 2008, 08:07 PM)

The no touch mechanical washes are the bad ones. Not sure about the pressure washes, sounds like a good idea. The hand washes should be okay...not sure how you got the swirl marks.

If you want to do it yourself, clean it with microfiber sponges/mitts/towels. Google Meguiars 3 step system, it's a good starting point.[/b]

huh?? How is a no-touch car wash gonna harm your car? All it does is spray water. You get swirl marks from going to car washes with brushes/flaps etc. Some are better than others, but they all put swirls in. Touchless car washes don't do quite as good job gettin all the dirt off as ones with brushes and flaps but not gonna swirl the car...

[MS6-582]

QUOTE (Venom6 @ Jul 25 2008, 11:11 AM)

huh?? How is a no-touch car wash gonna harm your car? All it does is spray water. You get swirl marks from going to car washes with brushes/flaps etc. Some are better than others, but they all put swirls in. Touchless car washes don't do quite as good job gettin all the dirt off as ones with brushes and flaps but not gonna swirl the car...[/b]

I don't think he was implying that a "no touch" car wash gives you swirls. I think he just meant they suck. They don't get anything clean, might look clean but if you touch your paint it is like sand paper.

[pcruz88]

yea i have a black 6 with the same problem and i hate all the swirl marks. Anything that i can do to reduce these. Already used microfiber and polish and wax. What do you guys recommend?

[MS6-582]

Porter Cable FTW.

Autogeek has a kit from Wolf Gang that has swirl remover+porter cable+pads+towels

To reduce the amount of swirls you get in the future,
rinse/clean your microfiber/sponge/cloth (what ever you use to wash the car, best to use micro fiber a mit or rag) often. You can also use the two bucket method, put clean water in one bucket, soap water in the other. Fist rinse and clean your cleaner off in the fresh water then place in the soap water. You can also use a Bucket Grid. It is a piece of plastic that sits at the bottom of the bucket so the dirt and crap falls through the false bottom so your cleaner doesn't come in contact with it. It also calms the water so the dirt settles to the bottom and doesn't end up back on your cleaner.

Clay bars help remove junk from your paint so your towels and rags don't pick them up and scratch your car.

The most important thing though, Just rinse your car very very well before even starting to wash it. High pressure nozzle on your hose , or pressure washer would be the best. The more dirt you get off before you touch it, the less to smear around your car.

[pcruz88]

i was going to try the Porter Cable but i heard people say if you dont know how to use one you will do more harm than good. It seems fairly simple too but then again i didnt want to chance it. Ill try that bucket grid since i do hand wash my car. Hmm never used a clay bar on the car either might just need to do that too.

[virtual]

Yea, pretty logical in using a P.C. We recommend an "E" pattern. Never stay in on place. Make sure buffing pad surface never touches service or towels you just used to wipe down the car. Keep it as clean from particles aside from the wax/polish/compound/gaze you are using.
After each use, wash your pad. When cleaning windows, try to wear disposable gloves so your oils will not streak the glass when you flip the towel during drying. And of, course, never wash,wax,dry in direct sun. May cause water spots and waxes and compounds are harder to buff off. Good luck.