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I'm just a weekend warrior that has used this forum over the years to "perfect" my game-plan and to get me out of tough spots on my black Acura MDX & black Toyota Sequoia. The one thing that I feel as though I have perfected is the art of caring for black paint. As anyone knows that has a black car/truck/suv, it has a life of it's own and it's never perfect. Here are a couple of tips/tricks Ive picked up over the years as I've cared for my temperamental black paint:
Washing Technique:
The double bucket w/ Grit Guards technique is a must! I even have a 3rd bucket w/ Grit Guard that I use for wheels, running boards & wheel-wells to keep grit away from my dedicated wash buckets. I have dedicated MF sponge and MF handled brush for the wheels that don't ever touch the paint or my dedicated wash buckets. I do the wheels first. Once they're done I move on to the paint. I always wash in the shade with a cool paint surface. I start high on the horizontal surfaces and work down the the vertical sections (i.e. fenders). I Keep light pressure on the MEG MF Wash Mitt. I always do two passes on each section flipping the mitt over to the clean side after each pass. I also turn the nylon cuff inside the mitt so it never makes contact with the paint. Once each section is done, I rigorously rub the mitt agains the Girt Guard in the clean/fresh water on both sides, ring-out and then repeat in the soapy water. I never wash in a circular pattern, rather, I always use back and forth strokes. I really try to keep the pressure on the mitt to minimum. The 2nd pass gets anything you missed...
Drying techniques:
I use my gas powered leaf blower to blow off most of the standing water. It quickly gets rid of 80% of the water. It's also makes quick work of tires, rims , mirrors & running boards. One very important tip... USE EAR PLUGS! When you lift the blower above your shoulders you're putting the engine/exhaust right at ear level. I try to minimize the use of drying towels for three reasons. First, I have big cars and it will take up to 8 MF Megs Magnet towels to do my Sequoia. Secondly, no matter how good your MF drying towels are, they can introduce swirl marks in soft black paint like is on my Acura MDX. To keep swirls away, I lay the towels on the pain and pat-dry, keeping the "wiping" to a minimum. Third, minimizing the use of towels keeps the laundry to a minimum. I have have two dedicated piles of MF towels. The one's I use for the paint & other towels that I use for non-paint surfaces. Once dried, I use UQD with plush MF towels using very light pressure.
Between Wash Care:
I have tried many products and techniques to rid the dust and extend my time between washes. The fact of the matter is that everything you do in between washes can introduce swirl marks. UQD is a fantastic product to make the black paint pop after you've waxed or right after you've washed/dried your black paint. But in my experience, I would not suggest using it in between washes to remove dust on black paint. The lubrication in this product is great, but we're talking about black paint which will show swirls even with the greatest care doing this type of wipe-down. Once I wash/dry & UQD'ed my cars, I don't touch the paint till the next wash (and yes... I've tried the California Duster too. It too can leave marks or wax residue on/in the paint).
My friends & family think I'm crazy going to these steps, but when you buy a black vehicle, you're signing-up for a different level of care in return for a finish that beats any other color when it's clean and looking it's best in the sun.
I hope my experience helps the other weekend-warriors out there. If anyone has any other tips or tricks, I'm all ears!!!
G
Washing Technique:
The double bucket w/ Grit Guards technique is a must! I even have a 3rd bucket w/ Grit Guard that I use for wheels, running boards & wheel-wells to keep grit away from my dedicated wash buckets. I have dedicated MF sponge and MF handled brush for the wheels that don't ever touch the paint or my dedicated wash buckets. I do the wheels first. Once they're done I move on to the paint. I always wash in the shade with a cool paint surface. I start high on the horizontal surfaces and work down the the vertical sections (i.e. fenders). I Keep light pressure on the MEG MF Wash Mitt. I always do two passes on each section flipping the mitt over to the clean side after each pass. I also turn the nylon cuff inside the mitt so it never makes contact with the paint. Once each section is done, I rigorously rub the mitt agains the Girt Guard in the clean/fresh water on both sides, ring-out and then repeat in the soapy water. I never wash in a circular pattern, rather, I always use back and forth strokes. I really try to keep the pressure on the mitt to minimum. The 2nd pass gets anything you missed...
Drying techniques:
I use my gas powered leaf blower to blow off most of the standing water. It quickly gets rid of 80% of the water. It's also makes quick work of tires, rims , mirrors & running boards. One very important tip... USE EAR PLUGS! When you lift the blower above your shoulders you're putting the engine/exhaust right at ear level. I try to minimize the use of drying towels for three reasons. First, I have big cars and it will take up to 8 MF Megs Magnet towels to do my Sequoia. Secondly, no matter how good your MF drying towels are, they can introduce swirl marks in soft black paint like is on my Acura MDX. To keep swirls away, I lay the towels on the pain and pat-dry, keeping the "wiping" to a minimum. Third, minimizing the use of towels keeps the laundry to a minimum. I have have two dedicated piles of MF towels. The one's I use for the paint & other towels that I use for non-paint surfaces. Once dried, I use UQD with plush MF towels using very light pressure.
Between Wash Care:
I have tried many products and techniques to rid the dust and extend my time between washes. The fact of the matter is that everything you do in between washes can introduce swirl marks. UQD is a fantastic product to make the black paint pop after you've waxed or right after you've washed/dried your black paint. But in my experience, I would not suggest using it in between washes to remove dust on black paint. The lubrication in this product is great, but we're talking about black paint which will show swirls even with the greatest care doing this type of wipe-down. Once I wash/dry & UQD'ed my cars, I don't touch the paint till the next wash (and yes... I've tried the California Duster too. It too can leave marks or wax residue on/in the paint).
My friends & family think I'm crazy going to these steps, but when you buy a black vehicle, you're signing-up for a different level of care in return for a finish that beats any other color when it's clean and looking it's best in the sun.
I hope my experience helps the other weekend-warriors out there. If anyone has any other tips or tricks, I'm all ears!!!
G
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