Microfiber Questions

[Murr1525]

What do we mean by grime?

Can you see it on the surface, or only when pulled up by the applicator/towel?

It is possible that car wash soap isnt the right product for removing it, and even the Cleaner/Wax is a very mild cleaner.

[Andy M.]

I saw the hood after the wash, and was unpleasantly surprised at how much grime there still was. I don't blame the Gold Class soap, and I thought I used enough elbow grease, but I'm wondering about the pads that I washed the hood with. I took a small netted sponge that I clean the wheels with, and used that on the hood, and got in in proper shape.

The net seems to be able to catch stuff; is it ok to use it as the everyday sponge to wash with? Or are there other, more specialized products that should be used?

A netted sponge? Like you clean dishes with? And you didn't use it on your hood after you cleaned the wheels did you?

[prr]

What do we mean by grime?

Can you see it on the surface, or only when pulled up by the applicator/towel?

It is possible that car wash soap isnt the right product for removing it, and even the Cleaner/Wax is a very mild cleaner.

The stuff on the hood was just accumulated dirt. That stuff I could see on the surface. The other "grime," I didn't see on the car. The stuff that was picked up by the applicator pad (when I was waxing) was a strong black grease, I believe it came just from two areas I was wiping, although I don't recall which parts of the car I wiped---but I would look at the pad, and one of the times I was putting the liquid wax on, it was there.

[prr]

A netted sponge? Like you clean dishes with? And you didn't use it on your hood after you cleaned the wheels did you?

Netted not like steel wool, or even plastic, but a soft, well, netting. And yes, I did put it on the hood after cleaning my wheels. Believe it or not, the hood actually looked much cleaner afterwards. I realize that wasn't the smartest thing I've ever done.

[Murr1525]

It sounds like you may want some more prep work before waxing.. perhaps clay, maybe a product like TRIX as well, depending on how many products you feel like buying.

[prr]

It sounds like you may want some more prep work before waxing.. perhaps clay, maybe a product like TRIX as well, depending on how many products you feel like buying.

It had been a loooooong time since the last wash. I'll wash in another 2-4 weeks and see how the matter stands at that point. I do have a clay bar that I bought (with the cleaning wax) several years ago, but I was never sure how to use it, what it is for....

[prr]

Are you using the 2 bucket method? That is, one bucket for soap and one to rinse? That could be a factor.

I honestly had no idea what you said above (as should be obviously from my reply earlier in this thread). I just read the following somewhere from the FAQ forum here at Meguiars':

Using the 2-bucket method in conjunction with the Grit Guard will reduce the chances of inflicting swirls in your paint. The 2-bucket makes use of one bucket for your wash solution and a second bucket with just plain water to use as a rinse for your wash mitt. The process, then, would be to dunk your wash mitt into the soapy water bucket and wash a panel or section of your vehicle. Then dunk the wash mitt, and any loose contaminants it picked up, into the rinse bucket, swish it around and wring it out. This way any of the loose contaminants will be flushed out of the mitt and settle in the bottom of the rinse bucket. The Grit Guard is simply a baffle in the bottom of the bucket, preventing these loose contaminants from being dispersed back into the water the next time you rinse your wash mitt. Now you can dunk your mitt into the soapy water bucket and wash the next panel or section of your vehicle. As an added safety precaution you can insert a Grit Guard into your soapy water bucket as well.

OK that makes sense. I'm going to be getting a larger bucket anyways (to hold all my car wash supplies), and this just means I won't be able to do anything with the bucket I'm currently using--I'll just use it as my rinse bucket.

[Murr1525]

It had been a loooooong time since the last wash. I'll wash in another 2-4 weeks and see how the matter stands at that point. I do have a clay bar that I bought (with the cleaning wax) several years ago, but I was never sure how to use it, what it is for....

Wasnt sure what which was for?

[prr]

What the clay was for.

A guy who knows cars was working with me on it, but he moved out of town, and I never did anything with it.... I must have got a kit. I got about 2/3 of a 16-oz bottle of the liquid cleaning wax, two clay bars (one out of the wrapper--still feels soft, one inside a wrapper), and an unused bottle of quick detailer mist and wipe.

This would all be a good 5 years old, when I had just bought a Civic that had a few paint problems.

[Wheelzntoys]

Where are you located? Maybe one of us is near you and can cover some tips.