Can I dust my car with a household duster/sweeper?

[jojellybean]

My Dad uses a household sweeper/duster to swipe off any dust on the car. It's pretty soft and all, I am just worrying if it will damage or scratch our black Mercedes.

I hear that Mercedes have a hard paint so it doesn't scratch easily? Or is the car just new and scratches don't show up now and it will later which is what I'm worrying about! LOL


My Dad always thought the stuff I ordered was **** but today he fell in love with the Last Touch Spray Detail. He always used extra shirts lying around the house and never noticed the scratches or swirls because our previous cars were light color car so he always thought I was just gullible and buying products like crazy for our black cars.

I have been improving with washing and drying and now there aren't water spots when we clean it! . On our older car, there are swirls (Toyota Camry 2015) but that was when I wasn't so crazy about detailing. So I want to make sure nothing happens to the Benz and if it does, I'd like to prevent it lol.

1) Is it okay to dust it with household duster/sweeper at home?

2) I let my towels soak in warm water and add some original detergent and let the dirt rise out of the water and then give it a clean. Man the dirt spots were all gone! I don't have a laundry so is that okay for now?

[mhdena]

Re: Can I dust my car with a household duster/sweeper?

California Car Duster, accept no substitutes.

Costco has em cheap in a 2 pack, small one for the interior.

Amazon has nice wooden handle ones.

http://www.amazon.com/California-Car-Duster-62442-Standard/dp/B00008RW9U?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_sfl_title_86&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

[The Guz]

Re: Can I dust my car with a household duster/sweeper?

If you want to avoid scratches then stay away from using that on paint. Leave it for the house.

I personally don't like the california car duster. The reason being is that it has wax on the fibers and leaves residue behind that requires a wipedown. I would stick with a quick detailer for light dust or a waterless wash (D114) to remove heavier dust.

Clear coats are scratch sensitive. It doesn't matter if it hard or soft. Google Mike Phillips and clear coats are scratch sensitive.

[Low83]

Re: Can I dust my car with a household duster/sweeper?

Trick is to air out new Cal car dusters before using, have four of them and I always lay them out in the sun for two days when new, after a couple of wipe downs they are streak free.

[exploreco]

Re: Can I dust my car with a household duster/sweeper?

Agree with Guz, I personally am not running anything like that over my paint, even a California Car Duster. Especially black paint. I will hit it with quick deatiler.

[Blueline]

Re: Can I dust my car with a household duster/sweeper?

I have been using a California Duster on my two black cars for years. No scratches or swirls. First, if you use them correctly (just letting the tips touch) you are not going to damage anything.
Second, follow the instructions for a new one...lay it on a newspaper for a couple of days (or out in the sun) and the paraffin wax dries, and it will not leave any waxy reside. Don't use those household Swifters on your car.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Can I dust my car with a household duster/sweeper?

This:

I have been using a California Duster on my two black cars for years. No scratches or swirls. First, if you use them correctly (just letting the tips touch) you are not going to damage anything.

The single biggest issue with the California Duster is user error. If you use pressure, or try to get every last little bit of stuff off with one, you're going to run into trouble somewhere along the line. They can be great for removing the somewhat heavier dust, and then followed up with a quick detail spray and clean microfiber towel.

[exploreco]

Re: Can I dust my car with a household duster/sweeper?

I have been using a California Duster on my two black cars for years. No scratches or swirls. First, if you use them correctly (just letting the tips touch) you are not going to damage anything.
Second, follow the instructions for a new one...lay it on a newspaper for a couple of days (or out in the sun) and the paraffin wax dries, and it will not leave any waxy reside. Don't use those household Swifters on your car.

In all fairness, I can't really bag on the product, as I haven't personally used it. Where I live there isn't much opportunity to dust off a car as we get more "showers" that require a full wash. I can see areas out west where it can go days/weeks without rain and the cars are just dusty hence the name "California Duster" lol. Just when I heard about it years ago, I couldn't imagine the concept, but seeing there is a proper technique to prevent scratching with proper use.

[Don]

Re: Can I dust my car with a household duster/sweeper?

In regards to the OP's original post, you could probably use the Swiffer cloths on the INTERIOR in hard to reach places, but I agree with everyone else about not using it on the paint.

[GLOCKer]

Re: Can I dust my car with a household duster/sweeper?

Owning a black car, I learned to stay away from the California Duster.

[Top Gear]

Re: Can I dust my car with a household duster/sweeper?

This:

I have been using a California Duster on my two black cars for years. No scratches or swirls. First, if you use them correctly (just letting the tips touch) you are not going to damage anything.
Second, follow the instructions for a new one...lay it on a newspaper for a couple of days (or out in the sun) and the paraffin wax dries, and it will not leave any waxy reside. Don't use those household Swifters on your car.

The single biggest issue with the California Duster is user error. If you use pressure, or try to get every last little bit of stuff off with one, you're going to run into trouble somewhere along the line. They can be great for removing the somewhat heavier dust, and then followed up with a quick detail spray and clean microfiber towel.

This is exactly my approach. I use it lightly to "knock off the big stuff", although the paint is not as delicate to swirl as some people think. I slap the duster against my hand once in a while to clear it (pollen especially), and I generally only use it when I can follow it with either UWWA or GCQW. I don't use it when the car is wet, because that just makes a mess. I also never wash the California Duster (you don't clean your home duster, either, do you?), because it grabs dirt better when it gets "broken in". The duster is not a last step, but a first. If the car is too dirty or grimy/oily for dusting to be the first step, then you don't start with the duster.

It's really simple. Don't over think stuff like this