Stayin Swirl Free, Evaluate Me

[phenomic]

Well, I got a new car and this things paint is phenominal. I would like to keep it that way and will put all the effort into it.


My Z28 started out with swirls so I couldnt do much about it, yet i still took great care of it. Im using Nxt products now so Ill just refer to them at the time being.

Few rules: I never take my car to carwash, only I do it, Horizontal and vertical strokes, and if I drop a rag on floor i put it for washing.

Well basically, Ill tell you what my cleaning routine will be, and you tell me if I need to watch out for something.

Wash when necessary Using Natural Sheepskin Mitt:
-Spray all the debris off of pain with jet setting on hose
-Mix water with nxt wash in a bucket
-Whipe down one panel at a time with the mitt using the soap mixture. Between panels, rinse off mitt with hose and dip it in the bucket again. I will use only horizontal and vertical movements.
-Once the entire car is soaped, rinse with shower setting on hose.
-Let it sit a frew mins for a little bit of water to evaporate/drip out of nooks and crannies.
-Towel dry with a nice clean bath towel (My mom hates when i do this)
I wont worry about cleaning rims and stuff in this post.

If I wax, usually ill wash with dawn and apply the wax with a microfiber towel.

I am a little worried about using claybar on this car. Can anyone say if this is ok or not?

If there are some water spots or bird ****, I use quick detail on that area.

If I drove in rain and car was relatively clean prior, when I get in the garage I will towel dry. (Giving the effect of freshly washed car w/ little work)

As for wax, i use step 1, step 2, then 2 coats nxt.

Any other tips to staying swirl free?

[saturn2]

Use two buckets when you are washing. One for the wash, one for the rinse. Work from the top down.Look into getting a grit guard for one or both buckets.Basically it's a grid that you wipe your sprong on.I always try to get the car washed before a snow storm hits. Oh and use a snow broom to remove snow.Good luck

[gb387]

Re: Stayin Swirl Free, Evaluate Me

Originally posted by phenomic
Few rules: I never take my car to carwash, only I do it, Horizontal and vertical strokes, and if I drop a rag on floor i put it for washing.

Good rule! never heard of the horizontal/vertical strokes but the rest is in my game plan.

Well basically, Ill tell you what my cleaning routine will be, and you tell me if I need to watch out for something.

Wash when necessary Using Natural Sheepskin Mitt:
-Spray all the debris off of pain with jet setting on hose
-Mix water with nxt wash in a bucket
-Whipe down one panel at a time with the mitt using the soap mixture. Between panels, rinse off mitt with hose and dip it in the bucket again. I will use only horizontal and vertical movements.
-Once the entire car is soaped, rinse with shower setting on hose.
-Let it sit a frew mins for a little bit of water to evaporate/drip out of nooks and crannies.
-Towel dry with a nice clean bath towel (My mom hates when i do this)
I wont worry about cleaning rims and stuff in this post.

If you do not have one, you may want to add a Grit Guard Insert to the bucket, really helps keep dirt down in the bucket out of reach of your wash mitt.

For drying, I suggest a dedicated towel(s) for this, something like the Water Magnet Drying Towel. I have 5-6 of them and wouldn't be with out one, very absorbent, soft and hold up very well even after washings.

If I wax, usually ill wash with dawn and apply the wax with a microfiber towel.

When I wax by hand, I like to apply wax with a High-Tech Applicator Pad, seems I have more control over the ammont of product I apply and can get a thin/even coat.

Sounds like you are using Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner as a paint cleaner prior to a polish, am I correct? Is so this is all you need to do, the paint cleaner will strip the wax, just wash prior with you NXT wash not the Dawn. I wouldn't recommend Dawn as a car wash, even Procter & Gamble's web site(makers of Dawn) recommend you not using it on a vehicle.

I am a little worried about using claybar on this car. Can anyone say if this is ok or not?

As for clay, it will not scratch. Remember to use lots of the included lubricant(Quik Detailer). I use nearly an entire 16oz bottle on my truck. Clay really does work!

If there are some water spots or bird ****, I use quick detail on that area.

If I drove in rain and car was relatively clean prior, when I get in the garage I will towel dry. (Giving the effect of freshly washed car w/ little work)

I definitely would not dry after a rain. If you didn't drive the car and you are sure its clean, its probably ok. Now if you drove it, there is tons of road grime you can not see(since its wet) that has build up on the vehicle that you don't want to drag over your paint. If you notice once a vehicle has been driven in the rain and dries its all spotted with dirt, that is the dirt you can drag over the paint if you dry it, so a wash is a must.

As for wax, i use step 1, step 2, then 2 coats nxt.

You say step 1, step 2.... I would assume the Deep Crystal System, its a great system and works very well. NXT is and awesome product!

Any other tips to staying swirl free?

I am sure other will chime in.

PS good looking car, great color!

[Desertdawg]

Re: Stayin Swirl Free, Evaluate Me

Originally posted by phenomic
If I wax, usually ill wash with dawn and apply the wax with a microfiber towel.

Just wait until Mike see's that one....

[WaspHunter]

dawn... the dish detergent? I guess its a nice way to strip the wax, but being a mild acid (base? I can't remember but its definitely not pH neutral) it will also eat at the paintwork, and thus work to enhance marring if left on the body for too long.

I recently did an article on claying. Take some basic precautions and you'll be right:
My first clay bar work