Doing everything right and I still have light swirls..

[Agent 99]

My exactly 1 year old dark gray car is (in the sunlight and at an angle) showing some light swirl marks. Granted, I do need to re-apply my NXT wax.

I do everything right. 2 bucket method, new Meguiars mits, and all.

I guess I could try some very light swirl x. What's the least aggessive step or me to try?

Thanks

[the_invisible]

Re: Doing everything right and I still have light swirls..

I use three mitts to wash one car, and I wash these mitts very cleanly after each use. Some grease and road grime get stuck on the mitts. If the car is really dirty, I change the soap water after washing half the car.

The two bucket method (even with grit guards) reduces contamination of the soap water, but it does not guarantee a defect free wash. The mitts can still trap dirt, grease, and grime even if you utilize the two bucket wash method.

Also, any contact with the paint surface will instill swirls. The proper washing method simply reduces that to an acceptable level.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Doing everything right and I still have light swirls..

No matter how careful you are, things will start to happen to the paint. Whether these are fine swirls or etchings from bird droppings, or really bad stuff like rock chips and door dings, the only way to totally prevent them from happening is to place the car in a hermetically sealed vault and never touch it. But where's the fun in that?

Some paints are more sensitive than others, and this can be extremely frustrating. On a personal note, I used to have a Mazda Miata that was only driven about 2500 miles per year and was otherwise in the garage all the time. I treated it exactly the same way I did my daily driver, only I treated it less often, if you get my meaning. Yet the darn thing was like a trained dog - I'd say "scratch" it was scratched. Drove me nuts, because my daily would remain virtually defect free for a year or more under normal use.

As for removal of the swirls that are starting to show up, SwirlX would be your best bet for a gentle approach. If you find you need to use SwirlX once a year you can feel confident using it for many, many years to come without issue.

[Agent 99]

Re: Doing everything right and I still have light swirls..

I wonder what the paint would look like had I taken through the auto wash like a regular consumer.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Doing everything right and I still have light swirls..

I wonder what the paint would look like had I taken through the auto wash like a regular consumer.

Probably like the right side of the picture below, complete with swirls and water spots. Ultimate Compound got it back to what you see on the left side of the picture.

[Jeff U]

Re: Doing everything right and I still have light swirls..

If you drive your car, some swirls will be inevitable.

Just think about driving in a rain storm. The car in front of you is throwing up very dirty water with lots of nasty little particles and you are blasting through it at 60 MPH.

Louisville may get little ice and snow but think of all the salt spray and the little particles captured in the slush. Once again, it is being blasted across your paint as you drive and sliding off when you stop.

Wonder we don't have many more swirls.


BTW - It does help if you stop looking at the paint at an angle in the sunlight.

[spyghost]

Re: Doing everything right and I still have light swirls..

a car, unlike a house, travels. whether you like it or not, bad things do happen.

honestly, a house is easier to maintain than a car... but having a great looking a car is truly an accomplishment

[Ol' Red]

Re: Doing everything right and I still have light swirls..

I am going to guess that it is your microfiber towels/mitts. Use the CD test (rubbing the towels on the underside of a CD) to test the quality. If the towel scratches your CD, it will probably scratch your paint. Watch out for tags and dirty towels.