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Detailing DON'Ts

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  • Detailing DON'Ts

    1) Don't keep your finger on the spray trigger of your quick detailer bottle when you are not spraying--also applies to glass and interior cleaners. I don't know how many times I have accidentally sprayed my car while wiping the car or doing something else because I failed to remove my finger from the trigger.

    2) Don't forget what part of the car that you washed first. Of course, most of us usually start with the roof, so I'm really thinking of that point where one starts to wash the car after the roof. Maybe it's developing senility, but I have often found myself wondering where I am in the wash process: did I begin with the hood or was it the right side door?

    3) Don't touch the paint with low quality microfiber towels. I learned this lesson early on. There's a world of difference between the towels one buys at Target or Advanced Auto and the high quality towels one buys from Meguiar's, PakShak, or AutoGeek. Don't scrimp. Go ahead and spend the extra dollars. Save the cheap towels for the wheels.

    4) Don't buy red microfiber towels. Your white towels will turn sissy pink.

    5) Don't try to use only one towel when you're quick detailing or polishing your car. There's no special prize for managing to get around the entire car with just one towel. Your manhood is not at stake (and if you're a female detailer, your manhood ain't at stake either).

    6) Don't forget to inspect your wash mitt, towels, and applicators frequently during the detailing process. Grit is our enemy.

    7) Don't forget to clean your pad on the fly after every panel or every other panel. I have found that old waffle-weave towels work great for this purpose.

    8) Don't forget to cover up the convertible top when machine polishing your car. Doh!

    9) Don't worry about removing all swirls on your daily driver. That's a nice goal for professional detailers and show car owners but not for the rest of us who live in the real world. We will always add new swirls to the paint, no matter how meticulous we try to be in the wash and quick detailing process. Our paint does not possess infinite depth. Eventually we will polish through the clearcoat. Moderate your expectations. Believe me when I tell you that nobody notices the swirls when they walk by your car in the grocery store parking lot--a sad but liberating truth.

    10) Don't inspect your black daily driver too closely. Thus lies the way of madness.

    Please feel free to add your own DON'Ts.
    Swirls hide in the black molecular depths, only waiting for the right time to emerge and destroy your sanity.
    --Al Kimel

  • #2
    Re: Detailing DON'Ts

    11) Don't wear rings or a watch.
    12) Don't forget to bring more products than you think you will use. More is always better.
    13) Don't forget to take your Advil/Aleve/Tylenol before starting. AM I right Old Timers?
    14) Don't forget to drink plenty of water.
    2014 Cadillac ATS4 Performance in White Diamond Tricoat. It's loaded with everything but frickin' lasers!

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Detailing DON'Ts

      4a)Don't wash your blue MF towels with white ones... you will have baby blue towels when you are done.

      15) Don't remove your machine from the paint until it's turned off/stopped spinning
      16) Don't forget to tape over the zippers/buttons on your pants

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Detailing DON'Ts

        i would like to add don't wear a belt to your number 11. i only wear gym shorts when i wash/wax so there are no buttons or belt to worry about.

        17) don't forget to use your grit guards often
        18) don't scrub your mitt to remove bugs, sap, bird droppings, etc
        19) don't let anyone "write" on your car/truck (stupid "wash me" stuff)

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Detailing DON'Ts

          Dont reuse anything that falls on the ground ( Clay, Towels, wash mitts)

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Detailing DON'Ts

            21. Don't teach your spouse what a swirl is, you'll never hear the end of it, "there's a swirl on my car would you take care it".

            "fishing for swirls in a sea of black"
            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
            David

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Detailing DON'Ts

              Ok since where on the same wave here dont ever listen to a forcast of rain from your spouse
              WAX ON WAX OFF

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Detailing DON'Ts

                Originally posted by CWilliams4296 View Post
                Dont reuse anything that falls on the ground ( Clay, Towels, wash mitts)
                ... gum.

                Well... the 5 second rule applies to gum... but not the rest.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Detailing DON'Ts

                  Do not speed in a client's car.
                  Do not use WB on hot wheels.
                  Do not let a customer take advantage of you.
                  Nick
                  Tucker's Detailing Services
                  815-954-0773
                  2012 Ford Transit Connect

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Detailing DON'Ts


                    Originally posted by akimel View Post

                    3) Don't touch the paint with low quality microfiber towels. I learned this lesson early on. There's a world of difference between the towels one buys at Target or Advanced Auto and the high quality towels one buys from Meguiar's, PakShak, or AutoGeek. Don't scrimp. Go ahead and spend the extra dollars.


                    I'm going to apologize in advance for what I'm about to say: This is an old wives tale. I have bought and used over 100 MF's from Wally World. There are several different types of MF at Wally World, they are inexpensive and they work very well. I have never had, not even one problem with any MF's from Wally World. The Wally World in Rohnert Park (Nor Cal) has a product called "Bag O Rags". It comes 12-14 MF's per bag. They are 14'' x 14''. I think these are fantastic towels. To this day, I still currently use MF's that I bought three years ago that look brand new. I bought numerous packages of these "Bag O Rags" just in case someone in corporate changes their mind. $5.00 for 12 to 14 MF's (.41 cents apiece) , that I think are great towels is a great deal. These towels have a short nap, and like I said, they work great, and I have never had a problem with any of them. The brand is "MicroTex" by Concordia. This company also makes a thick nap, high quality MF that is more expensive, but they are really nice. I think they are $3.88 ($1.84 apiece) for two towels.

                    Another product Wally World carries, which I've seen at numorous Wally World locations, is a product called, "All Purpose Cleaning Towels". These are high quality, short nap micro fiber towels. The brand is "Hometex". They come eight to a package, and retail for $5.00. That comes out to .62 cents per towel. That is a great price for a great towel.

                    You don't have to spend top dollar to get nice MF's.




                    Originally posted by tcope1 View Post

                    4a)Don't wash your blue MF towels with white ones... you will have baby blue towels when you are done.


                    I have tons of white & blue MF's that I have been using for a very long time. I always wash them together, as a matter of fact, I will soak them for days in a bucket with detergent, (Dawn, or Free laundry detergent) use 160+ degree water, and none of my towels have ever bled. The only transfer I get, is red tinted clear coat off of my S2000.

                    If the color of your towels are running, you must be buying cheap towels



                    j/k



                    No really, I don't buy into the belief that if it costs more, than it must be better.

                    I hope I didn't come across as... too "abrasive"














                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Detailing DON'Ts

                      Don't listen to Country music while detailing.
                      I got so mad at a girl who was texting while she was driving,that I rolled down my window and threw my beer at her

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Detailing DON'Ts

                        Originally posted by Barry N View Post
                        Don't listen to Country music while detailing.
                        Why not?
                        Nick
                        Tucker's Detailing Services
                        815-954-0773
                        2012 Ford Transit Connect

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Detailing DON'Ts

                          Originally posted by Fly Bye View Post



                          I'm going to apologize in advance for what I'm about to say: This is an old wives tale. I have bought and used over 100 MF's from Wally World. There are several different types of MF at Wally World, they are inexpensive and they work very well. I have never had, not even one problem with any MF's from Wally World. The Wally World in Rohnert Park (Nor Cal) has a product called "Bag O Rags". It comes 12-14 MF's per bag. They are 14'' x 14''. I think these are fantastic towels. To this day, I still currently use MF's that I bought three years ago that look brand new. I bought numerous packages of these "Bag O Rags" just in case someone in corporate changes their mind. $5.00 for 12 to 14 MF's (.41 cents apiece) , that I think are great towels is a great deal. These towels have a short nap, and like I said, they work great, and I have never had a problem with any of them. The brand is "MicroTex" by Concordia. This company also makes a thick nap, high quality MF that is more expensive, but they are really nice. I think they are $3.88 ($1.84 apiece) for two towels.

                          Another product Wally World carries, which I've seen at numorous Wally World locations, is a product called, "All Purpose Cleaning Towels". These are high quality, short nap micro fiber towels. The brand is "Hometex". They come eight to a package, and retail for $5.00. That comes out to .62 cents per towel. That is a great price for a great towel.

                          You don't have to spend top dollar to get nice MF's.







                          I have tons of white & blue MF's that I have been using for a very long time. I always wash them together, as a matter of fact, I will soak them for days in a bucket with detergent, (Dawn, or Free laundry detergent) use 160+ degree water, and none of my towels have ever bled. The only transfer I get, is red tinted clear coat off of my S2000.

                          If the color of your towels are running, you must be buying cheap towels



                          j/k



                          No really, I don't buy into the belief that if it costs more, than it must be better.

                          I hope I didn't come across as... too "abrasive"













                          I completely agree. I have used both of these towels and I think they are great for the price they are. I have not had any marring issues when I have used them. I still use my Supreme Shines but these Wally World towels are really not as bad as people make them to be.
                          Tedrow's Detailing
                          845-642-1698
                          Treat Yourself to that New Car Feeling

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Detailing DON'Ts

                            Originally posted by CWilliams4296 View Post
                            Dont reuse anything that falls on the ground ( Clay, Towels, wash mitts)
                            I was going to include that one and forgot about it.
                            Swirls hide in the black molecular depths, only waiting for the right time to emerge and destroy your sanity.
                            --Al Kimel

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Detailing DON'Ts

                              Originally posted by paulcr39 View Post
                              11) Don't wear rings or a watch.
                              12) Don't forget to bring more products than you think you will use. More is always better.
                              13) Don't forget to take your Advil/Aleve/Tylenol before starting. AM I right Old Timers?
                              14) Don't forget to drink plenty of water.
                              13)...ya got that right..!!!

                              "fishing for swirls in a sea of black"
                              ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                              David

                              Comment

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