Detailing DON'Ts

[tcope1]

Re: Detailing DON'Ts

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.

[dennisg]

Re: Detailing DON'Ts

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

[wifpd4]

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".

[CWilliams4296]

Re: Detailing DON'Ts

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

[fzr confused]

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)

[tcope1]

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

[paulcr39]

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.

[akimel]

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.