Scratches from a MF???

[Mac_1985]

First, I just wanted to say thanks to everyone on here. I have been getting on a couple times a week for the past couple of months and doing research. I have learned a lot reading the postings, but alas the more I read the more I realize how much of a novice I am. I was hoping you could all help.


Each time I wash my car I seem to be installing more fine scratches. (No pics at the moment; I’m getting the cobweb effect.) I bought a pack of 20 micro fiber towels from Costco. They are 20/80 (polyamide/polyester). I use them to dry off my car and for removing product. Could they be scratching my car?


I bought a Meguiar’s Chenille wash pad yesterday. Just incase it was my old wash mitt. (It was a sale item a Kragen.) The wash pad’s package said to use two buckets. I figure I’ll buy a second this weekend. NXT Tech Wax seems to have curbed further scratching for the most part. Could it also be I had not waxed for two months? The last time I had I used Turtle Wax Platinum. (Won’t be making that mistake again! All Meguiar’s now).

She’s a Black 05 Toyota Prius.

[travisdecpn]

It is definitely possible that the towels can be inducing some swirl marks. Not all microfiber towels are created equal, and usually the cheap ones really aren't intended to be used on your finish, but rather for interior work, door jambs, and general cleaning. A quality MF like the supreme shine or ultimate wipe is more suitable for your finish. Even with a quality towel, you still have the potential to induce swirls, but to a much lesser degree.

That said, I'd probably blame it more on washing technique. The two bucket method with grit guards in each bucket is mandatory if you want to reduce the amount of swirls you induce. Using a quality wash mitt and a quality drying towel like the water magnet will also help. Hope this helps.

P.S. Welcome to MOL

[Jeff Smith]

Self induced swirl marks are extremely easy to inflict on a finish. Even with the finest MFs out there.

Are you wiping around trees on a day with even the slightest breeze? Is you neighbor mowing? Any activity like this can cause small particles of grit to go airborne. How close to the road you live on do you detail? Road dust kicked up by cars is a factor as well. It does not take much. And you are working with black. You will likely be prone to seeing swirl much easier than most.

I bought white because I knew black would be a monster. All you can do is the absolute best you can. Watch when & where you do your work and most of all use good quality products. With good products you will still have problems but at least your confidence level in the products will be there. Start working to develope methods to minimize how often you touch your vehicle.

I use a leaf blower to minimize touching from the drying effort. If I even suspect I have gritty dust, I don't touch it until I can wash. Better to leave it alone if you don;t have time for a full wash down. Do it properly or skip it until you can.

And the two bucket technic will go a long way toward reducing this. I did a black Silverado up over the weekend. I just washed and then clayed. I used my new GRIT-GUARD DUAL Bucket set up for the first time and was astounded at the amount of git I found in the bottom of the buckets. And this was from a VERY clean truck.

[Mac_1985]

Thanks for the welcome and suggestions. I’ll look into buying the grit guards. I had not even read about them until now. Next time I get paid, I’ll order a couple water magnets, some super terrys and maybe some supreme shine microfiber towels for good measure. I’ll pick up a second bucket this weekend.

I don’t have a garage I can work in, so I have to park under my tree while detailing and washing. It is a silver maple. It drops a lot of sap, but it usually comes off with a good shot of water (I don’t park under it otherwise). I usually give the car a good rinse and I have an adapter that holds car soap. I usually sud the car with Deep Crystal Car Wash and have a bucket with the car wash to.

Thanks again…I’ll take your suggestions and do my best. When it looks like I have a better system down I’ll start thinking about removing them.

[Jeff Smith]

Thanks again…I’ll take your suggestions and do my best. When it looks like I have a better system down I’ll start thinking about removing them.

Good luck with it. I have developed quite the interest in detailing. Heck, I invite freinds over to detail their cars. The are usually in awe of my methods. I actually make them do most of the work. I just kind of get them started with each step and clean up while they are working. Then if I run out of stuff to do I jump on it with them.

One of the main reasons I make them do it is so that they will develop an appreciation for all the work it takes to correct issues they caused themself through using poor maintenance methods. They see me pulling out several brushes, each for a specific purpose, 5 buckets, and the first rule is "If it touches the ground you let me know". Alot of folks cause themselves more harm than anything. But with a little thought and some reasearch, methods can be improved upon.

If I am going to detail your car. The first thing that happens is it's going to get washed. But they are going to do it and they are going to do it my way. They always learn from it. And at least when the drive off in their freshly detailed car with their chest sticking out and their arm hung out the window looking for those COOL POINTS, I have some confidence that they will at least be more consciencious about things the next time they wash it and will apply what they learned.

But having tried to point out the when, where & how weaknesses that can contribute to these self inflicted scratches. I do want to get back on the subject of the MFs directly causing this. Yes, that is a possibility as well. Try an experiment. Go buy one high end MF or Terry Towel from Megs. AutoZone around here carries them as well as K-Mart. Do half your vehicle with the new Meg's stuff and the other half with the stuff you use already. Compare them and see what you think. Will cost you all of 5-6 bucks and then you'll know.

And as far as waiting to remove any defects until you develope the proper methods for maintenance, sound like a good plan. No use use trying to fix something until you can minimize the chances of it happening again.

Keep us posted.

[hammer55]

Re: Scratches from a MF???

I see that most of the mf are made in china, where are meguirs made?

[cjps17]

Re: Scratches from a MF???

Wow, Jeff, GREAT replys!!!