Swirl Marks

[EzzyRallyBoy]

Right bought a Panther Black Fiesta 8 weeks ago - looked gorgeous and perfect when we picked it up - as you would expect

So I thought right I must wash it regularly and look after it (never really bothered with my old car)

Didn't bother with the Supaguard protection or whatever it was called and the Salesman said the paint these days is a soft paint so you must use soft cleaning materials and microfibre mitts are a must. So nipped off to Halfords and bought a ruck of microfibre cloths, mitts, lambswool and sheepskin wool mitts - yeah !!!!! - no .............

Washed it every week for 8 weeks now and starting to notice a lot of swirl marks but why ?? - If you read the packaging it says "these fibres will not scratch or mark even the most delicate finish", but obviously it has

I lightly hose off the car to remove any cack, then wash the car with a microfibre mitt in some warm water (with turtle wax car shampoo), then chamois leather most of the standing water off and then remove any remaining water off with a microfibre cloth (is this my mistake ????) should I just let any remaining droplets dry naturally ?? - The reason I don't is I had noticed that you get dirty water marks (noticeabley by both door mirrors going down the car door, even if you wipe them away the come back, they seem to pool on the chrome forward of the door mirror, also down the bonnet from by the windscreen jet outlets and also if you open and shut the hatchback water runs down the back valence) and this looks like you haven't washed it !!!!

I have waxed it twice since new with Turtle wax, applying it with a microfibre cloth and buffing it off by hand using a sheepskin mitt

It had no swirl marks on it when we bought it so what do the manufacturers / dealers do differently to me when they wash and wax a car ?? - What have I missed ?? - What am I doing wrong ??

Feel gutted now, and I am worried if I carry on like this I will have more swirl marks on it than the local ice skating rink !!!!!!!!!

Anyone any advise ??

Ta

Ezzy

[Bashful]

Greeny's you man to answer this. Do you use 2 buckets? Also, as Greeny has advised before, you don't use a chamoix on it - you need a special drying towel. He will also probably be able to tell you how you can get the swirl marks out - possibly Dodo Juice lime prime.

Await the gospel according to Greeny. What that man doesn't know about car detailing isn't worth knowing :D

[DanGull]

It could be a number of things...

First of all, remember it's not the mitt/sponge itself that causes the swirls/scratches, it's what they pick up. Are you using the 2 bucket method (one wash, one rinse) and do you have grit guards in the buckets? If you're taking dirt off the car and not rinsing in clean water with a grit guard you may redeposit the grit elsewhere on the car and cause swirls.

Second - you say you're drying with a mf, but how? If you're wiping the car down, you're likely to get swirls. I have a massive drying towel and two smaller ones. I lie the huge towel on the paint and press down gently. If the towel is absorbent enough, it will absorb the water with no movement. Note that a mf cloth and mf drying towel are very different. The smaller towels are used in the same way. Chamois - not for me, ditch it and buy a decent towel.

Thirdly, get some decent shampoo (turtlewax :o), the extra lubrication makes the dirt fall off more easily and therefore is less likely to scratch. Point 1 and 2 are more likely to be the causes of swirls on your case however. Dodo Born to be Mild is truly astonishing to work with, and makes the car easier to dry in my opinion.

Fourthly, snow foam is great as a non contact pre-wash - it shifts a lot of dirt and means it's not there when the mitts and towels appear.

To get the swirls out -

Dodo Lime Prime, Autoglym Super Resin Polish, Poorboys Swirl Remover are all great products. Machine polishing will take care of them once and for all, however I'd leave that to a pro if you haven't done it. I don't try it - yet.

[TonyEssex]

problem I always have is I get water marks on cars, any ideas to prevent? unless I move like grease lightning running round the car drying before it happens?

[EzzyRallyBoy]

I thought I was safe with the microfibre mitt, like I said based on the statement ""these fibres will not scratch or mark even the most delicate finish", so yes wiping it down - gulp !!!!!

Whats wrong with the Chammy ??

Never heard of drying towels - where do you get these from ??

I have one bucket to wash the car then I hose it down on a fine spray setting (normal household hose not a jet spray or anything daft) to remove all evidence of the shampoo

I only want to wash the car not prepare it for a car show, whatever happened to a bucket, sponge and some warm water - don't remember my dads car looking a bugga when he washed it, all them years ago !!!

I have googled lime prime but its an abrasive agent so why would I want an abrasive sustance on a 2 month old car - Oh so confused

[DanGull]

First and foremost - wash in the shade and cool - I always wait until early evening if possible.

A good shampoo creates extra lubricity and means the water can sheet off on it's own more easily, meaning it runs off the car rather than drying on it - no water marks. If it's still a problem, wash half the car, dry, then do the other half.

[Cheeky Daz]

I've had no problems with my squeeze fezzy. The colour doesn't seem to suffer with any of the problems mentioned above.

I did used to have a Panther black focus though and had everything described above. I never had sound advice though and therefore never solved any of the problems.

[DanGull]

You're right, the fibres will not scratch. But grit caught in them still may. Less chance with a mf than a sponge, as they have somewhere to go rather than sitting on the surface of a sponge.

Chammy - same principal. Grit stays in contact with the paint as you wipe. With a drying towel, the grit sits in the pile, so is not in contact with the paint.

If you only use one bucket - you can only put the mitt in once at the start. Otherwise, every time you put it back in the bucket, you deposit grit. When you put it in next, you pick up the same grit again and put it on your paint work. Result - swirls.

Yes, lime prime etc are abrasive. The only way to get rid of swirls and scratches is to physically correct (or 'move') the paint - for that you need something abrasive.

Drying towels...

Click

[Bashful]

You're right, the fibres will not scratch. But grit caught in them still may. Less chance with a mf than a sponge, as they have somewhere to go rather than sitting on the surface of a sponge.

Chammy - same principal. Grit stays in contact with the paint as you wipe. With a drying towel, the grit sits in the pile, so is not in contact with the paint.

If you only use one bucket - you can only put the mitt in once at the start. Otherwise, every time you put it back in the bucket, you deposit grit. When you put it in next, you pick up the same grit again and put it on your paint work. Result - swirls.

Yes, lime prime etc are abrasive. The only way to get rid of swirls and scratches is to physically correct (or 'move') the paint - for that you need something abrasive.

Drying towels...

Click

You're becoming very professional at this Dan. Did you order the dodo peppermint and spearmint wax?

[EzzyRallyBoy]

Surely as long as you don't stick your hand to the bottom of the bucket the grit will fall off the mitt when re-placed into the bucket and all the grit settles on the bottom of the bucket, so I normally only stick my hand in about 20% of the way - I also check to see if I can see anything on the mitt that needs flicking off

How does everyone wash their mitts after use ??

I thought I was being really careful .....................

[TonyEssex]

anyone got a basic washing guide, where I wont scratch the car, leave water marks, leave swirl marks, and still be able to use the same equipment again for the next wash (i.e. not have ruined dirty cleaning cloths, covered in dirt that wont come off)

[DanGull]

Thanks Karen - I've learned a lot in quite a short space of time by visiting detailing world, seeing how the pros do it (while also seeing some AMAZING cars on there) and then trying out their ideas. Greeny got me started, so thanks to him as well.

I've spent a fairly stupid amount of money admittedly, but it's all stuff that will last for a long while to come. I placed another £60 order today getting ready for the big arrival on Tuesday.

As yet, I haven't bought the two stage wax. I decided I had better use some more of what I have first of all. Favourite so far is layering the two Dodo Juice white waxes or the two generic waxes. Supernatural isn't doing it for me quite so much.

I've been having a go at loads of different cars recently trying out stuff, it's GREAT fun.

[DanGull]

Surely as long as you don't stick your hand to the bottom of the bucket the grit will fall off the mitt when re-placed into the bucket and all the grit settles on the bottom of the bucket, so I normally only stick my hand in about 20% of the way - I also check to see if I can see anything on the mitt that needs flicking off

How does everyone wash their mitts after use ??

I thought I was being really careful .....................

I'm pretty sure that your problem is in your drying technique. The grit guard and 2BM are extra safe guards but if your swirls are bad I think that chamois is to blame.

Mitt care - (what I do anyway...)

Hand wash in warm water with a small amount of washing powder and a glug of white vinegar. I then tumble dry.

Foam applicators - warm water and fairy liquid.

[EzzyRallyBoy]

Ta Dan

I suppose the swirls aren't horrendous yet, but worried if I carry can as is then it will only get worse I suppose

Just know them swirls weren't there when we bought it and they are now, so gotta be down to me

Gut feeling it ain't the chammy but what do I know .........

Wish I hadn't got Black now

[TonyEssex]

Washing a car, is very much like making love to a beautiful woman. You've got to caress the bodywork. Breathe softly and gently. And give every inch of it your loving attention. And make sure you've got a nice wet sponge.

[DanGull]

Love it :lol::lol:

[Bashful]

I put my mit and all the cloths in the washing machine - should I not be doing that?

Have only progressed to the hard wax stage - that's enough for me at the mo I think.

[DanGull]

Plenty of people do put them in the machine, I find it just as easy to hand wash them.

[Bashful]

Plenty of people do put them in the machine, I find it just as easy to hand wash them.

Thank goodness for that - I couldn't face hand washing them all after spending all that time cleaning the car.

That Dodo juice Born to Be Mild shampoo is lovely.

[DanGull]

Sure is Karen - everything by Dodo just smells so good.

Born Slippy, BTBM, Rainforest Rub, Lime Prime. It's walking into a branch of Lush

[Bashful]

Sure is Karen - everything by Dodo just smells so good.

Born Slippy, BTBM, Rainforest Rub, Lime Prime. It's walking into a branch of Lush

What's the Rainforest Rub for?

Hey it might smell nice but tastes awful - I put the Born Slippy bottle in my mouth for a mo till I clambered on a chair to reach the roof - yeuchhhhhh

[DanGull]

Rainforest rub is their generic colour soft wax. Very nice.

Yes I can imagine Born Slippy doesn't taste too good. I think it's solvent based

[Bashful]

Rainforest rub is their generic colour soft wax. Very nice.

Yes I can imagine Born Slippy doesn't taste too good. I think it's solvent based

Right - I've only got the hard wax - Hard Candy - it smells like a bag of Tootie Fruties!

Terrific news re the Born Slippy!!!

[DanGull]

Hard candy must be exellent on hot magenta. Rainforest Rub goes over it well I find, maybe your next buy? Actually you're probably not sad enough to collect waxes, that'd be me only.

[Bashful]

Hard candy must be exellent on hot magenta. Rainforest Rub goes over it well I find, maybe your next buy? Actually you're probably not sad enough to collect waxes, that'd be me only.

My next buy will probably be the Red Mist and I need a new clay bar. Don't think I have the patience to apply a hard wax as well as a soft wax. If I had a garage it might all be a lot easier, but we just can't rely on the weather enough especially in Scotland to dedicate two days on cleaning a car.