hey guys
the weather broke a little here in nova scotia and i was able to get outside to wash my beast. after i was done il looks like some fine scratches all over it.(my first black vehicle, i know this is inevidable with a black vehicle) i used a mitt to wash it, i was wondering if there is any way to minimize the scratches and waht is good to get rid of them!!
any input would be greatly appericiated.

Almost all my cars have been black, but i just recently bought a silver gc srt8... and god it feels soooo good... but when i did have the black i used the absorber to dry with... and micro fiber towels.

Micro Fiber towels...are the best. Make sure to use plenty of clean water, if you drop your towel, dump it. You can always polish and wax to get rid of the fine scratches. That is why I like Detonator Yellow!

Do they sell the micro fiber towels at a place like NAPA, or where have you guys purchased them?

I get mine at COSTCO...Great towels, great price.

I get mine at COSTCO...Great towels, great price.

They sell them in the car section? And they will just say micro fiber towel on there? I hope I don't sound dumb, I just want to make sure I get the right thing.

Yes, Automotive Section at COSTCO, and they will say Microfiber towels....I believe there are 20 of them in the package, and they are yellow. SOme other good towels are the White Cotton ones from Bed Bath and Beyond. You want one that will hod water, and not let the minute grit rub against your paint.

I also have a black vehicle. I use a lambs wool mitt; however, 2 keys to keeping swirls away - use a dirt catcher bucket and try some microfiber drying towels (you may be washing w/dirt in the water or towels are scratching or both).

they sell buckets that have a mesh tray suspended about 2 inches from the bottom, so the dirt falls past them and your mitt never touches the dirt. griotsgarage.com has these, as does some of the stores like pep boys. i also use griotsgarage.com car wash - i've tried them all and this is the 'slipperiest'.

finally, i use griotsgarage thick microfiber towels, but before i TOUCH the Jeep, i use my Sears 300mph leaf blower to get 99% of the water off the Jeep and out of all the crevices. i wind up not having to dry much at all. if i do, i use a detailing spray wax BEFORE i hit the area with a towel. i try NOT to touch much of anything, even with a clean towel.

this keeps black scratches to a minimum. i still power buff once/year (after claying) to reduce whatever swirls are there.

Dave
2007 BLACK SRT8 Jeep

Hey Dave can I bring my truck by your place?? :)

When it warms up, I would suggest a mother's clay bar kit. It really helps if you take your time and follow the instructions. Takes most oxidation off and protects the clear coat. I usually do my cars once a year and it seems to help retain the paint and protect the shine.
JT

Godfather:
Yes, bring it on by ! My son and I detail every weekend on the side. Of course, it's a little ways from Chicago to Philadelphia !

Dave

Like Dave says, absolutely use a dirt catching bucket.

Also I clean all the dirty bits, rocker panels wheels, tires and bumpers first. I then dump the water, clean the bucket and start with fresh soapy water and a clean mit before I clean the upper parts of the car. This really has minimized swirling for me, IMO.

Alex

thanks for the input guys, ill try to get my hands on one of those buckets.and since it is suppose to rain here the next week i should have lots of time to find one

Use the double bucket system as well.

I get mine at COSTCO...Great towels, great price.

I got the same towels. I did the CD test to see if it will scratch paint. The good news is that main part of towel will not BUT the stitiching will scratch your paint! These are the yellow ones. So, I am planning to cut off the sticthing and use them for none-important areas - wheels, door jams.

thanks for the input guys, ill try to get my hands on one of those buckets.and since it is suppose to rain here the next week i should have lots of time to find one
http://www.autogeek.net/gg1010.html

I use mothers car wash myself it work's great

so not about what i use (mostly turtle wax stuff, say what ya want)

but!

I did some washing/detailing for around 3 or so hours today, and I felt liberated!! mmMMMmm

may I suggest a hand held leaf blower for drying, it takes less than 5 min and will not scratch, youll love it and never use a towel again!

Just take special care to get loose gravel off the driveway first. If you do that, a leafblower is a great option. I use one first, then the waffle weave towel.

On another note, I used a new product yesterday inside the wheel wells, and I am a fan for life!!!

Invisible Undercarriage Spray!!!
http://www.adamspolishes.com/pc-61-6-invisible-undercarriage-spray-new.aspx

this is what i do. my beast is black as well

first you rinse it.
i use a hose without the nozzle to get a nice sheeting action to get most dirt off.

then i use my foam gun and soak the car top to bottom till i cant see the car.
then i use my first lambwool mitt to do the trim level down.
at this time i also do the wheels, making sure rinse the towel(to get inside the wheels).

then i use bucket number two with another mitt to do the top of the car. again, rinse between body panel and dont push too hard. let the mitt/soap work for you.

Lastly I ll do little odd/ends like the bumper and tailpipes.

Once done, I fire up the toro 215mph leaf blower and work from top/down from the back to the front. It takes some time (temp dependent) but this way I dont lay a finger on the finish to dry it. It comes out perfect.

then I ll do a quick Zaino Coat if I have time and do the wheels as well with a coat of z-5 and z6. It helps keep dust adhesion down on the wheels.

Voila, shiny beast for all to enjoy.

It takes longer than other methods but it is complete and minimizes the contact to the car. Spider lines are made from the dirt being pressed with the sponge/mitt/ The foam gun helps lift the dirt and minimizes the friction, thus reducing the spider lines.

hope this helps.

LOL @ leaf blower

I use a real skin shamoi (sp?) to dry mine.

dude, the leaf blower is no joke, try it. Beats chamos, microfiber any day of the week. and when you have wax on the car, its a dream

good point, a good coat of collinite marine and airinautical wax is the best ive seen so far for ease of use and lasting effect. may I also suggest a boar's hair brush for washing, soft and no scratches, cost a little more bit well worth it

LOL @ leaf blower

I use a real skin shamoi (sp?) to dry mine.

Don't laugh, Mango.....Been doing this stuff for about 55 years now, starting with my dad and his 1952 Black Caddy Fleetwood. Back then it was lots of Brillo for the tires, soap and water, and a Chamois.....which sucked cause it was wet it first, wring it out, wipe, wring it out again and again, and again etc., etc.

We've come a long way......100% made in USA cotton towels....good micro fiber ones with correct piping etc.....and the LEAF BLOWER. Try it you'll like it. Quick shot around the garage, touch up the driveway, and dry the cars after washing. Toro Ultra 225 mph one is a good buy at HD for about 75bucks. Five minutes, touch up with Micro, and walk away smiling. Door jambs, window seals, door handle gaskets, wheels and lugnuts, under the headlights, tailights, etc., all dry no drips no runs.

Quicker than drying and a Hell of a lot better. BUT, you have to have a well waxed, polished or Zaino finish, or it just moves the water around.

Just my 2 cents, and works for me.

Don't laugh, Mango.....Been doing this stuff for about 55 years now, starting with my dad and his 1952 Black Caddy Fleetwood. Back then it was lots of Brillo for the tires, soap and water, and a Chamois.....which sucked cause it was wet it first, wring it out, wipe, wring it out again and again, and again etc., etc.

We've come a long way......100% made in USA cotton towels....good micro fiber ones with correct piping etc.....and the LEAF BLOWER. Try it you'll like it. Quick shot around the garage, touch up the driveway, and dry the cars after washing. Toro Ultra 225 mph one is a good buy at HD for about 75bucks. Five minutes, touch up with Micro, and walk away smiling. Door jambs, window seals, door handle gaskets, wheels and lugnuts, under the headlights, tailights, etc., all dry no drips no runs.

Quicker than drying and a Hell of a lot better. BUT, you have to have a well waxed, polished or Zaino finish, or it just moves the water around.

Just my 2 cents, and works for me.

Must be a mental thing but since I was in High school, every "other" car I have had is black. I learn, then get stupid, I learn,...... (LOL)

Anyway, The one thing I have learned is you can't "eliminate" spider-webs. Won't happen. However, I have found one of the keys to "reducing" them is minimize washing the car. NOW, before the flamin starts....

If you have the means, get a good air-compressor. I will be a little bit of a pain, but "EVERY" morning or night, blow the car off well. "Well" on the JGC on takes 5-minutes. I kid you not, as long as I don't run through something, water or otherwise a can get "up-to" 2-weeks, driving everyday. Obviuosly, running through irrigation watered down streets, screw up this theory but....

If the car is waxed/polished "well" then daily dirt/debris will blow right off. It works well with all the brake dust on our wheels too (Just don't breathe it:eek: )

Now, I live in So Cal, so I don't get the Winters some of you do, but we get a lot of "airborn" crap, none-the-less.

The "more" you wash it between waxing, the more "spider-webs you have.

Again, the leaf blower works but, for me, My compressor is a large tank, 2-stage and still pretty quiet in an enclosed area, so I can pretty much do this in the wee hours of the morning.

I know the "topic" of this thread was "washing" but I thought this would help.

(My 2-cents and I'm sticking with it):D :D

Zaino car wash detergent......Chenille washing mitt......lots of H20.....(no nozzle on hose):)

You didn't ask about drying so, I'm waiting on your drying thread.....:D

You guys are not going to like this but my local car wash loved my SRT so much they offered me $200 unlimited washes for one year. I couldn't resist because its sooo easy to drive through whenever I want. I know its probably mssing up my paint but even at 3 washes a week that's a great deal.
Hey Squig - my decals look great thanks

You guys are not going to like this but my local car wash loved my SRT so much they offered me $200 unlimited washes for one year. I couldn't resist because its sooo easy to drive through whenever I want. I know its probably mssing up my paint but even at 3 washes a week that's a great deal.
Hey Squig - my decals look great thanks

Glad you like em'!

I like the microfiber wash mits. I've recently tried EagleOne wax-while-u-dry, it seems to help w/my hars water spots(works good on wheels too). LifterOne lemon/citrus bug/tar remover works well too. I use the EO detail spray to clean the door jams.

When it warms up, I would suggest a mother's clay bar kit. It really helps if you take your time and follow the instructions. Takes most oxidation off and protects the clear coat. I usually do my cars once a year and it seems to help retain the paint and protect the shine.
JT
I recently used the Mother's clay kit for the first time to remove white over spray(not sure where it came from, a house sprayer?). I appeared to work well, removing the white spots along w/other contaminants. The next day(very sunny) I notice I had new fine/spider scratches. I think I used the clay properly, using 95% of the detailer/lube spray & constantly folding the clay. Has anyone else had similar results when using a clay bar?