Wantone's How To Keep a Black Car Clean Thread :)
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The single most important thing to do to maintain a black car is to NEVER look at it. I learned this from quantum mechanics. It is called the "observer effect": the mere fact of looking at certain subatomic particles causes them to change. Similarly, the mere fact of looking at a black car causes swirls to appear.
The solution is patent and easy--never look at one's car!
Hmmm ...
Cheers,
Al
The solution is patent and easy--never look at one's car!
Hmmm ...
Cheers,
Al
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From: La La Land
Originally Posted by Jay2000,Nov 10 2008, 03:10 PM
First, post up some pics for us to see!!!!!! After that lot's of love and attention to her, a good wax, good microfibers, good quick detail sprays and a cover for her in the garage to limit dust. 
CHECK IT...
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From: La La Land
Originally Posted by akimel,Nov 10 2008, 04:17 PM
The single most important thing to do to maintain a black car is to NEVER look at it. I learned this from quantum mechanics. It is called the "observer effect": the mere fact of looking at certain subatomic particles causes them to change. Similarly, the mere fact of looking at a black car causes swirls to appear.
The solution is patent and easy--never look at one's car!
Hmmm ...
Cheers,
Al
The solution is patent and easy--never look at one's car!
Hmmm ...
Cheers,
Al
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From: La La Land
Originally Posted by krshultz,Nov 10 2008, 04:08 PM
You're on the right track - that reads like a list of "best practices."
I, like many others here, have come to the conclusion that detail spray and a nice towel is *not* the way to clean a dusty car. A basic, two-bucket wash is the right play here for the reason SpecC already mentioned. Of course, if you're like most of us, a "basic wash" usually becomes rather involved. I just finished a two-hour "basic wash."
Here's one thing I really just love - the Griot's Ultimate Wash Bucket:
http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/67260.do
Regarding products? That's sort of a "depends what you like" question, and there are lots of opinions on what's best. I can say for certain that our sponsor, Detailer's Domain, sells products that you can be assured will work well. So, he's always a safe bet. Me, for LSP, I use Rubbish Boy's Original Edition on my personal car. For someone else's car I'd probably use some of the leftover zymol Carbon. I store my waxes in the fridge in the garage.
The Costco microfibers are what I'd call "okay." There's better stuff out there, but they're certainly servicable. If I were to guess, I'd say my microfiber collection looks something like this:
- Roughly 30 Costco towels, in various condition
- 20-30 "Uber" 16x16 towels from Detailer's Domain
- 1 DD "Super Plush" towel for wax removal
- 4 Meguiar's MFs from their clay bar kits (also pretty nice towels)
- 12 blue glass cleaning microfiber towels that I bought locally (they're awesome!)
- 2 "Vroom" orange drying towels from Target (surprisingly thick and plush)
- Various other small ones I've collected over the past couple years
They live in a 3-drawer cabinet I bought at Wal Mart. The nice stuff goes in the top drawer, the regular stuff goes in the middle drawer, and my Makita and its pads and backing plates are on the bottom. Organization has set me free.
The Costco ones get used for everything but paint. As they wear out or get crapped up, they get "demoted" to wheels, then to engine bay, then to the trash. I like to keep them around because they're very inexpensive and I don't feel bad when I ruin one.
Anyway, that's my take on microfiber. The nice towels really are better, and I can vouch for Phil's. They're also proving quite durable.
I, like many others here, have come to the conclusion that detail spray and a nice towel is *not* the way to clean a dusty car. A basic, two-bucket wash is the right play here for the reason SpecC already mentioned. Of course, if you're like most of us, a "basic wash" usually becomes rather involved. I just finished a two-hour "basic wash."
Here's one thing I really just love - the Griot's Ultimate Wash Bucket:
http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/67260.do
Regarding products? That's sort of a "depends what you like" question, and there are lots of opinions on what's best. I can say for certain that our sponsor, Detailer's Domain, sells products that you can be assured will work well. So, he's always a safe bet. Me, for LSP, I use Rubbish Boy's Original Edition on my personal car. For someone else's car I'd probably use some of the leftover zymol Carbon. I store my waxes in the fridge in the garage.
The Costco microfibers are what I'd call "okay." There's better stuff out there, but they're certainly servicable. If I were to guess, I'd say my microfiber collection looks something like this:
- Roughly 30 Costco towels, in various condition
- 20-30 "Uber" 16x16 towels from Detailer's Domain
- 1 DD "Super Plush" towel for wax removal
- 4 Meguiar's MFs from their clay bar kits (also pretty nice towels)
- 12 blue glass cleaning microfiber towels that I bought locally (they're awesome!)
- 2 "Vroom" orange drying towels from Target (surprisingly thick and plush)
- Various other small ones I've collected over the past couple years
They live in a 3-drawer cabinet I bought at Wal Mart. The nice stuff goes in the top drawer, the regular stuff goes in the middle drawer, and my Makita and its pads and backing plates are on the bottom. Organization has set me free.
The Costco ones get used for everything but paint. As they wear out or get crapped up, they get "demoted" to wheels, then to engine bay, then to the trash. I like to keep them around because they're very inexpensive and I don't feel bad when I ruin one.
Anyway, that's my take on microfiber. The nice towels really are better, and I can vouch for Phil's. They're also proving quite durable.
Joking aside, a few questions about microfiber towels:1. When you wipe the body with the towel, how many areas do you go through before you use another towel? I assume when you're wiping you're also catching up dirt which might be dragged to other surfaces?
2. Would you clean the windshield with a microfiber towel?
3. What is the proper way to clean a microfiber towel? Throw it in the wash?
4. Air dry the towel or just laundry dry?
Finally, a lot of people tell me I'm supposed to spray the towel before wiping? What am I suppose to spray the towel with???
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From: La La Land
Originally Posted by bumblebeeS2K,Nov 10 2008, 04:03 PM
once the paint is initially corrected, make sure you get a solid layer of sealant between it and the wax. after that, frequent washes with good washing techniques and reapplying wax as needed should minimize the swirls.
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Need some pictures of the paint close up in sunlight.
With any black car, dust just sticks to it like crazy. Generally if the car is not that dirty I just use 1 bucket to wash (Wheels last). If it is dirty then I use the 2 bucket method.
Personally I never use QD to clean off any of my cars. I either do a proper wash or I don't wash at all. My friend loved to 'dry wash' his car with either QD or waterless carwash products. The end result is a rediculous amount of swirls once the car is in bright sunlight.
With any black car, dust just sticks to it like crazy. Generally if the car is not that dirty I just use 1 bucket to wash (Wheels last). If it is dirty then I use the 2 bucket method.
Personally I never use QD to clean off any of my cars. I either do a proper wash or I don't wash at all. My friend loved to 'dry wash' his car with either QD or waterless carwash products. The end result is a rediculous amount of swirls once the car is in bright sunlight.
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Originally Posted by wantone,Nov 10 2008, 04:34 PM
I've never heard of a sealant? Is this like a pre-wax before the wax? What product do you recommend? How do I know when my paint is corrected?
A sealant is something used as the last step to protect the freshly corrected paint. I like to have a layer of wax and then sealant on top. I find this combo last longer.
The only sealant I have tried so far is Zaino ZC-S
I am no pro compared to some poeple here but just giving my $0.02
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Wantone, here are two articles on synthetic sealants you may find of interest:
Polymer-Carnauba Differences
Polymer Sealants
Popular sealants include Zaino, Wolfgang, Klasse, Duragloss, and Optimum Opti-Seal. (Our sponsor, Detailer's Domain, sells Opti-Seal, and I'm sure he'd be delighted to talk with you about it.) Some folks like to top a sealant with a carnauba wax, to give a greater "warmth" to the appearance. Over at Autopia, for example, Klasse topped with Souveran is a popular combination. It is generally believed, though not universally (as evidenced by Revolution's comment above), that one should not top a carnauba with a sealant: the concern is that the oils of the carnauba wax will interfere with the the sealant's molecular cross-linking and thus diminish its durability. But I am not a scientist and cannot speak to this. I simply go with the consensus.
Synthetic sealants typically provide 3-6 months of protection, as compared to the 1-3 months of protection provided by carnauba waxes.
Cheers,
Al
Polymer-Carnauba Differences
Polymer Sealants
Popular sealants include Zaino, Wolfgang, Klasse, Duragloss, and Optimum Opti-Seal. (Our sponsor, Detailer's Domain, sells Opti-Seal, and I'm sure he'd be delighted to talk with you about it.) Some folks like to top a sealant with a carnauba wax, to give a greater "warmth" to the appearance. Over at Autopia, for example, Klasse topped with Souveran is a popular combination. It is generally believed, though not universally (as evidenced by Revolution's comment above), that one should not top a carnauba with a sealant: the concern is that the oils of the carnauba wax will interfere with the the sealant's molecular cross-linking and thus diminish its durability. But I am not a scientist and cannot speak to this. I simply go with the consensus.
Synthetic sealants typically provide 3-6 months of protection, as compared to the 1-3 months of protection provided by carnauba waxes.
Cheers,
Al
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From: NC
Originally Posted by wantone,Nov 10 2008, 04:33 PM
Holy Moly that's precise!!! I don't even use the nice towels for my body Joking aside, a few questions about microfiber towels:
1. When you wipe the body with the towel, how many areas do you go through before you use another towel? I assume when you're wiping you're also catching up dirt which might be dragged to other surfaces?
2. Would you clean the windshield with a microfiber towel?
3. What is the proper way to clean a microfiber towel? Throw it in the wash?
4. Air dry the towel or just laundry dry?
Finally, a lot of people tell me I'm supposed to spray the towel before wiping? What am I suppose to spray the towel with???
Joking aside, a few questions about microfiber towels:1. When you wipe the body with the towel, how many areas do you go through before you use another towel? I assume when you're wiping you're also catching up dirt which might be dragged to other surfaces?
2. Would you clean the windshield with a microfiber towel?
3. What is the proper way to clean a microfiber towel? Throw it in the wash?
4. Air dry the towel or just laundry dry?
Finally, a lot of people tell me I'm supposed to spray the towel before wiping? What am I suppose to spray the towel with???
1. Depends on what I'm doing...
-> If I'm drying the car after a wash, I end up using two of the large, 24x36 drying towels. I go over the whole car completely with the first, then finish up with the second.
-> If I'm removing wax, I take a 16x16 towel, fold it into quarters, and use one of those "sides" until I feel it's no longer picking up wax. It's just a feel thing that will change depending on what wax you're using, and how thin a layer you've applied to the car.
2. I've got some blue, tightly-knit microfibers that have no fluff on them, which are made for glass. They are WONDERFUL. They work worlds better than paper towels or newspaper, are good for the environment, and have proven very very durable. I bought mine at a local detailing supply place, but I'm sure you could find them on the internet. Sort of a sky blue color, no plushness or fluff to them at all.
3. I throw them in the wash, hot cycle, with just regular laundry detergent, by themselves (without any clothing in there with them). Some folks like special microfiber detergent - I've never tried it, because they seem to come clean just fine. The hot water wash cycle helps. Never use fabric softener in the washer or dryer with your towels. Check and make sure your laundry detergent doesn't have fabric softener in it.
4. Usually, I dry them in the dryer with no softener sheet. The one "super plush" towel I got from Phil - which was rather expensive - I air dry on a clothes hanger in the closet.
5. I've never heard of spraying a towel with anything before using it. Sometimes though, if I'm removing a product and it's difficult to do (zymol HD Cleanse comes to mind), I'll use some QD to speed the process along. Maybe this is what they're talking about?
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Originally Posted by revolution,Nov 10 2008, 06:11 PM
A sealant is something used as the last step to protect the freshly corrected paint. I like to have a layer of wax and then sealant on top. I find this combo last longer.
i thought u are suppose to put wax on top on a sealant and not the other way around ?