Best car wash equipment?

I don't think it's best to 'wash' the car (with soap) using a cloth or towel. Use the tools that the pros designed.

Read my warning post above how you can do the most damage marring finish during washing.

 

Those are good tips also.

How long should I expect a genuine sheepskin wash mitt to last?

I've always paid someone to handwash my cars, but in the interest of saving money I will try to do more of it myself. I'm not going to get into claying just yet. I want to get into the routine of washing. Then I will start waxing after the next couple washes. Hopefully the factory/dealer wax holds up for a little longer.

 

Don't mean to be arrogant, but I think I've become pretty good at car drying ....

* Get most of the water up in a section with a good car drying towel - waffle weave microfiber, synthetic chamois, whatever... set towel down.

* finish that area (most likely needed) with a polishing cloth (the kind used to buff wax off) and a spray wax like Meg's Quick Wax or similar, sprayed a bit onto the cloth or a little onto the paint when you can (don't overspray).

* the above will make your drying go much quicker. You will not have water spots and the car will actually be dry with a bit of spray wax reapplied to finish. Try it, it works.

 

I've had my mitt for maybe 9 months and it's doing great. I don't see it wearing out anytime soon.

As for claying, try it on an older car in the household if available. When you see that it seems pretty mild, and the smudge it lifts off the paint, I think you'll be pretty interested. But, it can be time consuming, so I only do it before waxing which is months apart.

 

Ok. Sounds good. I'm still leaning towards the waffle weave drying cloth (much bigger) over the absorber.

Can I substitute a microfiber cloth for the polishing cloth you mention? Or where can I get said polishing cloths for a reasonable price.

 

Thank you SW.

Basically, I don't touch the car until it's time to wash it thoroughly. I could care less if it gets some dust on it, that's life. I don't wash it every week, it may be a couple or few, but when I can, it's gets the 2 hour treatment.

If it's quite dirty, it's going to take some time to wash it and not marr the finish.

 

I've not seen marring from using genuine sheepskin.

Another thing - sheepskin releases dirt very easily when rinsing the mitt.

Mac, I really don't think Griot's would be selling that mitt if it was bad for a car. They stake their reputation on supplies for pampering cars. That's what they're all about.

 

Thinking ... Autozone used to have cloths marked for glass, drying and polishing. I would think Kragen has cloths marked specifically for polishing or buffing wax off.

I don't like using regular microfiber cloths on the paint. I use them for wiping interior, door jams.

fyi, use glass cloths on any 'glass-like' plastic surfaces. (they had them in the 2nd gen around radio console, regular microfiber will scratch such a surface).

 

If a bird or two nails your car and don't have time to wash .....

Get out a Quik Detailer, spritz the area and get the junk up soon.

That's all you have to do for that.

 

So, are these the polishing cloths you are talking about for doing the final drying & spray wax (after using the drying cloth):

100% Cotton Buffing Cloths, Set of 10 - Griot's Garage

 

Streaming the water is good for getting beads off. I do a little blow dry, not much though.

Maybe I don't have the best drying towels (they were $10 each) at Autozone. Perhaps a Griot's towel would be better.

I dry in the garage where I can see well. Towels always get wet, even the best ones. Often the don't finish the car how I like it. I set the towel on a chair, grab the polishing cloth with spray wax and finish up the area quickly. Helps when you have something to set a towel on nearby.

 

I hit the spots off with some soapy water & microfiber cloths. Best I can do at the moment.

It's the weird yellow specks and not the black & white goopy glop. It's left a mark in the clear coat, but only if you look really closely.

 

You see I'm slightly confused as well. Because Griot's has both microfiber cloths for polishing, and 100% cotton ones.

Micro Fiber Wax Removal Cloths, Set of 3 - Griot's Garage

6-Piece Micro Fiber Cloth Set - Griot's Garage

100% Cotton Buffing Cloths, Set of 10 - Griot's Garage

 

Those would work.

fyi, my favorite polishing cloth is the one that comes in the Meguiars Clay kit. I have two at this point.

I believe polishing cloths have a little softer nap than regular microfiber terry cloths.

 

If you every have a surface scratch in the finish or small area of marring, Nu Finish Scratch Doctor , orange tube, works very well. There's a kit called Quiks or SLT, that's said to be the best, but costs more.

fyi, in case you have a scratch.

 

What do you think of the Mother's clay kit. The only reason I ask is it's about $17 at Kragens.