I SUCK AT DRYING MY CAR. I bought a chamois, and i still have some trouble, so if anyone has tips on how to do it good, please help. What I do is i just lay the chamois flat on the hood, and pull, and it gets most of the water off, but on the edges it leaves some, so like it said to do, i wadded it up sort of an just rubbed the water. I still get swirl spots and stuff, and still some water spots...? whats the best way to remove those swirls on my hood? and one more question, what DOES a clay bar do? i never really understood it?

 

A clay bar removes surface contaminants. Try this...gently rub your hand across the surface of your paint. You'll feel some tiny defects. They are contaminants that are embeded in your paint.

When you clay bar your car, it gets rid of these contaminants. When your rub your hand across the cars surface afterwards its like a smooth piece of glass. Mmmmm clay bar.

 

I use the chamois like you do and follow up with a 100% cotton towel.

Bob

 

microfiber microfiber ww is all you need

 

I second the microfiber waffle weaves. Try www.exceldetail.com for some exceptional ones. Patrick (owner) is an outstanding person to do business with. His WW's also have microfiber edges (a lot don't), so the edges won't scratch your paint. Other people also like www.pakshak.com as well as a few others. When shopping for microfiber, keep in mind it is an investment; the initial cost may look like a lot. They will last a long time with proper care. I have some of my originals that are well over 2 years old.

For swirl removal, you'll need an abrasive polish (not necessarily a compound). Start with the least aggressive first, and work your way up if it doesn't remove them. If you have access to a PC (Porter Cable 7424/7336 polisher), it makes things so much easier/quicker than by hand. In the Meguiars line, you can start with #9 Swirl Mark Remover, then #82 Swirl Free Polish, then my favorite for moderate swirls, #83 DACP (Dual Action Cleaner Polish). If doing it by hand, be prepared for a workout. There are other lines out there with good products, but I stick with Meguiars because I get consistent, excellent results. It can come down to personal preference and availability.

Most swirls are usually caused from improper toweling during washing/drying. Personally, I use only natural sheepskin wash mitts to wash, and microfiber WW to dry. For polishing, I use my PC with various foam pads, and for polish/wax removal, only microfiber cloths. I also only use microfiber for quick detailing. My only source now for all my microfiber is exceldetail.com.

Check out www.autopia.org for just about any info on detailing you can think of.

Dave

 

California Waterblade to dry car, the Absorber to touch up leftover spots.