To use a chamois or a drying towel? What's the best way to prevent scratches?

[midlife]

I have a black Camaro & the finish is a priority as it will scratch easily, if not washed & dried properly.

After a good washing with a grit guard bucket. I first very gently gel blade the cars surface. After each stroke & wipe the blade with a micro fiber tower. The blade will remove 90% of the water. Next I prefer the waffle towels. I use about three of the larger ones per washing. When using these towels I also spry the panel with Spray Detail. Once done the car gets the final wipe with micro fiber towels & additional spray detail. Works well.

Lastly I recently tried the waterless car wash by Adams. It is fast & safe and a very mildly dirty car.

In addition once done I inspect the car if I see a scratch or two, I will spot polish the area with their 4” pad on a drill; this is a very safe unit on your finish. Unusually Adams Machine Polish will get most out, if not and go to their swirl remover. Once done a quick coat of Brilliant glaze and show time……

[The Shadoww]

Is there like a squiege that oyu can use to help get majority of the water off before drying so that i don't go through like 30 towels a wash?

[cactuseater]

I cheat -- got a large cap air compressor and I blow it off, then old school chamois. No problem. Unfortunately, I have the black too --- hard as heck to take care of, but beautiful when it's flawless.

[Weezerj]

leaf blower FTW

[scythezo6]

I use a leaf blower when I'm feeling fancy.
When I'm lazy I'll use sheeting + a brand new microfiber from Adam's.

I like to wash at night so the leaf blower is not always the best option for me at least.

[Iwantone2]

Originally Posted by Black On Black On Black

Is there like a squiege that oyu can use to help get majority of the water off before drying so that i don't go through like 30 towels a wash?

I'll be honest, I can dry my car using only one Adam's Waterless Wash Microfiber Towel. Using the sheeting method, followed by the leafblower really gets a lot of water off of the car.

It also helps if you have a good coat of wax to help with water beading. Then the water really slides off.

I haven't personally used one of those squeegee, drying things. I just wonder how much stuff is floating in the air and it happens to land on my car. One pass of the squeegee and it could scratch!

[chalkupanother1]

If you're car is properly sealed and/or waxed, the sheeting method will remove almost all the water. Then, simply "dab" the water off if you don't have a leaf blower (or like me, don't want my neighbors to think I'm nuts!) instead of dragging a MF over your paint.

Do NOT use a chamois...if any bit of dirt of debris gets picked up, it does NOT come out when you wring it. Trust me...I've scatched the hell out of my Charger that way! But, it all can be fixed!! 4 years of bad car washing was fixed below...


Perfect recipe for my black cars
I have a 2007 brilliant black Charger RT, and a black 2011 Camaro RS. I've read many hours of info on here, and auto detailing forums. Here's what I just did to my Charger last weekend.

Since it was heavily swirled, I had to do a full paint correction on it. I purchased the Porter Cable 7424xp, and dove in head first on my 1st attempt using a DA buffer. I did a wash, clay, wash, and IPA wipedown to get rid of all contaminents and old wax and sealant. I started with Meguiars 105 polish, with 5'5 inch orange Lake Country pads. This got rid of all the swirls, but left a little haze. I then followed that with some Menzerna 106FF polish, on white LC pads, which left the paint like a mirror. I applied Chemical Guys Ez creme glaze, which made the car smooth as possible, while removing the oils left over from the polish. This left a perfect base for 2 coats of Blackfire Wet Diamond sealant. Sexy...wet...metal.

I followed this same formula with my Camaro (minus the polishing) when I got it new in June. My Camaro still looks fantastic 6 months later. My plan is to do a light polish on it in the spring, using only the Menzerna polishes, since both cars won't ever see a "car wash" again! Now I understand there's all kind of products out there, so not knocking the Adam's fans, but I couldn't see how anything could work better than this.

Bottomline...my Charger didn't look this good brand new. You GOT to machine polish to get results like this...and it's time consuming (18 hours work on Charger). Now I know how you see some cars "clean" and some that really shine.

No sun pics but you can see the results...
Attached Images

[ChadG]

Originally Posted by chalkupanother1

If you're car is properly sealed and/or waxed, the sheeting method will remove almost all the water. Then, simply "dab" the water off if you don't have a leaf blower (or like me, don't want my neighbors to think I'm nuts!) instead of dragging a MF over your paint.

Do NOT use a chamois...if any bit of dirt of debris gets picked up, it does NOT come out when you wring it. Trust me...I've scatched the hell out of my Charger that way! But, it all can be fixed!! 4 years of bad car washing was fixed below...


Perfect recipe for my black cars
I have a 2007 brilliant black Charger RT, and a black 2011 Camaro RS. I've read many hours of info on here, and auto detailing forums. Here's what I just did to my Charger last weekend.

Since it was heavily swirled, I had to do a full paint correction on it. I purchased the Porter Cable 7424xp, and dove in head first on my 1st attempt using a DA buffer. I did a wash, clay, wash, and IPA wipedown to get rid of all contaminents and old wax and sealant. I started with Meguiars 105 polish, with 5'5 inch orange Lake Country pads. This got rid of all the swirls, but left a little haze. I then followed that with some Menzerna 106FF polish, on white LC pads, which left the paint like a mirror. I applied Chemical Guys Ez creme glaze, which made the car smooth as possible, while removing the oils left over from the polish. This left a perfect base for 2 coats of Blackfire Wet Diamond sealant. Sexy...wet...metal.

I followed this same formula with my Camaro (minus the polishing) when I got it new in June. My Camaro still looks fantastic 6 months later. My plan is to do a light polish on it in the spring, using only the Menzerna polishes, since both cars won't ever see a "car wash" again! Now I understand there's all kind of products out there, so not knocking the Adam's fans, but I couldn't see how anything could work better than this.

Bottomline...my Charger didn't look this good brand new. You GOT to machine polish to get results like this...and it's time consuming (18 hours work on Charger). Now I know how you see some cars "clean" and some that really shine.

No sun pics but you can see the results...
Attached Images

So true! A black car is a labor of love, no pain no gain!

[ron10]

i purchased one of the cycle dry blowers off ebay for $30.00,it does a great job.

[NavyDood]

100% made in the USA cotton towels for me. I have been doing the sheeting method since 96 when I had my Z28. Zaino and sheet rinsing = almost not having to dry at all.

[badkarma]

Leaf blower and my neighbors think I'm crazy.

[WiSSDiver]

Originally Posted by badkarma

Leaf blower and my neighbors think I'm crazy.

I get a few that look at me sideways as well. For those that stop and ask why I use one, I ask them what happens when they pull out of the touchless car washes? You can almost see the light bulb go on over their head.

[Iwantone2]

Originally Posted by rpomeroy

I get a few that look at me sideways as well. For those that stop and ask why I use one, I ask them what happens when they pull out of the touchless car washes? You can almost see the light bulb go on over their head.

I thought you were gonna say that you point the leaf blower in their face with it on full blast

[WiSSDiver]

Originally Posted by Iwantone2

I thought you were gonna say that you point the leaf blower in their face with it on full blast

Well ok, the one neighbor, but nobody likes him and he was complaining when I did it. Shut him right up.