What am I doing wrong??

[Harpham]

Ok so I machine polished my car about 3 months ago, but just recently ive notcied that swirl marks are gradually creeping back onto the car.

As it stands, I've got really light swirls over certain parts of the car (bonnet being the worst).

I don't understand... I wash it using the 2 bucket method and a wash mitt and it's then dryed off with drying towels.

After every use, I wash the drying towels and wash mitts to ensure that there's no dirt left on them from the previous use.

Can someone give me advice on what I'm doing wrong?
Also, what shall I do to get rid of these light swirls? Another layer of wax? :S

 

[Dave..]

It's inevitable that you're going to get swirls appearing back on the car. Your're washing in a non sterlile environment, and the very process of removing dirt, involves a certain amount of rubbing over paintwork.

 

[rich-6]

Do you use a grit guard in both your buckets?, You cant completely eliminate them, you'l always get them coming back but 3 months is a bit soon if you're noticing a fair few already,

I did mine two years ago and its still got less than average swirling on it!

 

[Harpham]

Don't get me wrong, they're not ridiculous, nor are they very noticeable... It's just that I've sent all that time getting rid of them, and just 3 month later they are starting to come back in a few places.

What is grit guard btw? (take that as I don't use it lol)

 

[Bluebeard]

When you say swirl marks, do you mean buffer trails? Or actual damage type swirl marks?

 

[Harpham]

They do look like really really light swirls!

I would take a picture, but my camera probably wouldn't pick them up.

 

[JD]

Swirls are inevitable. Just a fact of life. The only way to avoid them is to foam, pressure wash off, then blow dry. But that won't clean your car!

You can do a number of extra things;

1. Use grit guards - means you're not swirling dirty, gritty water onto the wash mitt when you "dip"
2. Sheet water over the car panels once finished with the pressure rinsed, using the open hose technique. This allows water to "clump" together and drain off the car, rather than leaving lots of smaller droplets everywhere.
3. Use an ultra plush drying towel and the "pat" technique - again it means you are not rubbing the towel across the surface.
4. Use some QD as a lubricant between your towel and the panels.

Hopefully, this should see you better. I've no doubt I have forgotten something, but I have not had my morning coffee.

 

[Harpham]

Thanks, that's great info matey!!

Would you suggest that I get a snow foam kit? It's the one bit of kit that I'm lacking in my detailing hoard ATM...

 

[Gray]

I want a foam kit but know I would not get the use out of it LOL!

 

[JD]

Lol Gray, you would. You should see customers' eyes light up when the snow foam comes into action!

Pre foaming is ... fun. Not sure how much it really helps, over a good blasting with the pressure washer. But hey ho, it doesn't cost that much and every little helps!

 

[Gray]

Luke sprayed his foam all over my 172... It excited me in more ways than one TBH.

"ZOMG LUKE AMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAZING"

 

[JD]

And you wrote the above in a serious manner? LOL!

 

[Gray]

hahahahaa

 

[richy22]

I found certain mitts seemed to bring my Monaco out in swirl marks.

Notable a synthetic Lambswool mitt (this one in fact)

Now switched to a chenile type one..

And used those for 12 months and hardly any swirls in comparison to the first one.

At first I put it down to shampoo used but I used the same shampoo throughout. (in fact now I alternate shampoo's with the chenile type to see what happens..no swirls yet). Oh and I dont use a grit gaurd but do use 2 buckets negligible difference IMO.

 

[Cliotoby]

Could be allsorts. Drying towels are one culprit. I treat my wash stuff and drying stuff with upmost respect.

 

[montana]

I never dry my cars after washing as i imagine this would cause a degree of swirling/scratching. I prefer to let it dry naturally (i can live with a few streak marks!)

 

[Cliotoby]

I never dry my cars after washing as i imagine this would cause a degree of swirling/scratching. I prefer to let it dry naturally (i can live with a few streak marks!)

Is that a joke?

Sorry, but facepalm. In fact no. That look where you want to face palm, but its so retarded that it doesnt even suffice.

If yuou let your car dry naturally and dont care about streek marks, then why are you bothered about swirls?

 

[JD]

Sorry, but facepalm. In fact no. That look where you want to face palm, but its so retarded that it doesnt even suffice

Hai.

View attachment 43626

Clearly made with you in mind, Toby.

 

[richy22]

Maybe he has one of those 0ppm filters.

Probably not but meh.

 

[JD]

Pipe down female driver. x