I use a clean sponge and a chamois to dry. If you drop the sponge, buy another, I don't use them again. When the paint is fresh I use the clean sponge and car wash soap, and dry with my air hose.

 

I think it's kind of personal preference. I sometimes use a cotton mitt, but the sponge works well too. It just seems the mitt is easier to flush abrasive particles out of when you wash grimy areas around wheels, etc. For drying, I like to use a squeegee and a soft towel (that'll get some comments). For windows, the chamois is hard to beat. I just don't think you need to spend too much money on simple items. My PPG finish is 9 years old and looks like new, with never having been waxed.

 

Hello.I suppose one could say that I never actually wash my car.I start with a bucket of clean water and a damp chamois and carefuly wipe the car off,then I clay brick it.Then wax.Never do get around to using a hose or sponges and such.Good luck!

 

i like an old fashioned sponge to wash and then i use a california water blade to dry it works
GREAT. if you use a water blade be sure to dry it after each time you wipe your car with it
or else water will magically reappear on your car!!! AHHHH!

 

then I clay brick it

OK, I`ll be the dummy, what`s this?

 

Here's something I found...kind of explains it:
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/autopia/clwicl.html

 

Hello.I use the meguiers final inspection as the lubricant and the 3m perfect-it 3 clay with a very,very soft towel to wipe it dry.(no,that isn't me in the ad)The product was developed to remove over-spray.Works wonderfuly for everything except over-spray. Good luck!

 

I think he's referring to the clay bars that I've seen in Griots and others. You rub it over the paint and it is supposed to remove some of the embedded impurities in the paint....

 

Sheepskin mits. One for washing, one for rinsing.

Two buckets. One for washing, one for rinsing the mits. Never put the dirty mit in the washing bucket or you get grit in the washing solution.

Drying is via Chamois. Not the fake stuff either.

 

I use a sheepskin mit for washing, and The Absorber for drying.

 

I think he's referring to the clay bar......'If that was refering to me,then I would have to say that I've never met a guy named Veronica in my life.

 

I use a mitt to wash, and cloth baby diapers to dry. These are not the cheap-o cloth diapers you can get at Wal-Mart, but high-grade, extremely soft, and extremely absorbant diapers. They work great!!

joe

 

I like using the shaggy mit....I also use the meguiars soft wash gel....it suds up nicely. I usually pressure wash the entire car very thoroughly...
(especially the rockers and wheel wells) soap it up from top to bottom...
rinse from top to bottom, and dry from top to bottom.

This top to bottom minimizes swirl marks and scratches in the paint.

I like using well washed and tumble dried cotton towels (these soak water up nicely). I usually go over ad smear the water with one rag until it is soaked....use another from top to bottom to dry it up even further....and I use a third towel to wipe up any thin water spotting or small water droplets left....once you have wiped a certain level on a car, don;t go back up with it.....grab another towel...

I use lots of towels...

Then I look the paint over and use a swirll remover or glaze to remove any developing or already existent swirl marks.

Doing this you avoid water spots and it will always come clean rather easily.

Spot detail with Meguiars or wax shop detail mist....

R

 

I highly recommend the fuzzy mitt; they're designed to pull the grit away from the tips of the fibers unless you're too heavy-handed. Sponges tend to expel the grit to the outside. Waterblades are good and I like the absorber as well for drying. Diapers and good terry towels work well too but are more maintenance as far as I'm concerned.

The fanatics actually buy filtered rainwater to spritz their glass after a wash. I,ve had this discussion with concourse Packard and Duesenberg owners.. :: ..those guys are something else. When you're finished washing use Windex as a polish instead of a cleaner.

 

Sheepskin mitt for washing... with a brush and sponge for wheels & tires. Soft cotton towels to dry.

 

I use a mit to wash and an Absorber (synthetic) to dry.

 

SORREEEE Veronica - My bad..... ::

 

geez guys!!!
you wouldnt wash your coffee table that way , why would you wash your car that way? most water will be hard or been run thru a softener either not good for your clear coat finish.
i use Meguires final detailer and a cotton wash clothe, and it shines like the moon.