Okay guys, after owning my pat for just a few short weeks, she is getting a full bath this weekend. She is black and flawless. However, I fear that by washing, I will develop swirl marks. I've noticed this trend with my used black vehicles in the past and would like to take better care of my new black paint.

Anyone have any tips or suggestions? I usually use the standard car wash type soap, bucket, warm water, and sponge...

Make sure to rinse the car very completely before any mitten or sponge is used. Rubbing grime off of paint causes damage due to abrasion even with lots of soap. With excessive grime, power washing may be needed, but be careful. My son actually blew a large patch of paint off of his Cavalier's hood trying to get dried tree sap and bug juices off.

compound polish periodically. keep it waxed. i have owned 3 black cars, and the paint stays brilliant. it takes work, but no more work than any other color. i wash my car maybe once every 2-3 weeks. wax once a season.

http://www.newcelica.org/photopost/data/500/medium/DSC00686.JPG

Don`t wash the Pat too often ... the more you wash, the more swirls on your paint :p Avoid commercial car-washes with sharp bristles. Also a sponge is not a very good idea ... I use a glove with some kind of tufts on it and I think there`s much less danger of scratching than with a flat sponge that just shoves the dirt and dust along the paint surface and scrapes it. A good prevention is also a good wax ... I use Turtle Wax with teflon and the surface is smooth like glass.

All our swirl marks worries will be over soon when the nano-technology scientists develop and perfect a paint based on it - you won`t have to wash your car EVER! Absolutely nothing will hold on or stick to that surface ... at least that`s what I`ve heard. In few short years, we will also have a changing color paint on our vehicles ... you`ll change the color at the touch of a button ... gee what a circus that`ll be on the roads, cars changing colors like chameleons :wow: And what a gag for the police ... msg over radio from radar post to chase group:" stop speeding vehicle Crown Victoria going 130 MPH, white color ... wait ... now it`s red ... wow ... now it`s black ... blue ... yellow ... sh*t ... :D

Never touch black cars. Simply park it outside when you know there will be a long hard rain and it will be clean the next day.


Why didn't I think to order Orange instead.....:doh:

Black is pretty tough to keep looking good.

A good way to minimize swirls is to have a bucket of really soapy water and a bucket of clean water. Dip your mitt in the soapy water, soap a little, but dont let the mitt get dry. You want a LOT of soapy water at all times. Then dip in the clean water bucket and swish it around until it's clean, then resoap. Change the clean water often, and if the car is pretty dirty, change the soapy water a few times also. Never dip directly from the car into the soap. Just soap, rinse, soap, repeat. Dont use a lot of pressure when soaping either. You'll stop a lot of dirt from grinding swirls into your paint.

Stay away from chamoise dryers. Use a lot of terry cloth towels and turn them often.

Use a wet, almost dripping (with water not wax), applicator to apply your quality soft paste or liquid wax in medium-thin coats. Turn and change applicator often. If the applicator is grimey, you're scratching something. Remove it with good terry cloth towels, turning and changing the towels often.

Now you have a clean, flawless black paint job and about 2 loads of laundry to do. Just dont use fabric softenener on your carwash towels and you're good.

I try to go by this chart:

http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/autogeek/flowchart.jpg

For swirls, since I use a polishing machine, I go with this product (http://www.autogeek.net/memigl82swfr.html). It's a bit expensive... but the results are worth it if you are concerned about how the vehicle looks.

Source: Autogeek.net (http://www.autogeek.net/)

How to avoid swirls on black paint?

this is why I won't buy a black vehicle again. shows EVERYTHING! :(

another tip you can use the two bucket process- one bucket for the lower areas like the wheels, wheel wells, and tires - one bucket for the top areas like the body of the vehicles this way you dont make the mistake of dipping you sponge into a bucket that has maybe wheel and tire residue in it and you make the mistake of washing the body of the vehicle with it ooooouch!

Drive through bigger mud puddles so the mud covers the swirl marks - after all - it's a Jeep and should be dirty :)

Make sure to rinse the car very completely before any mitten or sponge is used. Rubbing grime off of paint causes damage due to abrasion even with lots of soap. With excessive grime, power washing may be needed, but be careful. My son actually blew a large patch of paint off of his Cavalier's hood trying to get dried tree sap and bug juices off.

To remove tree sap and bug juices, use paper towel soaked with nail polish remover. Dissolves the resins, but doesn't harm the paint.

thanks to all for the great suggestions... Hopefully my first wash tomorrow will go well. I'm going to combine several of your suggestions in hopes of finding a solution that works good for me.

Just wondering, what causes the chamoise rags to scratch the paint? If the jeep is freshly washed, I wouldn't think there would be hardly anything left on the paint that would get trapped in the rag and scratch the paint, but I guess anything is possible. My experience using terry cloth towels is that they leave tons of lint behind on the vehicle... guess I could go buy black towels :)

whitegt01, that is one slick finish you got there...

Chamoise cloths will get dirt and grit trapped in them, and they drag with a lot of friction. Terry cloth is good, just pop your rag a lot and it shakes the lint out. Or you can blow your truck dry with compressed air. I've even seen guys use leaf blowers.

http://www.meguiars.com/faq/index.cfm?faqCat=Swirl Marks

The Meguiar's website contains possible more information than you ever wanted to know about detailing your cars. (I know, I've been to one of their day long classes!)

another tip with terry towels wash in the washing machine before using certain terry towels are designed for certain jobs.

I dont notice any swirls on my Black Pat-I give it a quick bucket & soap wash when its dirty. I spend more time inside driving it than I do outside staring at it!!!

finally got her detailed up and ready to take her out on the town... I can't believe how much flake is in the black paint, it looks amazing when the sun hits it.

Hi - I recommend 'micro fibre' cloths, one for washing and another clean one for drying. They are far superior to the chamois for drying and absorb so much more water and can be used very gently and yet still dry the car.

As stated, every time you wash the car you are potentially introducing swirls, no matter how careful you are, but using micro fibre towels will at least help minimise the risk.

Cheers

As stated, every time you wash the car you are potentially introducing swirls, no matter how careful you are, but using micro fibre towels will at least help minimise the risk.

Cheers

Ahhh, so the secret is to not wash?!!!

The key to prevent swirl marks is to not use a circular motion when touching your paint. The key to minimize any fine scratches in paint is to minimize the amount of dirty contact. Use lots of soap, rinse often. Don't use dirty towels to dry or buff out any paint care product, etc.

I stocked up on the microfiber cleaning cloths and drying towels at Target. Their "house brand" is about the nicest (and cheapest) I have found. I use the terry cloths towels on windows, interior plastics, tires, etc only - NEVER on the paint. My black car is 10 years old, and still shines line new. It is, however, a PITA to keep clean. Best luck.

The key to prevent swirl marks is to not use a circular motion when touching your paint. The key to minimize any fine scratches in paint is to minimize the amount of dirty contact. Use lots of soap, rinse often. Don't use dirty towels to dry or buff out any paint care product, etc.

Just to expand on this, when applying wax/polish, rub up and down on the sides of the car and front to back on the hood, trunk if you have one and the roof. Remove wax the same way. An old detailing trick I learned years ago.