[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Originally Posted by JakeN5

how about a bulk pack of them microfiber towels sold at Costco? they feel soft enough.

Those are not as good as you might think. Most detailers find those cheap ones at wal-mart and the like are best used for things like wheels and stuff, cause the can end up lightly scratching the paint believe it or not.

I used a MF towel you speak of on my trunk, and it scratched. I couldnt believe it myself.

Gotta pay to play sometimes

[MalM3]

Bath towels.

Yep i use regular bath towels for drying because the terry cloth is more absorbent than anything else i have ever used.

I use the towles to dry down, and never get streaking like with chamois.

The thicker the towel the better
Then i wax and buff with the machine
And fine tune with a microfiber to take every detail

and it always comes out nice

[Eternum]

Originally Posted by BK

Using a good top loader with a sanitary cycle (nearly boiling water) and with DWV as a rinse agent instead of softener should take care of those.

What DWV is?

[Dackz]

Thanks for the advice. I ordered up the kit that has the 2 waffle towels, 5 of one mf towel and 12 of the other. Should be set. That with some p21s wheel gel cleaner and some pb wheel sealant and a mini detail brush, Im set!! Thanks again guys. Now, if I decide I want to tackle the polish/clay/sealant/wax myself, Ill be back, haha. I might try it, just not sooooo sure.

[UncleWede]

You'll be back . . .

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Originally Posted by Mallard

Bath towels.

Yep i use regular bath towels for drying because the terry cloth is more absorbent than anything else i have ever used.

I use the towles to dry down, and never get streaking like with chamois.

The thicker the towel the better
Then i wax and buff with the machine
And fine tune with a microfiber to take every detail

and it always comes out nice

Terry cloth is NOT recommended as it will induce light scratches and swirls over time.

I understand the absorbency, but it is not soft believe it or not in comparison.

I should know, I used to use bath towels in the past before I knew what I knew now.

Do yourself a favor and go to MF/waffle weave towels. Your paint will thank you later.

I just want to reiterate that nobody should try terry cloth especially on a black car. Oh the horror!

[Dackz]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

You'll be back . . .

I think I already am, haha. The only step that is somewhat un-easieng to me is the polishing. That looks easy to screw up. I also dont want an orbital but I am sure that my friends dad has one I could borrow. Also, not sure it needs done at this time on the car. I dont really have an swirls or any scratches that would be buffable as it stands.

I could just do a good wash/degrease/clay/seal/wax couldnt I? I do want to do both a sealant and then a wax, I like the extra protection of the seal and the water beading of the wax.

[UncleWede]

IF you haven't invested in the wax yet, maybe give the sealant a try for a few weeks. It will bead every bit as well as wax. You can always buy/apply wax a few weeks down the road.

BUT (and it's a BIG one) neither will look as good as if the paint underneath them is properly prepped and polished.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Originally Posted by Dackz

I think I already am, haha. The only step that is somewhat un-easieng to me is the polishing. That looks easy to screw up. I also dont want an orbital but I am sure that my friends dad has one I could borrow. Also, not sure it needs done at this time on the car. I dont really have an swirls or any scratches that would be buffable as it stands.

I could just do a good wash/degrease/clay/seal/wax couldnt I? I do want to do both a sealant and then a wax, I like the extra protection of the seal and the water beading of the wax.

You dont NEED to polish the car, you can do just what you said and be fine.

Polishing is for those individuals looking to get the light scratches and swirls out of the paint.

If your content with them, then stick with a Cleaning, clay, seal and wax and be on your way.

[BK]

Originally Posted by Eternum

What DWV is?

Distilled white vinegar.

[Dackz]

Originally Posted by JPSlick

You dont NEED to polish the car, you can do just what you said and be fine.

Polishing is for those individuals looking to get the light scratches and swirls out of the paint.

If your content with them, then stick with a Cleaning, clay, seal and wax and be on your way.

After further inspection....I think I might have LIGHT swirls on my hood and thats it. I think I will just have a shop do a good claying and polish for me and I will take car of the rest. Im just afraid of messing up the polish. Of course, a bad detail shop could do that as well. Ill have to consider my options. Im telling ya, the hood is the only place I could see the swirls in the direct sun, and they were very minor.

[eclipsisNA]

Originally Posted by Mallard

Bath towels.

That's one sure-fire way to scratch your clear. No matter how absorbent they are, the fibers will cause massive swirling issues.

To the OP, the best drying towels I've ever come across are these: http://www.chemicalguys.com/MONSTER_...ic_1100_03.htm

Keep in mind I've tried practically every microfiber towel on the market, from DD, Pak Shak, CG, etc. etc.

[MalM3]

strange :? ive not ever thought it was a bad thing with bath towels ,, but if you say it gives scratches then i guess i cant argue

I suppose over time the result would get worse and worse ..

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Originally Posted by Dackz

After further inspection....I think I might have LIGHT swirls on my hood and thats it. I think I will just have a shop do a good claying and polish for me and I will take car of the rest. Im just afraid of messing up the polish. Of course, a bad detail shop could do that as well. Ill have to consider my options. Im telling ya, the hood is the only place I could see the swirls in the direct sun, and they were very minor.

(Ive yet to see even new cars without some swirls, so im sure you have em LOL )

Originally Posted by Eclipsis

That's one sure-fire way to scratch your clear. No matter how absorbent they are, the fibers will cause massive swirling issues.

To the OP, the best drying towels I've ever come across are these: http://www.chemicalguys.com/MONSTER_...ic_1100_03.htm

Keep in mind I've tried practically every microfiber towel on the market, from DD, Pak Shak, CG, etc. etc.

Tru story

Originally Posted by Mallard

strange :? ive not ever thought it was a bad thing with bath towels ,, but if you say it gives scratches then i guess i cant argue

I suppose over time the result would get worse and worse ..

I did a test spot on my trunk with a bath towel, and right away I saw light scratching apparent without even using much pressure. Its almost insane.

Trust us, and do yourself a favor

[Bobble]

Originally Posted by Dackz

I think I already am, haha. The only step that is somewhat un-easieng to me is the polishing. That looks easy to screw up. I also dont want an orbital but I am sure that my friends dad has one I could borrow. Also, not sure it needs done at this time on the car. I dont really have an swirls or any scratches that would be buffable as it stands.

I could just do a good wash/degrease/clay/seal/wax couldnt I? I do want to do both a sealant and then a wax, I like the extra protection of the seal and the water beading of the wax.

Actually the sealant is your best protection giving the best bead or sheeting affect. Wax, especially a carnuba gives you that extra pop or wetness that most sealant's miss. Try Blackfire Wet Diamond sealant, I was a firm believer of another sealant until a pro used that on my car for a correction/polish and it is unbelievable. The closest I've seen to a good carnuba. Depending on the color of your car there are good carnuba's to top with to get that extra. I like you use a pro for my corrections but do my own washes/waxes and intermittent seals. These guys who do it day in and out can work wonders. People here could recomend someone in your area.

[phistyle]

darn missed the sale on the microfiber waffle weave towel by a few days...oh wells...hopefully there will be another sale soon

[ocgasman]

I have ww's from excel detail, the monsters from CG and assorted other drying towels and they all work great, but the best bang for the buck I've found and works just as good as the others are from towelpros.com. I got their ww for drying and some 16x16 for other general stuff. Their website lists bulk prices but just email the owner, Robert Regan and he'll give you a quote for whatever number you want.

I think alot of towel distributers get their towels made by the same manufacturers in china and korea. It's not like there's hundreds of far east factories making microfiber towels. However, I do believe that the quality of MF's can be vastly different from each vendor. I have the costco ones and those are strictly for my wheels and then I throw them away after each use. As in life, you usually get what you pay for...

[brinkmann]

Originally Posted by stimpy

They really should list the dimensions of their towels.

I use these to dry my car:
http://www.detailedimage.com/DI-Micr...00/36-x-24-S1/

I'm waiting on a DI Microfiber sale and then I'll order some more

That place sucks the money out of me!

These are the ones I use and they work great.

[Dackz]

Originally Posted by JPSlick

(Ive yet to see even new cars without some swirls, so im sure you have em LOL )

Tru story



I did a test spot on my trunk with a bath towel, and right away I saw light scratching apparent without even using much pressure. Its almost insane.

Trust us, and do yourself a favor

Actually the previous owner of my car had it detailed professionally 3 times 9 months of his ownership and I had it detailed this summer (didnt need a polish, had no swirls, think the original owner had that done before I purchased). The shop I took it to said it was one of the better cars in terms of clenliness that they had seen. I mean, in direct sunlight I should be able to see pretty much all of my swirls right? I know what they look like for sure (I cringe when I see newer cars full of them, its like dude take care of your investment), but is there a better light or something I could do to really make sure?

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Originally Posted by Dackz

Actually the previous owner of my car had it detailed professionally 3 times 9 months of his ownership and I had it detailed this summer (didnt need a polish, had no swirls, think the original owner had that done before I purchased). The shop I took it to said it was one of the better cars in terms of clenliness that they had seen. I mean, in direct sunlight I should be able to see pretty much all of my swirls right? I know what they look like for sure (I cringe when I see newer cars full of them, its like dude take care of your investment), but is there a better light or something I could do to really make sure?

Ya some people just dont find value in it. I have a few friends that wash their car maybe once a year. (even that is pushing it for them).

I mean, sometimes I think about all the "time" I spent washing and detailing my cars.

But I actually enjoy it, so its not even like work to me.

[Dackz]

Originally Posted by JPSlick

Ya some people just dont find value in it. I have a few friends that wash their car maybe once a year. (even that is pushing it for them).

I mean, sometimes I think about all the "time" I spent washing and detailing my cars.

But I actually enjoy it, so its not even like work to me.

I just enjoy driving a clean car around. I take pride in ownership of my possessions .

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Originally Posted by Dackz

I just enjoy driving a clean car around. I take pride in ownership of my possessions .

I feel dirty if my car is dirty