I will be waxing my new Lightning for the first time tomorrow. My question is, what brand/type of towel is recommended to apply and remove the wax? I have had bad experience with swirl marks in the past and am extremely apprehensive about waxing. Any help is appreciated-

craig

 

I like foam or cotton applicators for applying and quality microfiber for removing.

 

I would agee with APT's suggestions.

However, are you sure the swirls are not be caused by bad washing techniques, or tools?

 

The swirl marks happened on my old black GT before I got **** wish washing. I used a washcloth. I also used an applicator pad to wax. Which one did it, I'm not sure. Can you not also use a good microfiber towel to apply the wax?

 

Well, you probaby can, and I know a few people do................ but I think you would be better off with good foam applicators.

 

Very hard to say HiPoCP as there are so many things that can cause swirl marks. The mere action of running a super nice quality 100% cotton towel can do it as can a microfiber... it all boils down to the towel, itself, either being too 'rough' or the fact that it drug a very small grain of sand/dirt/something across the paint with the pass that you took to just wax/dry/polish/wash etc...

There's no failsafe way to prevent swirls. They happen. The trick is knowing how to get rid of them and back to even...

Also, you can do several things to help prevent them... here's a few that I try to utilize everytime I touch my paint:

1. Dual bucket method for washing. One bucket with your shampoo/water and one bucket of fresh water. Rinse your wash mit/sponge off prior to putting it back into your suds.

2. Let the towel do the work. Don't PRESS down when drying. Let the towel wisk up the water rather than you applying pressure.

3. Use clean towels and store those towels in an area where they are less likely to get dirty/dusty. In short, don't store your car towels in the garage. Make this a habit for ANYTHING that touches your paint. I've found that ZipLoc bags make an excellent storage place for microfiber towels when I keep them in the truck or garage on occasion. The same is true for all my polishing pads/applicators.

4. Use common sense. This is the biggest kicker in the world for me for sure.... I'll find myself going across a very dirty area (say behind the rear wheel well) with my wash mit and then not rinsing off and going to the tailgate. Obviously, the dirt from near the wheels will probably contain some small sand grains etc... then my dumb butt pulls them across the tailgate.... I'm trying to make a point to rinse my mitt after EVERY panel at least twice.... or more if needed.

5. Use quality products to wash/dry/wax. I've used several brands of stuff out there in the past years and I've found that you REALLY get what you pay for for the most part. There are few exceptions to this rule. IE: If you're using the 20 pack of 100% cotton towels that are on the bottom shelf at wal-mart to remove wax, odds are, based on the 'roughness' of the towels themselves and the poor quality cotton, you're probably going to do less good and considerably more bad. Those types of towels are reserved for cleaning my wheel wells and/or bed of my truck.

Those are just a few.... the common sense one is, by far, the most important.

Good luck with your new L... I know you'll love it!

RP

 

Thank you RockPick for all the info. I am really good about the washing part. Usually wait to wash places like behind the wheels until the end, and i always rinse the mitt 1-2 times per body panel. I also (depending on vehicle size) end up refilling the wash bucket with fresh soap so I have more suds. I will definitely not be using the thin cotton towels from Wal-Mart to wax the L. Here's another stupid question, should I use Meguiar's Quik Detail only after the vehicle has been waxed?

 

Glad to have helped HiPoCP.

As far as the QD is concerned PRIOR to waxxing, I don't think you'll really have any problems... well, providing what you're using is a carnauba based wax. The QD spray contains silicones which aren't bad for your finish... those silicones, however, will probably prohibit some bonding with a synthetic like NXT or Zaino.

The whole issue with 'bonding' is, to a certain degree, VERY exaggerated but, without doubt, there would be some prohibiting factors if you were using a synthetic....

RP