What are people's advice to manage this?
I wash with a 2 bucket technique.
Dry with microfiber with light pressure.
Polish if I have time.
Is the only way to avoid it to polish lots and often?
Flat black + swirls
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SRGTD
- Bling Bling Diamond Member
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Re: Flat black + swirls
Also ensure you use a good quality lambswool wash mitt with your 2 bucket wash method and not a sponge.
The key to minimising swirls is to minimise direct contact with the car's paintwork. Before you start washing, ensure the car is pre-rinsed or if you have a pressure washer, it's worth investing in some snow foam and a snow foam lance to remove as much dirt as possible before you start to wash it. Start at the top and work down and wash with the mitt in horizontal, not circular, movements. If you wash your wheels first, I'd recommend changing the water before you start washing the car's bodywork, When you dry your car after washing, rinse with an open-ended hose to 'sheet' the water off the car. This will leave less water on the paintwork to dry off with a microfibre towel. Also, it is better to pat the car dry with the towel, rather than rubbing it dry. Not necessary to polish your car after every wash of you have a good washing technique - I usually polish mine once every 12-18 months and wax it every 3-4 months.
Unfortunately, even with a good, careful washing technique, you are likely to get some swirling over time. I'm fortunate enough to have a DA machine polisher, so if I do get swirls I can give my car an occasional polish to remove them. If you don't have a machine polisher, then you can hide swirls by using a polish or glaze containing fillers - a less permanent solution to machine polishing, so would need to be redone every few months. Top this off with a good quality wax or sealant which will help to stop the dirt sticking to the paint, so less washing effort required to remove it. However, before doing any polishing or waxing, ensure the paintwork is clean of contaminants such as tar, iron fall-out and bonded contaminants, to ensure a good bonding of any wax or sealant to the paint,
Few cars look quite as good as a well maintained black one. I've owned a few in the past, and keeping them looking good is a labour of love but very rewarding when you see the results of your efforts!
The key to minimising swirls is to minimise direct contact with the car's paintwork. Before you start washing, ensure the car is pre-rinsed or if you have a pressure washer, it's worth investing in some snow foam and a snow foam lance to remove as much dirt as possible before you start to wash it. Start at the top and work down and wash with the mitt in horizontal, not circular, movements. If you wash your wheels first, I'd recommend changing the water before you start washing the car's bodywork, When you dry your car after washing, rinse with an open-ended hose to 'sheet' the water off the car. This will leave less water on the paintwork to dry off with a microfibre towel. Also, it is better to pat the car dry with the towel, rather than rubbing it dry. Not necessary to polish your car after every wash of you have a good washing technique - I usually polish mine once every 12-18 months and wax it every 3-4 months.
Unfortunately, even with a good, careful washing technique, you are likely to get some swirling over time. I'm fortunate enough to have a DA machine polisher, so if I do get swirls I can give my car an occasional polish to remove them. If you don't have a machine polisher, then you can hide swirls by using a polish or glaze containing fillers - a less permanent solution to machine polishing, so would need to be redone every few months. Top this off with a good quality wax or sealant which will help to stop the dirt sticking to the paint, so less washing effort required to remove it. However, before doing any polishing or waxing, ensure the paintwork is clean of contaminants such as tar, iron fall-out and bonded contaminants, to ensure a good bonding of any wax or sealant to the paint,
Few cars look quite as good as a well maintained black one. I've owned a few in the past, and keeping them looking good is a labour of love but very rewarding when you see the results of your efforts!
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Oli3000
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Re: Flat black + swirls
Thanks for the detailed reply - and sorry for my tardiness! This definitely gives me something to work towards!