pwaug

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/17474/l_rear.jpg"></center><p>I use all of Zaino's products for the exterior and all they have for the interior with execellent results. When I wash (always in the shade) I constantly keep the entire car wet, use a Sheepskin mit from Target, do small sections at a time from top to bottom. I first blow dry the car with a leaf blower and then "dab" any remaining water droplets off. In between washes I use a California duster and sometimes the Zaino Gloss Enhancer instead of a wash if it isn't too dirty. I have had some small swirls from time to time but a coat of Z5 takes care of them. I add a coat of Z2 each month as it only takes 30 minutes to put on and 30 minutes to buff off. I was lucky last winter as I was able to hand wash all winter and the protection lasted from late October to mid April.

Style12v

GEPC is chemically abrasive, thats how it cleans =)

RickM

True of any "nonabrasive" polish.

RickM

We're talking real-life here. You can go out and spend all you want on water purification equipment, the most expensive microfiber towels available, and the best wax ever made by man. You can spend 24 hours straight detailing your car. I'm telling you, bird crap is nothing compared to what a 4 year-old can do.

If you have young kids, there are several rules that need to be communicated to them. Others may have additional rules to add, but here's my list (so far):
1. You may think that writing and drawing pictures in the dirt on a car is"fun" but it isn't. Drawing with chalk on the driveway is a lot more fun, and it doesn't upset anyone.
2. In the garage, try to walk between the cars parked there without rubbing up against them. You may think it's "fun" to drag yourself along the entire length of the car and to hear your nylon jacket make that squeaking noise as you do so, but you are wrong; that is not fun.
3. The cats do not belong on the car, period. You may be amused to see them slip around on a shiny, freshly waxed surface, but their claws are like steel daggers. Please keep them off the car.
4. The car is not a backboard for bouncing ***** of any kind.
5. Do not test the smoothness of the paint by dragging your fingernails across the hood or other surface.
6. The hood of the car is not a seat.
7. The hood of the car is not a shelf.
8. The hood and roof of the car are not intended for feet of any kind, animal or human. It is not "fun" to hear the sheetmetal flex in and out as you walk on it. If your feet are on the hood or the roof, you're in trouble. The presence of snow does not change this.
9. The car is not a drum. It is especially not a drum when you're holding anything made out of metal that you might want to use as a drumstick.
10. I love that you want to help me wash the car sometimes. Just please don't try to "surprise" me by doing it all by yourself when I'm not there.
11. Those bottles marked with names like "glaze" and "polish" -- the ones over there on that shelf -- will blow up in your face if you don't open them in exactly the right way. So don't bother trying.
12. The sand in the sandbox must stay in the sandbox. 'Nuff said.
13. Don't even think about trying to imitate that TV commercial you saw, where the man squirts lighter fluid on the car and then lights it.

You guys think I'm kidding?! LOL.

RKA

3 is redundant as it is already covered by item 8.

Well done on the rest of it! Now are they listening? :-) Rules are great, but when everybody ignores them...well, it's like the New Jersey Turnpike at rush hour.... =)

Bill In SoCal

damm. glad i don't need to worry about that yet. :-D #2 would make me cry

RickM

....they think their Dad is kinda strangely compulsive when it comes to the cars, so they're really just humoring me at this point. I think my 7 yr-old still does the full-length body slide when no one's looking, but I can't seem to catch him doing it. LOL.

I do hope people realize my list was an attempt at humor! I know, don't quit my day job......

MM120

I think it was a Dura Shine infomercial. May be the should try a cutting torch next time.

Ted K

It sounds like you're using way too much wax; that's why it's steaking. Try using as little as possible so that you can properly buff it all off. Also, wipe the car down with a microfiber cloth after your finished, that will help to safely remove whatever wax is left on the car.

As for preventing scratches and swirls, with the exception of 3M IHG, nothing applied to your car's finish should be applied or removed in circles. Always apply wax, buff the car, wash the car, dry the car, in back and forth motions from front to back. The logic is that scratches are only visible when viewed perpendicular to the scratch. If you do things in circles, and create scratches (it's impossible not to, but you want to minimize them and make them less noticeable) then they'll be visible from all angles since they're circular. If you do things back and forth, the scratches will be considerably less noticeable.

Also, make sure you use only 100% cotton towels on your car. Some say they are, but they're not, so you need to either buy towels that you are sure are 100% cotton, or test them using the burn test. Be careful to remove all tags, and to test the stitching that binds the ends of the towels (some 100% cotton towels are bound along the edges with nylon). Nylon or polyester will scratch your car like a hypodermic needle.

I only use Griot's terry cloth towels, and high quality microfiber or flannel cloths. I also use only quality foam cell applicators rather than some of the lower quality terry cloth covered ones.

Ted K

We're planning on starting a family soon, so I'm going to read this to them while their still in the womb. That way the will come out educated in the ways of being a child of a car buff.