Hey guys, I tried running a search, and couldn't find a good topic or guide on washing my car...

I got a wash mitt tool (a thing that can hold water in the stick part, and has like a faux lamb's wool looking thing on the end) and a chamois to dry the car, along with Turtle Wax Concentrate car wash... anyway, I'm washing it under my carport so there isn't direct sun, waiting until it's dusk or so, so as to avoid having the body be too hot, and I'm even trying washing each part individually and drying it as soon as I'm finished with that part..

Even with these changes from the first time I washed it, I'm left with horrible looking swirly white/dirty marks all over the car, and it looks so bad that I might as well have not washed it. I'm trying to do it by hand so as to avoid having my soft top be damaged by taking it to a professional car wash, but it's turning out so terrible looking that I'll be forced to take it to commercial washes if I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong.

I'm thinking the chamois might be the problem.. it doesn't seem to really get the car dry even for the first part I try to dry, when the chamois is completely dry. It seems to leave water behind. Anyone have any suggestions on better drying materials, or anything else (based on what I've said) that might be causing these marks? I have a black 2008 roadster.
(or does anyone know a link to a good washing guide that I might follow? Couldn't find anything through a couple of different forum searches, but I may have just given up too early)
Thanks!

 

You need to get some quality washing materials. Here is a website with pletny of information...............www.adamsforums.com

 

You are new to washing cars right?
Could be what you are using ("soap") on your car is some of the problem.
In my experience really does not matter what you use,a towel,mitt(I prefer)
to wash your car.The type of product or "soap" does.I use Auto Glym wash.
Its great!Will leave no swirls or marks.Its important to rinse your car off
thoroughly,don't let it dry in the sun.Another product that really works well
is(don't laugh!)Woolite!For whatever reason it gives great results.Use a capful in a
bucket of warm water.It will not foam up but it cleans well and leaves a great
finish.Towel of your car after rinsing.Thinking about it,part of your problem may be
from the type of water in your area.Water quality will vary.You may have hard
water conditions that leave deposits on your car?Also,what type of wax or polish
is on your car?This can be a factor.If you are using cheapo wax,you wash job is
gonna look bad.I use Auto Glym also for wax.

 

I have an 06 mag black roadster. A couple of things to try:
Run your mitt, chamois and towels through the washer to make sure they aren't contaminated. Or,
It could be bad water, and the soap's not rinsing completely. Do your gas stations have car washes? See what cars look like after that wash. If they look ok, maybe they add a rinse aid?...But I would never run a zr through an automatic wash.
Let us know when you solve it. Good luck!

 

Hey guys, thanks for the responses... I'm in New Mexico, and we have crap water everywhere, so I wouldn't be surprised if it's not hard water.. never thought of that.. I'll try washing my supplies as well, and getting a different "soap" ... some of our gas stations have car washes, and I used to take an old car through them and it always turned out okay, although not as good as the commercial washes where they hand dry them etc.

 

Hey, Pete- I know you've prob got this solved, but a random thought-
I know they have rinse-aids (not soap) for dishwasher problems to get rid of spots. Finish, Cascade, etc. Grocery stores here in the se carry them. Cheap, too.
Post when you solve it. Good luck!

 

- I'm not a fan of the chamois cloth. Microfiber works fine for me, and DetailedImage.com has good offers most of the time (check their thread for offers)
- Get better soap. OTC, I would recommend Meguiars Gold Class Wash, or look at Chemical Guys Citrus Gloss and Wash or their MaxSuds II.
- Two bucket method, youtube it.

Here's a quick guide: http://www.detailedimage.com/Ask-a-P...and-dry-a-car/

 

mr clean car wash has a filter that softens the water so it leaves no spots. i used it

http://housekeeping.about.com/od/pro...eanautodry.htm

i use the symthetic chamois called absorber. works like a champ, picks up water, doesn't scratch as long as it is clean, leaves no residue or lint

 

Thanks for the additional thoughts guys, I will definitely check out getting some better products, and I like the dishwasher product idea!

 

Be careful with dishwasher soap - it'll generally strip any wax.

 

it's likely the water. go to a car wash and bring your hand wash materials. i do this on weekends. the water in a car wash is filtered. i take my stuff to a do it yourself car wash and just use their water to fill up my buckets and rinse my car. i still hand wash and chamois the car and it always looks great. use your own car wash sopa too...dish soap can be used if you want to strip wax before a re-wax

 

Thanks guys... yeah it's gotta be the water here... I took it to a professional wash once and they had a sign that says Albuquerque's "hard water" scale is 14, which is apparently high (according to this sign.. I know nothing about hard water haha.)

 

Seems like you are doing everything right. You may be a victim of factors outside your control:

Hard water with lots of mineral deposits.
Albuquerque, NM and humidity (or lack of humidity): 20 percent humidity and soap and water is drying on the car before you have a chance to wipe it. I live in Tucson, AZ with similar humidity conditions, and have found that the best time to wash the car is sun up.