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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the proper way to wash a vehicle?
- There are 4 main steps in properly washing and caring for the paint of a vehicle. We won't get into engine bays, wheels & tires, interiors or glass at this point.
Step 1: Wash & Dry
You'll need a wash bucket, rinse bucket, car wash specific soap, a microfiber mit/sponge and towels. Start off with a shady area and a car that has not been sitting out in the sun all day. You do not want the soap to dry and bake in the sun. Rinse the vehicle thoroughly and use bug/tar remover spray if needed. Work from top to bottom. Scrub the vehicle down with the mit or sponge, dunk it in the rinse bucket prior to putting it back into the wash bucket. Rise again from top to bottom. Dry the vehicle down with a plush or waffle microfiber towel. Make sure to dry door jambs and exposed areas with the trunk and hood popped.
Step 2: Clay Bar
Using a clay bar is an important step. It will remove things like tree sap, light oxidation, and other environmental agents that have embedded themselves into your clear coat. It should be done a few times a year, if your paint feels rough to the touch it needs to be done. If you purchased a large 200 gram clay bar cut it into thirds, storing two sections and work one section into a flat rectangle. Using a detail mist spray lubricate a small section of paint on your vehicle. Glide the clay over the lubricated area and wipe clean with a microfiber towel when done. Do not apply pressure with the clay and make sure the paint surface is properly lubricated. If you feel a little resistance, keep gliding back and forth until the resistance is gone. You can repeat step 1 once again if you want to.
Step 3: Repair / Polish (Optional)
This is an optional step for people needing light to medium corrections of scratches or swirl marks. Using a high powered light source you can identify these imperfections and gauge the abrasiveness required. We recommend the FLEX 3401 dual action orbital polisher as a safe way to make these corrections. Medium scratches and swirls will need an Orange CCS pad along with PoorBoy's Super Swirl Remover 2.5. Apply a circle of compound to the pad and then with the machine off spread the compound over a small 2' by 2' section of your paint. Begin with using a low speed and slowly work the compound around the section. Raise your speed until you see the compound break down and results are visible in your light source. Whip the compound off with a microfiber towel. Follow this up with a White CCS pad and SSR 1.0. If you have light swirls you can start with the White CCS pad and SSR 1.0. Use the same application method. You can follow this up with PoorBoy's Professional Polish with the Black or Blue CCS pads, depending on what your paint likes. Once you know what steps you need to take and how long to work each compound in you can do the rest of the car one small section at a time.
Step 4: Seal, Wax, etc
This is your last step, which is why sealants and waxes are referred to as LSP (Last Step Products). Both offer protection, but a sealant will last longer and be easier to work with. You can apply your liquid wax or sealant to a Blue CCS pad and use a FLEX polisher to save some time. Use a similar method listed in Step 3. Otherwise apply by hand and let dry. Using a detail mist spray and a microfiber towel, remove (buff out) the LSP. Use the detail mist spray for touch up detail work. - How do I wash microfiber towels?
- With cheap towels you would tend to use them for various purposes until they become unusable and then just toss them. However when you invest the money into thicker and more expensive microfiber towels you need to care for them to keep them around for the long haul. Collect your used microfiber towels and wash them in a load before reusing them. Use a small amount of bleach/softener free detergent, something like Tide Free or a detergent specifically made for microfiber. Tumble dry and remember to not use any fabric softener! Store your clean towels in sealed bags or containers to keep them from being contaminated.
