Cleaning Without Leaving Streaks On Windows/Paint

[blujein]

This is probably a strange topic, but I washed my car today for the first time (it's only a few days old), and although it was given a fairly comprehensive go at the Wave's Car Wash (touch-free, of course), once it was chamoised it still had quite a few streaks on the windows and paint.

Does anyone have any sure-fire products, cloth materials and methods to recommend to get the perfect shine after each wash?

[RHR]

Best way to assist in preventing it is to give the car a wax next time after you wash it.

Once I have washed and rinsed my car I take the hose fitting off the end of the hose, turn the pressure down and run it lightly over the car. This should remove most of the water droplets from the car. Its kinda hard to explain.

If there are a few left over I place a chamois over say the roof of the car and pull it slowly towards me. You can also invest in a good chamois. I have a kenco which you can buy for around 30 bucks

[BensXR6T]

For the windows, get a Meguiar's Glass Cloth, they are brilliant.

When you wash the car, don't use a sponge, get a fibre mitt and use two buckets. One with suds and the other with just water. After you have washed the car with suds, rinse your mitt out with the plain water bucket before putting it back in the suds bucket, this will keep your suds cleaner and won't transfer the dirt back onto your car after you have washed it. Doing this will reduce the amount of swirls that form in the car's paint work

After you have dried it, amoral the plastic bits and put tyre shine on her shoes and go for a drive.

The best way I have found to avoid the streaks on my car is to chamios it, go for a drive to make sure all the water is out of the crevices and amoral and tyre shine has flicked everywhere it's gonna, then use a quick detailer with a micro fibre cloth to finish off the job.

Enjoy looking after your new baby

edit: and as robbo says, a nice coat of wax will keep it cleaner longer

Edited 19/04/10 09:23 AM by BensXR6T

[blujein]

Thanks for the advice, guys - I'll give it all a go and see what works best.

[Wenier]

Also wash it in the shade, not in direct sunlight as that will cause alot of the problems.

[Pete A]

Good advice from everyone. Shade, good quality chamios, drive to remove crevace water - all good stuff. Never use a sponge it can put very very fine scratches on the paintwork. I have found that old flannelette cloth is the best for washing the car.I get paint protection on all my cars. Well worth the effort if you look after it. Over the years I have found Armourall car wash and wax to be a real good general purpose product (the blue stuff) During the week if the weather has been fine I give it a quick wipe over with a microfibre coth to get the grit off the paint. Only if when you wipe it with your finger it comes off real easy. If it doesn't then wait for the wash. But I am a bit fanatical!

Edited 20/04/10 03:04 AM by Pete A

[FOONIN]

I never had any trouble with sponge but would depend on the type of sponge.... Once I have washed all the soap off my car I usually give it another quick spray all over since I clean my car in "sections". Then I just use one of the window wipe things with the rubber on to take off all the water. Comes up brilliant. No streaks, no dust circles just 100% pure sexy tinted ford window Then I put some liquid silicon stuff on the mudflaps and CRC wetlook on tyres...takes like 2 hour to clean car from start to finish but damn it look good

[BensXR6T]

Only 2hrs?? lol, I can spend an entire weekend

Avoid the silicon products though, the sh*t don't come off and it can't be painted over.

[FOONIN]

its only on the mudguards plus I let it dry then wipe off...a whole weekend? damn long time lol

[blujein]

I went the easy way out and had the good folk at Waves Carwash do it yesterday. They did an amazing job, too, actually - looks better than the day I bought it!