I wash my S on the weekend and then dust/QD w/carnauba spritz during the week, but it seems like every Monday/Tuesday it rains, which cakes on the dirt, so i can't dust without scratching...

so what do i do? i can't wash the car every tues/wed, but i don't wanna have a dirty MINI from Tues to Saturday...

 

Buy LOTS of QD. Spray it on generously so it flows over the paint. Let it sit for 30 seconds, then gently wipe away with a Microfiber towel, and make sure you aren't rubbing the dirt back into the paint. Keep turning the towel, and work one area at a time.

Also after it rains, and you've parked your car--dry it, don't let the water/dirt dry on your car in the first place. That will help you keep it cleaner. It's a lot of work--I find myself drying several times a day.

 

thanks

it usually rains overnight so i can't dry it when it stops, but i'll try just using the QD

i'm using Sonus Carnauba Spritz over my PS21 Carnauba Wax Job (Klasse AIO Sealant underneath)

 

Oh, so your car isn't covered or in a garage--that's why it's getting dirty??
I can see the problem.

 

i live in an apartment right now, so no garage

and not risking scratching the car with a cover


but it also gets dirty during work when it rains, but i can't go out there as soon as it stops to dry it...

 

Personally, I'd say "wash it." I follow this perscription myself...and I must say I've resorted to some very bizarre behavior to get the job done. I've learned that, for myself, a cautious approach is best when it comes to my MINI's paint. You can slather on the QD if you want, but as Octane Guy says be very careful. I don't risk it personally.

(ps...I live in an apt, too and can't dry my car when I'm at work either. I feel your pain!!!)

 

Many of us fellow car enthusiasts are totally obsessive/compulsive when it comes to treating our babies right (I know I can be ). However, too much "love" can be a bad thing sometimes. If you've done a good job of laying down a few coats of quality wax or polymer sealant, then your car is perfectly well protected. OK, it may look grimey some of the time, but beneath that grime is well-conditioned (hopefully flawless) paintwork.

If your car is out in the open 24-7, and it's your daily driver, then you're fighting a losing battle. A once a week (weekend) wash and QD is sufficient in my opinion. The more you wash and/or QD (under less than ideal conditions) the more likely you are to do some accidental harm i.e. swirl marks and scratches, especially on a dark coloured car.

Chill out, let it get dirty once in a while; it's not going to fall apart. However, if you live and drive in a snowy climate where the roads are heavily salted you should try to rinse that stuff off frequently (especially the underbody)....use your local touch-free car wash.

 

Was looking through the threads when I found this, but it seems to me that drying it after a rainstorm is really bad for the car. I've thought about doing this too, but then realized it might not be a good solution, here's why:

When it rains generally crap falls all over your car. Especially if you drive, the particles of water that hits your car from the road, trees, other cars, all have grit and dirt within them. If you were to just dry your car after a rainstorm, then you'd pretty much be rubbing this grit all over your car. I mean, one of the main reason why use soap when washing a car is to lubricate the dirt particles so they can be rinsed off the car without damaging the paint. It seems to me, just drying it without washing it may do more damage then good.