This post could either be entitled 'The Errors of My Ways' or 'Confessions of a Reformed Car Paint Abuser' or 'Ode to BradB and Octane Guy'

Ok, I think I could be forgiven for, in my past, using only one bucket for car washing, or even for never imagining protecting my wheels with a synthetic sealant, like Zaino. But, yes, I confess, there is more to atone for. For the first year of my '04 MC's life, besides the 2 previously listed infractions, I would care for its exterior with the same method I have used since my first car which, was a brand spankin' new '78 Ford Fiesta ( named Esther):

For washing, I would use a bucket of water and 3 or 4 drops of dish detergent to make it all nice and sudsy. Then I would take out my old...I mean VERY old.... cellulose sponge. And then I would dry it with some old bath towels, which not only might have or might not have been 100% cotton, but also had their tags still sewed on. And of course for Umberto's innards, I would clean him up nicely with Armourall.

For waxing, I would use whatever Consumer Reports recommended.....at first RainDance for a bunch of years, and then finally Nu Finish, up until I discovered this Detaining Forum. Wax would be applied and removed using old T-shirts (cotton?) Clay.....my daughter stopped playing with years ago. Microfiber....some of my running clothes and camping gear maybe, but for cars? Zaino.....what a funny name and who could ever learn all those different Z products (Z2 Z5 Z6 Z7 Z8 Z10 Z!!) Grit Guards? 303? RO? PC? never heard of 'em. But in spite of all of the above abuse and neglect, Umberto survived in great shape and with hardly any swirling, and these are minimal and only visible under a street light, for instance.

Anyway, what started this is that now, since reading this Detailing Forum for the past 2 years, I feel more educated as to proper exterior car care, but was suprised tp discover that for all this time, reading posts of a product I never used before, I've been confused as some were talking about '21' as a carnuba wax, and other people talking about '21' as a synthetic, until I recently noticed that I was confusing M21, a synthetic, with P21s, a carnuba...so I was wondering what other people have learned here that they had been doing wrong for years........

BTW, my car care now includes:

wash: 2 buckets, homemade grit guards, lambswool mitt, Z7 wash, Sonus MF drying towel and cloths

wax (sealant): Z5 Z2 Z6 Z8 Z7 wash zaino clay (also for wheels and windshield)

trim and interior: vinlyX


Russell

 

Confessions are good for the soul. But your new processes and products are good for your car!

I remember (many, many) years ago when I would use a worn out natural chamois that was filthy and spent most of the time on the garage floor or tossed on a lawnmower to dry. Turtle Wax was the only wax we had. And any scratches were "removed" with Turtle Wax Rubbing Compound! Yikes. So that's how swirls are born! Old T-Shirts were used as applicators and wax removal towels.

My how things have changed!

 

I too have abused I believe every car I have ever owned. Even cars I really loved, Bimmers, Alpha etc. My idea of "taking care" of my car was to take it to a car wash.
Our MINI has only had Zaino's applied since it's been home from the showroom and washed with Zymol. Never seen the inside of a car wash.
I feel so much better now that I have confessed

 

Yes umberto. With all due respect paid to Octane Guy, kenchan and the vast number of prophets that have mentored me in the commandments as I have pilgrimaged from the once a year Jeep wash to the weekly MCS wash and detail, monthly wax and intervening Quik Detailer applications; as cleanliness has led to the godliness of thine Mini's finish; with thy staff of NAM Detailing 101; I have also seen the error of my ways and I have been graced. However there is NFW I'm detailing the Suburban!!!

 

Haha mistakes are ok--just as long you don't continue to repeat them. We've all been bad at some point in our lives. I remember using the squeegee for windows to dry my black Acura Integra before I heard of California Blades--if they even existed--this was back in 1991 or so. Oh that wasn't friendly to my paint.

I've done other silly things in the days before I learned how to take care of my paint. I won't bother mentioning them here.

Richard