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Styling & Car Care - Guides (links)

TeflonTom
in Styling and Car Care

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this topic contains links to useful topics related to styling and car care :angel:

  • 4 weeks later...
  • 5 weeks later...

Why you should not use a sponge for washing your car

 

The vast majority of people will use a regular jumbo sponge to wash their car and initially there may not seem to be any problem with this until you consider the alternatives that are available and then ask why would there be any alternatives if a sponge was sufficient.

washing-car-sponge.jpg

A sponge can effectively clean your, but at the same time it will undoubtedly be inflicting damage onto the surface of your paintwork that will show itself as a mass of light scratches & swirl marks. The problem is that when you wash your car, even if a thorough pre foam & rinse has been undertaken, there is always going to be tiny particles of dirt still present. Although porous to allow for the absorption of water, the general face of a sponge is flat which means that these small particles become trapped between the sponge and your cars paintwork and are then drawn over the surface and it is this that results in the fine scratching and swirl marks.

The safe alternative to using a sponge to wash your car is to use either a lambswool, a micro fibre or plush synthetic wash mitt or pad. These wash mitts/pads are made from long fibrous materials which draw in and hold water just as well as a sponge but they also draw in and trap any loose particles of dirt at the base of the mitt and safely away from the surface of your paintwork. The materials wash mitts are made from are much softer than a sponge and in comparison a sponge can actually feel slightly rough to the touch. As they are mitts they fit over the hand like a glove which gives more control during washing and eliminates the risk of dropping it on the floor which commonly occurs with sponges.

washing-car-washmitt.jpg

The term ‘squeaky-clean’ is often used to describe the sound a sponge makes when cleaning and implies that ‘squeeky-clean’ is a good thing. The opposite however is true, the squeak is created from friction occurring between the sponge and the surface of the paintwork and this is exactly what is not wanted when washing your car. What you want is your wash implement to glide freely over the surface of the paintwork creating as little friction as possible and this is exactly what a wash mitt does. So next time you wash your car switch to using a good quality plush wash mitt instead of a sponge for an effective and damage free clean.

 

ChrisRs Detailing

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    • Like 3

    Well written, Chris, leaving the reader in no doubt as to the benefits of changing to a mitt.

    Lots of other good articles/tutorials/videos on Car Cleaning Guru... where the article was originally published.

    Well worth a read guys...

     

    http://www.carcleaningguru.com/

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    • Like 2

    Lots of other good articles/tutorials/videos on Car Cleaning Guru... where the article was originally published.

    Well worth a read guys...

     

    http://www.carcleaningguru.com/

    That's quite right Steve

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    • Like 1

    Well written, Chris, leaving the reader in no doubt as to the benefits of changing to a mitt.

    Not my words Mike. Thanks anyway

    • 4 weeks later...

    A quick pictorial based guide.... snapshot/overview for reference...

     

    1549543_10152279451148723_11613674538643

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    • Like 2
    • 3 months later...
    • 1 month later...

    Polishing Pad Chart  :sun:

     

    pad-chart-hq_zps23ec322e.png

     

    PS - anyone who is using the GB polishing pads i supplied - please reference the Hex-Logic column for approx comparison - thanks.  :thumbup:

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    • Like 2

    Paint Hardness 'Guide'

    Should compliment the Pad Guide published above:

    Click HERE

    Nice little detailing link/guide from Autogeek here:-

     

     

    http://www.autogeek.net/detailingtips.html

     

     

    Hopefully of use to one and all, for your 2015 detailing exploits - Happy New Year!  :thumbup:

    • 4 months later...

    Don't know how this got missed..

    Nevertheless a useful guide for beginners:

    guide.gif

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    • Like 1
    • 3 weeks later...
    • 4 weeks later...

    Some great guides here, crikey my head is spinning with all the information. There is a lot more to it than meets the eye.

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