1st wash this year

[scoobp1]

Now that the snow is disappearing (up my neck of the woods) :thumbup: and I can now get the sponge out I am looking for some tipe on washing 4 weeks worth of salt and grip from the body work without damaging the paint.

Anyone any sprecific do's and don'ts so that I don't end up with lots of swirl marks on my lovely paint work?

[P1 Dave]

Jet wash the car before you go anywhere near it for starters!!

[ELV1S]

I've started using a snow foam lance (valet pro) on mine, what it does is lifts all the contaminates so you don't cause scratches and swirls, then you wash it as normal after.

It connects straight onto your washer ie Karcher etc

[p1prodrive]

LOL.. just had another 8 inches of snow down here easy

[scoobp1]

I've always tried to avoid using pressure washes as it has lifted paint off around stone chips before.

ELV1S: I'll look into the lance if it will help.

[+Doc+]

Snow foam, power wash, 2 bucket wash, rinse, drying towel.

Good wash techniques generally mean the less contact the better, the less dirt to wipe the better.

[snake1906]

agree with doc,ive been reading up and plenty of hosing down think around 15mins was recomended no jet wash! foam, 2 bucket method, and pat dry with a recomended drying towel

[Dave]

Try using a foam lance and the 2 bucket method.

Speak to Polished Bliss as they will have everything you need.

http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/

[scoobp1]

Cheers for the tips guys. All I need is some dry weather now and the p1 is getting some tlc.

[snake1906]

forgot to say do not use a sponge on the paintwork only a wash mitt preferably wool

[scoobp1]

What will a sponge do? Leave swirl marks?

[snake1906]

yes m8,sponge is naughty,the theory is that a sponge traps the dirt/grit between the sponge and the paint work with no where to go so all you will be doing is rubbing the grit into your paint,and with a mitt because it has long piles,the longer the better the grit is taken into the mitt and away from the paint surface,but remember after every soap dip and rub you have to dip your mitt into the 2nd bucket(the 2 bucket method) of clean water to rinse the dirt from the mitt and to stop contamination of you soap bucket,do not use this same mitt for your wheels or under arch,s ect hope this helps m8

o and to answer your question lol,yes the sponge will leave swirl marks and worse depending on how well the car is rinsed

[scoobp1]

Cheers mate

[+Doc+]

...although to put a spanner in the works, some people like to use groat sponges because of the large pours!
Each to their own, I use a lambswool mitt, 4 for £20.

[snake1906]

but if you trusted them im sure you would be using it instead of using a £20 wool mitt that needs to be changed more frequent due to it being so fragile,everything ive read says dont use a sponge no matter if you can climb into the pours,ill never trust them again,DEATH TO ALL SPONGES:D
after ive finished praising the mitt,ill now inform you that they also leave swirl marks:(
but not as bad:)

[+Doc+]

Swirls are inevitable, not worth getting too anal about it....unless it's your profession :)
I find a good cleaning regime and a good polish will do just fine.
Admittedly, I do have a sample of Polished Bliss's very expensive sealer :D but I did win it!

[scott goldie]

If you pre wash the car first with snowfoam and leave to dwell on the car for five minutes then rinse with a power washer you will actually be washing the car clean before you use the mit (two bucket method) and the surface will be clean therefore this will avoid swirl marks. It is all in the preperation.

Scott