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Originally Posted by jaykay
What do I need to know about microfiber black and the quest for perfection?
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Jay, what year is your car? What condition is your paint in? All my black cars started new and I learned along the way. I'm still learning new tricks even now.
- Even Microfiber can cloud or scratch if paint rubbed too hard, especially on bumpers. Never use very much pressure.
- Avoid parking in sun, I'm lucky I can park in garage at home and at work.
- Wash at least once a week even if it doesn't look dirty. Always after a rain.
- Never wash when paint is hot, I like to wash early in morning in shade or at night. Dry with microfiber, I hate shams but some like them.
- Wax often, every other wash if you want, it helps prevent scratching during washing. Or if you want to use a easy spray on and wipe wax you can do it each wash...but it isn't the same as the liquid wax.
- When waxing, wax with a wet foam applicator, keep it very wet (dip in water and ring out), it helps prevent pressure and scratching. Remember there is a trade off to waxing...the bad is you are touching the car, the good is it protects for the next wash so wax gently.
- Wipe the wax off with microfiber gently, if you have wet waxed then you won't have to apply a lot of pressure.
- Avoid even brushless car washes, especially when it is hot, most have drying agents in them and if you don't dry it immediately it will spot the car and it won't come off without a cleaner-wax. There are times I use the free one at the dealership but only when there is a lot of sand and salt on the car and I want to get it off. I often try to then wash it asap the nice thing is the brushless wash will get a lot of crud off that could scratch the car while you are washing it by hand.
- I have switch from microfiber mits to just rags since the mits sometime hold on to stuff that can scratch. I rinse the rag in a separate bucket and I never wash the underside by the doors and fenders until I'm all done, there is too much road spray and sand there and it will get on your rag and could scratch.
- Once car is dry, now you can wash your wheels, or you can do them first but never with the same water.
Note all this works well on a new car that you want to keep looking new for years. My Benz is a daily driver so I can't avoid some wear. Remember even wiping the car once with road grime on it after driving in the rain can scratch and cause cobwebs. Having that constant layer of wax will help protect as you wipe away the dirt. Always pre-rinse well.
If you have an older car...whole other story, I'm only good with a random-orbital it worked very well on my 2000 'S' Red, the trick is to use compounds that break down at lower speeds and heat...I was amazed at how many of the older scratches can be removed.
Here is how the Benz looks after 2 years, and the Box after I worked the paint for over twenty hours: