swirl scratches how to prevent them

[sunkist4338]

hi all

I have my new car 2010 gs mazda 3 aluminum metalic mica.

My first question. how dow swirl scratches get on cars? (i assume from washing the car(is is from hand washing) but other ways I'm sure

2. how do you guys prevent them.

3. If mostly from washing then would a touchless car was prevent or minimize them.

I had a blue van before the mazda 3 an I don't recall to many swirlies? I never washed it by hand or waxed it. I mostly took it to the car wash mostly touchless. And i didn't do it very often maybe 3 -4 times a year usually once in the summer and the other times in the winter


So my major question is does the auto carwash cause damage to the paint job

[Donutz]

Swirls are usually caused by handwashing / drying when something gets in between (or caught in) your wash cloth / mit or drying towels. Also, linear scratches can appear in your clear coat from a winter snow brush.

How to prevent it? Make sure that you rinse your mit well each time you dunk it in the bucket; don't 'scrub' your paint; when drying try to soak up the water gently, and use lots of fresh towels. Wash your mits and towels in the washing machine after every wash. Follow this up with good paint maintenance and you should be okay.

Using touchless car washes are okay, but they don't clean as well as a proper hand wash. I suppose if you always use a touchless car wash you wouldn't see swirls.

[sunkist4338]

Swirls are usually caused by handwashing / drying when something gets in between (or caught in) your wash cloth / mit or drying towels. Also, linear scratches can appear in your clear coat from a winter snow brush.

How to prevent it? Make sure that you rinse your mit well each time you dunk it in the bucket; don't 'scrub' your paint; when drying try to soak up the water gently, and use lots of fresh towels. Wash your mits and towels in the washing machine after every wash. Follow this up with good paint maintenance and you should be okay.

Using touchless car washes are okay, but they don't clean as well as a proper hand wash. I suppose if you always use a touchless car wash you wouldn't see swirls.


thanx... this make sense:)

[Olestra]

#1 biggest tip against swirls is never use that long handle brush at the carwash.

[sunkist4338]

#1 biggest tip against swirls is never use that long handle brush at the carwash.

I don't know what you mean?:loco what long handled brush?

[aris]

I don't know what you mean?:loco what long handled brush?

What he means is if you go to the coin wash their is a brush their that you can use to wash your car...but so many people use that same brush so their is alot of dirt in that brush.

[Cardinal Fang]

Edit: aristeidis beat me to it.

You might as well take sand paper to your car. The dirt and sand get stuck in the fibers of those brushes.

[aris]

Edit: aristeidis beat me to it.

You might as well take sand paper to your car. The dirt and sand get stuck in the fibers of those brushes.

hahaha:chuckle


Just jk

[sunkist4338]

THANX for the clearification.

[mazdabetty]

ugh it's cuz dumb people clean their wheels with the brush, even though there's usually a giant sign that says DO NOT CLEAN WHEELS WITH BRUSH... lol

[aris]

ugh it's cuz dumb people clean their wheels with the brush, even though there's usually a giant sign that says DO NOT CLEAN WHEELS WITH BRUSH... lol

I use the brush to clean my wheels in the winter months....and their is NO signs that say not to use the brush for your wheels in any of the coin washes in Belleville.

[Soyabean]

my wheels are too good for the brush lol. I just take my car there, i bring my own bucket, wash mit, soap. Cost me about 2 x $3 and my car is squeeky clean. 3 x $3 if i want to apply a wax over it

[mazdabetty]

I use the brush to clean my wheels in the winter months....and their is NO signs that say not to use the brush for your wheels in any of the coin washes in Belleville.

You're right I haven't seen them at every car wash, but I've definitely seen it twice, one being in an apartment building garage so they were a little more meticulous with their cleaning tools.

And I would have assumed it might just be common sense to not use the same brush on your delicate car paint that's been all over your sandy wheels :P

[aris]

my wheels are too good for the brush lol.

My summer rims are too good for the brushs their....but my winter rims loves those brushes at the coin wash...hahaha:chuckle