Well this weekend I decided to polish the car. I started Friday afternoon and finished today, well, sort of. I first started off using 3M Ultrafina SE and my buffer. Once the paint was swirl free I then used 3M Foam glaze (for dark finishes). Once that was done I proceeded with Zaino Z5-Pro. Following the instructions (as always) I eventually applied 4 coats. In between coats I used Z6. Once that was done I then waited another 8 hours and applied a coat of Z-CS and waited for it to dry. I was thinking to myself that perhaps I used too much. It was my first time using this stuff so it was hard to say. Once thing I can say for sure is that when I was applying it, it seemed that it was very streaky (missing spots). Zaino's says they can do an entire car in 10 sprays. I am not sure how this is possible (without missing spots). Anyway, I did that yesterday and waiting till today to see what it looked like. I pulled the car out into the sun and sure enough, streaks all over the place. According to Zaino, this happens when it is on too thick and all you have to do is use Z6 or Z8 to get rid of it. Well, my cotton towels were all used up from the other steps so I grabbed the only thing I had not used. A new microfiber towel. This is where the day turned into hell. I used Z8 and the cloth to wipe the car down. Well unfortunately now the car is complete covered in fine swirl marks from the microfiber cloth. I did a few tests and the only way I can get rid of them is to strip everything down and start from scratch. That sucks because I have already spent 18 hours on this and haven't even touched the rims, engine bay or interior. So much for the weekend.

Here is a pic. It is shiny but the marks drive me nuts!

 

Thank you. Sorry this has happened to you, but thank you for being someone else who knows the microfiber damage I'm talking about. I started to use it once, and stopped immediately when I began seeing the tiny marks left behind. I could only see them in my florescent garage light, but they were enough to keep me away from microfiber for a long time. Everyone thinks I'm crazy, or blames a cheap towel, or something having been picked up... so be ready.

 

I too feel that microfibers lead to my swirls in my black GT. What would one suggest instead?

-danny

 

Good 'ole fashioned cotton.

 

So I should get some cloth diapers?

-danny

 

I have tried cloth diaper material in the past and didn't care for the results from those either.

 

i make sure I use an old microfiber towel, where the fibers have started to fray a little, so the fibers arent quite so brittle. I dont have too many swirls in my paint, but there are some

 

Interesting. I've always used Mequiars microfiber cloths to take off my wax (Mequiars Gold Class) and no scratches. I don't even notice any when I look close at an angle facing a light source in my garage. I usually wash my microfiber cloths in the washer right after I use them and let them air dry. Sorry that happened. Hope everything works out for you.

 

do you use fabric softner when you wash your towels?? Just wondering because your not supose to from what I hear.
Thanks for the heads up on the micro fiber towels.... i always thought they were the safest things to use.

 

I don't use any fabric softener when I wash mine and I only use warm water, not hot. And like I said air dry.

 

Am I missing something, or can you guys see the marks in the photo? I'm new to paint preservation (I'm reforming myself) but the paint looks like I could eat off of it, it's so clean and shiny!

So far I have about 10 cheap microfibers along with a couple of "the Absorber" towels. What's better? I know you get what you pay for, and I'm willing to pay for it to keep the paint nice, I just don't know what to look for? (lots of videos and instructional books I've seen say that microfiber is the best and not to worry about the brand, but that they don't last past a few uses because they lose their static...)

 

Well in the photo you can't see the marks. When the sun comes around and hits the paint at the right angle it looks terrible. Kinda like when headlights hit a car at a 90 degree angle at night and shows all the flaws.

The microfibre towel I used was new. I had some used ones that I did wash and did use fabric softener with but I had not used them on the car. Not sure I am going to use them at all now. Maybe to clean my rims or something. I also have some other microfiber cloths that are tan in colour. They are very smooth, not like the blue microfibre I had used. They claim they are great for wax removal. Although they feel smooth I would think they would easily scratch the surface. I am hesitant in using them.

 

Sorry to hear about the swirls, I can relate. I used those blue microfiber towels too and got a ton of swirls on my black paint. I already had some cause of the idiots at the dealer but I thought the same thing microfiber is supposed to be good. I did notice after I washed them a few times I wasnt getting anymore swirls. So my project this weekend is to rid myself of those darn swirls.

 

One thing I noticed in your post was that you said you used "a" microfiber towel. I take that as meaning one. Maybe it got saturated with the wax and started to scratch your paint. When I wax my car I use four or five micorfiber cloths and constantly flip them so I always have a clean surface to wipe off the wax. I actually go over the car about four times when wiping off the wax using a fresh cloth for each time so that each cloth gets less wax residue on it. Hope that helps and good luck!

 

Over the years I have used microfiber towels from Griots garage. I bought his car care book and in it he claims all microfiber is not the same. I have used his on my 2003 black explorer and have very few swirls. One reason is I wash and wax in straight lines not circles.The way air flows over the car.This was suggested in his book and I have found that it works. I use Zaino on my CAR Mustang GT/CS and have no swirls on it.I use white 100% cotton made in the USA towels from American chair store.com to take the wax off the stang(Zaino says USA made towels only).I was not able to find USA made towels in the stores.Most are foreign made that say 100% cotton but you can't trust them.

 

^+1, I never apply in circles

 

The marks were even on the first panel I started on. Just remember, I was just using a detailing spray, not removing wax.

 

Sorry, I guess I didn't read your post thoroughly. I'm sure you'll get it right.

 

Microfiber leaving swirls? I've seen it on softer surfaces like furniture lacquer, but in automotive clear coat? That's not good; I thought these finishes were tougher than that.

 

Ya, it's not like this is the first time I have detailed a car. I have been doing this for over 18 years. This is just the first time I used a microfiber cloth. I have learned my lesson.