Some time back my Cal auto duster was really dirty! So I threw it in the wash (call me stupid) but since then It hasnt worked as well and I reciently learned I wasnt syposto do that!

Is their any way to re-treat these things? Or should I buy another? I'm wondering if the un-treated duster is to blame for some of the swirls and light scratches in my paint only visable under garage light.

 

I have a cali duster, had it for one year and seven months, thats how old my car is. Anywho the duster itself has been through 5 washes, I always hear that "you destroyed the duster it wont work and now it will scratch up your car!" But I two cycle wash it then I heat dry it, comb it with brush, straightening the fibers and strands then give it three sprays of gold class an hour prior to dusting. No harm i have seen yet.

 

You spray the duster with auto detailer? (I though of doing that) Well, then the question comes down to how am I scratching my car then.

I wash by hand with a mitt in the shade, (rinse well)

I dry with micro fiber towills.

I wax 3-4x a year with good products.

I'm wondering if I am just not adding enough soap to the wash and somehow scratching my car with the mitt or that my soap isnt quality enough (Blue Coral)

It's only noticable up close in the garage under Flurscent Lights.

 

You also have to look at wax buildup throughout the year, like completely taking or shampooing OFF wax, then clay bar and add the new layers after. How you take care of the wax in the week by detailing, you cant avoid the hair thin swirls unless you use top notch waxes, in which you suggested you use, so you should have no problem when using micro fiber towels.

I believe you might not be using a proper* amount of soap, or you’re contaminating the mitt with dirt and grime still attached to the body. I use a cold slightly high pressure rinse before an amateur wash, (only lathering the car not rubbing and hardly applying any pressure to the panels as i lay down some soapy water all over the body), then rinse and once again i commit to a REAL bath for the car, which is now simply safe from hazardous buildups that will intentionally corrode the paint or cause scratch.

 

I dunk often and do top down then use different mitt for wheels. I always wash out the bucket and rinse out the mitt well, I buy about 2 mits a year.

I'm thinking I dont use enough soap, I've been using "Blue Coral" Since it's the bigest (cheepest) thing I can find. The bottle says use 2 cups full, but I realize I normally just use a splash.

Do you wash 2x? I probably should have posted this on a GTO board, they have such thin paint and are very easy to scratch compared to the Camaro My car also had a rough life before me so some of it is un-reversable. I'm pretty educated on detailing but trying to "learn it all"

 

Yeah, I just grew upon doing a very light lathering wash just to loosen up the dirt and all the sh*t underneath and around the tires. After that i wash it pretty good just to avoid all costs of damage. It isn't the first time i heard that before though, washing it twice. I use Meguires.

 

If i recall correctly, the washing instructions on the cali dusters require woolite brand detergent. I use woolite for all my car care related towels.