Car Care
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Nevada
Glad I found this thread. Not to thread jack but my 08 ls had tons of swirls from the previous owner. Its now only hand washed but the damage had been done. Would a DA polisher along with some meguiars compound and polish be enough to at least lessen the marks?
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 133
Likes: 3
From: Toronto
If the swirls are deep enough, you would need to use a clay bar, compound, swirl remover, paint sealant, and wax. Each step also requires a different type of pad.
Detailed Image and Auto Geek has some informative articles on their website on how to do these.
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 133
Likes: 3
From: Toronto
I recently detailed my car with these items and am still not happy. I didn't get all the swirls out. I used the buffer attached with a wool pad @ 3000 rpm using the G3 and G10. I then used the zymol with a terry bonnet @ 2500 rpm. Paint sealant went on then wax both one after the other by hand, to come off I used the buffer @ 2000 rpm and a foam pad. In all, a 6 - 7 hour process.
Lead Lap
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 557
Likes: 2
From: Midwest
I typically take my car there 2-3 times a week depending on the weather. Most of the time, I just go through the express option since the inside of the car does not need cleaning. In this case, the owner of the car stays in the vehicle and goes through the system. If I want the inside cleaned as well, then I leave it outside of the wash area and their staff takes over, vacuums the inside, and drive it through the cycle. After the cycle, they bring the car to the side and work on wiping and cleaning the car's interior.
Lead Lap
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 523
Likes: 21
From: NC
I recently detailed my car with these items and am still not happy. I didn't get all the swirls out. I used the buffer attached with a wool pad @ 3000 rpm using the G3 and G10. I then used the zymol with a terry bonnet @ 2500 rpm. Paint sealant went on then wax both one after the other by hand, to come off I used the buffer @ 2000 rpm and a foam pad. In all, a 6 - 7 hour process.
Wool pad will NOT remove the swirls and will actually introduce more. As for the terry bonnet, even worse...it too will introduce swirls.
It is All about the pad/product combo.
I recommend a Porter Cable 7424x random orbital.
If removing swirls, I recommend an orange CCS Lake country pad with your compound. available at Autogeek.com. Put on with orange pad, remove with microfiber towel. Do a google or YouTube search.
IF you are happy with the results, then move to a wax.
For the wax, use a white CCS Lake Country pad to apply the wax, remove with Microfiber towel.
Do a search for these videos on YouTube. You can learn a lot about how to remove swirls and will see some amazing results once you learn this easy process.
You will NEVER run your car through another automated flapping...spinning car wash again because you will see the fruits of your labor when you are done. Those who have dark or black cars and run them through the washers, I can understand if you like it, but look at the reflection in the sun, swirl city!! Swirls dull the paint and when you see a dark car with no swirls, you will know the difference and see the wow factor in your paint.
Pit Crew
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 190
Likes: 24
Mine has never seen an automated car wash or been to anybody else that washes cars. I only wash mine by hand followed by using an absorber to dry it the soap that i use comes from the dollar store called AJAX with bleach lol just playing i use M-Tech by Mothers, then i wax it at least once a month using M-Tech synthetic wax by Mothers and in between washes (usually twice a month) I use Showtime Detailer by Mothers. But my car is a garage queen and stays with a cover on it pretty much i only pull it out on the weekends maybe,lol
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 69,222
Likes: 4,220
From: Maryland
Really old thread, but a chamois is just old technology. You need to try some of the new super absorbent microfiber drying towels, they literally absorb gallons of water and do it much more safely than a chamois.
Pit Crew
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 190
Likes: 24
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Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 69,222
Likes: 4,220
From: Maryland
I totally disagree. A Chamois cloth does zero harm to your paint job. I've been using them for decades on all of my vehicles, all different color Vehicles never leaves a swirl Mark never leaves a scratch. Those new allegedly absorbent microfiber towels are crap! they barely absorb any water and they never leave it dry behind. They may absorb some water but they never leave it dry like a Chamois cloth does. Micro fiber towels are good for one thing and that is removing your wax.
You are also wrong about the MF drying towels, you likely have never used a good quality heavy drying towel or you have used them wrong. They dry a car totally just like a chamois, you use it the same way.
Also, its 2026...we don't use wax anymore lol. Detailing has come a long way, you need to try some new stuff.
Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 3,057
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Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 69,222
Likes: 4,220
From: Maryland
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 18,612
Likes: 1,852
From: Ohio
I totally disagree. A Chamois cloth does zero harm to your paint job. I've been using them for decades on all of my vehicles, all different color Vehicles never leaves a swirl Mark never leaves a scratch. Those new allegedly absorbent microfiber towels are crap! they barely absorb any water and they never leave it dry behind. They may absorb some water but they never leave it dry like a Chamois cloth does. Micro fiber towels are good for one thing and that is removing your wax.
Nowadays we don't physically touch the cars at all to clean them, once you do correction and a hard coat you can wash dead of winter level dirt off via a foam cannon and blower without any contact at all.
Driver
Joined: Jan 2026
Posts: 50
Likes: 17
From: FL
Max Car Wash
I only use Max Car Wash. They have new generation sponge soft rollers, no damage or scratches to paint. I have been using them for at least 5 years. I'm enrolled in their membership program. 40 for one works wash a day ($19 without membership). We have 5 cars that are washed regularly. Cars are always sparkling clean. Great deal without any damage.
Pit Crew
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 183
Likes: 41
From: mn
You prolly bought new, ja? I was driving to dealership to view the used vehicle I ended up buying. Salesman sent pics of what he claimed was 'having it detailed for me'. It was an automatic car wash. He obviously never read of the manuals I never got. Laugh.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 69,222
Likes: 4,220
From: Maryland
I only use Max Car Wash. They have new generation sponge soft rollers, no damage or scratches to paint. I have been using them for at least 5 years. I'm enrolled in their membership program. 40 for one works wash a day ($19 without membership). We have 5 cars that are washed regularly. Cars are always sparkling clean. Great deal without any damage.
The issue is not the wash mechanism itself, its all the dirt that comes off of all the cars that go through the wash, all of that gets imbedded in the spinning mitters and is ground into your paint. The most important thing in finding a carwash that will do the least amount of damage to your car is finding one where they thoroughly pressure wash the car off before it goes into the tunnel, because that keeps their wash media cleaner.