Chamois: what to buy and how to use???

[Mr nanotech]

Ok this is going to sound really sad and I hate admiting this but I need advice

I'm detailing my car tomorrow and I'm going to wash the car first. Normally I just wash the car earlier and drive it down the highway home to dry it off and then let it sit in the sun until it's drip dried off (doesn't take too long).

The thing is, it's winter and sun seems to be optional down here now in Geelong lol. Had a few decent days recently but it's just not bright enough to dry the car.
So I decided it's time to get a chamois to dry the car after I wash it. That way I can wax it already!!!!

I took a trip to the local supercheap and had a look but the choices baffled me... I know how to claybar, polish, wax etc... but no freakin idea on what to look in a chamois or how to use one.
I noticed there are synthetic ones and so one. Which are the best and what kind of price range should I be looking at? Seem to range from $2 to $60!!!!

Would be FANTASTIC if someone could put down a quick DIY guide here with a few pointers, so far I know it's gotta be wet....

[mxfive95]

I've always used maguires sinthetic chamois but there is also another one just as good if not better and cheaper thats in an orange container. might be around $20-30...

i keep 3 chamois, one for the vinal roof cause i use aerospace 303 on the roof and don't want to get it on the paint work, two for the paint work and a 3rd one for all the door jams, underside of the boot and the wheels.

Always start from the top and work your way down, i usually drive for a minute or so to get the excess water off then chamois the car in the shade.

[Mr nanotech]

Thanks, I'll pick one up tomorrow and have a go during the day. I really don't mind if it works the best or not since I'll be running a cleaner wax over the top but it would be good to head to the car wash from now on and dry the car there like I see just about everyone else doing lol.

So when you actually use it, I know you have to wet it first then ring it out so it's not soaking but damp. Do you pat the surface, wipe it or just lay the chamois over it flat and let it absorb the water, ring it out and repeat? This is where i get confused!

[Mr Morlock]

I just use a synthetic one mid priced- lasts a long time - keep them clean- dry the car as per instructions eg many suggest keeping the chamois flat and lay it on the paintwork.

[MINX]

I moved away from chamois some time ago.
I only use microfibre cloths.
You can buy a pack of 6 or 10 from the car shops, not expensive.
Use one for most of the car, use a dryer one for the glass.
Wipe in straight lines, not rubbing around in circles (causing swirls)

And a slightly damp one is great to wipe out interior panels, sills, door jams etc.
Then, leave them to dry, or simply throw them in with your clothes washing.

Once you get used to them, you wont go back to those horrible chamois.

[deviant]

I use a synthetic chamois. I have one I got for something like $5 which is amazing, it seems to hold way more water than its size would suggest. A while back I decided I wanted another one and got a bigger one in the same price range and it is a POS, it just seems to glide around pushing water around and not soaking anything up so I just stick with old faithful. It is a number of years old but following the storage instructions has kept it in perfect condition.

Personally I would never drive a car to dry it. I am not anal about the appearance of my cars at all but driving it while it is wet will just cause it to pick up tiny bits of dust and grit which will damage the paint when you hand dry it or polish it. With a synthetic chamois it should only take you 5 minutes to dry an MX5.

[toymx5]

Check out the following website for Bowdens'Own car care products.

http://www.bowdensown.com.au/Car_Washing_Article

It is an Australian owned family business and all their range is developed, tested and made in Australia (micro fibre cloths & clay bar excluded). The family's car collection of around 80 cars is valued at over $25 million and they developed these products to use on their own cars as what is on the commercial market is crap.

There are lots of great articles on how to use the products and general detailing tips. Their products are available from Autobarn or mail order through their website. I've been using them for the past 4-5 years and they are fantastic. Hope this helps.

[Benny]

Personally, I only use microfibre chamois.
I gave away using genuine and synthetic ones ages ago, as they get dirty and slimy and you need to keep them wet.
If they dry out, they go rock hard and need to be soaked really well before use.

The microfibre chamois are super soft on your hands, suck up lots of water and leave a good finish on the paintwork.
You can just hang them anywhere to dry out, and they are ready for immediate use, even when dry.
You can also chuck them into the washing machine if they get dirty.

They are more expensive than synthetic ones, but they are just so much better than anything else out there.

[Mr nanotech]

I am NEVER wasting my money on one of these pieces of crap EVER again.

I did everything it said to do and I ended up with streaks ALL over the car even though I did what it said by placing it on the surface and lifting off.
Yes it was damp. But all it did was move water around and seemingly took paint off as well. Yes, there is paint stains on it now.

This is from letting it sit on the car and absorb water not by wiping or adding pressure.

FYI, I bought this one

[hks_kansei]

The armour all ones are sh*t.

Personally I love the waffle towel from final inspection, but it's pricey (i got mine free)

[JBT]

Waffle weave microfibre towel is what I use. I would only use a chamois on the wheels and exhaust tips - when I don't have an old bath towel handy.

[Mr nanotech]

Yeah I guess that's what I'll be doing next.

This was a huge disappointment... I got the car dry but it looked like ass. I thought Meguires 'wet look' cleaner wax would help take all the imperfections off and blend it all back together but that didn't go so well. I could see water marks everywhere even after the Wet Look... Yet even more frustrating, there are patches that now feel like sand paper.

Wtf happened

[Mr Morlock]

I have the same chamois - probably at least 2 years old and probably been used about 80 times and still looking pristine. If you are getting streaks in the water then the techniques being used are wrong. The water must be clean and so must the sponge or mitt and the wheels need to be done last or change the water- you pick up a lot of dust and grime from wheels. A give away for water not being clean enough is streaky windows. Chamois' are still de rigeur for window washers and in my opinion still very effective for washing a car - I still prefer it to cloths.

[Mr nanotech]

The water must be clean and so must the sponge or mitt and the wheels need to be done last or change the water- you pick up a lot of dust and grime from wheels

You honestly think I'd use it on the wheels then paint? Sorry but I don't think I can slam my head against my desk hard enough...
If you hear a loud cracking noise, it's probably my faith in people shattering

What I did was I soaked the chamois in clean water and rung it out so it was damp. After this I worked from the top of the car down (hardtop) from the cleanest surfaces to the dirtiest. Though I only used this to dry the painted surfaces and glass. My wheels are matte black and the exhaust is being sold tomorrow so I saw no reason to dry those.
As for technique, I started by doing what the box stated. This involves putting the textured side flat on the paint and then peeling it off, ringing out... etc.
Unfortunately it left a TON of little hexagonal prints all over the hard top which then dried as ugly watermarks all over. I tried wiping it across the paint after this as I didn't want that gross looking texture imprinted over the car. This just seemed to push the water around and look a little worse.

Maybe it's because it's still new and needs to be 'broken in'? That's the only thing I can think of.


I've used Meguires Wet Look cleaner wax before on my car and it's worked wonders. The last time I used it, it seemed to take away a lot of the crap on the surface such as water marks and so one that is left on the paint after washing.
However tonight in the garage after the chamois it didn't go as planned. I have one patch on the bonnet that feels like sandpaper. I honestly don't understand what happened?????!?!?!!
I've waxed the car PLENTY of times but I've never run into this kind of problem before. The only difference is that I've used that chamois.

What should I do?

Oh and btw, even though the paint feels rough to touch, looking at the surface it seems fine... No paint chips, no oxidation... WTF
*edit!*
Before anyone says this, it's definitely not dried wax!

[NitroDann]

The water must be clean and so must the sponge or mitt and the wheels need to be done last or change the water- you pick up a lot of dust and grime from wheels

You honestly think I'd use it on the wheels then paint? Sorry but I don't think I can slam my head against my desk hard enough...
If you hear a loud cracking noise, it's probably my faith in people shattering

A guy tries to help you, this is your reaction?

Im seeing a pattern. Just relax.

Dann