Well first off I washed my car with a circular cloth sponge which worked out pretty well. After that I rinsed it off and use a chamios to dry it which didn't seem to work so well, it didn't really pick up much water and left alot of streak marks. Its brand new and I was told to soak it in dish soap for a day and then wringe out all the soap and then soak it in water and wring it out again. That is not all...after I was done drying my car, I used a spray on wax for my car. The wax didn't seem to work too well at all. It left spot marks on my hood that made me extremely frustrated. I sprayed it on, spread it across the hood, let it dry and then buffed it off with polish car rags. I did this several times but the spots are still one it. Should I strip off all the wax with Dawn soap and then re-wax my car? What kinda brand of chamios/wax should I use that works good for you and are there better things than a chamios to dry your car with? I tried Terry towels and they always seem to have HUGE amounts of lint, so now I just use them as hand towels >> Thanks for the info guys! (and girls for the few on here)

well chamois never really worked for me so I use "the absorber", which is an artificial chamois.. but even that doesnt work too well because it tends to drag.. so Im thinking of getting something like this

California Water Blade

has anybody tried this thing???

u should do wha i do. Use the squeege thing at gas stations that is used to clean your windows, but instead take it lol and use it to dry ur car. No Spots what so ever >>

--TrDcElica6thgen+Jun 22, 2003 - 6:53 PM

QUOTE (TrDcElica6thgen @ Jun 22, 2003 - 6:53 PM)

u should do wha i do. Use the squeege thing at gas stations that is used to clean your windows, but instead take it lol and use it to dry ur car. No Spots what so ever >>

Wow you just waisted your time due to the fact that post right above you says the same thing. >>

-Bryan-

the problem is though, that no matter what i do to my hood, I still have spots on it! Like.......I dunno if its oxidation from like bugs/bird sh33t or just there due to the fact that the clear coat is starting to come off. I'm not sure. Not to mention, there are no good squeeges around here at the gas stations, they are all f0cked up anyways. Well, TrDcElica6thgen I might as well scope out the gas stations for a free squeege. Ummm.....as for wax, should I strip my wax with Dawn and then rewax it with Zaino? Thanks for anymore info

Did you lash out when you bought the chamois? I would say only 5-10% of the chamois' (what the hell is the plural for chamois? >>) on the shelves are actually decent quality. If you go for the cheaper ones (I learn't from past exp.) you will always be unhappy with the look.

But, using a good quality chamois should give you no problems, my car looks soo sexy after I dry her off, even before wax!

Also - you should soak it before you use it, in plain ol' water, Doesn't need to be for too long though - 5-10 mins will be fine. The idea is to keep the chamois moist, but not wet enough for mold to grow. Never drop it!, it will pick up particles that will scratch your car. Try to keep is as clean as possible, so make sure the car is fully clean before you dry it.

I have 2, one is the clean one, and the other one I use for spots like under the hatch, below the doors, and inside the engine bay. (I try to clean / dry the whole car as to avoid rust.)

QUOTE

no matter what i do to my hood, I still have spots on it!

you probably have acid rain spots... nothing you can do really besides re-paint the hood, see if its all the way down to the paint... like is it cracked? if so, its gotta get re-painted.
>>

Its not cracked, and we probably have a good amount of pH in the rain due to the fact that I live in the Quad Cities (four cities combined of course) and we got factories/truckers all the time, plus population is a pain. Ummm....as for cracks, no, not what I am describing anyways. On the hood it just looks like a different shade of white spots all over it. Its hard to see, but in the light its noticable, maybe not to most, but since its my car I see it. I don't think that the pH level is the problem, although it is another suggestion. I planned to get the car repainted or get rid of it as to see that I might buy another celica with a 3sgte swap in it alread that is a manual. So I don't have to go through the whole ordeal of doing it myself.

--pflau+Jun 22, 2003 - 1:12 PM

QUOTE (pflau @ Jun 22, 2003 - 1:12 PM)

well chamois never really worked for me so I use "the absorber", which is an artificial chamois.. but even that doesnt work too well because it tends to drag.. so Im thinking of getting something like this California Water Blade has anybody tried this thing???

THat thing rocks!!! I got one when I bought my celica, and not I think its a waste of time to get a towel. Seriously, anyone who hates having spots when your car dries, use of these things!