Guys, I think there's a middle ground here.
efnfast is correct in his methods, although I think he's gone a bit overboard. The point he's making is that things like waterless sprays and California dusters can be harmful to the car's paint.
The best method for any car is a bucket wash.
- Spray with hose
- Use lambswool wash mit to bucket wash car
- Spray with hose
- Dry with
synthetic chamois
- NOW apply the waterless shine spray, detailing mist, or whatever, but on a CLEAN car. I use the BOM which is now called Captain Richards or something.
This takes less than an hour with a dinky car like a Cobra.
I can't believe some of you guys don't wash your cars. That means your aren't really driving them I guess, maybe to Dairy Queen on Sat. nights, but certainly not long rides. If I go for a 100 mile trot in the country (a typical Sat. drive), the car is dirty when it gets back. Dusty, bugs, everything.... Sometimes I get caught in the rain, so that makes it really dirty.
If you spray something on dusty paint, then rub that dust, you are by definition sanding the paint.... This is a car, not a Fat Boy.