How dirty is too dirty to use quick detail spray?

[tbone28]

Detailing noob here

Everyday I get home from work, there is a dusting of dust/dirt on the rear bumper. Is it safe to use quick detail spray to clean this up without scratching the paint? The car's not dirty enough to warrant a car wash.

What if I wait 2 or 3 days in between these mini clean-up sessions? Will enough dirt have built up that I will scratch the paint?

[ThatGuyMikee]

i would never use it if the paint is dirty/dusty because when you spray it and wipe it off its only going to scratch the paint and become swirls

[THE TECH]

I would shy away from anything but a wash especially when it comes to the rear bumpers since many of those contaminants are likely from the engine/exhaust.

[rjd598]

Originally Posted by THE TECH

I would shy away from anything but a wash especially when it comes to the rear bumpers since many of those contaminants are likely from the engine/exhaust.

Nailed it. It's funny cause detail sprays advertise as something to be used between washes to basically keep the car looking its best but you will definitely introduce swirls into the paint. Use it after a wash as a drying aid and to add some gloss and slickness as well

[BCA]

^ You guys got it. Quick detailers will cause swirls, and the rear bumper is especially bad because the particles are highly abrasive (brake dust and such). As much as that "dust layer" bugs me, I always wait and do a full wash.

[M3lovr]

Does the same hold true for waterless car wash? I've been using Chemical Guys Ecosmart-RU. They say it encapsulates dirt particals , providing a protective barrier between dirt and paintwork.

[THE TECH]

Originally Posted by M3lovr

Does the same hold true for waterless car wash? I've been using Chemical Guys Ecosmart-RU. They say it encapsulates dirt particals , providing a protective barrier between dirt and paintwork.

Anything that wipes on without a rinse first is subject to the same issues.

[Z K]

Quick Detailers are not for cleaning the car. It is mostly to use on clean cars to give it a bit of shine and boost the wax/sealant you have on.

You can use it on mildly dusty cars that have been sitting around a garage to clean it but not cars that are driven because that isn't just regular dust on the car.

As for rinseless washes... they do work pretty good but it will mar the paint in certain conditions. I use Optimum No Rinse in the past and it will clean pretty good 90% of the time when the car is not very dirty.

I usually use the rinseless solution in a pump sprayer, totally SOAK the paint to lube up the surface before wiping with the microfiber mitt that is soaked in a bucket of rinseless solution. Then rinse off the mitt well before re-wiping. Always use very light pressure when wiping, never apply pressure when wiping! Let the mitt glide. Even then, on soft paints like BMW jet black, you will get light marring. Whether this level is acceptable depends on you.

[HighandDry]

Optimum No Rinse works pretty well, but I only used it if the car hasn't been in the rain and not particularly dirty.

That said, I've gone away from it as it does cause slight marring.

As said above, don't use quick detailer to clean the car. I put it on as I'm drying to help prevent marring.

[tbone28]

Thanks for the help, guys. The answer is a resounding hells no

[Vic311]

Originally Posted by ThatGuyMikee

i would never use it if the paint is dirty/dusty because when you spray it and wipe it off its only going to scratch the paint and become swirls

+1

If your car is dirty it should be washed. QD is good as a step after washing not after you've driven the car

[ddas]

Any dirt is too much dirt.

[PrimoM3]

Try compressed air. If you have an air compressor, you can buy a spray gun attachment for little money that works GREAT. Absent of that, pickup some of the ones in a can for computer and media cleaning - they're just pricier.

Enjoy.

[tbone28]

Great idea! I already have an air compressor

[GOLFFRR]

I usually only ever use QD if I have some bird poo I need to get off. Other then that I dont ever use it. Yet again I also wash my car every weekend and its always garaged at both work and home so there rarely is the need for it anyways.

[Sandye90m3]

Quick question, if there is only dust on the car from a couple of days, can't you just hose the car down and get all the dust particle off and dry it with a drying towel?

I only see the point of washing the car, if there is water spots or excess dirt, but if it's just a little bit, I'm pretty sure you can just hose it?

[Vic311]

Originally Posted by Sandye90m3

Quick question, if there is only dust on the car from a couple of days, can't you just hose the car down and get all the dust particle off and dry it with a drying towel?

I only see the point of washing the car, if there is water spots or excess dirt, but if it's just a little bit, I'm pretty sure you can just hose it?

That depends on if you have enough wax/sealant on the car that would allow the dirt to be easily hosed off...Its definitly better than using a QD and rubbing dirt over the finish..also a leaf blower is best way to dry.

[Z K]

Originally Posted by Sandye90m3

Quick question, if there is only dust on the car from a couple of days, can't you just hose the car down and get all the dust particle off and dry it with a drying towel?

I only see the point of washing the car, if there is water spots or excess dirt, but if it's just a little bit, I'm pretty sure you can just hose it?

The stuff that settles on the car, especially if it as been outside, is not just dust. There are a lot of things in the air that settles on the car. If you hose the car, it will not remove all the dust, it will remain and just be wet dust on the car. Dust does scratch so you have to be careful.

If you want to be super careful, you want nothing to touch the paint unless it is lubed. This video gives you an idea of this technique:

[Tim B.]

Originally Posted by Z K

The stuff that settles on the car, especially if it as been outside, is not just dust. There are a lot of things in the air that settles on the car. If you hose the car, it will not remove all the dust, it will remain and just be wet dust on the car. Dust does scratch so you have to be careful.

If you want to be super careful, you want nothing to touch the paint unless it is lubed. This video gives you an idea of this technique:

I like the video and the techniques in it(especially the foam washing method) but i'm not sure about the drying method with the small MF cloth...........seems like it being so small and also being wet it would not dry very well and would leave streaks.........that seems to happen with me when i try to use a QD to help dry the car

[Johndong888]

After you wash the car, definitely don't touch it until the next wash. I will use QD to remove some of those bird droppings since they will etch if left on for too long.

ONR works ok, but I will always prefer a traditional two bucket wash. If it's not too dirty, go compressed air or a quick hose down if you have CR spotless. Those are really nice.

[MartyM]

If you have to ask if it's too dirty..then it's too dirty

[toddcc1]

Originally Posted by tbone28

Detailing noob here

Everyday I get home from work, there is a dusting of dust/dirt on the rear bumper. Is it safe to use quick detail spray to clean this up without scratching the paint? The car's not dirty enough to warrant a car wash.

What if I wait 2 or 3 days in between these mini clean-up sessions? Will enough dirt have built up that I will scratch the paint?

My daily driver hadn't been washed in about 3 months. Being that we're now out of the winter season, I opted to try Optimum No Rinse. I completely saturated the sections, prior to touching with the ONR soaked mitt. No scratches, clean as a whistle. Thus, I believe there would be no issue using a diluted ONR solution on a rear bumper or as a "quick detail" application.