Overdoing the Washing ...

Just wondering am I over washing my car? I washed my car yesterday afternoon and went to work because I work nights. I got to work and at about 2am dew was on my car so I thought no biggie? anyhow the following morning (early this morning) after leaving I got dirt, dew leftovers, and water spots on my car and i'm thinking wow it didn't even stay clean a entire day? Are there any solutions to keeping the car looking cleaner longer because it seems like i'm washing the car every 4 days or less because it shows every spec of dirt imagineable ...  I know it's black, but still ... 

Also is it true that handwashing brings more scratches to the car ....

Handwashing done right... will not... But you shouldn't use those expensive wash mitts more than 4-5 times.. because the dirt (swirl-marks) builds up in the mitt.
 
Really, the better a wax 'sheets' the water, the longer the wax will last.  Plus a car that sheets off dew and other sources of water, allows less dirt to build up.
 
I would see if a no-touch process would take care of the dirt effectively...  Few bucks at a wand type DIY car washing station will usually do a quick soap, rinse, then spot-free rinse.  Then a quick 1/4 mile in that beast should dry her off real quick

I find the Mr. Clean Autodry does a great job.  Even if you just use the water filter to rinse the dust off the car.
 

Also the Mequiar's Quik Detailer is ment to be used between washes.
 
I can tell you washing the paint a lot can make it wear through. Which you do not want.
 
 

If you have a "soft water" self-wash close by you could spray it down for 1 $1 to $1.75 every day and chamois it.  It shouldn't harm the car.
 
Washing it every day with the "hard" water from your hose which contains microscopic minerals or rocks could be a problem though on your clear coat.

I have hard water  dang, no wonder I'm having problems

final inspection my friend, great product, can do the whole car in 10 min, wont leave water spots, cuz there's no water used :)

Yeh dont wash it everytime you have those spots.  Get a quick detailer, either Meguiars makes a good one (GET THE ONE IN THE BLACK BOTTLE AT OREILLY'S), or I use a company called Griots.  Just use that with a couple micro fiber towels.  I keep a bottle and towels in my trunk at all times.  It is great for bird poop and bugs (major dangers to your paint).  You can use it for anything, I do it when my car is dusty too, I use to have to cover it before I got a garage because cats would get on it.  So I would detail it every night before I put the cover on so I didnt scratch my car. 

Oh yeh, when you do wash.  My buddy showed me a trick.  You have your soap bucket, well also get another bucket preferably fairly big and just fill it with water.  After every section first dunk your mit in the big bucket a few times and squeeze it to get alot of the water out, and then go back to the soap.  This helps get all that dirt out of your mitt, so you dont scratch your car.  Do this especially when after like a rain, and your car has all that dirt down the sides.  

quote:

ORIGINAL: Taz

I find the Mr. Clean Autodry does a great job.  Even if you just use the water filter to rinse the dust off the car.

 
I can't use that thing.  I was all excited when I got it, but it always leaves this damn white haze over the whole car.  I've even tried different soaps and replaced the filter no less than 4 times.
 
The haze still shows up with the final clear rinse.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Twisted_Metal

Just wondering am I over washing my car? I washed my car yesterday afternoon and went to work because I work nights. I got to work and at about 2am dew was on my car so I thought no biggie? anyhow the following morning (early this morning) after leaving I got dirt, dew leftovers, and water spots on my car and i'm thinking wow it didn't even stay clean a entire day? Are there any solutions to keeping the car looking cleaner longer because it seems like i'm washing the car every 4 days or less because it shows every spec of dirt imagineable ...  I know it's black, but still ... 

Also is it true that handwashing brings more scratches to the car ....

Well, to answer the question I'd have to know how you wash it, including what materials are used and  your techniques. So until I have those answers I can't say yes or no, but I can say that you sound like the perfect candidate for Optimum No Rinse wash and shine.



Simply put, this stuff is awesome! Not only can you use it as a car wash, but when diluted properly you can use it as a clay lube or a quik detailer as well. When used as a no rinse wash, which would be perfect for the situation you described above, all you have to do is mix an ounce of the solution with 2 gallons of water and wash the car. That two gallons is all the water you'd use, no need for a waterhose to rinse the suds or anything like that. What I do is use two buckets, one for the wash mixture and one of just clean water. Both of the buckets have grit guards in them to help free my microfiber chenille wash mitt of any contaminants trapped in it, after dipping my mitt in the wash bucket and washing a couple of panels, I thouroughly rinse it out in the bucket of water before putting it back in the wash bucket. Then I'll grab a clean microfiber towel and dry off the panels I just washed. The shine it leaves behind is beautiful! While it can be used on moderately soiled cars safely without causing any swirls or marring, you'd dirty up so many microfiber towels in the process that I don't even bother. But you sound like you want to keep your car clean all the time and this would not only work well for that but it will take you alot less time to do so and you'll be conserving water and cutting down on waste when you consider this one bottle does the job of 3 different products!

I wash & wax my car once a week.  I rinse, dry, and quick detail it daily.  Because of the design... Montes collect dust on the trunk and especially the back of the car like a magnet.  It doesn't matter how clear the weather... one quick ride around the block and the back bumper is dusty... Drives Me Nuts!
 
You would think with all the wax I have on my car the water would run off, but it beads, thus quite acceptable to water spots.  The rinse, dry, and quick detail keeps the dirt and dew water spots off my car and keeps it standing tall.
 

quote:

ORIGINAL: BLACK ATTACK

I wash & wax my car once a week.  I rinse, dry, and quick detail it daily.  Because of the design... Montes collect dust on the trunk and especially the back of the car like a magnet.  It doesn't matter how clear the weather... one quick ride around the block and the back bumper is dusty... Drives Me Nuts!

You would think with all the wax I have on my car the water would run off, but it beads, thus quite acceptable to water spots.  The rinse, dry, and quick detail keeps the dirt and dew water spots off my car and keeps it standing tall.

Yeah, the water won't run off unless you're holding a waterhose on it, if it's just rain it'll bead due to the high surface tension created thanks to the wax.