....just follow these easy steps.......
for Platinum Ultimate Paint Protection:
www.premiumautocare.com
excerpts from the Mazda Forum........
Towels will indeed scratch the surface (swirls, etc...). So; you must be careful with the kind of towels you use. These Micro Fiber Towels will not even scratch the surface of a compact disc. They are quite good. There are others available as well. From Meguiar's, Premium Auto Care (
www.premiumautocare.com), etc... The Vapor Product line is less money, and apparently the same towel. Great product, and a great price!
Some people, for washing, prefer a sponge, some prefer a mit. You just need to see what works best for you. I currently use a sponge; but, I am always keeping it soaked with water. I use Blue Coral Car Wash or Meguiar's Gold Class Car Wash.
Something else; very important!! 'Never' dry your car cleaning / polishing towels with a fabric softener, or dryer sheets. This will cause scratches. I wash with a mild detergent, and I wash all of my car towels alone. I dry them on very low heat, and you can remove them even a bit damp to air dry.
Remember: What can't be seen on other color cars, sure as hell can be seen on BLACK!! You may get away with using a plain old towel on a white, silver, etc... colored car; but try it on a Black car, and your screwed. Everything shows!
READ BELOW! In reference to last weekend's detailing of my car.
I washed my car on Friday evening to prepare for yesterday's application, and yes; I did have some swirls. These swirls first appeared, I think, a few weeks ago when I washed my car, then decided to Meguiar's Quik Detail the entire car using my 100% Cotton Flannel towels that I bought at Wal-Mart when I first applied the Meguiar's 3 Step System. In my garage, it looked awesome; then when I got it in the sunlight - swirls!
I'm not sure, but Joe seems to think it was possibly caused because I had used dryer sheets when I washed these yellow flannel towels (learn something new everyday). So now; I never use dryer sheets with any of my car towels, etc...
Obviously using the Porter Cable Dual Action Polisher was a Godsend. Using the products previously mentioned (Meguiar's Dual-Action #83 Cleaner/Polish, followed by the Meguiar's #9 Swirl Remover), we were able to get a glass smooth surface, plus alleviate 99.9% of the swirls. You have to look really close to detect anything now. Virtually non-existent. Of course; these steps were followed by the application of the Platinum Pre-Cleaner, then the Platinum Ultimate Paint Protection (
www.premiumautocare.com).
I can honestly say; I have never seen a black car than looked like this. The Mica flakes, alone, are amazing now. To give some idea of what I mean; if you look at the top of the rear bumper from behind the car (in the sunlight); It appears almost silver! The Mica just comes through. It is beautiful. I am very impressed with the results.
With this said; I will no longer use the yellow flannel towels on my car - only Micro Fiber. They are fantastic. Here is the best deal I have found for those. I purchased the $24.95 sampler pack.
<
http://vaporcleanproducts.com/magic.htm> (I actually received 12 towels, not the 10 mentioned).
I am going to buy the Porter Cable polisher, soon. I will 'Platinum' my wife's ES in a couple of weeks.
So; there are a lot of good quality products out there. I guess; it's what works best for you - that is what's important.
The Platinum Ultimate Paint Protection is a Polymer. You can add a Carnauba on top of it, if you want. Alone; the Platinum lasts much longer than just Carnauba. I'm understanding that I will only need to apply it about 4 times per year.
Now; if you decide you want to add a Meguiar's (or other) Carnauba on top of the Platinum; before you add the Platinum again, you must first; apply the Platinum Pre-Cleaner.
The Meguiar's #83 and #9 were applied with the Porter Cable polisher. Since there were 2 of us doing this; as Joe applied the #83, I came behind him immediately removing that application with a Micro Fiber Towel. Then; he applied the #9 (Swirl Remover), and again; I followed him removing immediately with another Micro Fiber Towel.
Now; We applied the Platinum Paint Pre-Cleaner by hand using a Meguiar's application pad. Again; this was immediately removed with a Micro Fiber Towel. Then; We applied the Platinum Ultimate Paint Protection (very thin) with a Meguiar's application pad. You wait an hour before hand polishing that off. Again; using a Micro Fiber Towel. Another coat of the Platinum Ultimate Paint Protection may be applied after 24 hours. Additional coats may be applied every 24 hours.