Feeling like crap after first car wash...

[kimona]

Originally Posted by death is my gift

yeah, i'm still having issues after peeling off the pin strip. i clay bared it, waxed it, shined it, sung it a lullabye and it still has those same little swirl-y marks. but just the one long strip that goes down both sides of my car.

Clay bared it! Why? A light wax and some elbow grease would have done the trick removing pinstripe adhesive and the "shadow" the pinstripe left behind.

Using a clay bar is a technique that requires a good deal of skill and experience; otherwise, you'll damage the paint.

I wouldn't advise anyone to use clay on their Yaris unless they really know what they're doing. It's just too risky!

[keesue]

Having done this, here are the steps and tricks:

1. If you clay, you must use a lubricant and plenty of it. A dense soapy solution is good - light working of the paint with the clay. Turtlewax makes a chemical/abrasive solution that works great for cleaning. Claying removes imbeded dirt but can leave swirls if one doesn't use a lubricant.

2. Polishing removes swirls. One can use varying degrees of abrasives depending on the depth of the swirls. In your case, a light polish will work. Scratch-X is but one. Since the car is small, it is a light amout of work is all that is required.

3. Sealing is the last step. Synthetic or natural or both.

Its worth it. Take your time and enjoy doing it. My car shines like crazy. I clayed it, polished it, sealed it then topped it with ICE. Incredible is what people say.

[death is my gift]

Originally Posted by kimona54

Clay bared it! Why?

i guess i should have explained a little more. when i peeled off the pin strip it left a really really goo-y trail behind. i tried using one of those "erase it" pads to get the goo off. all that did was create a "dull" finish. not just dull but rough to the touch. i then used Bug remover and that worked to remove the goo but there was still that dullness. i used wax, polish and nothing. that's when i finally decided to use a clay bar, but just on the dull parts, not on the entire car. for the most part it worked but it did leave the little swirl-ys behind.

as far as "knowing what i'm doing". i know the Erase It pad was a horrible idea before i tried it but i was desparate and did it anyway. with the clay bar, i followed the directions exactly how they were printed on the package i bought. PLENTY of Shine It spray as a lube and then the clay bar. i did keep it lubed up good, i'm not a moron. well maybe a slight moron for that brilliant Erase It idea