DO NOT USE A SPONGE! The dirt has no where to go and you are actually HURTING your finish. The dirt gets trapped between your sponge and your clear-coat, and that is what causes swirl marks to form over a period of time. ALWAYS use a good deep pile wash mit. I use ones that have that scrubbing mesh stuff on the back which helps to get off bugs and other road junk, but wont scratch the paint. The deep pile of the lambs wool (or synthetic material) draws the dirt into the mit, away from the surface of the car, therefore preventing fine scratches from ever forming. FYI-The wash mits are cheap, so do yourself a favor and buy 1!

Also, a SYNTHETIC POLYMER wax (ie-Mequires NXT wax) will help seal the paint after the DAWN wash-down, and wont evaporate like regular wax when it gets hot (the evaporation temperature is MUCH MUCH higher with synthetics) It will last much longer.


Shaun