Feeling like crap after first car wash...

[keesue]

Originally Posted by kimona54

If you're not experienced using POLISH, you could damage your paint!

I wouldn't recommend that everyone use clay or polish.

For most of us, light wax is just fine... and it's very safe done by hand.

I respectfully disagree. In point of fact, one would have to work extremely hard to damage the paint by hand. The paint is sealed by a clear coat which is extremely durable. It is however, susceptible to damage from environmental polutants and grit. Rubbing the surface with this grit is like sandpaper to the clear coat. Claying and polish are designed to cleanse and correct these clear coat imperfections and they are not sufficient in and of themselves to damage the paint underneath. One would have to clay without lubricant to introduce marring to the clear coat, and polish is just that - polish. Both of these products are designed to correct issues not introduce them. (A Porter Cable is designed to prevent damage to the clear coat by its random action which reduces the heat build up common with rotary polishers which literally melt through the clear coat and damage the paint underneath). But by hand, one would have to work extremely hard over an extended period of time (days upon days) to get through the clear coat with these products to get at the paint. One would simply tire out as Mr. Brickhardmeat suggested.

Having said that, using clay and polish are steps which safely cleanse the clear coat of imperfections for the last step product - a sealant or wax (or both). A product like scratch-x will address sratches and minor imperfections as well. It is a product which is used where a rotary or PC will not go to remove swirls - and it does just that - remove swirls. NXT and other cleaner waxes work well to 'fill' in minor imperfections as noted in the BMW pictures.

Different problems require different approaches but don't rule out the use of clay and polish as one of them. They are part of a good finish regime and work quite well for the inexperienced of us. Just remember to use lubricant or really soapy water, rub softly with the clay and rub really hard with the polish.