Anybody have some good tips for taking care of balck paint? Us guys with black have more problems with waterspots, swirls and scratches. Somewhere on some forum I found a good sticky on washing and taking care of black paint, but I can't find it any more. Any good products or methods for taking care of that "wet" black paint would be appreciated.

 

https://mustangforums.com/m_1161158/tm.htm

Above is a good thread that will give you some good information. Also, you can use the search tool above to punch in: wax, black paint, etc and you will get lots more.

Since I have a black Stang..I'll tell you my routine which can be as different as there are members on this website.

The first thing I did was apply a paint sealant...yes, I did it through the dealer and it cost me a small fortune, but have I been a member of Mustang Forum BEFORE paid for the sealant I would have know that paint sealants out there are very cheap.

Secod, I use nothing but micro-fiber stuff. That includes the applicator too. Micro-fiber will prevent swirls caused by regular cloth.

Third, I use Meguiars NXT Tech Wax on top of the paint sealant and it works tremendously well. You talk about wet looking car...

Fourth, between waxes and when it's only slightly dusty or filhty I use Meguiars Quik Detailer (Mist and Wipe). I will lift the dirt and keep the car real clean until you are ready for a full wash and wax again.

Some folks will polish before the wax, I don't, but again..it's a matter of taste.

Hope this helped...

 

A lot of spiderwebbing will be introduced during washing and drying.

I recommend having plenty of quality wash mitts and quality microfiber towels and using a quality car wash. And washing a car that has fresh wax is easier to wash, so don't forget to wax frequently, even if it's a spray wax.

Use a dedicated wash mitt for the wheels, tires and lower body sections -- I usually use a white chenille mitt for this area so it's clear to me which one to use.

For the main body, use a genuine sheepskin mitt and two buckets -- one with your quality car wash of choice and the other to rinse the mitt after you wash each section and before you dip it back into the suds.

Rinse with a gentle stream to help "sheet" the water off of the finish.

With a large waffle-weave (folded into 2 or 4 layers), or the new Mothers "foam core" waffle weave drying towel, lay the towel on the flat surfaces and "pat" the towel -- or lay and drag -- your choice. Use a large waffle weave towel or two for initial drying, and a smaller waffle weave (like what Mothers calls a "Wheel & Jamb" towel) for nooks and crannies. If it touches the ground, toss it in the wash.

Use an instant detailer for final drying with a plush microfiber to help add gloss and prevent any micromarring.

I wash my microfibers in the washer separately from other towels, and I inspect them visually and by wiping my hand across the surface as I fold them.

I have gotten a lot of my tips at http://www.detailguide.com and http://www.waxforum.com -- there's a guy named the Wizard of Iz who professes this "two bucket method" for his black cars and I've learned a lot by reading his dissertations.

Good luck!

 

Get a good polish, wax combo. Like mentioned use nothing but microfiber towles on it. (Meguires, Mothers, Poorboys, Zaino). I am going to order Blackfire polish and wax this winter, the results are awesome, I highly recomend it.

Good sites:
http://www.properautocare.com/index.html
http://www.autogeek.net/
http://www.meguiars.com/tips/

Check out BlackMustangClub.com, lots of people on there that take great care of thier cars and have some write ups on cleaning as well. Great site. And yes black is a hard color to keep clean, but when it is I think it looks the best.