Car Care in 2021: There is microfiber and microfiber…, but use only microfiber:( the old days of cotton diapers, sheep wool or cotton bath towels are over). Buy stacks of microfiber. The thinner microfibers use for dust offs and quick wax removal, change surface area used, and then the entire towelette frequently, you want the much thicker plush microfiber for drying (and paste wax removal) …no need to dampen it. IF your paint is perfect, then even with microfiber dry with an air blower first, if you have one…can be leaf blower or a special car one, then detail the small droplets left with the plush. Dry with plush fiber in one direction only, not swirls. It is not the microfiber, but the the tiny dust particles trapped in the fiber, even on a fresh washed car, that can cause tiny swirls., change the drying towel surface area often–like every 3rd pass, use 2-3 drying plush towells…in succession so always a clean one. NEVER use a Calif car duster !! No more diapers, terry, bath towels…microfiber only. Keep fiber towells in a plastic bag so they don’t collect airborne dust. Use only clean plush on all steps with chrome . IF…you want a perfect paint finish look into Wolfgang products step system for swirl, spider web removal, then polish, wax, glaze steps. Also many fine and new innovative car care products from “Chemical Guys” car care products, such as carwash foamer, buckets with a dirt trap baffle, etc. wash mitts are to be microfiber… Meguiars are well tested products for waxes, quick waxes, detailers and wheels, and “Gold Class” carnauba wax. . (The Ultimate line is not the one to use on show cars). Mothers also good. Do not use power buffers unless you are working on bringing back a tired paint finish. Pros know how…it is too easy to do real damage to your paint finish. For vinyl, rexine etc interior Mothers Interior Vinyl Protectant is by far the best. Meguiars Tire Shine Spray looks like a nice fresh clean black tire without the shiny wet gloss that the tuner-drifter Honda guys like. Don’t use Armoral, except on your ski boots. Use automotive quality glass cleaner, don’t let it contact paint. Finish with Rain-X if you need to. It takes a very clean microfiber towel and some time to have Rain-X not be smeary. Rain-X works ! Over 30 or so don’t use your wipers.
Nick
PS For me, the jury is out on Ceramic coatings. I have seen some perfect show cars that have it…and some just as perfect without. There are many types of Ceramic Coat out there now…from autoparts store shelf bottles at $15 to wash it on-dry it, to special DIY applications, to shops that do it for hundreds of $$$$. It is not for me, yet.