Failed baggie test

[SoccerMan94043]

So I thought I had started to nail my detailing technique but a baggie test showed the real story today. There are several (maybe a few per square inch) "bumps" that I assume are due to using too much Carpro Elixir as a finishing step. The car looks fantastic (you can't see them) and feels fantastic through finger or microfiber cloth (it's very slick), but they are still there and it bugs me.

I follow these general direction: 1 spray on a clean cloth, 1 spray on a panel, buff in, remove residue with a different clean cloth and finally buff with a third towel. The results look fantastic but I think I'm either using too much product and not getting it all off or I'm not changing the towels often enough (perhaps both).

That leads to a couple of questions for the community:

1) How often do you change towels for this type of process?

2) What is the best way to remove the bumps that are there?

- I did a few tests on some glass using IPA and that mostly works but I'm hesitant to use that all over the paint. Perhaps a decon wash using Carpro Descale? Something else?​

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3) My car is ceramic coated with Dquartz Pro / CQuartz so you'd think I wouldn't need a topper, but I find it's not slick enough for my liking (from the very beginning). Is there something I can wash with that won't give these high spots but offer that slickness and gloss? Perhaps Carpro Hydro2 foam?

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[Mr.Smith]

Can you post a picture of these bumps?

It looks like Elixer is not playing nice with your coating. It happens

I know I'm the only person that doesnt care for CarPro products. The decent products are overpriced IMO

For ceramic products, I leave a large bucket with water and vinigar. After I use a towel, I put then in there so they dont become hydroponic.
After I'm done washing my car, I place the towels washer at the hot temperature, 20min Pre soak, liquid detergent (no fragrance), vinigar in the bleach & fabric softener dispenser.

Dryer, air dry only for 9min so its still damp. Fluff them out and hang them to air dry.

Also I now stay away from high GSM towels. They are not as effective as low pile towels. I find 300GSM the sweet spot.

I have gallons of this. https://socalwaxshop.com/products/signature-detail-spray. I got this from one of the best detailers and the only person the get a perfect score 2x on the PCA Concourse.
It plays well with many coatings, gives everything a nice shine, including glass, it might be worth a try for you.

Amplify will give you the slickness
https://armourdetailsupply.com/products/amplify

 

[SoccerMan94043]

Can't see them, even with the headlight... can only feel them with bag on my hand. It's possible if I get in the right low sunlight situation I could see them.. I need to test that. You figure this is Carpro with Carpro shit should just work.

I'm not sure I care since it looks great and feels great otherwise. I do wonder if they will attract other contaminant.

I got some higher pile towels and they are not working well... not sure if they just gum up quickly and I'm pushing product around (rather than picking it up) or they just repel stuff. Perhaps my wash system isn't working: delicate setting with lowest heat water (not cold) using a bit of HE Tide and two rinses and dry on the lowest heat setting. I should try the vinegar.

I've ordered some 300 and 320 towels from the rag company that come tomorrow.

I may try a wash with descale this weekend to see if it will remove it.

 

[Mr.Smith]

Can't see them, even with the headlight... can only feel them with bag on my hand. It's possible if I get in the right low sunlight situation I could see them.. I need to test that. You figure this is Carpro with Carpro shit should just work.

I'm not sure I care since it looks great and feels great otherwise. I do wonder if they will attract other contaminant.

I got some higher pile towels and they are not working well... not sure if they just gum up quickly and I'm pushing product around (rather than picking it up) or they just repel stuff. Perhaps my wash system isn't working: delicate setting with lowest heat water (not cold) using a bit of HE Tide and two rinses and dry on the lowest heat setting. I should try the vinegar.

I've ordered some 300 and 320 towels from the rag company that come tomorrow.

I may try a wash with descale this weekend to see if it will remove it.

I have 300GSM Rag company as well.
I find the Mr. Everything by Aurofiber better, but I use both

 

[Mr.Smith]

I highly recommend using Armor Detail Supply Amplify.
Lots of gloss and slickness.

I used in the interior glossy bits and the entire exterior, including the black exterior plastic.
It's an Si02 so you can feel it

 

[SoccerMan94043]

I finally had a chance to experiment this evening after a standard foam and wash on Saturday (it's been garaged all weekend). I was able to remove the little bumps by spraying pretty much anything and changing microfiber cloths every 1/2 panel.

I believe the bumps are residue from the silicon in either Ech2o and/or Elixer and are very small dried flakes. Experimenting on my windshield while wearing a headlamp, using a slightly more used cloth, I can see I'm pushing around small clumps of it. Grabbing a new towel picks it all up and the result is smooth to the baggie touch.

I moved to the hood, sprayed some Ech2o (20:1 with distilled water) cleaned up a 1/4 panel and buffed off with a clean towel. Baggie test passed and I can't see any residue or streaks. I completed 1/2 the car but need to get it out of the garage for the other 1/2 and it will be raining all week, so another time.

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