california dusters

[AZguy]

i live in AZ, we dont have much rain or any weather ever but we have a ton of dust and stuff. I have a california duster that ive always used on all my vehicles but they have always had pain in pretty bad shape to start with. My 328ci has almost perfect paint so i dont want to screw it up, does anyone know if the california dusters are bad for paint. Will they scratch the paint?

[TOGWT]

Heavy Dust

To remove heavy dust use Optimum (OPT) No Rinse Wash™ & Shine New Formula (ONR) a quick ‘wash’; formulated with surfactants to keep dirt in suspension, avoiding surface contact, it also provides surface lubrication, thereby avoiding surface marring. Alternatively use Optimum Instant Detailer - this formulation penetrates and encapsulates light dust (including pollen) dirt, and grime, allowing for their removal without scratching or dulling the surface. As soon as is practical, thoroughly rinse the vehicle with a hose and clean water to ensure all the pollen is removed.

Light Surface Dust

To remove light, dry surface dust without causing scratches apply very little surface pressure, use a California Ultimate Premium Car Duster (that uses 100% cotton fibres impregnated with paraffin wax to collect dust) this product is like Marmite, you either love or hate it, I’ve been using mine for ten years or so without problems; having said that it’s all in the method you use.

Or the Zymol® Natural Wool Duster (that uses static to attach the dust to the fibres to assure that dust is lifted and removed, not just pushed around) or long nap micro fibre towel and Optimum (OPT) No Rinse Wash™ (which uses a surfactant to encapsulate the dust and polymers to ensure surface lubrication) to ensure the dust lifted from the paint surface will remain in the nap or fibres and not on the towel surface thereby avoiding surface marring.

Using long strokes, maintain very light surface pressure and use in one direction only, this ensures that any dust is removed not just pushed around. Shake the duster occasionally to ensure any particles picked up will drop out rather than come to the surface while you’re using it.

Do not use these methodologies on a hot paint surface (soon after driving) as this will cause streaking?

[pcoaew]

I used to use one on my Grand National, as it was alway covered in a shelter, so it got very little use, but freakin dust would get to it all the time.. Never had any swirls or scratches...

[JETninja]

I do 70m (35 each way) daily commute, my car sits out in a huge lot (Boeing) next to Long Beach Airport. Its coated with a thin layer of dust everyday. Every evening I use my CA Duster and give it a once over, then using Mequiar's Ultimate Detailer and some MF towels, I attack any spots. Then I clean all windows. I do this every M-F, keeps the car very shiny looking for many weeks between washes. If only the wheels would stay as clean....

I've done this for over 5yrs and 100k...still looks great!

[mcallister]

Interesting to see what challenges people have that live in dry climates. : ) In the Pacific Northwest: 1) go look at the 10-day forcast, 2) ask yourself if it's worth it for the amount of dry days, 3) or just do it anyways knowing that you when you wash the car, the rain gods activate!

[SRT Handz]

DO NOT Use the california duster... It will cause nightmares for your paint.

[JETninja]

DO NOT Use the california duster... It will cause nightmares for your paint.

Dude, been using them on my last two cars, 5yrs with my '99 Passat 1.8T (Black Magic) and 6yrs with my M3 (Hellrot)...I inspect the paint almost daily cause I nuts about any marks, droppings, kid prints, etc. Zero harm from the Duster....and I use it every single M-F unless the car is real dirty like after a rain...

[SRT Handz]

Dude, been using them on my last two cars, 5yrs with my '99 Passat 1.8T (Black Magic) and 6yrs with my M3 (Hellrot)...I inspect the paint almost daily cause I nuts about any marks, droppings, kid prints, etc. Zero harm from the Duster....and I use it every single M-F unless the car is real dirty like after a rain...

I bet YOU $100 if i saw your car in person i could pick out a number of marks caused my the california duster.

You are dragging a rough cloth material that is trapped with dirt and dust all over your paint....Of course is going to cause swirls and scratches all over.

[TOGWT]

DO NOT Use the california duster... It will cause nightmares for your paint.

Like most tools they work well if they are used correctly. I've been using them for ten years or more (Concours d’élégance entrant and judge)

[JETninja]

I bet YOU $100 if i saw your car in person i could pick out a number of marks caused my the california duster.

You are dragging a rough cloth material that is trapped with dirt and dust all over your paint....Of course is going to cause swirls and scratches all over.

If the weight of those soft wax infused fibers where enough to do what you say (I'm talking waxed and garaged vehicle that gets light dust on it) then I fear what the rain storms do when I drive 80mph in it. We all know what water does to rock, not seen much rock erosion from soft cloth and dust. :D

I drag it lightly over the surface and glass. Works great for me. My car used to be a Track car (NASA instructors car) and its pit city up front and more places, so you wouldn't be impressed, but it shines from 10' away unlike 95% of the Cars in our Factory lot, and its smooth as a glass table. For 200k and the life it's lead, I'm quite happy....

[cpalella]

I bet YOU $100 if i saw your car in person i could pick out a number of marks caused my the california duster.

You are dragging a rough cloth material that is trapped with dirt and dust all over your paint....Of course is going to cause swirls and scratches all over.


I agree.. Bought one and tried it once during the heavy pollen season. Swiped it once to check if it swirled anything and low and behold there were some tiny little swirl marks in the direction that I used the duster. This was on a section of paint with no swirls (had polished recently) and my car is black so it was easy to see.

Will never use it again.

[boomersooner523]

I have used one and still use one all the time. But mine still looks new to this day because I always shake it out and make sure to break up and dust or things of that nature that could swirl the paint...if used to CLEAN a car, you will swirl, but to get the dust off my car after being in the garage overnight its perfect.

[boomersooner523]

I have used one and still use one all the time. But mine still looks new to this day because I always shake it out and make sure to break up and dust or things of that nature that could swirl the paint...if used to CLEAN a car, you will swirl, but to get the dust off my car after being in the garage overnight its perfect.

[BobsM3Coupe]

DO NOT Use the california duster... It will cause nightmares for your paint.


If used as directed, your statement is wrong.

[JohnZ3MC]

I'm with TOGWT and others.

Used properly, ie, with a light touch, they'll work just fine.
Use them to really grind them into the surface and you'll give yourself grief.

I use one now and then without any problems, but again, I just let the tips of the fibers barely touch the surface and only with a very light patina of dust.

Mind you, that was the OP's intent - mild dust.
-jc

[kateviliams]

I use meguaris and it is very good but, I don't know about the california dusters

[TOGWT]

I agree.. Bought one and tried it once during the heavy pollen season. Swiped it once to check if it swirled anything and low and behold there were some tiny little swirl marks in the direction that I used the duster. This was on a section of paint with no swirls (had polished recently) and my car is black so it was easy to see.

Will never use it again.

The inner layer is made of cellulose and is similar in construction to an ordinary plant cell wall; pollen will literally ‘wear’ away wax or polymer sealants. Pollen isn't removed by air friction as you drive because it adheres to a surface with microscopic barbs that can attach to even a very slightly uneven surface, and adheres to a natural wax better than a synthetic polymer

As well as being allergic pollen is also very abrasive (due to its exine or barbs) and slightly acidic dust, although its inert until its mixed with moisture and should therefore be safely removed from paint surfaces as soon as is practicable.

[Synesthesia]

CA Duster is OK. Yes, use as directed. In the beginning it will leave an oily residue from the coating of the micro fibers. It left little swirl marks but a good polish and sealant in the weekend will cure that.

[jlb85]

JETninja's cars have very hard paint. AZguy's car is probably much softer. AZguy should be more careful wiping ANYTHING over his paint, even microfiber. JETninja could run barbed wire over his passat and the paint would not scratch! OK, kidding, but the passat has some pretty hard core paint!