A couple weeks ago, I did Zaino for the first time and put on 2 coats of polish. I'll be washing my car for the first time since then tomorrow. Is there anything I should be aware of before I apply a 3rd coat? You don't claybar because that would take off the first 2 coats, right?

 

I called Zaino with this exact question, and they said that Claybar will not remove Zaino. However, someone in Autotopia said that it may remove one coat.

If it's only been a couple weeks there should be no reason to clay again.

 

Okay, another question: how long are those polish applicator pads supposed to last? Mine seem to get dirty really quickly. Are they washable?

 

I've had no problem with throwing them in the washing machine. They do come apart after a 6-7 washes. I suppose you could use the gentle cycle, but even I'm not that ****. :D

Your applicator pad should not get that dirty.....if it does, then you may not have washed the car well enough, or you hit a dirty spot that you missed.

 

I agree. If your applicator pads get that dirty, then a) you might not be washing the car thoroughly enough, and b) you may need to clay bar the car to get any other contaminants off the paint. If you allowed a curing period between the layers of polish, you might have gotten your 8 dirty in between applications. If that's the case, in the future, you may want to give your car a quick rinse through between layers or re-wash it with a minimal amount of soap in order to minimize wax/polish removal. The danger of not washing/prepping the car well enough, obviously, is the swirl marks and micromarring that you are likely creating.

Back to the original questions... You might try QD'ing with Z6 prior to applying new layers. Also, clay barring will not remove that much of your work.

 

Of course I Z-6 between layers! I want to keep my Sunlight Silver glowing.

I'll try to be more careful with those applicator pads. I think I did a good job washing. It was windy though, and leaves and dust were blowing all over the place.

 

Ahhhh! Danger Will Robinson! If I can get my car in the garage as soon as it's washed and do the applications inside, it avoids all the sand and dust that blows around outside my house.

 

My applicator pad got dirty too. I clayed, then washed with Z7, and then used the applicator to apply the Z1,Z2 treatment. Should have nothing to do with "dust in the wind" (a great Kansas song ), but the fact that I applied the polish everywhere....paint, glass, plastic and rims. A dirty applicator (k, not totally black, just dirty) is bound to happen, totally normal. Once done, just soak it in normal detergent, then let dry and use again. If the seams break around the sponge, sew them up, easy. Heck, the applicator is cheap anyway, buy ten of 'em and just throw 'em away after each treatment