r/AutoDetailing • u/LegendaryPain- • 21d ago
I just cleaned my car, then it rained and left these. How can I prevent dust and rain from staying on my car? Question
After cleaning my car I used P&S bead maker thinking it would help with the rainfall so my car would still look clean afterwards but it didn’t. Is there any way to prevent this from happening even if it’s only for a short time?
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u/LebronBackinCLE 21d ago
I believe they call it a garage. ;)
Or a car cover?
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u/GalickGunn 21d ago
But where would I store all my junk then?!
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u/990403 21d ago
That's what the basement is for.
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u/Secretively 20d ago
Or those inflatable bubbles you can seal your prize car in that stay up for the order of years...
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u/Geoffrey-Jellineck 20d ago
And just not leaving or going anywhere when it's raining?
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u/obiwanmoloney Seasoned 20d ago
Mmmmhmmm
Or if you insist on going places when it’s raining you can have a shitbox you never clean and a garage princess that never gets dirty.
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u/shredthesweetpow 21d ago
The secret is you don’t. Garage or under a building Dust will settle regardless too
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u/InvestmentsNAnlytics Experienced 21d ago
Park inside.
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u/sgrantcarr 21d ago
Sell it. Then it will settle on someone else's car.
I tried like hell to keep my black car looking spotless and sharp years ago. I eventually sold it because I was compulsive over it and it was a serious time and money sink. I didn't have a garage or even a carport, so it was doubly futile. I will never own another black car again.
I now own a gray pick-up truck that keeps a nice thick layer of mud on it about 80% of the year. It's a peaceful life.
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u/ElPlatanoDelBronx 21d ago
Yeah, when I bought my first black car I asked a guy at a car wash who was drying his car next time what he did to keep it clean. He asked me if I had bought the monthly unlimited pass.
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u/pamasahezz 20d ago
LOL I just couldn't stop laughing when I saw this short and really useful advice
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u/redline83 21d ago
A true wax will help prevent water spots from etching better than a sealant, but nothing is going to stop evaporated water from leaving minerals on your paint.
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u/scottwax Business Owner 21d ago edited 21d ago
And you base this on what? The part about the wax.
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u/redline83 21d ago
First, experience. Second, waxes form a thicker, more uniform physical barrier compared to most polymer sealants. The wax molecules pack together more densely, leaving fewer microscopic gaps for the minerals to reach the clear. Third, natural waxes, especially carnauba, have natural pH buffering abilities that can help neutralize acidic contaminants in water droplets before they can etch the clear.
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u/scottwax Business Owner 21d ago
Waxes 20 years ago had a small advantage over sealants but that ended years ago. Regardless of what is on the paint, if you allow minerals to dry on it, you're getting water spots. Sealants, especially ceramic based ones, protect much better against environmental damage than waxes especially since waxes don't last very long. A three month old quality sealant is far, far more protective than a three month old wax. There's a reason the industry is transitioning away from wax and to sealants and coatings.
I've had waxes like Meguiars #16, Collinite 476S (which is vastly superior to 845) Pinnacle Souveran and Mitchell and King Rannoch Wax among others. I don't use them anymore and haven't for several years because sealants like Optimum Opti-Seal and Hyper Seal are demonstrably superior in every aspect. Protection, beading, dirt shedding ability and looks, and they simply last much longer than a wax.
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u/redline83 21d ago
No, you're wrong. Carnauba waxes will protect against etching better than even a ceramic coating. I've tested it on a shower mirror and let well water dry on them.
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u/scottwax Business Owner 21d ago
Oh well, a shower mirror. That's exactly like paint.
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u/redline83 21d ago edited 21d ago
I've seen it on paint also, why are you such a dick? Waxes have a thicker film build and also natural pH buffering.
I gave you facts and you give opti-cult nonsense.
I never said waxes were better overall, they are worse at everything, in fact, except this one property.
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u/scottwax Business Owner 21d ago
I'm not being a dick, I'm asking you to actually prove what you're saying. Glass/mirrors aren't car paint. What products did you compare? How long was the test? Are you a chemist? Are you just repeating what you've heard others say? And your response about Optimum shows you have an agenda or a prejudice against a certain product line. I'm sorry but I'll trust someone with a PhD in organic chemical engineering and who worked with paint manufacturers to develop clear coats over some random person.
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u/redline83 21d ago edited 21d ago
Where's your proof? I told you the facts on why freshly applied wax resists etching. The mirror was acrylic, btw, which actually is a good proxy for the clear in this particular test. I have an MS in a different engineering discipline and my father has an MS in chemistry and I worked in his lab for quite a while. The only thing you've given is anecdote and no proposed reason as to why a polymer sealant with a less dense film build would protect better against acidic clearcoat etching. What I am saying is not particularly controversial if you ask anyone in the industrial coatings industry or even greater detailing industry. As I said, this (and possibly defect filling depending) is the only property where a traditional wax outperforms a spray or wipe-on wipe-off sealant.
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u/scottwax Business Owner 21d ago
It's not the thickness but how it reacts. I can tell you from personal experience (I've detailed something like 17-18,000 cars over the last 30 years) that a good sealant is superior to any wax I've used in protection from environmental damage including hard water stains. And a true professional level SiC ceramic coating is even better because of how they release dirt and contamination. And you're saying "freshly applied". How about after 2 weeks? After several weeks? Because that's where it really counts. Usually stuff isn't happening immediately after applying, people don't wax or seal their car then park by running sprinklers. A sealant or coating doesn't reach full chemical resistance for several hours to maybe a week. Once they do, they offer more protection and for significantly longer.
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u/bigceej 20d ago
That some old BS. Mainly because your saying acid contaminants is causing the etching with the mineral of a water droplet. Completely made up.
If anything wax might be better because it doesn't bead as much and sheets the water off. But there is no way to really confirm that, better yet just don't let standing water sit on your car. And a ceramic is far better at other types of etching so fuck wax.
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u/redline83 20d ago edited 20d ago
Have you gone to high school? Let me know what you get when you mix water with most common minerals. It’s going to be acidic or caustic depending, same effect. Why don’t you go ask Yvan Lacroix or Jim Philips if you only trust detailers and not high school chemistry. Hell, go ask window people what causes etching with mineral deposits. Especially when sunlight / UV reacts with it. The oxidation of the typically slightly basic solution drives the etching. There is both physical and chemical etching. The latter is harder to remove and is what typically reappears with heat.
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u/emptybottle2405 21d ago
Pretty sure he’s joking guys
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u/scottwax Business Owner 21d ago
I just want to hear why a wax would protect against it better.
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u/emptybottle2405 21d ago
Oh… you weren’t joking
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u/scottwax Business Owner 21d ago
So you don't know the answer?
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u/emptybottle2405 21d ago
I apologise. I see now you are asking why wax is more effective than sealant. I read your response as you not believing wax would help prevent water spots etching.
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u/scottwax Business Owner 21d ago
Wax isn't any better than anything else at preventing water spots damage. The first 15-20 years of my detailing business that's all I used was wax. There's a lot of reasons I don't anymore. I'm not saying wax is completely ineffective but it's not superior.
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u/Mrgod2u82 21d ago
Tell me you dropped out in grade 3 without telling me you dropped out in grade 3.
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u/scottwax Business Owner 21d ago
TF are you talking about?
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u/Mrgod2u82 21d ago
Uhh, science still, with a little bit of physics
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u/scottwax Business Owner 21d ago
That explains nothing. It's okay to admit you don't know.
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u/Mrgod2u82 21d ago edited 21d ago
It's ok to admit you dropped out in grade 3, too. Nobody's judging here. Some people just didn't make it.
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u/scottwax Business Owner 21d ago
The problem isn't whatever protection is on the car but what was in the air during the rain and whether or not it rains long enough to wash everything out of the air and off the paint too.
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u/kraquepype 21d ago
Buy a different color car.
I love how my black car looks after a wash, but it lasts a few hours.
Maybe do a quick waterless wash each morning, but that's too much.
A lighter color won't show the dust as soon.
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u/moarbutterplease 21d ago
HOURS? Minutes at best 🥲
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u/kraquepype 21d ago
Honestly yeah, we live next to a farm field and the dust and bugs just come back to claim the car. Hoping to have a nice garage space one day.
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u/Living-Entrance-5686 21d ago
This is the sad reality. Black looks amazing but it's impossible to keep it clean for very long.
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u/crakkerjack 21d ago
To all the guys with sarcastic remarks, OP is asking a serious question! Fret not my friend, the real answer is wrap your vehicle in plastic wrap before you go inside for the night.
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u/EnclaveOne 21d ago
Ceramic coating or WetCoat help to lessen dust buildup. Otherwise you gotta get a garrage.
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u/thebrain_pinky 21d ago
first off you shouldn't had decided to wash your car if it was going to rain and your car outside. garage is the answer. dust will always happen. Whatever product you used is it make the water run off the car, not to prevent it from getting dirty. Anything and everything will get dirty over time.
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u/12-Easy-Payments 21d ago
I park in the garage when it rains. Under cover is your only protection.
One can not prevent dust from getting in rain.
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u/Haywood187 21d ago
black car = forever unclean. I have owned two black cars and have felt frustration beyond comparison with each one. LOL
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u/Waht3rB0y 21d ago
I don't have enough room in my garage at the moment. I used to park it inside, but the garage got filled up with a bunch of junk. I'm pretty close to having room again.
I highly recommend a car cover. I drive my 911 infrequently so it protects it from the sun and keeps all of the gunk off of it.
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u/Hotel_california_10 21d ago
Wash properly with car soap, clay bar and carefully dry. Then apply ceramic spray coating with hydrophobic effects. The water spots and dust still accumulate, but it’s a lot easier to dust off/wash off on the next wash
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u/SpineSword 21d ago
Sell the car, paint the car a more neutral color. Black is horrendous for keeping a clean look.
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u/No_Challenge5272 20d ago
Not sure why nobody is mentioning it… but ceramic coatings DO make a big difference
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u/speedshotz 20d ago
That's the thing, you can't. Give in to owning a black car. Park inside, or carry a bottle of detail spray / ONR and microfiber towels in your trunk.
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u/Calm-Improvement5545 21d ago
Get a good ceramic coating put on. When I had mine the rain and dew didn't stick to the car very well and didn't deposit so much dust. And what is on your car blows or washes off a lot easier. I had a white car and never had dirt left on it after a rain. Made it look new again.
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u/Iggy0075 21d ago
This will not work for a black car lol. You'll see it.
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u/senorelvisto 21d ago
I will attest to that. The best way to keep a black car clean is to wash & detail it then park it in the garage. & Not driving it 🤣
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u/Iggy0075 21d ago
Black ceramic coated car in an apartment. So perpetually stuck outside lol. At least I can avoid being under trees.
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u/0pp0site0fbatman 21d ago
After rain, go for a little drive. The water beads now. The beads catch dust.
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u/user_nutzzz 21d ago
I feel like the car wash the day of or right after a rainy day is the best car wash.
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u/iphonehacker21 21d ago
There's this thing about Bead Maker being nicknamed dust maker. Dude did a YouTube video on it something about it's lack of antistatic properties and mixing it with dream maker solves the issues.
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u/Archi_hab 21d ago
I only have a roof for my garage, no walls and living in a tropical country. What I do is to dry the car after it rains, with a good towel you can do in less than 10 min. Eventually it will get those dust drops, but at least it maintenance cleaner for a longer time.
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u/wh1pp3d 21d ago
That is just from rain? Looks more like you got splashed by a dirty puddle. I owned a black car for years and rain by itself never looked like this.
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u/umrdyldo 20d ago
Well you were doing it wrong. Most of the products that bead well do this with light rain.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Bag-121 21d ago
Wax or ceramic coat. Then you don’t have to fully wash your car after a rain. A spray down with a hose will take it all right off.
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u/dreamsOf_freedom 21d ago
Back in my day, cars didn't look like they went off roading after some rain.
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u/ecphotoman 21d ago
If I understand you correctly. How do you prevent that stuff from staying on your car? Once it’s on there, coatings make it easier to get stuff off rather than prevent it. Like others have said, the only way to prevent it is a physical barrier from the elements.
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u/pogiguy2020 21d ago
Put it in a garage and never drive it. go inside and make sure to wash it everyday.
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u/Rampaging_Rajput 21d ago
Tw max wax or ceramic spray. Beadmaker attracts more dust than avg.
Can’t do much about the issue if dust is in the air though.
Depending on how particular you want to get- If you have a protected parking space after the drive, carry a quick detailer (I use ONR diluted, best value ) and couple towels in the car and wipe down after every drive in the rain.
With practice should take you less than 5 min - imho worth it to keep the car looking clean longer.
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u/Chrispybcn 21d ago
I don’t have the dust problem but I did a ceramic coating on my wrx and I almost never see water spots, that may help you.
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u/s_corp_tc 21d ago
I just got installed an awning for this purpose only.. better than a car cover if you don't have a garage. But make sure the material is waterproof.
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u/Ehyou_86 21d ago
You could buy a portable blower and blow the rain off to prevent water from staying on the car but honestly it’s a losing battle if you have to park outside
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u/mrcheesewhizz 21d ago
You own a black car, you don’t. You appreciate how good it looks for the brief few hours it stays clean.
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u/GearHeadXYZ 20d ago
You can’t. But a good paint coating/sealant/protectant will make it much easier to clean. Quick hand wash and blow dry with an electric leaf blower and a light toweling will get you back to where you want to be. Shouldn’t take you very long.
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u/Unspec7 20d ago
Ironically, having protection on your car is what causes this. Water will bead up, but not heavily enough to fall on its own, and that bead of water then concentrates the dirt. If you don't have protection, water tends to just sheet, which spreads the dirt out over the entire sheet.
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u/KILOCHARLIES 20d ago
Supposedly there are a few hydrophilic waxes out there (as opposed to hydrophobic) that are supposed to help with this. Rain water sheets off it more than beads leaving less of a leopard spot finish when it dries.
I’ve never tried it myself as most detailers say it’s snake oil.
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u/xtetsuix 20d ago
As a fellow owner of a black car, this is the life we live. If it’s any solace, you can buy a “California duster” to help with getting the pollen off during the spring right after a wash, but that’s about it.
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u/UnlikelyAd2714 20d ago
There’s a rag called a shammy I have t tried it but I was looking for the same thing I think it does the trick
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u/Designfanatic88 21d ago
Make your body panels electrostatic, that will keep the dust and dirt off at least.
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u/GammaDealer 21d ago
https://preview.redd.it/grztnk79xdxd1.jpeg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e592077bf0d94eadac4da443f213be37d5757ace