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Dirt = Rocks
If you were to take a microscope shot of the dust and dirt on your car, you would see that they are just tiny rocks. Big rocks do big damage, tiny rocks do tiny damage...but they still do damage. Here is the progression you need to remember: Rocks make pebbles, pebbles make dirt, dirt makes dust. It’s all the same thing. If you wouldn’t roll a rock across your paint, then don’t wipe a dirty or dusty car without lubrication.
Always touch the paint with Lubrication
The goal when removing dirt from the surface of your paint (which we now know is basically little rocks) should be to lift the dirt without rolling or pushing the rocks along the paint. Much the same as engines, gears, and even sliding seat frames...they need various slip-agents to insure the longevity of their parts. In detailing, this includes not only washing, but the commonly forgotten and even more critical step of lubricating the drying process. Remember, if you are touching the paint, you must use some form of lubricant to do it safely. No dry-wiping allowed.
Clear Coat is not forever
Clear coat is a layer of clear-paint that covers the colored-paint underneath it. This clear layer protects the paint from the sun’s UV rays, which in turn keeps the colour pigment looking deep and rich for longer. However, this hard protective clear layer is very thin. So constant abrasion with poor technique, no lubrication, or lots of compounding will wear away the strength and protection of the clear coat, leaving the pigment underneath exposed. Once clear coat is gone, it doesn’t grow back. It will need to be repainted, which is expensive!
Avoiding cross-contamination
Cross-contamination occurs when a towel, brush, pad, mitt bucket, or water is used for 2 different locations on the vehicle, causing the item to deposit the contaminants from location 1 onto location 2. If an area of the car is extra dirty (wheels, door-jambs, or lower rocker panels for example), then isolate the tools used for those areas to minimise cross-contamination.
There is no magic pill
The expectations of applying a secret potion to your paint and not having to maintain it for 1, 2, 5,10 years is not only wildly false - it’s dangerous. Like anything else in life, if you want to be successful, or faster, stronger, smarter, or have a beautiful looking car...you have to make an effort. But it doesn’t need to be difficult. It does, however, need to be thoughtful and consistent to create the results you want out of your car.