Hi. I'm washing and waxing my xA tommorow afternoon after my last final...

I bought a leather chamois and washed it with mild soap (as instructed) and I even hang dried the _____...

Now that it has dried, the chamois is very stiff and feels very abrasive...

IS THIS NORMAL...? WILL IT SCRATCH THE FAWK OUTTA MY XA...???

 

Leather AND synthetic chamois get as hard as a rock when they dry. Just wet it and wring it out before you use it again. The water will make it soft again............

 

What I do is after I finish the wash, lay the chamois on the hood and wet both sides real good, that will rinse any extra soap out and will get the chamois ready to use....Now, being new, that thing will stick like it has Velcro on it, but over the years, it will get better. I still use one I got while I was in high school. I got out in '78.

 

Before you drive the car, wet the chamois again. It'll get soft.

 

A chamois is an amazing thing. Like you say it feels awful until you wet it. Man does that thing dry and never leaves spots or streaks. I tried a fake one years ago, waste of time and money.

Chamois

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamois

 

i never knew they chamois is a type of goat (leather)

heres another link for it



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamois_leather

 

I wonder if they really make them out of goat leather? I've always been told they do but who slaughters that many goat for consumption? hornet_on_the_flower , I think your other link answers my question.

 

Why bother with a chamois??? California water blade and micro fiber towels are the safest way to dry our fragile Scion paint. Plus it's quicker too.

 

Where's the best place to buy micro fiber towels and how much are they? I'd like to have some. That must be what they use where my wife gets her car washed, they never leave streaks.

 

Old School, baby... I get a better feel for my car when I wipe her down with a good slice of goat skin. (I always thought it was sheep)

 

I get them in multi packs at Wally world. I usually keep them for up to 20 trips through the washing machine then pitch em.

 

Do they have a brand name, I don't remember seeing them in our Super Wally World the other day. What color are they?

 

Mostly blue and yellow in the auto section. They have like a sticker wrapped around the bundle pack.