P.G., Like J said, the paint will load up things as it comes off. I've been messing with my "utility car-Caprice" It has a 2 year old single stage metalic enamel job on it. Dawn, clay(water only), wet wash with a MF,DACP,dawn,damn,DACP,dawn,OK,#20,24hrs,#20,AHHH. I used 2 bath towels, cut up to apply everything(by hand), and kept using a clean area of the towel so I would by compounding the paint with product instead of dead paint. Machines are faster, no doubt, but ,tooooo much dead paint, too few pads... Try the pad, and see if it don't load up in a nano-second...I think it comes out "clearer" if product(not dead paint) is worked in. Just my opinion, after doing it, YRMV...