1. Choose the right weather and time of day
Washing your car on a sunny day may seem like a good idea, however, the heat will dry out your car between washing and cleaning, which could leave watermarks on the bodywork. The heat of the sun will also reduce the effectiveness of your products too. If you can’t help washing the car on a sunny day then pick a shaded area or wash in the late afternoon.
2. Cleaning
Dirt and grit need to be washed off your car before you can get started with any cleaning. A jet washer is always going to be easier to use and way more effective with less work. Snow foam is probably your best bet to get a good clean, spray on and leave for a few minutes, then blast off. Always work from the roof downwards and don’t forget to do the undersides of the door sills and bumpers.
If you have stubborn stains, such as tar spots. dried on bugs or tree sap, then you’ll need a tougher cleaner and oil-based products work well. There are tar and bug-removing sprays available, however even products such as WD40 can help loosen off stubborn marks. Although if you do, make sure to give the area a thorough clean and polish afterwards.
3. Shampooing
Once you’ve done your initial pressure wash, you should then hand wash with a bucket and sponge! Never use fairy liquid or any washing up liquid, the detergents used in it can strip any protection on your paintwork thus causing the paint to deteriorate faster than normal.
4. Drying
Microfibre cloths are always seen to be great to use on your car’s bodywork, when in fact they have more risk of scratching paintwork if they have dirt contaminating them. Grab a chamois leather, preferably a natural one rather than a synthetic making sure it has moisture in before wiping it across the car.
5. Detailing
Once your bodywork is clean and dry, it’s ready for another level of cleaning. A clay bar can be used over the bodywork to pick up the finest of particles because not everything can be picked up by a chamois or cloth. Once this is done, then maybe you could apply a polish to the bodywork.
The best way to apply wax is to use a fine sponge that can spread the wax evenly across the bodywork. Simply apply, allow to dry, then use a soft cloth to buff to a shine. You can purchase polishing brushes that attach to a household drill, although that carries the risk of scratching your bodywork if you’re careless.
6. Protect with us here at LMC Cars
In today’s harsh environment your vehicle’s exterior paintwork and interior trim endures daily attack from any number of weather borne and human factors.
And it’s not just your paintwork that’s under threat. Dirt and grime carried by you, your family and your pets; plus accidental spillage of food and liquids means that your vehicle’s interior is at risk from staining.
The GardX Vehicle Protection System with powerful Nanotechnology forms a highly resilient protective coating over your paintwork that shields it from these environmental pollutants and provides a spectacular high gloss showroom finish that retains its appearance wash-after-wash.
The GardX System also protects your vehicle’s interior. GardX’ Stain Guard ensures that your seat fabrics and carpets will resist against staining and remain fresh, smart and clean. For leather seats, GardX Leather Guard will not only protect against stains but will also keep the leather soft and supple, like new for years.
Want to know more about our GardX Protection? Visit the page here.