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Tips for Maintaining Yor Car's Finish |
The first step in maintaining your car's finish is washing it on a regular basis. Hand washing is recommended over an automated car wash. Automated car washes typically lack the detail of reaching over and around various parts of the car. Also, with automated washers, there is a risk that antennas, rear wings, and the like could be damaged if the machine does not follow the car's profile correctly. Wet the car down first to rinse off any road grime off. Use a soft, CLEAN wash mitt (wash your mit after each use and store in a zip-lock bag so it will remain clean until the next use) and a car washing specific soap such as Eagle One, Griot's Garage, Meguiars, or your preference. Don't use dish washing detergent or a wash brush on your car! The dishwashing detergent damages the finish, stripping it of wax and vital oils, causing it to develop a dried out, dull appearance. Wash brushes will scratch the paint, leaving numerous hairline scratches. Start washing from the top and work your way down. Rinse the vehicle a couple times as you work your way down. The dirtiest parts of a car are often the lower sections. Therefore, by washing from the top down, you will not run the risk of pulling abrasive road grime up to the cleaner sections. Don't forget - always wash/detail your car in the shade and while the body is cool! Use a separate wash mit or sponge to wash the rims. The rims collect brake dust easily, so you'll need a cleaner appropriate for your rims: clearcoated or not, chrome plated, aluminum, etc.. There are various brand wheel cleaners that are made to clean specific rim finishes, so you need to know what type of wheel finish you have. Remember, brake dust that's deposited can start to etch into the rim's finish over time, so frequent cleaning will prevent damage to the finish. Eagle One has several good products for rim cleaning, just read the label and instructions closely when you make your selection, and before use. When drying the vehicle off, you can use a synthetic chamois (such as The Absorber) or a 100% cotton towel. An electric leaf blower can also make quick work of drying a car. Avoid gas powered leaf blowers since the two stroke engine exhaust can dirty your car up again. It is important to wax your car at least 4 times per year. When your car is wet, the water should form into small beads (the size of a shirt button or less). If the water does not bead up, then you need a coat of wax, but don't wait until that point to wax the paint. Instead, wax the paint every 2-3 months. To apply the wax, use a 100% cotton cloth and use a separate towel to wipe off the wax. Carnuba wax has a tendency to fill in very very light scratches, and tends to add "depth" to dark colored finishes. Meguiars carnuba wax and Griot's Garage Carnuba wax do a fine job. For rubber care (tires and plastic parts), choose a product that does not contain silicone. The silicone has a tendency to lift the natural preservatives out of the plastic and rubber, leaving a dry, chalky appearance. |