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Have you neglected your vehicle's exterior long enough?
These tips will help you achieve professional results.
"The more often you clean your car, the easier it is and the
less time it takes," Mike Pennington, director of training
for Meguiar's—a leading producer of car care products—told
MSN Autos in an interview.
For most drivers who
live in areas where winter hits particularly hard, getting
safely through snow, sleet and rain takes higher priority
than having a sparkling vehicle. But as warm summer weather
rolls around, it's a good time to catch up on vehicle
maintenance and wash away the grime.
"If I can pinpoint
one step that gives the greatest benefit over an
automobile's entire life, it's keeping your car's
surfaces—the glass, trim, paint and wheels—clean," said
Richard Griot of car care and tool supplier Griot's Garage.
Even if you've
neglected this advice for many months, it's not too late to
change your ways! Of course, the quickest and easiest way to
a sparkling clean car inside and out is to take it to a
detail shop for a professional job. But at $75 to $300 a
visit, there's plenty of incentive to learn what you can do
on your own to optimize your car's appearance.
Start Out Right
You'll need a steady supply of water, a soft and dirt-free
cloth (or a wash mitt, terry towel or soft-bristle brush)
and—last but not least—you'll need a proper car wash soap.
Don't make the
mistake of using dishwashing soap or a household cleaner on
your car—they contain harsh detergents that can strip wax
and damage paint.
As Craig Burnett,
chemist for Mothers Polishes-Waxes-Cleaners, put it, "Car
wash products are designed to remove automotive dirt from
cars, not grime from clothes or grease from dishes. Don't
confuse your kitchen with your garage."
Luckily, car wash
products are carried by a range of retail outlets, from auto
parts shops to hardware stores and Web sites. Even some
grocery stores carry a limited stock.
And, before you
start, if you suspect that you may have unique paint or
other accessories that may require special attention, check
your vehicle's owner's manual for any manufacturer
recommendations.
It's All About Contaminants
The
main objective of good car washing is the removal of all
dirt and contaminants.
"You should wash
your car a minimum of once a week, due to the fact that your
car is constantly bombarded with contaminants such as tree
sap mist and bird droppings," Pennington told MSN Autos. "If
the contaminants are not removed quickly they can bond to
the paint and even etch the paint."
If at all possible,
park your vehicle in a shaded location before getting
started. Washing your car in the sun can cause some surfaces
to dry faster than you may want them to, leaving residue and
unwanted streaks.
Basic guidelines to
bear in mind:
-
First rinse the
entire car with water to remove loose dirt.
-
Wash and rinse one
section at a time—working from top to bottom—to prevent a
section from drying too quickly and leaving deposits or
residue.
-
Rub the car surface
gently to loosen dirt. Aggressive rubbing can grind dirt
right into the finish, leaving scratches and swirls.
-
Be sure to rinse the
wash mitt or sponge often to prevent accumulated dirt from
scratching the paint.
-
Use plenty of rinse
water to carry away the dirt.
After the final
rinse, wipe the excess water from the vehicle surface to
prevent water spotting. A soft terry cloth towel or a
high-quality chamois are recommended. Keep the towel or
chamois clean to help prevent scratching, and wipe the
vehicle lightly to soak up water without abrading the
surface.
If you live in a climate where sand or salt is used on the
road surface, be sure to rinse inside the wheelwells, paying
special attention to the lower part of the fender where salt
and sand may have accumulated. You might want to take a trip
to a self-service car wash and use the high-pressure hose
for this extra step.
Environmental Considerations
It's important to consider where all the contaminants that
you wash off your car—oil, grease and gasoline, as well as
the car wash soap and other cleaners—actually end up.
Be aware that any
rinse water and contaminants that run into a storm drain
system end up in rivers and other open water, without any
treatment.
The best location to
wash your own car is at a self-serve car wash, so the water
will be recycled or sent to the sewage treatment plant
before going into the environment.
And if you do plan
to wash your vehicle at home, position it on grass or gravel
where the water will be absorbed and there will be some
filtering effect. You can still have a clean car, but also
help to keep the environment clean in the process.
Wheels and Wheel
Covers
Have you ever noticed that the front wheels—not the tires,
but the wheels—of many cars on the road appear dirtier than
the back wheels of the very same cars? This is caused by the
accumulation of brake dust shed by disc brakes, which are on
the front wheels of virtually all cars these days.
Luckily, there are a
number of car care products on the market that do a good job
of removing brake dust. Choose wisely and be sure to read
the directions carefully.
A spray-on cleaner
designed for premium alloy wheels, for instance, will begin
to strip a wheel's protective varnish if not rinsed off in
the prescribed time frame. And the same spray applied to
wheels with plastic wheel covers could have serious
corrosive effects.
If you're not sure
what kind of wheels or wheel covers you have, refer to your
owner's manual for instructions. But once you've identified
the right product for your wheels, you'll find it very quick
and easy to keep the wheels looking bright and new. With a
typical wheel cleaner, you simply spray it on and rinse
after 30 to 60 seconds.
Making Your Tires
Look Like New
After washing the car and the wheels, you'll want to add a
little attention to detail.
One of the easiest
and most effective ways to improve the appearance of your
vehicle is to apply a protectant to the tires. Many tire
dressings simply spray on and require no wiping—giving the
tires a clean, slightly glossy look that highlights your
clean wheels.
Similar protectants
are available for black rubber or vinyl trim pieces on the
outside of the vehicle. For the final touch, polish any
chrome trim with a product specifically for chrome. Chrome
polish is designed to help remove any oxidation that has
developed, restoring the chrome's sparkle.
When Should I Wax
My Car?
At least 97 percent of today's vehicles come from the
factory with clearcoat finishes. Clearcoats contain
stabilizers, ultraviolet light blockers and UV light
absorbers that help keep vehicle paints looking new longer
by preventing oxidation—the chemical breakdown of the upper
layer of paint film caused by sunlight, moisture and
contaminants in the air.
But clearcoats
themselves need attention, too.
"Clearcoats can give
drivers a false sense of security by appearing to protect
the underlying base coat," Matthew Broderick, group vice
president of marketing at Turtle Wax Inc, told MSN Autos.
"Clearcoats are
fragile and susceptible to scratches, abrasions and swirls.
When a clearcoat surface is scratched and pitted as a result
of not waxing, the light can't reflect evenly off the
surface, which makes the paint look dull."
Most manufacturers
recommend that you wax your vehicle twice a year to protect
it from damage and maintain the color and shine. Some
auto-care suppliers recommend monthly waxing.
"Ideally, a vehicle
should be waxed three to four times per year," according to
Pennington, to maximize the protection provided by the wax.
"A good strategy is to start right before the winter and get
on to a three-month cycle."
Waxing your vehicle
will help remove paint oxidation and surface dirt, while
adding a protective coating. Wax will improve or remove
minor damage such as surface scratches or light contaminants
and provide a high-luster finish. Again, consult your
vehicle's manual for specific recommendations.
The Waxing
Process
Basic guidelines to bear in mind:
-
The paint surface
should be cool and not in direct sunlight.
-
Always wash the
vehicle immediately before waxing.
-
The temperature
should be above 50 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity
should be low.
-
Apply the wax to a
small section at a time using either a foam pad or small
terry cloth towel.
-
Apply the wax in
overlapping strokes or circular motions.
-
Wait for a section to
dry to a haze before wiping the wax off with soft, terry
cloth towels or cloth diapers.
-
Wipe in both
directions, turning the towels often.
-
Shake the towels to
remove accumulated wax.
-
When finished, wipe
the entire vehicle again, paying particular attention to
the edges of trim pieces, door jambs and moldings where
excess wax may have accumulated.
For additional shine
between wax jobs, several manufacturers offer spray-and-wipe
products to quickly enhance the vehicle's shine, such as
Turtle Wax Emerald Series Premium Detailer and Meguiar's
Quik Detailer.
If your vehicle's
paint has been damaged, the paint may need additional work
requiring the use of other types of products. You should
consult a professional detail shop, auto paint repair shop,
or car care product manufacturer for advice before using any
products that contain abrasives.
Sprucing Up the
Interior
Now that you have finished the part of your vehicle that you
show off to everyone as you drive by, how about sprucing up
the part of the car you look at from the driver's seat?
First, thoroughly
vacuum the car's interior to remove all loose, dry dirt. And
be very careful when you reach under the seat—you may have
forgotten what you placed under there.
Lint-free towels and
clean water will be the main tools for the dash area and
seats. Cotton swabs are helpful for getting dust out of
tight spots. For the carpet, a clean, stiff-bristled brush
is indispensable.
Pennington suggests
you always use a product that is designed for the surface
you want to clean, whether it is leather, vinyl, plastic,
wood, simulated wood or upholstery. Each product is
specifically formulated for a particular surface and will
not work effectively on other surfaces, and may even damage
them.
For carpet areas,
use a small amount of a carpet cleaning product and a small
amount of water with a stiff-bristle brush. "The biggest
problem with interior cleaning is that many people
oversaturate the carpet when they shampoo," explained
Pennington. "A wet-dry shop vacuum is useful for removing
excess water. It is very important to let the carpet dry
thoroughly before closing the vehicle up tight.
For cleaning
windows, avoid products that contain ammonia, because
ammonia can damage window tint film on the inside of the
windows. Although the tint may have already been in place
when you purchased the vehicle, you may not realize that it
is a film that needs to be protected. Clean water and
lint-free towels are effective for quick window touch-up.
Don't use ammonia or
any similar harsh chemical to clean seatbelts, either. They
could weaken the webbing, affecting the belts' ability to
protect you during a crash.
If you use a
protectant or dressing on the dash pad, be sure that it does
not leave the surface shiny. A shiny dash can reflect light
and be a safety hazard while driving.
Armor All Products
Corp., a leading supplier in the auto protectant category,
also advises that for safety's sake keep important parts of
your car clean and dry—but not slippery. For example, don't
put protectant on the steering wheel or the pedals.
If you carry out all of the procedures outlined above, the
hours you invest will result in a vehicle that will be
considerably easier to keep clean in the future with a
routine of weekly or biweekly washing. Combine your washing
regimen with a good waxing and interior detailing every
three months and the whole process will become quicker and
easier each time you do it.
Courtesy of
MSN Autos |
