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Spring is the perfect time for a stem-to-stern cleaning of your rig. But where do you start?
Before grabbing a bucket and making suds, take a good look at your vehicle. Use a flashlight to detect any flaws that materialized in recent months. For example, did sap drop on the vehicle? Are the tires showing some gray? A harsh, honest look lets you know where to spend extra time.
A Good Rinse
First things first. Gently rinse your vehicle with water. You’ll be amazed how much dirt and grime gently drips away. This is also an excellent way to see how much water beads off the panels, indicating how much wax or protectant remains.
A pressure washer is extra helpful for removing dirt while minimizing water use for the rinse. A foam cannon loosens the grime for a touchless wash.
Two-Bucket Wash Brigade
We are firm believers in the two-bucket wash system with grit guards. Use a high-quality wash product to generate maximum suds. The suds help remove dirt without marring the paint. For a great bucket of suds, try Maxi Suds II from Chemical Guys, which has a perfect 5.0 rating from eBay users.
Clay Time Is Play Time
Despite your best efforts, contaminants could bond to paint over time. It might come from bugs, chemical pollution, tree sap, water deposits, or paint overspray. If left unchecked, these particles cling to paint, gathering more dirt and contaminants.
Use a plastic sandwich bag to verify if you need to clay your vehicle. Place your hand in the bag and gently rub the bag over the body panels. If you feel bumps and divots, it’s time for a clay session.
Get a quality clay bar, diluted liquid soap, or clay lubricant, and follow this guide. Rinse the vehicle again after the clay treatment.
Polish, Protect and Preserve
Evaluate your vehicle’s paint to see if polish is needed to restore the sparkle. Apply sparingly and do one panel at a time. Polish is a mildly abrasive liquid that cleans and smooths old paint. An orbital polisher is extremely helpful for this process, and the Porter Cable orbital is the OG.
If you are happy with your paintwork, then it’s time to preserve it. You can use a variety of waxes or try out a sea of sealants. Traditionalists are partial to paste wax, but many folks these days prefer a modern ceramic wax or sealer like those offered by Meguiar’s, or Adam’s Polishes’ graphene coating. That orbital polisher comes in handy for this task.
Don’t Kick Your Tires, Clean Them
A tire brush makes quick work of a messy job.
Tires fade and oxidize over time. Be aware that some tire-shine products also cause the tires to fade. Tire cleaner and a tire cleaning brush will bring back the black beauty.
After they are clean, add some sheen. Tire finishes vary from matte to super slick. Ensure the finish is dry before driving, or risk having the shine product sling onto the lower fenders.
Wheels Need Love Too
Specialized wheel cleaners, like Surf City Garage’s Code Red are good for heavily soiled wheels.
Your wheels probably acquired some dirt, brake dust, and gunk. If they’re not extremely dirty, you can use an all-purpose wheel cleaner, like Turtle Wax’s All Wheel and Tire Cleaner.
You can also apply a layer of wax or sealant—the material used for your car’s paint—on the rims.
Tidy the Interior
Let’s not forget the interior, where you spend the most time with your car. First, a good shop vacuum will remove the accumulated dirt and dust from the carpet, floor, and seats.
Then, to get into all the nooks and crannies, break out the detailing brushes. For a factory-new look, wipe down the dashboard, center console, and door panels with a microfiber cloth moistened with all-purpose interior cleaner.
Add Sparkle to Your Engine
You’re almost done. But let’s not forget to spiff things up under that hood. A careful application of all-purpose cleaner and a microfiber rub-down should do the trick. Next, use a rubber/vinyl protectant like 303 Aerospace Protectant Spray on the hoses to add sparkle. Then slam the hood closed with a sense of satisfaction.
This entire process takes about half a day. Preparing ahead of time by assembling the right products and tools—including a stack of clean microfiber towels—makes for smooth sailing.
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