What You'll Learn
Aussie Conditions
Look, I've spent 15 years in the bays and the biggest mistake I see is blokes waiting until winter hits to protect their car. By then, the summer UV has already started oxidising the clear coat and those bat droppings from January have etched permanent rings into your bonnet. This checklist is about stripping the summer grime and getting a solid layer of protection down while the weather is still decent. It's practical, fast, and will save you a heap of polishing work come springtime.
The Essential Gear List
What You'll Need
While you're here...
Pre-Start Sanity Check
What You'll Need
The Step-by-Step Process
The Heavy Rinse
Blast every inch. Get into the arches and under the sills to get that summer red dust and coastal salt out before you touch it with a mitt.
Iron Decon
Spray your iron remover on dry paint. Let it dwell for 3-5 mins but don't let it dry. Watch it turn purple, that's the hidden nasties dissolving.
Contact Wash
Two-bucket method here. Start from the top and work down. Rinse your mitt after every panel. No dramas, just take your time and don't miss the sills.
Clay Bar Session
If the paint feels like sandpaper, it needs a clay. Use plenty of lube. A customer once brought in a Hilux covered in overspray, clay saved it.
Dry it Properly
Use a dedicated drying towel. Don't use the missus's old bath towels, they're too rough and will scour the finish. Blow out the mirrors if you can.
Apply Protection
Chuck on your sealant. Personally, I prefer a ceramic-based spray sealant for winter because it sheds water like a duck. Follow the bottle instructions to the letter.
Glass and Tyres
Clean the glass inside and out. Apply a rain repellent to the windscreen. Finish with tyre shine, because a clean car with brown tyres looks rubbish.
Final Walk-around
What You'll Need
Watch Out
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