Getting Rid of Sand: The Right Way to Clean Your Car After the Beach (Mar 2026)

Never wash a sandy car in direct Aussie sun. The water dries too fast, leaving salt streaks and water spots. Get under a carport or wait until the arvo.

Before getting anything wet, use your air compressor or leaf blower to blow out as much loose sand as possible from the window seals, fuel cap, and door jambs.

Remove all floor mats, seat covers, and gear. Give the mats a good thrashing against a brick wall (the old school way works best) to get the heavy stuff out.

If the car has been sitting out, the panels will be boiling. Give it a gentle misting with the hose just to drop the temperature before you start the real wash.

Prepare your buckets and your snow foam. If you're using a salt neutraliser, mix it according to the bottle. Don't eyeball it, too much can strip wax, too little won't work.

Start from the bottom. Use your pressure washer and underbody broom to flush the chassis. Spend way more time here than you think you need. Focus on the inside of the frame rails.

Get the nozzle right up into the wheel arches. Sand hides behind the plastic liners. Flush until the water runs clear.

Rinse the exterior from the top down. Use plenty of water. The goal is to move as much sand as possible onto the driveway without touching the paint.

Cover the whole car in a thick layer of snow foam. Let it dwell for 5-8 minutes. This encapsulates the remaining sand particles so they slide off rather than scratch.

If you've been on the beach, now is the time to apply your salt neutraliser. I usually spray it on the high-risk areas (sills, bumpers, chassis) while the foam is still on.

Blast off the foam. By now, the car should look clean, but don't be fooled, there's still a film of traffic film and fine grit.

Start washing with your mitt. Wash a panel, then rinse the mitt in your 'rinse' bucket before taking more soap from the 'wash' bucket. This keeps the sand in the bucket, not on your paint.

Open every door. Use a damp microfibre to wipe out the sand that collects in the hinges and rubber seals. This is where most people miss.

Carefully mist the engine bay. Don't use high pressure here. Just enough to wash away salt spray. If you've got a modern car, cover the alternator and air intake first.

Use a large, plush microfibre drying towel. Pat the surface rather than dragging it, just in case a stray grain of sand survived.

Use compressed air to blow sand out from under the seats and between the centre console. You'll be amazed how much flies out.

Vacuum everything. Use the 'vibration trick' mentioned earlier on the carpets. Do it once, then do it again. Sand is stubborn.

Sand gets into the rubber grooves of your pedals. Use a stiff brush and an All-Purpose Cleaner (APC) to get them back to black.

Clean the inside and outside of the glass. Sand on the window seals can scratch the glass when you roll it down, so make sure those seals are spotless.

Apply a water-based tyre shine. Avoid the oily stuff; it just acts as a magnet for more sand next time you're at the beach.