Getting the Red Dirt and Mud Off Without Ruining Your Paint (Feb 2026)

I cannot stress this enough. If you try to wash a mud-caked car in 35 degree direct sun, the soap will dry in seconds and leave nasty streaks. If you don't have a carport, wait until the arvo when the sun's lower.

Always start with the filthiest parts. If you wash the roof first, then blast the muddy arches, you'll just spray muck back onto your clean panels. Use a dedicated citrus pre-wash or degreaser in the arches.

Have a quick look for any 'extras' like bat droppings or bird pride. These are acidic and the heat cooks them into the paint. Give them a soak with some quick detailer or wet paper towel before you start the main wash.

Starting from the bottom and working up, use the pressure washer to knock off the heavy clods of mud. Don't get too close to the paint (keep about 30cm back). Pay massive attention to the inside of the guards and the chassis rails.

Chuck your underbody attachment on. If you've been near the beach or in salty mud, this is the most important step. Spend a good 10 minutes just flushing the underside until the water runs clear. A mate of mine ignored his chassis after a K'gari trip and the rust holes that appeared a year later were heartbreaking.

Cover the whole car in a thick layer of snow foam. This isn't just for the 'Gram; it encapsulates the fine dust particles and lifts them. Let it dwell for 5-8 minutes, but don't let it dry out!

While the foam is doing its thing, take your soft brush and go around the fuel cap, door handles, and window seals. This is where red dust loves to live for years if you don't agitate it.

Rinse the foam off thoroughly. You should see a lot of the 'brown' water disappearing. By now, the car should look 90% clean.

Now you can actually touch the car. One bucket with your shampoo (I reckon Autoglym Pure Shampoo is great for this), and one with clean water. Dunk the mitt in the soap, wash a panel, then rinse it in the clean water bucket before going back for more soap. This keeps the dirt out of your wash water.

Wash from the roof down. Leave the sills and bumpers for last, as they hold the most grit.

Give it one last rinse. If the paint feels 'crunchy' or rough after washing, you might need a clay bar session, but we'll save that for another day. For now, just make sure all the soap is gone from the crevices.

Use a large, high-quality microfiber drying towel. Don't use a chamois (the 'shammy'), they're old school and can drag missed dirt across the paint. Pat it dry rather than wiping if you're worried about scratches.

Open the doors and wipe down the jams. Dust gets in here like you wouldn't believe. If the engine bay is dusty, a light mist of water and some APC (All Purpose Cleaner) will tidy it up (just be careful around the air intake and electricals).