Keeping Your Paint Mint in the Aussie Heat (Feb 2026)

Give the car a proper two-bucket wash. Start from the top and work your way down. If it's a hot day, do one panel at a time and rinse immediately. Never, ever wash a car while the panels are hot to the touch, you'll just get water spots that are a nightmare to remove.

Spray an iron remover on the paint. If it turns purple, it's working. Rinse it off, then use your clay bar or mitt over the whole car. If you've been driving outback or near construction sites, you'll feel the paint go from feeling like sandpaper to smooth glass. This is the secret to a 'pro' finish.

Dry the car thoroughly (a leaf blower is great for getting water out of the mirrors). Then, wipe the whole car down with a panel prep or IPA solution. This removes any leftover soaps or old waxes. If you don't do this, your new protection won't bond and it'll be gone after the first rain.

Do not try this in direct sunlight. If you don't have a garage or a carport, wait until late arvo when the sun is low. Heat makes the product dry too fast, which leads to 'high spots' or streaks that are a pain to buff out.

Put a few drops of your sealant or wax onto the pad. You don't need much. To be honest, most blokes use way too much product. Less is more here.

I usually stick to half a bonnet or one door at a time. Work in a cross-hatch pattern (up and down, then side to side) to ensure you haven't missed a spot.

If you're using a ceramic sealant, it'll 'flash' or look like an oil slick on a puddle. That's your cue. Depending on the humidity, this could be 30 seconds or 2 minutes.

Use a clean microfibre to level the product. You're not trying to scrub it off, just spreading it evenly and taking the excess away.

Switch to a fresh, dry microfibre and buff the section to a high shine. Check it from different angles, I like to use a torch or even my phone light to make sure there are no cloudy spots left behind.

When you move to the next section, overlap slightly with the previous one. This ensures you don't have any 'naked' gaps in your protection.

If you're using a traditional wax, try not to get it on black plastic trim, it'll turn white and look rubbish. If you do, wipe it off immediately with a damp cloth.

Most modern ceramic sealants (like Bowden's Bead Machine) work great on glass too. It makes the rain fly off during those sudden summer thunderstorms.

Once you're done, let the car sit in the dry for at least 12-24 hours if you can. Don't go through a car wash or get it wet immediately.