Keeping Your Paint Prime: Exterior Detailing the Right Way

Never, ever wash your car in direct Aussie sunlight. The water and soap will dry in seconds, leaving spots that are a nightmare to get off. If you haven't got a carport, do it early morning or late arvo.

Run your hand over the paint. If it's hot to the touch, give it a rinse with cool water first to bring the temp down. You want the panels cool so the chemicals work properly.

Always start with the wheels. They're the dirtiest part. If you do them last, you'll splash brake dust and grime onto your clean paint.

Spray your wheel cleaner on cool rims. Let it sit for a minute (don't let it dry!), then scrub with your brush. Rinse thoroughly. I've seen blokes ruin expensive alloys by using harsh acid cleaners on hot wheels, don't be that guy.

Blast the whole car with water. Start from the top and work down. You're trying to get as much loose grit and red dust off as possible before you actually touch the paint.

Fill one bucket with water and car soap, and the other with just plain water. This second bucket is where you'll rinse your dirty mitt.

Dunk your mitt in the soapy water and start at the roof. Use very light pressure. Wash a panel, then rinse the mitt in the plain water bucket to get the dirt off before going back for more soap.

If you've got dried-on bugs or bat droppings, don't scrub them hard. Lay a wet, soapy microfibre cloth over them for a minute to soften the gunk up. It'll slide right off. I learned this the hard way on a black Commodore, never again will I just 'scrub harder'.

Give the whole car a good rinse. If you've got a hose, take the nozzle off and let the water 'sheet' over the panels. This actually pulls more water off the car, making drying easier.

Lay your large drying towel flat across a panel and pull it towards you. Don't rub like you're drying your hair after a shower. You want to absorb the water, not move it around.

If the paint still feels rough, use a clay mitt with plenty of soapy water as lubricant. It'll pull out the embedded rail dust and tree sap. You'll be amazed at how smooth it feels afterwards.

This is the most important part for Aussie cars. Use a good sealant. If you're using a spray sealant like Bowden's Bead Machine, just spray it on a microfibre applicator and wipe it over the panel, then buff off. It's way easier than the old paste waxes.

Clean the glass with a dedicated glass cleaner (no ammonia if you've got tint!). Chuck some tyre shine on for that finished look, but don't overdo it or it'll sling all over your clean guards when you drive off.