What You'll Learn
Aussie Conditions
Look, I've spent over 15 years cleaning everything from beat-up farm utes to high-end Ferraris, and the biggest mistake people make is thinking they only need to wash the car once a month. In Australia, especially heading into Autumn, that's just not going to cut it. This guide covers my personal routine for a safe, scratch-free weekly wash that handles our brutal UV and local grime. It's for anyone who actually gives a toss about their car's resale value or just wants it looking sharp at the Friday arvo drinks.
Why Bother Every Week?
The Essential Gear
What You'll Need
While you're here...
Getting Ready
Find some shade
Never, ever wash a car in direct midday sun if you can help it. The water dries too fast, leaving nasty spots. If you've gotta do it outside, wait until later in the arvo or early morning.
Wheel First Rule
I 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. Use a separate bucket for the wheels too.
The Pre-Rinse
Give the whole car a good blast with the hose or pressure washer. You want to get as much loose grit off as possible before you even touch the paint with a mitt.
The Step-by-Step Routine
Clean the wheels and tyres
Spray your wheel cleaner on cool rims. Use your brush to agitated the brake dust, then scrub the tyre sidewalls. Rinse 'em off thoroughly.
Snow Foam (Optional but recommended)
If you've got a foam cannon, chuck some foam on and let it dwell for 5 minutes. This breaks down the road film. If not, don't sweat it, just move to the next step.
Set up your buckets
Fill one with fresh water and the other with your car soap and water. Put your grit guards in both.
The Top-Down Method
Dunk your mitt in the soapy water and start at the roof. Work your way down. The bottom of the car is always the grimiest, so leave that for last.
Rinse the mitt often
After every panel, dunk the dirty mitt in your rinse bucket, give it a shake, then go back into the soap bucket. This keeps the dirt in the rinse bucket, not on your car.
Wash in straight lines
Avoid circular motions. If you do catch a bit of grit, a straight-line scratch is way easier to polish out than a swirl mark.
Address the 'Bug Zone'
For the front bumper and mirrors, use a bit more soap. If there's dried-on bugs, don't scrub hard. Lay a soapy cloth over them for a minute to soften them up.
Final Rinse
Flood the paint with a steady stream of water. If you've got a good wax or coating, the water should just sheet right off, making drying ten times easier.
The Drying Phase
Lay your big microfibre towel across the flat surfaces and just pull it towards you. No need to rub. Door jams and mirrors usually need a quick wipe too so they don't drip later.
Glass and Mirrors
I reckon a dedicated glass towel is worth the ten bucks. Give the windows a wipe so you don't get water stains. Nothing ruins a clean car like streaky glass.
Pro Tip: Dealing with Red Dust
Watch Out
The Finishing Touches
Common Questions
Can I just go to the automatic brush wash?
How do I get rid of bat droppings?
My car is ceramic coated, do I still need to do this?
Is it okay to wash the car in the garage?
Wrap Up
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