Mastering Exterior Car Care: Summer Protection and Maintenance

Never wash a car that is hot to the touch. In Australian summer, this means working before 9:00 AM or after 5:00 PM, preferably under a carport or shade sail. If the panels are hot, the chemicals will flash (evaporate) instantly, causing permanent chemical staining or streaking that requires machine polishing to fix. Use an infrared thermometer if available; panel temps should be below 30°C.

Wheels are usually the dirtiest part of the car and contain the most abrasive metallic particles. Clean them first so that any splash-back doesn't contaminate the clean paint later. Apply your iron remover to cool, dry wheels and let dwell for 2-3 minutes. You will see a purple reaction as it dissolves brake dust.

Fill Bucket A (Wash) with 15L of water and the manufacturer-recommended ratio of shampoo (usually 2-3 capfuls). Fill Bucket B (Rinse) with 15L of plain water. This ensures your wash mitt is cleaned in the rinse bucket before taking more soap, preventing the transfer of grit back onto the paint.

Using a pressure washer (1500-2000 PSI), rinse the vehicle from the top down. Focus on wheel arches and lower sills where salt and red dust accumulate. This removes approximately 70% of loose contaminants without touching the paint, significantly reducing the risk of 'love marks' or swirl scratches.

Starting from the roof and working down, wash one panel at a time using your microfibre mitt. Do not apply pressure; let the lubricity of the soap do the work. After each panel, rinse the mitt in the 'Rinse' bucket, scrubbing it against the grit guard to release trapped dirt, then reload with soap from the 'Wash' bucket.

While the car is still wet but rinsed of soap, spray an iron remover over the entire vehicle. In coastal or industrial areas, this is vital for removing embedded rail dust and metallic fallout. Let it dwell for 3-5 minutes, ensuring it does not dry. Rinse thoroughly until the water runs clear of any purple tint.

Using a clay lubricant or a very soapy water mix, gently glide your clay mitt over the paint. You will hear a 'scratchy' sound which will gradually turn silent as the contaminants are removed. This process removes bonded sap, tar, and stubborn red dust that washing cannot touch. Keep the surface extremely wet at all times.

Rinse the car again to remove any clay residue. Then, remove the nozzle from your hose and let a low-pressure stream of water flow over the panels. This 'sheets' the water off, leaving much less behind for the towel to dry, which is critical in preventing water spots in high-evaporation Australian environments.

Using your 1200GSM microfibre towel, pat the car dry rather than rubbing. Start with the glass to prevent streaks, then move to the horizontal panels. Use a cordless leaf blower or compressed air to blow water out of wing mirrors, badges, and door handles where salt-laden water tends to hide and cause future corrosion.

To ensure your sealant bonds correctly to the paint, use an Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) mix or a dedicated panel prep spray. Lightly mist a clean microfibre and wipe each panel. This removes any leftover soaps or oils, creating a 'naked' surface for maximum protection bonding.

Apply 2-3 sprays of an Si02-based sealant per panel. Spread it evenly with a fresh microfibre towel, then immediately buff off with a second, dry microfibre towel. These modern synthetic sealants offer superior heat resistance compared to carnauba waxes, which can melt at surface temperatures exceeding 60°C on dark cars.

Apply a water-based, UV-inhibiting dressing to all exterior plastics and rubber seals. Australian sun turns these grey and brittle. Avoid silicone-based 'greasy' dressings which attract red dust; instead, use products like Aerospace 303 or Bowden’s Own Vinyl Care.

Clean the exterior glass with a dedicated glass cleaner. For the windscreen, apply a rain repellent. This not only improves visibility during sudden summer storms but also makes it significantly easier to remove 'bug splatter' after a highway drive.

Apply a thin layer of tyre gel. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then wipe off any excess with a dedicated rag. This prevents 'sling'—where the product sprays onto your clean paintwork once you start driving.