Tips for Getting the Perfect Finish on Your Car

Cars are a prize possession for many people; they take pride in ensuring that their car is kept clean and maintained. For many drivers, their car is not only a way to get them from one place to another but also a showcase of their style, wealth and personality. Having a dirty, unkempt car is simply not an option, and some people believe that it reflects badly on their own appearance. If this sounds like you, then this article will be of interest; we take a look at some tips for getting the perfect finish on your car, so you can be proud to drive it around.

Heat and sunlight

A hot sunny day might appear to be the best time to clean your car because it will dry very quickly. However, heat and sunlight can cause issues and reactions with the chemicals in some of the cleaning products. In addition, the heat will mean you have to work extra quickly to stop parts from drying before you’ve finished cleaning them. You’re better off cleaning your car on a mild, overcast day that has no rain forecasted.

Grit on your paintwork

One issue many people have when washing their cars is they rub grit into the paintwork. To ensure you don’t do this, you need to pre-wash your car, rinsing it down with water to remove as much dirt as possible. Then when it comes to your buckets, you should have grit guards that fit in the bottom of them. This prevents your mitt or cloth from picking up grit and then rubbing it on the surface of your car. By taking these steps, you can avoid unnecessary scratches to the paintwork, keeping your vehicle in the best possible condition.

Pay attention to the wheels

The wheels of the car will get very dirty and covered in grime; if they aren’t cleaned properly, it can lead to issues. When cleaning your car wheels, you should use a special wheel cleaner and a solution that will loosen the brake dust and other grime that sits underneath the wheel arches. Many people choose to fit aftermarket wheels into their cars. To keep these in good condition, you should regularly clean them to ensure dirt and grime don’t get a chance to bake onto the alloys.

Clean your windscreen

A clean and pristine car is great, but if you can’t see out of your windscreen properly, then you’re going to have issues. Ensure you clean the windscreens outside and inside to remove all dirt and smearing. A glass cleaner is the best product to use here as it will dry clear without leaving any residue behind. Make sure you switch to a clean microfibre cloth when cleaning your windscreen; any residue from cleaning the rest of your car could be left on the cloth and impact your level of finish.

Consider a clay bar

Many people are now choosing to use clay bars on their cars to improve the look of the paintwork. Clay bars pick up contaminants that are embedded in the finish of the car. You’re unlikely to get these contaminants off with a simple wash, which is where the clay bar comes into the process. Using a clay bar is really simple. You just need to use lubricant or detailing spray to wet a section of the vehicle, then use the clay bar on that section, rubbing it up and down. You will notice that the clay picks up lots of dirt and contaminants that have been missed when washing your car. This should be done after you’ve washed your car with soap and water; it is a great way to improve the final finish of the vehicle.