A clean car is like a clean outfit or a clean house. It is important to ensure that your four-wheel companion is clean as this not only gives you the ability to spot new dents, scratches or other defects, it also creates a good impression. Your car works hard, it deals with a lot so give it a clean now and then. While a white car is pretty easy to clean,
black cars do pose a bit of an issue. Scratch marks, swirls and stone chips are more prominent on darker cars. Here are our tips on cleaning a
black or dark coloured car.
More than just a quick wash
Black paint is notoriously hard to maintain since it requires regular polishing and waxing. You cannot achieve a bright, lustrous and flawless finish simply by washing the vehicle regularly. In fact, incorrect washing will cause swirl marks, which is the curse of
black paint.
An in depth washing routine should be followed. Always use a good quality
car shampoo, using quality
microfiber cloths and a car
wash mitt to wash and dry your vehicle. Park the car in a shaded area, never wash in direct sunlight, and let the exterior of the car cool in the shade before washing. Ensure that you rinse the vehicle well, removing as much dirt as you can. Wash the car from top to bottom, starting with the roof, rinse your sponge and cloth regularly. After washing the exterior, give it a good rinse making sure you remove all traces of soap suds from the finish. Wipe the paint clean using a dry
microfiber cloth or a
chamois.
You are not done, now the hard work starts
Pre-cleaning is basically removing blemishes and oxidation on
black paint. Start by applying a pre-cleaner on the topmost portion of your vehicle and work your way downwards. Apply the cleaner on a clean
microfiber cloth and work the cleaner on the paint surface, working one section at a time. Apply more product over deeper scratches and swirls. Let the product dry to a haze and wipe off with a dry
microfiber cloth. After cleaning the paint, you must immediately follow with a
polish and
wax. Polishing will remove the compound scratches and help achieve the best results.
Time to polish your car and bring out the shine
Apply a small amount of
polish on a clean
microfiber cloth, and work one section at a time, apply the
polish evenly on to the paint. Apply extra
polish over blemished areas. After polishing the paint work, buff the surface lightly using a mildly damp
microfiber cloth. Take your time and do not leave the
polish on for extended periods of time.
One of the biggest mistakes people in South Africa make is applying
polish and then driving around in their car. This is the same as putting face cream on, not rubbing it in and going to play in the sand. The
polish collects dust and when it comes time to remove it all that you end up doing is rubbing fine dust and dirt into the paint. It is like using sandpaper. Avoid this at all costs. Apply polish in a cool area, in the shade and don’t leave the product on for longer than 10 minutes.
Once you have polished your car, a panel at a time it is now the last stage, the waxing.
Wax on, wax off
Wax is different to
polish as it is a finishing product. This seals in the
polish and the shine. Apply a small amount of
wax on a clean
microfiber cloth and work one section at a time. Start with the hood, roof, and trunk, working your way down to the doors and bumpers. Only apply a light coat of
wax at a time.
Allow the
wax to dry to a haze for 10 – 15 minutes. Remove the haze and buff the surface lightly with a clean microfibre cloth, starting from the top and working your way down to prevent scratching the finish. Make sure you remove all traces of
wax on the paint finish.
Credit: Justin Jacobs
