National Car Care Month, which is celebrated every April, acts as a reminder to take care of all aspects of your vehicle—including the exterior. Although many owners think a quick wash and wax are all a car’s exterior needs, there’s a lot more to it than that.
Because I’ve been detailing cars since I was a teenager, I know how to make an exterior shine. My skills came in handy when, in my mid-20s, I decided to purchase a 1987 Chevy CavalierZ24 off of Craigslist.
It took me more than six hours to properly detail the weather-worn, 24-year-old car, but the results were well worth the effort. When I was done, the finish displayed a glossy shine, despite being far from perfect. The car looked great from a distance—and that was good enough for me.
If you really want to make your car shine, the way I did with my Z24, you need to do more than just wash and wax the exterior. The amount of effort you put into detailing will determine how good your car looks while cruising down the street.
Before you jump in and start detailing your car, be sure to gather the necessary supplies. Here’s what I recommend:
Before you whip out wax or any other detailing product, you need to wash and dry your car first. Here is the process I use at home:
A word of caution: Microfiber towels can easily trap dirt and debris that might scratch your car’s finish. If you accidentally drop your towel on the ground, consider swapping it out for a fresh one.
Also, microfiber towels can pick up grime from regular use. That’s why, when it comes to cleaning and detailing exterior finishes, I only use my towels one time each. Then, I relegate the used ones to cleaning other aspects of the car, such as thewheels.
The towels eventually end up as shop rags after being used to detail several vehicles.
If your car has been exposed to the elements for a long time, the way my Cavalier had, you might want to consider cleaning the exterior with a water spot remover.
Unfortunately, because most high-quality water spot removers are corrosive in nature, they can be difficult to locate. You may need to try a few, professional-grade products before you find one that delivers decent results.
A clay bar is made up of a resin mixture that helps remove contaminants from a vehicle’s finish. If you apply wax without using a clay bar first, you run the risk of rubbing those contaminants into your car’s paint job—and that’s bad news.
To use a clay bar, simply follow the instructions on the package. The clay bar kit will come with polish that you apply during the procedure.
Remember to work one body panel at a time and plan on spending at least an hour to complete the entire process.
And oh yeah, if you drop the clay bar on the ground, be sure to throw it away. Otherwise, the bar might pick up stones and debris that could scratch your car.
Before you wax your car, use a clean rag to apply a trim detailer/protectant to the black plastic and rubber exterior components (e.g., window trim, cowl, etc.).
The detailer removes contaminants from these trim parts while also helping to restore their shine. Plus, the product helps protect against the wax residue you’re likely to encounter during the next step.
Most clay bar kits come with wax. To apply the wax to your car’s finish, first, dip an applicator pad into clean water. Then dab some wax onto the pad while it’s still damp. Apply the wax, wait for it to dry to a haze, then remove it with a clean microfiber towel. You should repeat the process on each of your car’s body panels, being sure to work only one panel at a time.
Most people forget to detail their car’s exterior lights. But applying a cleaner/polish to the headlamps and taillamps can help remove contaminants and protect against oxidation.
To detail your car’s outside lights, use a clean cloth and follow the instructions on the cleaner/polish product.
After you’re finished detailing the body of your car, you can move on to the wheels.
First, you’ll want to clean the wheels using a dedicated cleaner. Follow the instructions on the product, then afterward, use a clean rag to wipe away any remaining brake dust or road grime. Once everything is clean, apply wheel polish to each wheel, following the instructions on the package.
The final step is to apply a shine or gloss product to the sidewall of each tire. There are many different types of tire shine on the market, but I prefer the foam spray; it’s easy to apply and yields good results.
To apply shine to your car’s tires, simply follow the instructions on your product of choice.
Perhaps the most important advice of all is to take your time while detailing your car. To really get your vehicle to shine, you need to apply TLC to every inch of the exterior, from bumper to bumper. Patience, dedication, and elbow grease are what it takes to achieve a “show car” shine.
Even though I don’t have the free time I had as a teenager, I still put in the effort to ensure my Z24 looks its best when spring rolls around.
To celebrate National Car Care Month, I encourage you to do the same with your vehicle.
Cleaning your vehicle’s paint job is a good way of protecting your paint and making its shiny surface last for years to come. To do this, you’ll need to have the right car care products that can effectively get rid of road grime and clean various surfaces. Luckily, CarParts.com allows you to browse a selection of top products and get them from the comfort of your own home.
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Don’t let contaminants ruin your vehicle’s finish. Order top car care products from CarParts.com now!
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.
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Nice artical on cleaning your ride. Good tip on the microfiber cloth (dirt build up scratches).
Thank u