Wondering what happened to that shiny car you once had? Unfortunately, everyday factors like dirt, UV rays, wear and tear, etc, quietly take a toll on a car’s finish. The great news is, though, restoring that head-turning sparkle is possible with some elbow grease and the right car exterior detailing products.
Understanding the Purpose of Car Exterior Care Products
Car exterior care products are designed to preserve and enhance the appearance of your vehicle’s exterior surface. It involves products used for cleaning, protection, enhancement, maintenance and longevity. Each of these car exterior detailing products serves a specific purpose:
Cleaning
Car cleaning products, such as car shampoos, pre-wash sprays, bug and tar removers and wheel cleaners, are designed to remove dirt, grime and contaminants that accumulate on the car’s surface over time. They help prevent long-term damage caused by dirty and acidic substances like bird dropping or bug splatters.
Protection
Protection products serve to shield the car’s paintwork and exterior components from environmental damage. They include waxes, sealants, ceramic coatings and tyre dressings. When you apply these products to the exterior of your car, you’re helping ensure it stays protected against UV rays, oxidation and water spots, prolonging the life of the paint and finishes.
Enhancement
The purpose of enhancement products is to restore and improve the car’s shine, depth of colour and overall aesthetic. Polishes, paint cleaners and detailing sprays are examples of enhancement care exterior products. These products will give your car a showroom-like finish, hiding minor imperfections and enhancing the visual appeal.
Maintenance
Maintenance products, such as quick detailers, spray waxes and maintenance shampoos, help keep the car looking newer for longer with minimal effort over time. In other words, it simplifies upkeep, ensuring a consistent high-quality appearance between major detailing sessions.
Longevity
Longevity products serve to extend the lifespan of the paint, trims and other exterior elements. They include rust inhibitors, rubber and plastic restorers and coatings. Adding these products to your car exterior detailing will help you maintain your vehicle’s value and esthetics, ensuring it remains a source of pride and performance on the road.
What Does Exterior Detailing Include?
Car detailing includes different steps. Let’s take a look at them and which exterior car care products you’ll need to keep yours clean and shiny.
Washing
This is the first step to keeping your car’s exterior clean. Washing your car will help remove harmful debris and also reduce the chance of rust. The best time to wash your car is in the morning or evening when the sun isn’t intense. If you have a shaded spot to do the job, then it makes no difference what time of the day you do it. If your car has been in the sun for an extended period of time, consider letting it cool down before washing it.
Fill a bucket with water and a concentrated cleaning solution – follow the manufacture’s directions for the proper dose to use. Using a garden hose with a spray nozzle, wet down the entire surface of the car. Dip a washing mitt or sponge designed for car washing into the bucket, start on the roof of the vehicle and then move to the windows. Rinse these parts. Washing and rinsing in sections will help avoid the soap’s drying on the surface before you spray it off. Continue on the front or back, then proceed down to the sides (one panel at a time).
Leave the wheels and tyres till last. Given that these areas are in direct touch with the road and gather the most oil, it makes more sense to clean the rest of the vehicle first to avoid transferring dirt from them to the other parts. Grit from the tyres and lower panels can also attach to your sponge, scratching the paint elsewhere.
The best way to clean the wheels is to apply a wheel and tyre cleaner on them. Wet the wheels and tyres and spray the cleaner on them. Allow the solution to settle for a few minutes before washing with a different sponge. Rinse them off.
Drying
Letting your vehicle dry naturally will result in water spots, the reason why you’ll want to dry it yourself. For that, you can use a soft, clean towel, or better yet, a microfibre drying towel or chamois. Microfiber towels and chamois are designed to absorb water efficiently, helping you dry your car faster and with fewer streaks. Their soft fibres are also more gentle on your car’s surface, reducing the risk of scratches or swirl marks. Plus, unlike regular towels, microfiber towels and chamois don’t leave behind lint or fibres. This ensures a spotless, professional-grade finish every time.
Protecting
Once your car is dried, apply a small amount of vinyl and rubber protectant to a clean rag and wipe it across all vinyl, plastic, and rubber parts on the vehicle’s exterior. These often include door and window mouldings, trim, rearview mirrors, and tyres. To ensure complete, even coverage, wipe in a circular motion. You know the protectant is completely absorbed once the surface seems and feels dry. After that, use a new, clean rag to wipe down the parts.
Waxing
Waxing is an essential step in maintaining the paint and finish. It seals the exterior and protects it from the environment, UV rays, salt, splattered insects, and bird droppings, leaving the car looking clean and shining. Car wax is typically available in three forms: paste, liquid, and cream. There is never-ending debate regarding which type of wax to use, but most car aficionados favour carnauba-based wax in any form. One application of this wax typically lasts six to eight weeks.
To apply, either dip an applicator pad into the wax container (for pastes and creams) or pour a tiny amount onto the pad (liquid). Many waxes come with applicator pads, which can also be purchased separately.
To prevent wax from seeping into and on undesirable areas, such as plastic or rubber trim, consider outlining the part where you’ll apply the wax to the edges in a straight line. Then, use a circular motion to apply the wax to the remaining area. As the wax dries, it will create a haze. This normally only takes a few minutes.
To wipe away the haze, use a clean, soft microfibre cloth. When wiping each part, try to use only a small section of the cloth so that you have enough clean cloth to wipe the following section. Repeat this method for the entire car’s finish.
