Tips on how to clean a black car.
Discussion
Our water is very hard and we've got a couple of black cars. I used to use one of those Flash jobbies with an ion exchange cartridge in it, that was good. Otherwise, unless you have a water softener, you're going to have to either dry it or wipe the marks off after.
I washed the Elise yesterday, in hot sun, but since I then intended to clay, machine polish and wax it, I didn't have to worry about watermarks.
I washed the Elise yesterday, in hot sun, but since I then intended to clay, machine polish and wax it, I didn't have to worry about watermarks.
I'm in the process of giving my car a 2-day detail (Black Alfa GTV Phase3)
When I've finished I'll pop up a photo guide if that sort of thing is allowed on here (It's probably waaay more effort than you'd want to spend cleaning a car however when finished it won't look dull after a few days!, nor is it gonna have thousands of scratches (This is Alfa paint too, legendarily soft and thin). It's all about using decent microfibre cloths and care.
When I've finished I'll pop up a photo guide if that sort of thing is allowed on here (It's probably waaay more effort than you'd want to spend cleaning a car however when finished it won't look dull after a few days!, nor is it gonna have thousands of scratches (This is Alfa paint too, legendarily soft and thin). It's all about using decent microfibre cloths and care.
I have recently purchased a black car and echo the sentiments of others, do not wash the car in the sun, make sure you have cloud cover and make sure, with a hose you cool the paintwork down first.
I have just recently ordered my myself some GYEON Q2M BATHE+ shampoo - Google it. Many rate it's ability to wash and leave a protective layer on the car, which means when you finally rinse it, less water resides on the car and therefore easier to dry the car. Will let you know how I get on..
As already mentioned, I have used demon shine in the past, as a final rinse aid with a watering can to achieve the same result.
G
I have just recently ordered my myself some GYEON Q2M BATHE+ shampoo - Google it. Many rate it's ability to wash and leave a protective layer on the car, which means when you finally rinse it, less water resides on the car and therefore easier to dry the car. Will let you know how I get on..
As already mentioned, I have used demon shine in the past, as a final rinse aid with a watering can to achieve the same result.
G
I spend hours attempting to get mine clean and shiny. The best advice is to get it clean and then wax the hell out of it. That way any dirt will easily rinse off. To get it clean in the first place I use Autobright Direct snow foam, then I wash with some Carplan tough wash and wax. After a rinse off I'll chamois it off with a warm chamois leather. I'll then clay it, followed by a going over with a colour-specific polish and then a super resin polish. I'll also go over the exhausts with an EXTREMELY wet piece of wet and dry.
I found that I actually had chromed exhausts...! The garage I got it from had done precious little to titivate it. In fact they pranged it, slightly. That was fixed, along with some scratches on the boot, by them. Unfortunately in buffing out the scratches on one side of the boot lid the chimp with the buffer put some deep scratches in the lacquer on the other side. I still haven't removed those yet.
I found that I actually had chromed exhausts...! The garage I got it from had done precious little to titivate it. In fact they pranged it, slightly. That was fixed, along with some scratches on the boot, by them. Unfortunately in buffing out the scratches on one side of the boot lid the chimp with the buffer put some deep scratches in the lacquer on the other side. I still haven't removed those yet.
best way is to fully decontaminate the paint first with a good all purpose cleaner, iron x (or any decent fallout remover) and clay bar it...wash it with a good shampoo (and use two buckets) then rinse with de-ironised water... a light wax after and all good...
If you want it stay cleaner for longer then a good detail and sealant applied and it should stay cleaners longer too....
If you want it stay cleaner for longer then a good detail and sealant applied and it should stay cleaners longer too....
king nightmare to keep looking nice for more than 2 minutes. Gassing Station | Bodywork & Detailing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff