Cleaning a non 'dirty' car

[Mr Ben]

Hi all,

Seeking your collective wisdom, please.

I have a weekend car (TVR Chimaera, referencing as not metal bodywork) that is kept under a carport/garage space, enclosed at either end by large plastic screens which maintain a nice flow of air around and under the vehicle... Crap description... see below



In it's 'home' it doesn't get dirty, but airborne particles etc make it 'dusty' for want of a better term. In the interests of keeping it 'clean' is there a in situ method/product I can adopt rather than getting it out and doing a full 'wash'

Seeking help as really don't want to damage/scratch paintwork.

As always, thanks in advance.

[NDA]

Apart from a car cover, I would be tempted to let it get dusty.

I've had a few cars on SORN over the winter period, I've always resisted fiddling with them until the emerge into the sunshine.

[Belle427]

Maybe get yourself a compressor and blow gun and blow the dust off, failing that optimum no rinse is a product made for this and used correctly wont mark the paint.
Still needs water though.

[loughran]

A California Car Duster is what you need.

[Robertb]

The 'waterless' car washes, used carefully, are very good.

I use Carpro Ech20 (which is also a good 'quick detailer' or clay lube). I've head good things about Optimum No Rinse too.

Obviously be careful you don't rub grit into the paint, use different faces of a folded cloth and rinse frequently.

[Smint]

Seeing its not getting wet could you slip an light cotton or similar cover over it.

[Doesitdrive]

Robertb said:

The 'waterless' car washes, used carefully, are very good.

I use Carpro Ech20 (which is also a good 'quick detailer' or clay lube). I've head good things about Optimum No Rinse too.

Obviously be careful you don't rub grit into the paint, use different faces of a folded cloth and rinse frequently.

Used these for years too, never had issues, but my son started using Turtle Wax ceramic spray on his black van after washing and it is fantastic tbh.

Cheap, cheerful, easy to use regularly. Be perfect for alloy wheels I would have thought.

[Simpo Two]

Robertb said:

The 'waterless' car washes, used carefully, are very good.

What's the liquid if it isn't water?

[Robertb]

Simpo Two said:

Robertb said:

The 'waterless' car washes, used carefully, are very good.

What's the liquid if it isn't water?

I think 'rinseless' is a better description but for some reason theyre called waterless washes. There is no foam and residue that needs to be washed away afterwards.

[Johnnybee]

I'm not a detailing pervert but isn't this exact situation what "quick detailers" were made for?

Something like this https://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-cleaning/cla...

[Belle427]

Johnnybee said:

I'm not a detailing pervert but isn't this exact situation what "quick detailers" were made for?

Something like this https://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-cleaning/cla...

I have done it on a garage car that`s not that dusty but its not recommended really, the rinseless products used with water normally lubricate the panel more so to speak to aid in lifting the dirt.

[jamies30]

loughran said:

A California Car Duster is what you need.

I hadn’t heard of those - a waxy brush that you run over your dry, dusty car. It sounds like an awful idea?

[loughran]

jamies30 said:

loughran said:

A California Car Duster is what you need.

I hadn t heard of those - a waxy brush that you run over your dry, dusty car. It sounds like an awful idea?

Probably not for everyone but my cars are old and they are garaged at my workshop and whilst they don't really get dirty, they do get dusty.

As long as the cars are regularly waxed, a light dusting with a Cali Duster once in a while doesn't seem to do any lasting damage,

I'm way past worrying about micro swilrls.

[interstellar]

loughran said:

jamies30 said:

loughran said:

A California Car Duster is what you need.

I hadn t heard of those - a waxy brush that you run over your dry, dusty car. It sounds like an awful idea?

Probably not for everyone but my cars are old and they are garaged at my workshop and whilst they don't really get dirty, they do get dusty.

As long as the cars are regularly waxed, a light dusting with a Cali Duster once in a while doesn't seem to do any lasting damage,

I'm way past worrying about micro swilrls.

That’s absolutely gorgeous

[jamies30]

loughran said:

jamies30 said:

loughran said:

A California Car Duster is what you need.

I hadn t heard of those - a waxy brush that you run over your dry, dusty car. It sounds like an awful idea?

Probably not for everyone but my cars are old and they are garaged at my workshop and whilst they don't really get dirty, they do get dusty.

As long as the cars are regularly waxed, a light dusting with a Cali Duster once in a while doesn't seem to do any lasting damage,

I'm way past worrying about micro swilrls.

I’ll read up on them a bit more, yours looks great!

I think our situations are similar - my car never really gets dirty nowadays but needs the dust blown off it. Mine willl never be concours (I hope ) but I like it to look decent if you don’t get too close.

[loughran]

jamies30 said:

loughran said:

jamies30 said:

loughran said:

A California Car Duster is what you need.

I hadn t heard of those - a waxy brush that you run over your dry, dusty car. It sounds like an awful idea?

Probably not for everyone but my cars are old and they are garaged at my workshop and whilst they don't really get dirty, they do get dusty.

As long as the cars are regularly waxed, a light dusting with a Cali Duster once in a while doesn't seem to do any lasting damage,

I'm way past worrying about micro swilrls.

I ll read up on them a bit more, yours looks great!

I think our situations are similar - my car never really gets dirty nowadays but needs the dust blown off it. Mine willl never be concours (I hope ) but I like it to look decent if you don t get too close.

And there I was thinking my care was a rarity.

I've never seen one of those before.

Lovely.

I do wash my cars with wet water from time to time but when it's just dusty the California Duster is a quick fix.

After a wash I wax my cars with Swissvax and use their quick detailer from time to time but when the car is just dusty, that's when I use the duster.

Years ago someone told me the best wash for a waxed car was Johnson's Baby Bath. It doesn't strip the wax like Fairy washing up liquid...and it smells nice so that's what I do.