Sahara dust damaging paintwork

[angryBMWdriver]

A detailer on another forum has mentioned that the Sahara dust rain we've had recently will damage the paintwork of your car if you try to jetwash it off. Do you think he's overexaggerating/taking advantage of the situation, or has he got a point? Surely if you chuck a few buckets on before you start using mitts/cloths etc, it should be fine?

[spikey78]

Sounds like bks

[Neil G60]

It'll damage the paint for sure if you grind it into the lacquer with a sponge or wash mitt. Just jetwash at an angle of 45 degrees so the dust is blasted off the body. Some TFR or snow foam beforehand will loosen it all nicely. This is good practice anyway. Remember it's fine sand so it'll make short work of car bodywork

[Garlick]

I bet said detailer can remove it safely for you, all for just £X

Call him on 0800....

[Vince70]

I'm no car cleaning expert but I just got the dust off ok without any damage..
All I did was hose the car off first before washing it and it's come as good as new...

[Neil G60]

That mental guy with the Nurbugring Astra must be having kittens with all this dust in the air.

[anonymous-user]

Neil G60 said:

That mental guy with the Nurbugring Astra must be having kittens with all this dust in the air.

I had the same thoughts this am. 'They' must all be going into absolute meltdown and rushing to clean and shove another layer of wax on.

As for not cleaning it with a jet wash, I'll go one further and say I'll just leave it there until it rains again

[beko1987]

I used to be a detailing junkie but that's waned over the past few years. The XM was beige on saturday with the dust, after a few drives to work after not touching it most of it has blown off/washed off with the rain!

Is due a good clean, but I CBA to go at it just because of some dust. I did that when it happened a few years ago and more came down the next day!

Helps that my car's worth £500 though, non swirled paintwork isnt high on most buyers agenda at that price! And there's a layer of wax under there somewhere...possibly...

[jagnet]

Even Sahara dust can be quickly and safely removed using the Slovakian 10 bucket Easter Monday method. As always, use plenty of water and a fresh girl for each pass to avoid wash marring. In bucket grit guards are not required and probably best avoided altogether.

[Kev T360]

jagnet said:

Even Sahara dust can be quickly and safely removed using the Slovakian 10 bucket Easter Monday method. As always, use plenty of water and a fresh girl for each pass to avoid wash marring. In bucket grit guards are not required and probably best avoided altogether.

What the heck? Thats very odd. How did you even know to look for that?

[jesta1865]

beko1987 said:

I used to be a detailing junkie but that's waned over the past few years. The XM was beige on saturday with the dust, after a few drives to work after not touching it most of it has blown off/washed off with the rain!

Is due a good clean, but I CBA to go at it just because of some dust. I did that when it happened a few years ago and more came down the next day!

Helps that my car's worth £500 though, non swirled paintwork isnt high on most buyers agenda at that price! And there's a layer of wax under there somewhere...possibly...

i;m going to glue the dust to my land rover then fib about where i went over easter

[jagnet]

Kev T360 said:

What the heck? Thats very odd. How did you even know to look for that?

My partner's Slovakian, which is handy - means I don't have to travel far when the car needs a wash

[J4CKO]

Funny how detailers worry about their paintwork, yet spend coutless hours ignoring the rest of their family fannying round trying to make an inanimate object perfect in a very imperfect and dirty world.

[jagnet]

J4CKO said:

Funny how detailers worry about their paintwork, yet spend coutless hours ignoring the rest of their family

And this is a bad thing because ... ?

[Vladimir]

Jet washing is fine; just don't attack it with a sponge or you scrape that sand all over your paint.

In fact jet washing is the best method.

Just kept the kids happy for a while; they help me clean the car but only on bits they can't damage!

[Silent1]

jagnet said:

Kev T360 said:

What the heck? Thats very odd. How did you even know to look for that?

My partner's Slovakian, which is handy - means I don't have to travel far when the car needs a wash

[mike-r]

You'll be doing more damage by driving into the atmospheric sand, which is basically none.

[exceed]

yonex said:

Neil G60 said:

That mental guy with the Nurbugring Astra must be having kittens with all this dust in the air.

I had the same thoughts this am. 'They' must all be going into absolute meltdown and rushing to clean and shove another layer of wax on.

As for not cleaning it with a jet wash, I'll go one further and say I'll just leave it there until it rains again

You're referring to VXRmarc, he's actually not that anal about things like that.

He just likes having a nice shiny car, that's all!

I'm 99% sure he won't be bothered in even the slightest about this 'dust cloud'.

[northwest monkey]

exceed said:

You're referring to VXRmarc, he's actually not that anal about things like that.

He just likes having a nice shiny car, that's all!

I'm 99% sure he won't be bothered in even the slightest about this 'dust cloud'.

I'd beg to differ. This is the man that actually considered rejecting a car because of a 0.5mm paint defect which he then spent 3 months washing.

I like having a nice shiny car as much as the next man but fk me that fella needs some help.

[Garlick]

exceed said:

You're referring to VXRmarc, he's actually not that anal about things like that.

He is though, or at least that thread gave the impression he was.