How to wash your classic car
How To Wash Your Classic
Kinda sounds dumb, doesn’t it - how to wash your classic car? Well,
that’s what I use to think until I found out that some of the cleaning
methods that I was using were actually damaging my paint. So I did a little
research and found some information to share with you.
Dish detergent is for dishes
There are still quite a few people that think soap is soap. If it will
work on my dishes, it will work on my car. If you’re the type of
person who likes to wax their car after every wash, then dish detergent
will work fine for you. The reason dish detergent is a definite no-no
for your car is the exact same reason that it’s great for your dishes
– it’s a grease remover. It will remove that protective layer
of wax just as quickly and easily as it removes the leftovers from your
supper dishes. The best detergents to use on your car are ones designed
for automotive surfaces. Most of these products are pH balanced, contain
shine enhancers, and even a water-based wax to protect, rather than harm,
your finish. Keep in mind that this does not replace a proper wax job,
but it does help to keep the shine lasting just a little bit longer. Which
brand is best? Ask six people and you’ll probably get six different
answers, but my suggestion would be to look for a quality name brand product
and keep in mind that you get what you pay for. If one brand sells theirs
in a pop-bottle sized container for six bucks and another has a 4 litre
jug for half that price, there’s got to be more of a difference
between them than the name on the front. The most expensive product on
the shelf may not be the best value, but neither is the cheapest. My personal
preference is a Kleen-Flo product called Wash'n Wax. You can pick it up
at your local NAPA store. Please note: if any Kleen-Flo or NAPA reps are
reading this, please feel free to send me a few bottles as your way of
saying "Thanks for the endorsement".
Black cars look better in the shade
Well, at least according to Gino Vanelli they do. All cars look better
when they’re washed in the shade. Your car make look cool, but make
sure it feels cool to the touch before you wash it. Sunshine and hot body
panels will cause water to evaporate quickly and leave your detergent
behind. Make sure your car is cool enough to leave your hand on, out of
the sun, and keep it wet at all times while washing it.
One glub or two?
Start with a large, clean plastic bucket (plastic is less likely to scratch
if it gets knocked over & hits your car), add a small amount of detergent,
and fill with cool or warm water. Don’t use hot water because it
can actually soften your car’s wax (remember, you’re not doing
dishes – you don’t need to sterilize the paint). How much
detergent is too much? Read the directions on the bottle and use about
half that amount. A detergent’s job is to break the electrostatic
bond between the dirt and your car. It lifts the dirt up and your wash
mitt whisks it away. Washing your car with a detergent will always remove
a bit of wax, so don’t use more than you have to.
Sponge, ratty old t-shirt, or wash mitt?
Sponges are great for holding water, but they can also hold dirt on their
surface and leave fine scratches in your paint. Old t-shirts or cotton
cloths are best used for checking fluid levels under the hood. The label
may say 100% cotton, but don’t always believe what you read. That
cloth could also contain fibers that can scratch. One quick, easy way
to tell is to roll up a small piece and set fire to it. If you get a clean
flame, you’re burning cotton. If you get black smoke & melting,
you’ve got fibers that can scratch. I’ve found that a thick
wash mitt works best. Dunk your mitt often and stir it around to remove
any loose dirt before going back to your car. You can also fill it with
water and lift it straight out of the bucket by the wrist strap so that
the water will be strained through it and take away any surface dirt with
it. And remember, wash mitts are inexpensive, so don't hold on to them
and treasure them. Replace them often.
Crank up the hose and blast away the dirt.
I once used a pressure washer to remove the paint from my deck one summer.
Hopefully the paint on your car has a better bond with the surface than
what was on my deck, but too much pressure is a bad thing. A strong spray
can grind the dirt into your car’s surface as it gets pushed along.
A gentle spray will rinse away the detergent and dirt without scratching.
If you want to play it really safe, remove the nozzle from your hose and
use the gentle stream instead. Wet the entire car, removing any loose
dirt with the hose as you go, and when you're ready for the wash mitt,
rewet the roof and start washing there. Wash your car in sections and
thoroughly rinse the soap off before moving on to the next section. Doing
it this way will take longer, but it won’t give the detergent a
chance to dry on your paint. When you rinse (especially when doing the
top, hood, or trunk), rinse all sides of your car to make sure no detergent
is left behind. When I wash my car, I do the top, hood, trunk, and then
the sides. If it’s been awhile since the last wash or if there is
a fair amount of grime, I’ll do the top part of the sides before
letting the mitt hit the dirtier sections.
Speed dry or chamois?
A speed dry is a quick run on the highway at 120 kmh because you’re
late for the car show. Wet car + 120 kmh winds + airborne dirt = mud drying
on your paint. Do this to your daily driver, but don’t mistreat
your classic this way. Use a chamois to remove the water from your car
and eliminate water spots. I’ve heard that a natural chamois can
contain tanning acids that can remove wax. I’ve also heard that
a synthetic chamois doesn’t work as well. I do know that using a
blow dryer isn’t a good idea either. Whether you use towels to blot
the water away or use a chamois is up to you, but don’t leave the
car to dry by itself and leave spots behind.
Birds love shiny objects
That old clunker in your neighbour’s driveway never gets hit by
bird droppings, but you can’t put your bucket and hose away before
the pigeons are lining up on the telephone wires planning their attack
mission. Bird droppings are acidic, and since birds use gravel to aid
in digestion, their “presents” also contain dirt. If you happen
to be out somewhere with your classic and notice one of these gifts from
above on your car, resist the urge to wipe it (and the dirt it contains)
across your paint. Instead, buy a bottle of carbonated water, shake it
up, and with your thumb over the top, rinse away the offending spot. Wash
it properly as soon as you can and consider touching up with spot with
a little wax as well.
|