Sun, wind, and grit can take a toll on your car’s exterior over time. The good news is that much of this damage is repairable if caught in time, and the fixes don’t necessarily involve expensive detailing equipment. Use the following techniques to detail your car’s exterior.
Exterior paint: Excessive exposure to the sun can fade out a paint job—even if you’ve been careful to wash and wax your car regularly. While it’s not possible to repair clear-coat damage without repainting the car, there are several methods of removing the oxidized layer to restore the paint’s original color.
What type of paint surface is on your car? Many older vehicles have single-stage paint that requires different treatment than the multi-stage paint with clear coat on newer vehicles. Meguiar’s Professional Car Show Glaze is a product designed for classic cars with single-stage paint that is thin and fragile. Used properly, it will remove the layer of oxidation without damaging the layer of paint underneath. For newer cars, clay bar detailing is an effective way to remove oxidation. While clay bars won’t remove swirl marks, they will get rid of the bonded layer of oxidized paint that is dulling the color. Read “A Powerful Tool in Auto Detailing: The Clay Bar.”
Alloy wheels and tires: Brake dust that accumulates on alloy wheels is corrosive. To prevent damage to the rims, clean the wheels off with water—followed by a non-acidic alloy wheel cleaner. Use a soft-bristle wheel brush to scrub, getting into crevices and around the lug nuts. Dry the wheels with a microfiber towel. Applying a wheel glaze or wax afterward will protect the wheels from further damage.
Wash the tires and apply a water-based tire dressing. Avoid silicone-based products that will attract dirt to the tires. Apply the tire dressing in thin coats, allowing time for them to dry in between each coat. A good tire dressing keeps the tires moist, slowing down ozone-based damage.
Chrome: Chrome polishes such as Turtle Wax Premium Grade Trim Restorer and Simichrome can eliminate small pits in the surface and bring luster back to trim pieces and chrome bumpers on classic cars. (Beware: on newer cars, some chrome surfaces are actually chrome-plated plastic.) Make sure the chrome surface is clean and dry before applying polish since dirt particles can leave scratch marks. Park the car in a cool place, so the polish doesn’t dry too quickly. Use a clean cotton cloth or cotton polishing pads to apply the product and polish it down.
Cloth and vinyl convertible tops: Use a feathered convertible-top brush to remove dirt that accumulates on your vinyl or fabric top. To clean the top, you can either use a gentle car shampoo or a convertible top cleaner such as 303 Convertible Top Cleaner that works on both vinyl and cloth. After cleaning a vinyl top, use a protectant to prevent sun damage that will fade the color and cause cracking. For fabric tops, use a fabric guard that restores the factory protectant against water and dirt intrusion.
