How do you wash a car with 12 months of road grime and bug poop?

[BluesClues]

Hi

My cars are usually washed fortnightly so just a sponge, cheap soap gets them clean.
I have a bf which wasn't washed for a year. The above method didn't remove the black grime and bugs etc.

I don't need an show finish but would you suggest, including product?

[.:4:.]

Wax and grease remover maybe, i say maybe because i have used it before on accident damaged cars to get the other cars donated paint off. If you wax the area hard it comes up good. Theres probably a heap of good products you can pick up from repco or supercheap that will do the job but wax the crap out of the area afterwards.

[Cav]

Clay Bar

[davenl5l]

Trade it in

[The Yeti]

The clay bar above will remove a lot of the contamination

I like them for neglected cars to bring them back

A light hand cut will do a lot as well

[mike_nofx]

Advertise it on eBay as a barn find?

[Craig@AUDI]

Originally Posted by mike_nofx

Advertise it on eBay as a barn find?

Kerosene removes gunk pretty well too

[BluesClues]

What's a good soap? Mine might be a bit weak.

[GO FURTHER]

Originally Posted by BluesClues

What's a good soap? Mine might be a bit weak.

When a car has not been washed for 12 months, and is that dirty with caked on dirt and grime, it needs to be 'stripped' right back to the original paintwork.

Meaning any old wax (if any is left) as well.

You need a high rated PH alkaline soap solution, rather than the PH balanced ones sold for regular maintenance washing that also does not strip your wax and sealant coatings.

You might as well use straight high alkaline dishwashing liquid or a strong 'truck wash' concentrate sold in auto shops.

After that, as others have recommended, you need to give the paintwork a good clay barring to remove contaminents that washing alone cannot remove.
This includes bonded contaminents such as industrial fallout, iron filings, bugs, tar and tree sap, etc.

[NTF6]

Step 1. CT18 Truckwash
Step 2. Wax & Grease remover for any tar and bugs
Step 3. Mothers clay bar
Step 4. Meguiar's Cleaner Wax

All available from Supercheap Auto and can be done in a day easy.

[snap0964]

You can get clay discs as an option to clay bars : http://www.carwaxblog.com/2017/04/so...y-disc-150-mm/ . If you shop around you can pick them up for around $20. They are hardy and last for ages - one pain I found with clay bars is dropping them in dirt - this you just wash off and keep going. Plus you can use them with a machine.

[Venomous1]

Claying a really dirty car
Ammo NYC did a great video on claying a dirty car!

[Vesper Martini]

Bug & Tar remover works like a weak cutter - but then you need a good wax to tidy up afterwards

[lucas2]

1. Power wash.
2. Spray an all purpose cleaner/ grime or tar remover on the heavy areas and let it sit for 3-5 minutes in the shade.
3. Heavy duty wash with a mixture of car soap and dishwashing liquid (or similar).
4. Power wash again.
5. Spray iron remover on the car.
6. Power wash and clay bar (use plenty of lubricant e.g. clay lube or you can use water that is extra soapy and slick).
7. Apply a sealant such as Powerlock+ which works awesome.

[roKWiz]

I found a small amount of methylated spirits mixed with detergent or even shampoo good for cleaning heavy grime off paint.
Shampoo seems to be the best for cleaning oil soaked hands as well.
Even use this combo to clean MT bicycle frames, chains and gears.
Followed by a polish (or not)

[waimser]

Truck wash and a quick scrub. Youll want to get in behind any mud flaps etc with a good jet of water. Anywhere theres a hidden flat shelf that can collect dirt.

Clay with cheap window wash to keep it lubricated.
Back and forth with the clay, dont use circles. Listen to it as you move it. once that scratchy noise goes away its done. You can use this to find spots you missed.

You can keep folding the clay into itself as it gets dirty, it will last longer than you think it should.
That vid linked is pretty good. Having a spray bottle of lubricating fluid in your hand just saves you going back to the bucket mainly, but I was told the window wash helps with bugs too.
DONT use dish washing liquid on your car.

Id only bother with stronger chemicals for any bugs the clay doesnt get off. Then go over with the clay again. Its the most efficient way imo but if you want to take your time anyway theres no harm done by degreasers as long as they are not left to sit.
The clay wraps around and squishes between panel/door/bonnet edges too without risk of damage.
Do any chrome first. Re wet and wipe dry right away if you want it looking nice.

Once youre finished with the paint you can go over mags etc with the clay too if you like. I found it good at getting crud out of gutter scrapes in particular.


Others can tell you about wax. I used whatever the guy in the truck brought us in bulk, I have no idea if it was quality or cheap garbage. Having a clean foam pad and a nice microfibre cloth makes it infinitely easier though.