For me there are few things more satisfying in life, than to stand back after several hours of washing and waxing one my cars and admiring all that hard labor.
My grandfather once remarked to me that a car actually seemed to run better after it was washed and waxed. I know what he means and I'm sure many of you share the same feeling.
Now considering that my collectible cars sit all winter covered, in a garage, the first washing of the year isn’t as extensive as a cleaning for my everyday cars would be.
If you followed the advice in my last post regarding checking your collectible car’s
mechanical items after its winter sleep, you’re now ready to do the detailed cleaning.
In this post I will deal with the cleaning your car’s exterior. Be prepared to put aside a couple of hours. Something like this should not be rushed. Whenever I do a detailed exterior cleaning on any of my cars, new or old, I plan on at least 2 hours for each car. I usually end up doing only one car on a given day. That way I don’t feel rushed.
First and foremost NEVER wash or wax a car in the sun, or when the paint is hot. I think the reasons behind this pretty much speak for themselves.
Before you start, thoroughly hose down the car from top to bottom with cool water. This removes any loose dirt and cools the paint’s surface (if it was out in the sun), to an acceptable level.
I use a soap specifically designed for car washing...one that's ph balanced. I do not recommend that you use dishwashing soap as it contains alkalies that can remove wax and strip the oils right out of paint.
I also don’t use the soaps that have a wax in them as I prefer to apply the wax myself.
When washing a car do so with a soft mitt or sponge and rinse mitt or sponge often to remove dirt. Wash only one or two panels at a time. Don’t rush the job by trying to wash an entire side of your vehicle before rinsing off the soap. You do not want soap to dry on your car, it leaves streaks and dulls the finish. Remember to rinse the wheel well area as well.
When you’ve finished washing the car do NOT let it air dry, you will end up with water spots that can be hard to remove. Dry off the car with soft terrycloth. Be sure to dry off the windows as they will also spot if left to air dry.
Now inspect the paint for tree sap, tar or other surface stains. Remove them with a product like Turtle Wax Bug and Tar Remover. Once again, be sure to use a soft terry cloth when applying.
If your car is a dark color and there are swirl marks or light surface scratches in the paint, you may want to use a glaze before applying wax. A glaze will lessen the appearance of such marks and deepen the shine.
Next is waxing. I prefer a wax such as Meguier's. Although there really is no difference in durability, I prefer a paste wax. I recommend that you wax one panel at a time. Letting the haze set up, then hand buffing it away before moving on to the next panel. This will allow you to do a more complete job and at the same time, prevent you from getting overtired which could lead to rushing the job, resulting in a less than satisfactory job.
When the entire car is completely waxed I recommend that you lightly spray your car with water and wipe dry. This helps to remove any wax dust that might have accumulated on the paint surface.
Lastly, I detail the tires with a product that gives a slight gloss to the tires. Not only does this add the final touch to a clean car it also helps protect your tires from the sun's UV rays that could lead to cracking.
Now after all that hard work, shower up then go show off your car.
