The basics of caring for your car the way the professionals do... For   most   people,   simply   getting   out   a   bucket   of   warm   soapy   water,   a   sponge   and   a   hose   is   all   that   is   needed   to   clean   the car.   Better   yet,   paying   someone   else   to   do   it   makes   the   process   even   easier.   The   problem   is,   this   may   actually   be   slowly degrading   the   looks   of   your   vehicle.   The   following   is   a   short   summary   of   what   needs   to   be   done   to   maintain   the   your   car’s sheen or revitalise it if its already dulled. Preparation, preparation, preparation! Don’t   be   too   quick   to   get   the   bucket   of   soap   and   sponge.   First   remember   to   hose   off   any   accumulated   muck,   using   a sponge   or   towel   with   any   sand   or   other   grit   still   on   on   the   car   can   actually   scratch   the   clear   finish.   Use   a   soapy   bucket   to wash   (and   use   a   car   shampoo   -   household   detergents   may   damage   the   paint)   and   rinse   off   the   microfibre   mitt   or   towel   in   a separate   bucket   of   water.   You   want   to   use   a   micro-fiber   mitt   or   towel   to   get   the   grit   off   the   surface,   rather   than   using   other materials   that   end   up   rubbing   it   in.   There’s   no   point   rinsing   a   dirty   cloth   in   a   clean   bucket   of   soap.   Dry   the   car   with   a cloth to avoid any water spots appearing. You’re not finished yet... Congratualtions   on   cleaning   of   the   loose   dirt,   but   your   not   done   yet.   Over   time,   a   fine   film   of   dirt   attaches   itself   to   the   clear surface   of   the   car’s   paint   job. This   makes   it   dull   and   rough   to   the   touch. To   remove   this   film, Automotive   clay   lube   is   used   to smooth   out   the   clear   surface. You   can   then   use   a   polisher   (either   powered   or   using   elbow   grease)   and   polishing   compound to   restore   the   shine   and   remove   any   remaining   scratches,   swirls   or   other   markings.   Remember,   claying   should   not   be   done too   often   as   it   does   remove   a   fraction   of   the   clear   coat.   Polishing   can   be   done   more   frequently   and   does   not   require   as much   force   as   the   clay   lube   to   be   effective. To   protect   this   polished   surface,   you   now   need   to   wax   the   car,   let   it   dry   and   rub it down to bring out the brilliance. You’re still not finished... Dont   forget   to   use   our   wash   and   shine   spray   to   clean   out   the   interior   panels   and   windows. A   vacuum   cleaner   is   never   a   bad idea either.