There is nothing like a good car wash and wax to make an old car look almost new. Today, with so many cleansing products available, it’s easy to keep an older car looking shiny bright. It just takes consistency and elbow grease, even here in Winter Park 32792, where the sun can fade a paint finish quickly and oxidation can cause rust and corrosion on the undercarriage of a car.
There are four steps for a car wash to keep a car in “showroom condition.” First, washing. If you choose to do it yourself, begin with a good rinse. Run water over the entire car while inspecting it for heavy dirt – pollen (very common here in Winter Park 32792), bird droppings or tree sap. Then wash with an auto cleanser section by section, rinsing after each soapy application with a microfiber sponge. After the wash, run a hand over the surface of the paint. If it feels smooth, it’s good to go to the next step. If it feels gritty or has swirls, further cleaning is needed. Bringing your car in to be washed is usually the quickest and easiest way to make sure you everything get done right. A good car wash detailer knows what to look and feel for. Car detailers use a clay bar to shear off any contaminates left behind after the washing. With gentle, circular motions, they rub the clay bar over the area, then remove it with a microfiber towel. After this process, a car’s surface should feel smooth and be free of any swirls.
The next step would be to polish a car. This is not the same as waxing. Polish shines a car’s finish, waxing protects the car after the car wash. A good polishing restores the oils in the car’s paint finish, making the car have a nice reflective shine. Polishing is not needed after every car wash. Once to twice a year polishing should be sufficient, but always check with a professional.
The fourth and final step is waxing. Most professional car detailers suggest waxing about every three months. In Winter Park 32729, the harsh Florida sun can wear down a wax job. It’s the wax that protects a car’s finish.
There are new products on the market such as synthetic polymer-based waxes in liquid or paste that now last longer and are easier to apply than other waxes. There are good spray waxes which hold up differently that traditional waxes.
As with washing, wax is applied in a circular motion with a microfiber mitt, working one section of the car at a time. Partially dried wax is taken care of in a similar manner.
Even if you are not in Winter Park 32792, most professional car detailers follow this same procedure of thoroughly cleaning, restoring and finishing a car. Whether a car wash is a do-it-yourself project or done by a professional detailer, consistent cleaning and waxing will keep an old car looking as new as the day it came off the showroom floor.