Automatic car washes, polishing and waxing
Automatic car washes
An automatic car wash is a simple and quick way to clean your car, but
it is worth remembering that it can never be as thorough as when you
yourself go over the car with sponge and water; the machine's brushes
cannot always touch the car at the best angle. Keeping the underbody
clean is most important, especially in wintertime. Not all car washes
have facilities for washing the underbody.
Before driving into an automatic car wash, make sure that any extra
equipment fitted to the car body (e.g. extra driving lights) are secure,
otherwise there is a risk of the machine dislodging them. Unscrew or
retract the radio aerial. You should also place the headlight wiper blades
below the lower stop to prevent the machine's brushes from damaging
the wiper mechanism. Do not forget to return the wiper arms to their
original position after washing the car.
Use only automatic washes with clean brushes.
We recommend that you do not wash your car in an automatic car wash
for the first six months or so because the paint will not have hardened
sufficiently. Hand-wash the car during this period.
Polishing and waxing
Polish and wax the car when the surface begins to lose its lustre and
when you wish to give it an extra protective layer, for example before
the onset of winter. It is not normally necessary to polish the car
during the first year after delivery, although waxing may be beneficial
during this period. Wash and dry the car thoroughly before polishing
and/or waxing. Remove tar spots with white spirit. More stubborn
spots may be removed using a fine rubbing compound intended for
car paintwork. First polish with the polishing agent and then wax,
either with a fluid or solid wax.
Read the instructions carefully. Note that many commercially available
products contain both polish and wax.
A wide range of polymer-based car waxes are available nowadays.
Polymer waxes are easy to use and produce a long-lasting high gloss
finish which protects the bodywork against oxidation, road dirt and
fading.
Bumper
Use normal car wash detergent. Never use petrol or thinners. Use de-
natured alcohol for difficult spots. To avoid scratches on painted
bumpers do not wipe with paper. Petrol or diesel spills should be
cleaned off immediately.
