Dirt road grim and brake dust

[Jeenyus]

my car is covered in dirt that just dont come of when i was it

wheels arent exactl white anymore they have loads of brake dust that wont come off

and the back of my car has loads of lil black specks on it

what is the best thing to use to clearn white wheels and what about this rubbish on the back of my car please help

cheers

[Root Ginger]

You need to get yourself a clay bar. Meguiars Quik Clay Detailing System is available from your local Halfords store or on-line. There is also a new Meguiars Smooth Surface Clay Kit but that is £10 dearer.

Enthusiast Surface Preparation Quik Clay Detailing System

Enthusiast Surface Preparation Smooth Surface Clay Kit

[Jeenyus]

will that do my alloys too?

[I love MINI, Laura]

YEP but try and keep a piece for the wheels and another for the body work.

Competely agree with Root Ginger!

[Mins21]

little black spots may be tar etc - so also try a seperate tar/bug remover or citrus degreaser - available from harfords or more specialist online retailers like

Meguiars Gold Class Bug & Tar Remover

and for clay bar and clay detailing kits try

Detailing Clay from Sonus, Clay Magic and Meguires

good luck...

[Root Ginger]

Quote: Originally Posted by I love MINI, Laura (original)

YEP but try and keep a piece for the wheels and another for the body work.

Competely agree with Root Ginger!

That's exactly right. I normally divide a bar into a 2/3rd and 1/3rd piece and use the smaller one for the wheels.

[James]

This might be a stupid question but is a clay bar actually made of clay? and if so wouldn't it scratch the paint if it gets little bits of grit etc stuck in it?


Crammy

[Root Ginger]

Quote: Originally Posted by Crammy (original)

This might be a stupid question but is a clay bar actually made of clay? and if so wouldn't it scratch the paint if it gets little bits of grit etc stuck in it?


Crammy

It is a synthetic clay, not real clay. You wash the car before using the clay, so there will be no grit on the paint, only bonded contaminants. Even so, you keep folding the clay as you go, to avoid any of that bonded stuff scratching your car. You also use it with lubricant as well otherwise it would stick to the paint. The lubricant can be anything from a detailing spray to a bit of your usual car wash mixed with water in a trigger bottle.

This link explains it in much greater detail and dispels some of the myths surrounding clay Detailing Clay Bar - Car Paint Cleaning | Detailing How-to Guide

[Mins21]

it really is fantastic and leaves your paintwork soo nice and smooth (and cold after a wash!!!)...

there is also a video of how to clay bar your car on youtube....have a search for clay bar etc...

M

[Paul]

Key thing with white wheels. Wash them frequently! Sounds obvious, but it's well worth a little wash frequently to stop the build up of brake dust and other gunk.

[Root Ginger]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett (original)

Key thing with white wheels. Wash them frequently! Sounds obvious, but it's well worth a little wash frequently to stop the build up of brake dust and other gunk.

Too true. Once they're grubbed up it takes a lot of work to get them back. About one hour per wheel I'd say.

[S33BBY]

As others have said, a clay bar will restore the paint back to its original "smooth as glass" finish. You should only clay the bodywork twice a year or so. I did mine for the first time a couple of weeks ago (being a year old) and it made an unbelievable difference. It took me 9 hours to do the whole car (wash, dry, clay, polish, wax, etc) but it's worth it, and will mean the next washes will be much easier.

Throughout the year, as others have suggested, try a water-based/solvent free degreaser-type product to remove road film, bugs, and so on. I use Autoglym Motorcycle Cleaner as it's safe on wheels and paintwork. I tend to spray it round the bottom of the car and bumpers before washing, and all the grit then comes off easily. I also use it on my wheels and it works very well.