Learn how to wash your car properly to avoid extra work later.

With winter finally winding down, it’s time to clean off all the built up grime that has accumulated on your car’s exterior. All the salt, chemicals, ice and snow is really hard on your car’s paint job and with the cold weather is hard to get off and keep it off! It’s important to wash and rewax your car as the weather begins to warm.

Washing your car might seem straight-forward but with poor washing technique, it is possible to damage your paint and cause scratches and swirl marks, which would require further compounding or polishing. Regular washes and careful hand drying is the best preventive care you can give your car.

The first wash after the winter season is important and helps to remove all the built up dirt. Take extra care to rinse off the car before starting to wash. Because it’s the first wash after the long winter months, remember to use Clean Plus® PreWash (Ref: 01 440432) to eliminate damage from organic compounds such as insect, tar and bird droppings. If they aren’t removed quickly they can eat into your clear coat and create opportunities for corrosion and discoloration to set in. It’s important to remember that the lower portion of the car gets a layer of built up dirt from roadway chemicals, salt, and brake dust from the wheels. Washing your car weekly removes this grime, that when built up can cause permanent damage.

Car Wash 1,2,3…

1. Wash your car in the shade. Park you car out of direct sunlight and if possible on the lawn so that the soapy water does not directly enter the storm drains.
2. Wash the wheels and tires. Spray your wheel wells and tires with a high pressure hose to remove brake dust and salt residues.
3. Use Clean Plus® Wheel Cleaner (Ref: 01 440416) to clean tires and rims.
4. Use a wheel brush to clean wheels without scratching. Wash each wheel and tire one at a time and rinse thoroughly before moving on to the next one.
5. Empty and rinse all cleaning materials, especially your Wash Sponge (Ref: 07 430505) and wash bucket.
6. Use Clean Plus® PreWash (Ref: 01 440432) to remove all insect debris, tar, oil and traffic film from your car’s surface.
7. Rinse off entire surface of the car to remove loose particles.
8. Use Clean Plus® Eco Shampoo (Ref: 01 440433) to clean off the contaminants and to lubricate the car’s surface which prevents grit from scratching the paint as it is rinsed off. Work from the top down, not front to back and remember that the bottom of the car is the dirtiest!
9. To prevent swirl marks, use two buckets; one with soapy water and the other with clean water. Rinse your sponge or rag off first in the clean water and then reload it with soapy water to continue washing. Rinse and reload your sponge often to prevent scratching your car with the dirt you are washing off.
10. Rinse your car while washing often and then rinse off thoroughly when the entire surface has been washed. It is not necessary to rinse with a high pressure hose, allow the water to flow off the car’s surface for a thorough rinse.
11. Dry your car to prevent water spots. Use a chamois or a water blade to remove excess water.
12. Apply Clean Plus® Paint Renovator (Ref: 01 440428), Clean Plus® Super Polish (Ref: 01 440417) and Clean Plus® Paint Sealant (Ref: 01 440429) for a beautiful protective finishing touch!

Learn how to wash your car properly to avoid extra work later.

With winter finally winding down, it’s time to clean off all the built up grime that has accumulated on your car’s exterior. All the salt, chemicals, ice and snow is really hard on your car’s paint job and with the cold weather is hard to get off and keep it off! It’s important to wash and rewax your car as the weather begins to warm.

Washing your car might seem straight-forward but with poor washing technique, it is possible to damage your paint and cause scratches and swirl marks, which would require further compounding or polishing. Regular washes and careful hand drying is the best preventive care you can give your car.

The first wash after the winter season is important and helps to remove all the built up dirt. Take extra care to rinse off the car before starting to wash. Because it’s the first wash after the long winter months, remember to use Clean Plus® PreWash (Ref: 01 440432) to eliminate damage from organic compounds such as insect, tar and bird droppings. If they aren’t removed quickly they can eat into your clear coat and create opportunities for corrosion and discoloration to set in. It’s important to remember that the lower portion of the car gets a layer of built up dirt from roadway chemicals, salt, and brake dust from the wheels. Washing your car weekly removes this grime, that when built up can cause permanent damage.

Car Wash 1,2,3…

1. Wash your car in the shade. Park you car out of direct sunlight and if possible on the lawn so that the soapy water does not directly enter the storm drains.
2. Wash the wheels and tires. Spray your wheel wells and tires with a high pressure hose to remove brake dust and salt residues.
3. Use Clean Plus® Wheel Cleaner (Ref: 01 440416) to clean tires and rims.
4. Use a wheel brush to clean wheels without scratching. Wash each wheel and tire one at a time and rinse thoroughly before moving on to the next one.
5. Empty and rinse all cleaning materials, especially your Wash Sponge (Ref: 07 430505) and wash bucket.
6. Use Clean Plus® PreWash (Ref: 01 440432) to remove all insect debris, tar, oil and traffic film from your car’s surface.
7. Rinse off entire surface of the car to remove loose particles.
8. Use Clean Plus® Eco Shampoo (Ref: 01 440433) to clean off the contaminants and to lubricate the car’s surface which prevents grit from scratching the paint as it is rinsed off. Work from the top down, not front to back and remember that the bottom of the car is the dirtiest!
9. To prevent swirl marks, use two buckets; one with soapy water and the other with clean water. Rinse your sponge or rag off first in the clean water and then reload it with soapy water to continue washing. Rinse and reload your sponge often to prevent scratching your car with the dirt you are washing off.
10. Rinse your car while washing often and then rinse off thoroughly when the entire surface has been washed. It is not necessary to rinse with a high pressure hose, allow the water to flow off the car’s surface for a thorough rinse.
11. Dry your car to prevent water spots. Use a chamois or a water blade to remove excess water.
12. Apply Clean Plus® Paint Renovator (Ref: 01 440428), Clean Plus® Super Polish (Ref: 01 440417) and Clean Plus® Paint Sealant (Ref: 01 440429) for a beautiful protective finishing touch!

Doesn’t it feel great to step inside a freshly cleaned car? Leaning back into the driver’s or passenger’s seat, you breathe deeply, enjoying the fresh scent of newly cleaned upholstery. Free of dust, lint, and trash, your vehicle will seem almost brand new. You can especially appreciate clean seats, since they hold your weight and come in close contact with your body. Give them special attention when you clean the car’s interior.

1. First, remove all trash, debris, and personal items from the four car seats to free them for cleaning. Lengthen the seat belts so these can be cleaned as well. Push your front seats back as far as they can go, and bend rear seats forward with the lever so you can reach under them. Draw a bucket of hot water and add a few drops of mild detergent. Get a whisk-broom and a clean scrubbing cloth to work with.

2. Next, use the broom to brush away crumbs, lint, and hair from each seat. Do the same for the headrest, backs, and floor areas under the seats. Then use a portable vacuum cleaner to sweep away the remaining debris, using the extension nozzle to reach between, beside, and under the central area. While you’re at it, you might as well vacuum the floor after removing the mats. Take out any large objects, like coins or toothpicks, by hand to avoid harming the sweeper. Use a napkin to wipe off sticky substances like gum or hard candy.

3. Leather Seats – Use Clean Plus® Leather Conditioner (Ref: 01 440412) and rub it on each seat with a cloth to clean and protect your leather seats.The Clean Plus Leather Conditioner is a ready-to-use safe liquid for cleaning and conditioning of leather and plastic surfaces. Efficiently removes oil, grease and grime from surfaces. Protects leather surfaces and extends the life by replenishment of natural oils. Can also be used for cleaning and conditioning of plastic, vinyl and rubber.

Fabric Seats – Spray on Clean Plus® Textile Cleaner (Ref: 01 440425) and use a cloth to wipe off each seat’s fabric, giving special effort to spots or stains.The Clean Plus Textile Cleaner cleans your seats with stable dry foams and transforms to a dry residue, which you can easily remove with a vacuum cleaner. It also contains a highly effective odor absorber, which eliminates the unwanted smells off your fabric seats.

4. Dip your whisk-broom in the soapy water and brush the floor carpet around and under each seat. Wash the mats separately. Wipe off the inside doors beside the seats, checking ashtrays and handles for special cleaning needs, such as spilled food or beverages. Lift the headrest and wipe underneath each one. Then wipe off each seat-belt, using degreaser for tough spots if needed. Don’t forget the backs of the seats as well.

When you are finished, your seats should feel fresh and clean. Visually inspect the entire interior and finish washing up the other sections, giving a last glance at the four seats. Place a fresh fragrance in one of the side ashtrays to help deodorize the vehicle. You may want to invest in seat covers to protect the upholstery and make it last.

Winter is here for some of us, and along with the cold comes having to scrape the car windshields every morning. If you live in an area where snow is a common part of the weather pattern, it’s important to make sure when you’re driving that the view is clear.

The best de-icer is the non-chemical backbreaking solution… the snow shovel.

However, that could be a serious pain for some people, specially if you have a difficulty reaching the center of the windshield.

Besides being a pain in the neck, an icy windshield is a huge safety hazard. If all you do is rely on your in-dash heater to solve your ice problem you can set yourself up big time for potential road hazards. It goes without saying that during icy conditions and snowy weather, your car’s windshield should be one of your first – if not THE first — priority.

Anytime you risk having your vision impaired – and that’s what happens if you don’t get rid of the ice and snow on your windshield – you are making yourself a safety hazard for everyone driving around you. Your chances of getting and being part of accidents is greater because you cannot see what you are driving into or driving through.

However, you can remedy this situation. Having an icy and snowy windshield is not a reason for you keep your car parked in your garage. You still can use it as long as you know how to de-ice your windshield. It should take no more than a couple of minutes of your time. And after that, you would be well on your way towards safely driving from point A to point B.

This is almost too easy — but you’d be surprised how many people blow this off.

Use Clean Plus Bianci De-icer (Ref: 12 730203) by spraying it on the windshields and wait a minute or two depending of how thick the ice is. The ice will quickly melt and using the windshield wipers will wipe it off very easily.

Problem solved!

Highly recognised and trusted Car Care Clean Plus Products provides you with the essential autumn cleaning tips to ensure winter long vehicle protection and safety before the colder months set in, helping vehicle owners avoid a potential winter of discontent:

Polish Paintwork: During winter, vehicle paintwork has to stand up against many additional and potentially damaging factors including harsher weather conditions, salt, grit and increased road debris. As a result, it’s advised that a supplementary layer of protection be applied. A versatile and easy to apply polish such as Clean Plus Super Polish (Ref: 01 440417) provides a long lasting coat that protects against all the elements and will ensure paintwork doesn’t deteriorate over the winter months.

Clean Wheels: Alloy continually requires high levels of care to maintain its condition all year round, but especially so during winter. Clean Plus Wheel Cleaner (Ref: 01 440416) cleans, polishes and protects a vehicle’s wheels, whilst also providing a barrier against salt and other particles that can be picked up from the road.

Clean Exterior Glass: Whilst it’s imperative to ensure a clean windscreen all year round, it becomes especially vital during the winter months when cold, frost and surface spray can become major safety hazards. Initially, the simple application of Clean Plus Exterior Glass Cleaner (Ref: 01 440421) on the exterior windows will remove the build up of grease and grim bought on from the rigors of everyday driving.

Clean interior Glass: Condensation can build up on cold mornings and it can be a frustrating wait whilst it clears – especially if already running late. Furthermore, condensation can also begin to appear mid-journey which presents obvious dangers. To prevent this occurring, Clean Plus Windshield Cleaner Wipes (Ref: 01 440401) and Clean Plus Anti-Fog Wipes (Ref: 01 440408) has been designed to help keep the elements at bay during the colder seasons, specifically to keep windscreens free from steam and condensation at all times.

It is important to protect your vehicle’s exterior finish as well as the interior plastic and leather surfaces from harmful UV rays. To maintain the resale value of your car, take the following preventive measures and sunblock your car!

Many people are concerned about the effect of UV rays on their car’s exterior paint finish, but the car’s interior can be irreversibly damaged and financially depreciated in value. Protecting a car’s interior is just as important as other areas of maintenance and should be included in your car care routine. Damage from sun and heat can affect the dashboard plastic and leather, leather and plastic on the seats, console and the carpets.

Always try to park your car in shade to prevent sun damage or use a sun shade in the windshield if your car will be parked for an extended period of time. It is essential to limit excess heat as well as to protect from the sun’s damaging rays because it is the heat in addition to the UV rays that cause the damage. Remember to crack your windows an inch when parking to prevent heat build-up.

While there is a market for shades and dashboard covers to protect your car from sun damage, they are not always practical or readily handy. Clean Plus has a number of products that clean and polish your car’s surfaces and provide a layer of protection from harmful UV rays. For your car’s exterior in the Premium Line, use Clean Plus Super Polish (Ref: 01 440417) and Clean Plus Paint Sealant (Ref: 01 440429) to create a deep durable gloss and provide long lasting protection from the sun¹s ultra-violet rays. For exterior plastic parts such as bumpers, side-view mirrors and wheel wells use Clean Plus Exterior Plastic Renovator (Ref: 01 440419) to restore, clean, and protects bumpers and other exterior plastics. For interior plastics and vinyls Clean Plus Dashboard Renovator (Ref: 01 440415) cleans, restores and protects all plastic and vinyl surfaces, while repelling dust and protecting against UV rays that fade plastics. Clean Plus Leather Conditioner (Ref: 01 440412) protects leather surfaces and extends the life by replenishment of natural oils and creates a protective film to prevent cracking and block against the harmful UV rays. Clean Plus Leather Conditioner can also be used on plastics and vinyls.

For professional protection on your car’s exterior invest in  Clean Plus Brilliance products. Our Brilliance products work together to give your car’s exterior a professional polish and provide a long lasting protection against the sun’s harmful rays.

Depending on how soiled your vinyl is and whether there are stains from insects and resin, Clean Plus® has many different options which clean vinyl roof tops. For insect and tree sap stains use either Tar Cleaner (Ref: 01 440424) or Insect Remover (Ref: 01 440422) to directly clean the spot. Spray on and wipe lightly. On tougher spots, you can use a soft brush or cloth and push on the spot, wiping outward.

To clean the whole surface and for heavily soiled tops use Tire Dressing(Ref: 01 440423), a fast drying ready-to-use dressing that effectively shines, protects, and enhances durability and gives a deep rich shine to rubber, vinyl and plastic. To maintain the sparkling clean surface you acheive, use WinClean® Exterior (Ref: 01 440410) or NetPolish®Clean & Shine (Ref: 01 440407) wipes available in a convenient flowpack.

Picnics, camping, boating, and beach buffets are great summer fun but they can be messy! Clean Plus® Soft Hand Cleansing Wipes (Ref: 02 420206) are perfect for when soap and water are not readily available! Make your summer fun convenient and clean so that you can focus on the important stuff!

Clean Plus® Hand Wipes come in a convenient bucket with a handle that you can keep in your car and take with you on all your summer outings! While these antibacterial hand wipes are perfect for many summer activities, they can also handle tough jobs and easily remove dirt, grime, oil, fresh paint and unpleasant odors. Clean Plus® Soft Hand Wipes are hypoallergenic and their non-drying formula are soft on the hands!

Clean Plus® “Soft” Hand Wipes

Ref: 02 420206

We received a request for help with a car that had heavy paint discoloration and fading. Our customer wanted to sell his older vehicle and needed some serious help renovating his paint job in order to increase the resale value. The faded red paint had turned pink and looked quite bad. It was made worse by vinyl lettering which when removed showed the difference between the paint under the letters and that exposed to the sun. We needed the opportunity to test some new product formulations and accepted the challenge of attempting to renovate this heavily damaged car!

Here is what the van looked like before we started. You can clearly see where the lettering shows the difference in the paint colors.

The first objective was to remove the fading and the difference in color left from the lettering.

To start we washed the entire car with Clean Plus® Eco Shampoo (Ref: 01 440433) to remove all debris and city dirt, making sure to clean all exterior plastic parts as well as the wheel wells.

Next, we applied Clean Plus® Paint Renovator (Ref: 01 440428) using a rotary buffer. Because there was a lot of discoloration to remove, we used the Paint Renovator over the entire vehicle, twice.

In this picture you can see what the paint looks like when it is stripped of its clear coat and buffed down so that all scratches or discoloration are removed.

For maximum protection and shine, we used the Clean Plus® Paint Sealant (Ref: 01 440429) DIRECTLY after applying the Clean Plus® Paint Renovator (Ref: 01 440428).

Red cars don’t stay that red for the entire lifetime of the car, and most red cars dull to a dark pink. With red paint, the color fading is very obvious because it turns a faded pink color with exposure to the sun’s UV rays over an extended period of time. It’s very important when trying to renovate red paint, to immediately seal it after removing the clear coat, because any oxidation and exposure to air and sun will cause the color to dull again.

After applying Clean Plus® Paint Sealant, the van was buffed with Clean Plus® Super Polish (Ref: 01 440417) to give it a hard shine.

As you can see, the fading and discoloration from the lettering is gone and the car is bright candy apple red again!