Restoring a classic car is a lot of work, and even buying a well-preserved original car can be a major undertaking. How can you keep it clean, without risking damage to old paint, rare trim pieces and original interior parts? Here’s everything you need to know about cleaning your classic car, whether you want to protect it or get it ready for your next car show.
What Makes Washing a Classic Car Different from a Modern Car?
Older cars use enamel or lacquer paint jobs where the color coat is the top coat. These paints were less durable than modern paint from the factory, and they become less flexible and durable over time. Abrasives should only be used when absolutely necessary. That means keeping your cleaning tools free of dirt, and avoiding polishes and clay bars unless your car needs paint correction.
Modern cars come with a three stage paint job has a layer of primer, a thin layer of color coat, and a thick layer of clear coat. If you had your car painted using this process, you can use the same care products as your daily driver.
Older cars use metal that doesn’t have the same level of rust protection as modern vehicles. This means you need to take extra care to dry the vehicle after washing.
Fresh paint needs time to fully cure before applying waxes and sealants. Your body shop should tell you when it’s safe to start waxing your car.
How to Prepare Your Car for Washing
Park your car in the shade. Heat from direct sunlight bakes cleaning products and wax onto your paint faster than you can remove them.
Pre-rinse your car to remove loose dirt, so you have less to remove when you use soap. At this stage, you can apply an iron remover. This cleaning chemical dissolves iron-based contaminants that come from brake discs, railroad tracks, industrial fallout, mineral-rich water, tar and sap.
With each step, from pre-rinse to waxing, always work from the top of the car down. That way, any dirt you remove doesn’t end up in areas you already cleaned.
How to Wash Your Car by Hand
Use the two bucket method to apply soap. One bucket holds your soapy water, while the other bucket holds your rinse water. Rinse your wash mitt thoroughly before dipping it back in the soap bucket. Dirt from the mitt will settle in the bottom of the bucket. Installing a grit filter keeps your mitt from picking up this dirt.
How to Wash Your Car with a Pressure Washer
When you rinse your car, pay extra attention to body seams and trim pieces. These areas can trap dirt that your pressure washer will flush out, leaving the surrounding body panels covered in filth. Pre-rinse the car thoroughly before you move onto applying soap.
For the best results, you need a foam cannon. This device attaches to the end of your pressure washer’s cleaning wand. As water passes through the chamber it picks up detergents and air, mixing them together to create a foam. This foam adheres to your car, giving the detergent more time to dissolve dirt and grime. It also lubricates the surface, so your wash mitt won’t scratch the paint as you wipe down your car. You can also use your pressure washer’s soap nozzle, but since it can’t mix in air, it will only lay down a thin layer of soap.
You should only use the 40 degree (white) nozzle when washing your car. Never get the end of the cleaning wand closer than two feet away from the vehicle, and keep the spray at a 45 degree angle to the surface. Keep in mind that the water pressure may still be strong enough to pull off trim pieces, force water through leaking seals, and blast away flaking paint. If you’re worried about any of these things happening, wash your car by hand.
How to Remove Insects, Tar and Grease Without Damaging Your Paint
Insects and petroleum products bond to paint, requiring a heavy duty degreaser or bug and tar remover to take them off. These products also strip off any underlying wax.
Extra care needs to be taken when removing bugs, because their hard exoskeletons can scratch your paint. Use a bug removal sponge to lift off insects. This sponge is covered in a netting that lets the sponge pick up insect parts without letting them scrape against your paint. Bug and tar remover strips away any wax on treated parts.
How to Clean Your Wheels
Wheel cleaners are formulated to remove brake dust without harming chrome or paint. When properly mixed, these cleaners create a foam that emulsifies dirt for easy removal.
Most dirt can be removed with a soft wheel brush, while a stiff boar hair brush works well for small areas, like the holes for the lug nuts. Use an iron decontamination spray to remove embedded dirt and brake dust.
How to Dry Your Car
Wipe down your car with a thick microfiber towel. If you live in an area with hard water, the minerals can leave behind water spots. These can be removed with a quick detailer spray.
How to Polish Chrome
After washing your car, you can remove oxidation with metal, chrome or wheel polish. You may want to tape the area, if you think your cleaning cloth may touch metal or plastic components. Simply apply the product and wipe it off.
If the polish isn’t removing rust, you have a few options. Polishing with aluminum foil and water causes a chemical reaction that removes rust, while depositing a layer of protective aluminum ions. Rust penetrants can get into nooks and crannies to break down corrosion. Scrubbing with #0000 steel wool or brass wools removes rust, but it can leave behind scratches.
Once the chrome is clean, you can protect it with wheel wax. Apply it just like you would regular car wax.
How to Wax Your Car
Which wax is best? It depends on the results you want. Carnauba delivers the best shine, while synthetic waxes and sealants last longer.
Apply a thin layer of wax using a foam applicator. Let the wax sit long enough to dry to a haze, then wipe it off with a microfiber towel. Working in small sections makes it easier to remove wax before it dries completely.
How to Detail Your Classic Car
Most surfaces can be washed with an all-purpose cleaner. Once clean, applying a layer of protectant will bring out the shine and prevent damage from UV light.
Metal parts, like dashes and door panels, use the same paint as the exterior. That means you can use the same cleaning methods as the outside of the car, scaling back the amount of water and soap to keep the rest of the interior dry.
Never spray cleaning products directly onto surfaces. There will always be some overspray that gets onto materials that aren’t compatible with the cleaner you’re using.
Leather cleaner removes this dirt, while leather conditioner moisturizes the leather to keep it pliable. Clean leather has a dull appearance. Shiny leather has clogged pores, which means it’s still dirty.
How to Deodorize Your Car
Before you attack the smell directly, make sure you’re addressing the underlying cause. Do you have leaking window or door seals? Are the carpets clean? Is there something hidden underneath the seats or interior panels?
Baking soda works well for odors in specific areas, like spills. Sprinkle baking soda on the area, and leave it overnight. Vacuum it up the next morning. Strong odors, like cigarette smoke. can be removed with an ozone generator. Ozone is volatile, reacting with scent-causing chemicals. However, it also reacts with metal, tarnishing surfaces. Once the cabin is filled with ozone, it should be aired out after one or two hours to minimize damage.
How to Clean Windows
For basic cleaning, use a window cleaner with a clean microfiber towel. Aerosol window cleaners work better than spray formulations. Remember to roll the windows down to get the dirt that gathers between the window and the door seal.
Plastics off-gas chemicals that leave an oily film on windows. This film can quickly fog over in moist and cold conditions, limiting visibility. Newer plastics off-gas more than older ones, which can be a problem if your car has a new dash or vinyl seats. To remove this film, clean the inside of the windows normally, then wipe down the window with a wet melamine foam sponge. Clean the window again to remove any remaining residue.
Fine dirt particles can embed themselves into your car’s windshield. You can remove these particles with a clay bar lubricated with water. Clean the window before and after using the clay bar.
Don’t forget to clean the windshield wipers. The blades can collect dirt in storage, which will keep them from maintaining contact over the windshield. These can be wiped down with regular soap and water.
What Should I Look for in Cleaning Products?
Ask 10 people which brands to use, and you’ll get 10 different answers. However, there are two rules you should keep in mind to get the best bang for your buck.
You should use eco-friendly soaps and chemicals whenever possible. There’s a good chance that the runoff from your driveway will end up in rivers and streams. Fortunately, choosing biodegradable chemicals doesn’t mean sacrificing performance, and they’re almost always safer and easier to use.
You can use your favorite household glass cleaner on your car’s windows, and your favorite all purpose cleaner on the interior. Otherwise, you need to stick to cleaners designed specifically for cars. These chemicals will clean surfaces without damaging them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I use microfiber towels instead of other materials to clean my car?
Car detailers and enthusiasts used to use all kinds of fabrics for cleaning vehicles, including sheepskin, chamois leather, cloth diapers and regular hand towels. However, all of these materials have one thing in common: they’re more likely to scratch surfaces than microfiber fabric. A soft microfiber towel and wash mitt is always the safest option when cleaning your car.
How do I clean microfiber towels?
If you have cloths that are caked with wax, you may want to pre-rinse them in a sink. Wash a load of towels with cold or warm water and detergent. Do not use fabric softener, as it leaves a film on the fabric that will interfere with cleaning products. Line dry towels, or use the low dry or air dry cycles on your clothes dryer. High heat can melt the ends of the fabric.
Why are there different types of car soap, and what do they do?
Pre-rinse detergent loosens dirt, so it’s easier to remove. This is usually used with a foam cannon.
Standard car wash soap removes dirt, but doesn’t remove wax. This is a great choice for everyday cleaning.
Heavy duty degreasers can remove wax, tar, sap and other difficult substances. Unlike dish soap, these won’t damage the paint. These detergents are a great choice for removing heavy grime, or if you’re ready to start with a fresh coat of wax.
Should I use waterless washing products on my classic car?
Waterless products, sometimes called quick detailers, aren’t meant for serious cleaning. However, there are three circumstances where you should consider using them on your classic car.
These products are great for removing light dust from a car that has been in storage, preventing long-term contamination. It’s also faster and less likely to scratch your paint than a standard wash.
Quick detailer is great for removing water spots left over from regular cleaning.
Waterless products can remove minor dirt and dust when your car is at a show. Doing a quick once-over when you park can give you an edge over your competitors.
Should I use a ceramic coating on my car?
Ceramic coatings are thicker and tougher than waxes and sealants, and they can last for years instead of months. However, they require a lot more work to apply, and they make paint correction difficult. The perfectly glossy results shown by coating manufacturers are mostly the result of polishing and paint correction, not the product itself. It also doesn’t protect your car from rock chips and scratches. If your classic car spends most of its time in a garage or under a tarp, the work required to properly apply a ceramic coating probably isn’t worth it.
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