Comprehensive Sand and Salt Removal Technical Guide

Never wash a vehicle that is hot to the touch. In Australian summer conditions, surface temperatures can exceed 70°C. Move the vehicle under a carport or professional gazebo. If the panels are hot, the cleaning chemicals will flash-dry, causing caustic etching. Use an infrared thermometer to ensure panel temperatures are below 35°C before proceeding.

Start with the dirtiest areas first. Use a pressure washer at a safe distance (30-50cm) to flush out the wheel arches. Focus on the lip of the guard where sand sits. This prevents sand from splashing back onto clean panels later in the process.

Dilute your Salt Neutraliser according to the severity of exposure. For a heavy beach day, use a 1:10 ratio in a pump sprayer. Mix your snow foam in the cannon at a 1:9 ratio (100ml product to 900ml water). Using warm water in the foam cannon helps emulsify any wax-based residues holding the sand.

Remove all floor mats, recovery gear, and loose items. Shake the mats vigorously away from the vehicle. This prevents 're-dusting' the interior while you are cleaning the exterior.

Before adding water, use compressed air to blow out sand from the window weatherstrips, door mirrors, and fuel filler flap. Sand becomes 'mud' when wet, making it significantly harder to remove from tight crevices. Direct the air at a 45-degree angle to lift particles out rather than pushing them deeper.

Apply your salt neutralising solution to the entire underbody, suspension components, and lower 30cm of the bodywork. Allow it to dwell for 5-7 minutes but do not let it dry. This chemical step is vital as it breaks the bond of salt crystals that a standard pressure wash cannot remove.

Using an underbody water broom or a curved wand, flush the chassis rails. Insert the nozzle into the factory drainage holes in the frame. Continue flushing until the water running out of the chassis is 100% clear. In Queensland or WA coastal areas, sand often packs into the 'U' channels of the frame; take your time here.

Coat the entire vehicle in a thick layer of snow foam. Start from the bottom and work up. The foam encapsulates the remaining sand particles, providing a lubricated 'blanket'. Let this dwell for 5-8 minutes. Watch for the foam 'pulling' the dirt down the panels.

Rinse the foam thoroughly starting from the roof down. Use a sweeping motion. The goal is to remove 95% of the sand via this contactless method before any wash mitt touches the paint. Pay special attention to the gap between the headlight and the bumper.

Use two 15L buckets: one with soapy water and one with clean rinse water. Use a high-quality microfiber mitt. Wipe one panel at a time using zero pressure—let the mitt do the work. Rinse the mitt in the clear water bucket after every panel to ensure no grit is reintroduced to the paint.

For the interior, use a stiff nylon brush or a massage gun (on low setting) against the carpet while vacuuming. This vibrates the sand grains to the surface of the carpet pile. Professional detailers call this 'surface tension breaking' and it is the only way to get deep-seated sand out of Toyota or Ford industrial-grade carpets.

Slide the seats fully forward and back. Use a crevice tool to reach into the seat rails. Sand in seat rails acts as an abrasive that will eventually destroy the sliding mechanism and cause 'seat click'.

Using a low-pressure mist and a soft brush, clean the top of the airbox and battery. Sand and red dust in the engine bay can find its way into the intake during filter changes. Avoid high-pressure water near the alternator or ECU.

Clean the inside and outside of the windows using a dedicated glass cleaner and two towels. Sand often gets trapped in the inner window felts; wipe these with a damp microfiber to prevent vertical scratches on the glass when winding windows up and down.

Use a dedicated car dryer or leaf blower to dry the vehicle. This avoids rubbing any microscopic particles that might have been missed. Focus on blowing water out of the lug nuts and door handles where salt-rich water likes to hide.

Apply a spray sealant or 'SIO2' detailer (e.g., Gyeon WetCoat or NV Lush). This provides a slick surface that makes it harder for sand to stick during your next trip. In Australia, look for products with high UV inhibitors to combat the summer sun.