Deep Cleaning a Used Car for a Fresh Start

Never, ever do a deep clean in the direct Aussie sun. If it's a 35-degree arvo, wait until the sun drops or pull it under a carport. If the panels are hot to the touch, your chemicals will dry instantly and leave nasty streaks.

Chuck out all the rubbish. Look under the seats, in the spare tyre well, and behind the sun visors. I once found a half-eaten meat pie under a driver's seat that had been there for months. Not a fun discovery.

Give the whole car a massive blast with the pressure washer. Focus on the wheel arches and door shuts where that red dust loves to hide.

Do the wheels first while the rest of the car is dry. Use your iron remover and a stiff brush. If you've got old brake dust baked on, you might need a second hit. Rinse 'em off well.

Two-bucket method. Use a high-quality pH neutral soap. Start from the roof and work down. Don't be afraid to go over the lower sections twice if they're particularly grubby.

While the car is still wet, spray an iron remover over the paint. If it turns purple, that's the chemical reacting with embedded metal bits from the road. Rinse it off after about 3-5 minutes. Do not let it dry!

Use plenty of lubricant (soapy water works) and glide the clay bar over the paint. It'll feel gritty at first, then smooth as butter. This pulls out the stuff a wash can't touch, like sap and overspray. I made the mistake of skipping this on a black Commodore once and the wax looked terrible. Never again.

Cover the alternator with some cling wrap, spray APC, agitate with a brush, and rinse gently. It makes a huge difference when you open the bonnet.

Use a big dedicated drying towel. If you use a chamois, you're just asking for swirl marks. Get into the door jambs too, people always forget those.

Spray your APC onto a brush or cloth, not directly onto the dash. Scrub the steering wheel, that's where most of the 'human grime' lives. Use a soft brush for the air vents.

Vacuum first, then spray a carpet cleaner. Agitate it, then use the wet vac to suck the gunk out. You'll be disgusted by the colour of the water, trust me.

Two-cloth method. One to apply the cleaner, one to buff clear. Clean windows make the whole car feel 100% better.

Apply your sealant or wax. Since it's Autumn and the UV is still brutal, I reckon a good synthetic sealant is better than a carnauba wax because it lasts longer in the heat.

Chuck some tyre shine on. Don't go overboard; you don't want it flinging down the side of your clean car when you drive off.