Getting Your Paint Smooth as Glass: The Real Way to Decontaminate (Apr 2026)

Never, ever do this in direct Aussie sun. The chemicals will dry on the paint and cause more damage than you started with. Wait for the arvo or do it under a carport.

Always start with the wheels. Use your iron remover and a brush. If you do the wheels last, you'll splash dirt back onto your clean paint.

Blat the whole car with water. Get as much loose dirt, sand, and salt off as possible. Pay extra attention to the door sills and wheel arches.

If you've got a foam cannon, use it now. Let it dwell for 5 minutes (don't let it dry!) to encapsulate the grit.

Use the two-bucket method. Wash from the top down. Rinse your mitt after every panel. This ensures the surface is 'clean' before we start 'decontaminating'.

You don't want the iron remover to be diluted by too much standing water. A quick towel dry is plenty.

Spray the iron remover over the paint. Start with the bonnet and roof. You'll see it start to turn purple or 'bleed' as it reacts with the metal particles.

Let it sit for 3-5 minutes. Don't let it dry! If it's a hot day, you might need to mist it with a bit of water to keep it active.

On really bad areas, I use a damp microfibre to gently spread the product around. It helps it work deeper.

Rinse the car until the water runs clear. Make sure you get it out of the cracks around the lights and badges.

Check the lower panels behind the wheels. If you see black spots, spray your tar remover. Let it sit for a minute, then wipe away with a sacrificial microfibre.

Get those chemicals off! You want a clean, wet surface for the claying stage.

Pick a panel (start with the roof). Spray plenty of clay lube. You can't use too much lube, honestly.

Gently glide the clay bar or mitt over the surface using back-and-forth motions. No heavy pressure! Let the clay do the work.

You'll hear the clay 'scratching' at first. When the noise stops and it glides silently, that section is clean.

If using a bar, fold it frequently to expose a clean surface. If it looks brown or grey, it's full of junk.

Wipe the panel dry and do the baggie test again. It should be smooth as silk.

Do the glass too! Claying your windscreen makes your wipers work effortlessly. Avoid textured plastic trim though.

Once the whole car is clayed, give it one last quick wash with your mitt to remove any lube residue.

Dry the car thoroughly using your big drying towel. Use a leaf blower if you've got one to get water out of the mirrors.