Keeping Your Black Car Looking Fresh in the Aussie Summer

Never, ever wash a black car in direct sunlight if you can help it. If you don't have a carport, do it at 6am or late in the arvo. If the bonnet is hot to the touch, wait. (Your partner might think you're crazy out there at dawn, but they'll appreciate the results).

Always wash your wheels first. They're the filthiest part, and if you do them last, you'll likely splash brake dust and grime back onto your clean black paint.

Give the whole car a massive rinse with the pressure washer. If you've been out near the coast or in the dust, you need to flush those cracks and crevices. You want as much grit off the car as possible before you even think about touching it.

Chuck some snow foam on the car. Let it sit for 5 minutes (don't let it dry!). This softens up the bug guts and bird droppings. If you've got bat droppings, be extra careful, those things are acidic and eat through paint faster than you'd believe.

Blast that foam off. You'll see a lot of the surface dirt just slide away. This is the safest way to avoid 'love marks' (swirls).

Dunk your mitt in the soapy bucket, wash a panel, then rinse it in the clean water bucket. Rub the mitt against the grit guard to drop the dirt. This ensures you're always putting a clean mitt on the paint.

Start with the roof and work your way down. The bottom third of the car is always the dirtiest, so leave it for last.

Once washed but still wet, run your hand over the paint. Feel little bumps? That's embedded grit. Use a clay mitt with plenty of soapy water as lubricant. This makes the paint feel like glass.

Give it one last thorough rinse. I like to use an open-ended hose for this, the water 'sheets' off, leaving less to dry.

Lay your microfiber drying towel flat on the panel and pat it or pull it slowly toward you. Don't scrub. On black paint, even a tiny bit of grit in a towel can leave a visible scratch.

If you've got a leaf blower or a dedicated car dryer, use it around the mirrors, badges, and lights. Nothing ruins a clean black car like a 'tear' of water running down the door five minutes after you've finished.

Apply your sealant. I'm a big fan of spray-and-wipe Si02 sealants for black cars. They give that deep gloss and make the surface hydrophobic, which means rain (and dust) won't stick as easily.

Clean the glass last. If you've got plastic trim, use a UV protectant. Aussie sun turns black plastic grey in about a week if you don't look after it.