Keeping Your Black Car Looking Mint Without Going Insane

Never, and I mean NEVER, wash a black car in direct sunlight. The water will evaporate in seconds, leaving nasty mineral spots that are a nightmare to get off. If you don't have a carport, do it at 6 am or wait until the sun's nearly down.

Give the car a hose down with just water first. You want to bring the surface temperature of that black paint down so your chemicals don't flash dry.

Always do your wheels first. They're the dirtiest part, and you don't want brake dust splashing onto your freshly cleaned black panels later.

Chuck your snow foam in the cannon and cover the whole car. Let it sit for 5 minutes (but don't let it dry!). This softens the dirt. A customer once brought me a black Prado covered in red dust from a trip up north; if I hadn't foamed it first, that dust would've acted like sandpaper.

Rinse from the top down. You want to get 90% of the grit off before you actually touch the car with a mitt.

One bucket with soapy water, one with clean water. Dunk the mitt in the soap, wash a panel, then rinse the mitt in the clean water bucket. This keeps the dirt out of your soap.

Don't go in circles like Mr. Miyagi. If you do happen to catch a bit of grit, a straight-line scratch is much less visible than a swirl. Trust me on this one.

Once washed, spray an iron remover on the paint. You'll see it turn purple. This dissolves those little metallic bits that cause rust spots (which show up as 'dullness' on black paint).

Run your hand over the clean, wet paint. If it feels like sandpaper, you need to clay it. Use plenty of lubricant. If the paint is smooth, skip this, claying can sometimes cause light hazing on soft black paint.

Give it one more thorough rinse to make sure all the chemicals are gone from the cracks and crevices.

If you have a leaf blower or a dedicated car dryer, use it. Getting water out of the wing mirrors and badges without touching the paint is the gold standard. Otherwise, use a dedicated plush drying towel.

In the Aussie humidity, I reckon a ceramic sealant is better than a traditional wax. Wax can sometimes get 'greasy' on a black car in 40-degree heat. Apply your sealant in small sections, buffing off immediately.

Clean the glass last. For tyres, use a water-based dressing. Oil-based ones 'sling' onto the paint the moment you drive down the road, and on a black car, those oily spots look terrible.