Keeping Your White Paint Looking Sharp in the Aussie Sun

Never, and I mean never, wash a white car in direct midday sun. The water spots will dry faster than you can wipe them, and the chemicals can etch the paint. If you have to do it outside, get up early or wait until the arvo when the sun's low.

Give the whole car a good blast with the hose or a pressure washer. You want to get that loose grit and red dust off before you touch the paint. If you've got a foam cannon, now's the time to use it.

Always do your wheels first. They're the filthiest part, and you don't want brake dust splashing onto your clean panels later.

Wash from the top down. Dunk your mitt in the soapy water, hit a panel, then rinse it in the plain water bucket before going back for more soap. This keeps the dirt in the rinse bucket, not on your paint.

This is the most important step for a white car. Spray your iron remover over the dry-ish panels. You'll see it start to turn purple. That's the chemical reacting with embedded iron from brakes and industrial fallout. Let it dwell for 3-5 minutes, but don't let it dry!

Blast all that purple liquid off. You'll be amazed at how much cleaner the white looks already. I remember doing this on a mate's white Ranger and he thought I'd resprayed the door.

Even after the iron spray, there'll be bits stuck in the paint. Use plenty of lubricant (soapy water works in a pinch) and gently glide the clay bar over the surface. If it feels 'gritty', keep going until it's smooth as glass.

Give it one last rinse to get rid of any clay lube. Dry it thoroughly with your big microfibre towel. Make sure you get into the mirrors and badges where water likes to hide.

White paint often gets 'shadowing' or yellow stains from bird droppings. If you see these, you might need a light polish. Honestly, I wouldn't bother with a heavy compound unless it's really bad.

In Australia, you need UV protection. Apply your sealant or ceramic spray. Work in small sections, usually half a bonnet at a time. This is what stops the sun from yellowing your clear coat.

Use a fresh, dry microfibre to buff off the residue. On white, it's hard to see where you've missed a spot, so use a torch or your phone light to check for high spots.

Don't forget the bits you can't see when the doors are closed. Wipe them down with a bit of APC. Red dust loves to hide here and will ruin your clean white look the first time it rains.

Clean the windows and put some tyre shine on. A white car with brown tyres looks rubbish. Use a water-based dressing so it doesn't sling all over your fresh white paint when you drive off.