How to Keep & Maintain a Black Car Clean & Unforgiven Mistakes to Avoid

The average American spends $7,000 on their car every year. This includes gas, maintenance, and upgrades. Keeping your car looking great is important because it can affect the resale value of your vehicle in the future.

It feels great to drive a black car, but it’s hard not to attract dirt, debris, and the elements. White cars are easier to keep clean because they reflect light back onto themselves. Black cars don’t reflect anything so you can imagine how tough they are!

In this article, I will show you how to keep a black car clean and prevent mistakes from happening.

The Products and Tools You Need for Cleaning a Black Car

You should have these basic cleaning tools: bucket or pan filled with water, mild dish soap, microfiber cloths or towels in various colors (soiled color for the task), and brushes for scrubbing caked-on grime from wheels if needed.

Be sure to have plenty of clean rags and towels on hand so you don’t have to wash the same one twice. You will also need a glass cleaner or spray bottle filled with water and the cleaners of your choice, and possibly a chamois or cloth for those stubborn stains that are not coming off with regular cleaning methods:

Microfiber Cloths and Towels are far superior to common plush towels or chamois in removing dirt and grime. A chamois will work well for dry wiping surfaces, like glass, but it won’t pick up debris or absorb water as well. 

The Steps For Cleaning a Black Car

Your technique and process for cleaning a black car should have these steps:

1. You will start with a dirty car, and you will want to get any loose dirt and debris off first. The best technique to do this is by hand, using the common plush towels or microfiber towels you’re familiar with.

If the dirt is really stubborn, you can use a soft brush or cloth to get off stubborn grime if needed. Do this before you wash your car.

2. Start with a waterless car wash. You can use a high powered hose or you can use a wash mitt like this:
3. Use soapy water to suds up the vehicle, and then high pressure rinses it clean with your garden hose or pressure nozzle (garden hose is preferred if possible). You will want to do this step before washing as well.
4. For cleaning wheels use only soft brushes, microfiber towels, or cloths dipped in water to clean them thoroughly.
5. Wash your entire car with a proper car wash using mild soap and water. Afterward, rinse it off and dry your car completely so you don’t leave dirt and grime on it.
6. You will want to dry your car with the air from the vent fan blow directly onto it so you don’t leave dirt or moisture behind. You can use towels for this step as well.
7. Lastly, you will want to clean the windows, tires/wheels, and interior surfaces once more with the chamois or microfiber towel based on their needs. You can vacuum your carpets at this time as well.
8. You will want to clean the rims/tires with a toothbrush or brush that fits on the end of your garden hose if they are dirty. This will help prevent brake dust from building up on them and causing you to spend more money in the future.
9. Finally, after all this time you will want to apply a coat of wax or sealant to protect your car from UV rays, scratching, and dents/scratches caused by rocks during those trips to the beach.

• Wondering: How long a car wax can take?

What Goes Wrong When You Clean Your Car

• You take your car to get washed and when you arrive there is no wash mitt, no soap, and the machines are not working. This can cause damage to your vehicle or it could cost you more money in repairs.
• Having too many rags or towels with you is also a mistake. It’s best to carry one or two only so they are always available when needed.
• Don’t use the same towel to wipe your car down: it could leave lint on the surface or residue from chemicals, and that can cause damage to your car.
• Not using the correct type of cleaning products is a mistake as well. Using a household cleaner and certain chemical cleaners can harm your paint job or cause damage to other components of your vehicle.
• Avoid using these chemicals when cleaning: degreasers, brushes, solvents, acid-based cleaners, and ammonia-based cleaners.
• You could make mistakes by not spending enough time cleaning your vehicle. There are times when it can take several hours to detail a car, but if you want it done right the first time, then that’s what you’re going to have to do.

I personally spend hours detailing my own vehicle and I can definitely say that it’s worth it in the end. Not only does it look good and show pride in my vehicle, but it also protects it from damage.

When your car is clean, there are no stains and the windows are clear you’ll notice that you will see the road better and you will be safer on the road.

How to Remove Bird Droppings and Bug Splats from Your Black Car

• Bird droppings and bug splats can be a problem when you drive a black car, especially if your vehicle is parked under trees and has a lot of birds or bugs flying around.
• If they decide to drop on your vehicle then you could have a clean-up job to do. Using the products below will help remove the spots that have been dried into your paint.
• To remove bird droppings and bug splats from your car first you will want to use a wet or dry cleaner.
• The liquid cleaner is best as it can get right into the dried spots, but remember to wipe up any spilled water before it dries.
• After the spots are removed then use a glass cleaner and paper towel to wipe the vehicle dry.
• You can also try using a wash mitt, soft bristled brush, or broom to remove the dried spots.
• If you are in a hurry then try using your vehicle’s defrost or air conditioning to speed up the drying time.
• Avoid using household cleaners because they can damage your paint.

How to Prevent Scratches from Appearing on Your Black Car

There are some mistakes you can make when washing your black car that will lead to scratches appearing on the paint.

In detail: How you can prevent scratches for your black car!

• As time passes, dirt and dust will settle on your vehicle. Even though it may look clean, there is still dirt in the cracks and crevices that need to be removed before polishing.
• If left on the surface dirt leads to scratches and swirl marks appearing in the paint. Not only can they be seen with the naked eye, but they also show up when you use a rubbing compound or polish.
• If you don’t want scratches to appear on your vehicle wash it with a high quality wash solution. Make sure that the rinse water is clean and free of soap residue. If water spots appear, then you need to rewash the car.
• Keep in mind that if washing your car is not done correctly, it can lead to swirl marks or scratches in the paint.
• To prevent scuffs from appearing on your black car, use a quality wax or paint sealer after washing and drying it.

FAQs

#1 What kind of paint damage is common for black cars?

The common paint damages for black cars and trucks are scratches and swirl marks.

When looking at the paint damage, a scratch is easily identifiable with the naked eye. If you have swirl marks, then they will only be noticeable after polishing or waxing it.

#2 What causes scratches on black cars?

One of the most common causes of scratches on a black car is when dirt and abrasives get trapped in cracks and crevices of the vehicle’s surface. This can lead to scratches forming from sanding or buffing it off.

#3 How often should you wax your vehicle?

If you want your vehicle to stay as shiny as possible, then waxing it every three weeks is a good policy to follow.

Car waxes for black cars can be found in most local auto stores like Walmart or AutoZone. If you know the vehicle service center that services your car, then they can recommend a good wax.

#4 Why are black cars so easy to get dirty?

Black paint is very durable, which means that it will take a lot of wear and tear before the paint erodes. However, when dirt and other abrasives are used, this can lead to scratches in the paint.

Another peculiar trait of black cars is their tendency to collect shades of grey. As a result, dirt and dust tends to accumulate inside the car’s interior along with other stains, which in turn contribute to scratches.

#5 What if it rains a lot?

Due to the above stated reasons, black cars are particularly vulnerable to getting dirty. While you are able to clean them a couple times a week with no problems, if it rains frequently in your area and you do not have an accessible garage to keep your car safe, then you may need to clean it every day.

If that’s the case, consider keeping a spare towel and microfiber towel with you at all times.

#6 How do I carefully remove road grime, bugs, and bird poop from black car paint?

You can start with a waterless wash solution, but make sure you rinse it off. Be sure to remove the dirt on all the panels of the vehicle that are exposed.

If there’s a lot of damage done then you may need to use a wet towel and wash mitt or soft brush to scrub it off.

#7 What’s the trick for detailing a black car?

For black cars, there is the task of detailing the vehicle to get it clean and shiny. Keep in mind that due to its color, dirt can easily accumulate on your car’s paint surface.

Therefore, use a high quality wash solution and avoid using any soap-based products for washing. Instead, opt for a wax or sealant to protect the paint from getting dirty. Personally, I’m not a big fan of harsh car washes as they can damage your paint job and they should be avoided too.

#8 How do you keep a black car shiny?

For black cars, there are several variations of shine products that you can use to keep your paint looking shiny. After applying a coat, you may need to use a clear coat or sealant.

I personally recommend using a spray wax or sealant after washing and drying the car. This will make the process a lot easier for future cleaning as it won’t matter if the car has been waxed or not.

Final Words

I hope now you know all the tips to know how to keep your black car clean and they are not just limited to the tips above.

If you have any questions please let me know in the comments and I will get back to you as soon as I can. If you found this article helpful please share it on social media or with your friends that may be looking for a way to keep their black paint looking its best!