Tools for car body care

1)    Microfibre applicators and towels/cloth

Microfibre is a type of synthetic fibre which has fibres which are very minute (less than 10 micrometres in diameter) and do not leave any fibre residue when used for cleaning purposes. Applicators and towels made from microfiber are very absorbent and soft, they have been proven to absorb up to ten times their own weight of water, they can also absorb oil and wax residue on any surface while also remaining soft enough not to leave any scratches on any surface. A must have tool for any car owner.

The prices of these products range from Rs 110 (Abro Car Care cloth) to Rs 180 (Sonax multi-purpose cleaning cloth).

2)    Grit guard bucket insert

To get your car clean, the best way is the two-bucket wash method. One bucket has soapy water, the other plain water for rinsing the dirty sponge/wipe cloth. Sandy particles on your cleaning tool can leave ugly scratch marks on the body of the car. A grit guard insert is a simple mesh like device which sits at the bottom of the rinse bucket, and it stops the grit from rising up and thus the sponge/wipe remains clean. A must have tool.

The prices of these products start from Rs 1900 (found on ebay) onwards.

3)    Detailing brushes (different sizes)

Brushes can be used to reach those hard to reach areas in your car, like the insides of the tyre well or the underbody. Brushes are available in different sizes, smaller brushes can be used for finer cleaning, removing dirt from small crevices and such.

The prices of these products range from Rs 300 (Detailer’s Choice 3 pieces).

4)    Clay bar and lubricant

A clay bar is used to remove imperfections from the car body panels, glass panels, and chrome parts, which may include paint overspray, tree sap, waxing swirl marks among other contaminants. A good clay bar and lubricant combination helps keep the surface of the car absolutely clean and smooth. When a surface is waxed after it has been clayed, it shines. Claying is not very difficult process, and can be done by anybody.

The prices of these products range from Rs 1300 (Mothers California gold clay bar).

5)    Hose/pressure wash machine

Use a hose, or better a pressure wash machine for a quick wash of the car. A hose with a regulator is a good option; you can spray as much water as you want onto the car and not waste water. A pressure wash machine helps of the pressure of water from your water supply is not enough to remove stubborn dirt, many of them also have an option of letting you mix the water with shampoo, which makes the job easier.

The prices of good pressure wash machines are around the Rs 10,000 mark (Bosch Aquatak), while local made machines are cheaper.

You can get garden hoses for a good bargain at your local hardware store. Do remember to get a nozzle by which you can control the force of water.

6)    Gloves

Car cleaning fluids, waxes, shines have a lot of chemicals which can remove the toughest of stains, though almost of them are designed in such a way that they do not harm your skin, it is always better to wear gloves while maintaining your car. Your hands can be affected by the tools you use to clean your car; sanding paper is an abrasive material which should be used carefully and a glove can help prevent you scratching yourself with it. A glove can also prevent you getting cuts on your hand from potential sharp edges all around the car. Using a glove also stops oil from your hands getting on to the surface of your car. Using the normal rubber gloves is not going to help, the solvents in the oils, waxes etc may dissolve these gloves. Buy latex, or nitrile (they are costlier and rare) gloves.

The prices starts from around Rs 200 for a good pair of latex gloves.

7)    Plastic cleaner and dressing fluids

Plastic parts on your car exterior, like the bumper, door handles, rear view mirror case, window sill liners etc. need to be looked after. Plastic is a resilient substance but it can become faded and stained over time. Dedicated cleaners and dressing fluids for these parts are available in the market, and some of them are multipurpose cleaners/dresser fluids which save you the trouble of buying different products.

The prices of these products starts from around Rs 200 (Formula1 all cleaner).

8)    Glass cleaner

The importance of cleaning glass parts in a car cannot be more emphasised. A clean set of windshields and windows is important for a safe drive. Contaminant glass surfaces can refract light coming in, blinding the driver. Contaminants can also corrode the glass, making it weak and prone to breaking over a period of time. A glass cleaner can help prevent all this; it removes oil, dirt and any other contaminant that might have stuck to the glass surface.

The prices of these products range from Rs 180 (Pyroil windshield washer) to Rs 850 (GS27 window degreaser).

9)    Aluminum/metal/chrome polish

These polishes keep the respective parts shiny while offering a bit of protection from the harmful rays of the sun, and form a thin transparent film which protects these surfaces from dust. It is recommended that you apply these fluids using a microfiber applicator/towel to avoid spillage on to non compatible surfaces.

The prices of chrome polishes start from around Rs 350 (Meguiar’s hot rims polish).

You can get a good magnesium and aluminium polish for around Rs 800 (Meguiar’s).

10)    Abrasive polishes (scratch care)

The first thing you need to understand es not all scratches can be repaired by polishing the surface of your car. Polishing is the process where materials which have very fine abrasives in it are used to smoothen out the outer layer of your paint (the lacquer or clear coat). This helps remove very shallow scratches which might have occurred, it is not possible to remove very deep scratches whatever a manufacturer may claim. You can polish by hand or by machine, but expecting a perfect surface is expecting too much. Polishes come in the form of liquids, which can be applied to the car surface using polishing pads.

The prices of these products range from Rs 220 (Waxpol) to Rs 3000 (Meguiar’s Detailer).

11)    Car wash shampoo

Are you using normal detergent or your hair shampoo to clean your car? The chemicals in these products might be affecting the materials on the car, better use a car wash shampoo. These shampoos are specifically made for cleaning cars safely, a tool to be used to give the basic clean look to your car.

The prices of these products range from Rs 200 (Autofresh) to Rs. 7500 (Aero 2 gallon pack).

12)    Wax

A wax is a non-abrasive coating which protects the paint underneath it and microscopically fills up any dents or dimples on the surface. It is a finishing product, and will not enhance the look of the car if there are major dents or scratches on the surface. It should be used only after the body has been properly polished. Waxing your car once in a year can keep its surface protected from small scratches, give it protection from UV rays and keep the surface shiny.

The prices of these products range from Rs 300 (ABRO super gold) to Rs 540 (Turtle wax) for hard waxes and from Rs 220 (Formula1) to Rs 730 (Armor All) for liquid waxes.

13)    Wheel wax/sealant

Wheels wax does the same job as a normal wax but for the tyres, it is a finishing product that protects the rubber on tyres from UV rays, dirt etc while keeping them shiny. Some waxes have sealing properties which enriches the rubber in the tyres and help keep the tyres running for a little longer.

The prices of these products range from Rs 400 (Meguiar’s tyre dressing) to Rs 900 (Sonax tyre gloss gel).

NOTE: Considering the costs involved in acquiring all this raw material for upkeep of the car body (upwards of Rs 25,000), it could be sensible to use two pieces of clean soft cotton cloth from the shop and a bottle of car shampoo and a polish and exert on the weekends with the help of the younger generation.