Cleaning A Freshly Painted Car

[JamJay]

Fingers crossed and all being well, I should have my car back by the weekend, all lovely and resprayed.

Obviously I won't be using any abrasives for a couple of months like polish, glaze or cleaner wax but what can I do to keep the car clean and protected?

Can I wet wash as normal, any limit to how money times I can do this in a week (I have OCD)? Are Carnauba Waxes and Sealants safe (Megs Wax & Jetseal)? How about Quik Detailer?

 

[JamJay]

Guess i'm on my own then, wish me luck

 

[n_d_fox]

Best thing is to get guidance from the bodyshop, some say your ok to wash after a few days, some say a week or so. It depends if they have baked the paint or not.

On the back of this advice you should be fine to use a mild shampoo solution and a wax / sealant on the paint.

I have seen results from body shops that have needed remedial work from a detailing using polishes t remove buffer trails, holograms or even light swirling / scratching from poorly used polishers. These have been fine on newly sprayed cars so what you want to do shouldnt cause any problems

 

[JamJay]

Thnaks for the reply. I think i'll stick to wet washing and rinsing with a watering can for the 1st week, then when we get some sun back, i'll protect with wax & sealant.

 

[n_d_fox]

only thing to consider about not protecting the paint with something is that the winter months are the worst for contamination and damage to the paint...

i reckon 2 weeks and the paint should be more than hard enough to put something on. even if its a light wax covering.

thats got to be better than nothing

 

[JamJay]

Too true. I should have some good U.V resistant lacquer on this time round but doesn't help with the salt etc so i'll take your advice and layer on some wax, then in a month or so, the sealant.

 

[jonjay]

I dont think there will be any damage just waxing the car Jay. Do a couple of coats of wax and that should last you for 2-4 months.

 

[jake]

paint companies specifie 6 weeks minimum before was/sealent, or car was use, this is a good get out clause, in reality any car i have every painted, that i have waxed has never had a problem

just becareful becasue they scratch real easy