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Die Winter-Wartungswäsche
You’ve likely seen our essential winter detailing guide, but how do you maintain that protection for your car during the winter months ahead?
That’s where we come in. We’ve put together this detailing guide to help you maintain your car’s condition after a full winter detail or seal. Start with the interior—this may seem obvious, but it prevents the wet, muddy grit from washing the exterior from getting inside and dirtying the carpets. Remember to work from top to bottom, just like when detailing the outside.
Wipe down all surfaces so dust is either caught in your microfibre cloth or falls onto the carpet. For tricky areas like the control panel with all its buttons, using a can of compressed air is ideal. Once that's done, it’s time to vacuum—don’t forget the dashboard, door cards, carpets, and even the parcel shelf! And remember to move the seats forward and backward to reach every spot.
First off, we don’t recommend washing your car when temperatures drop below 3°C or if it’s frozen. However, if you can’t resist, our Crystal Glass Cleaner is perfect for situations where water freezes on your car. It’s also a useful product to have on hand for quickly dealing with a frozen windscreen when you’re heading to work.
Our interior cleaner, Total, is versatile enough to handle everything from plastics and fabrics to Alcantara. This pre-diluted, all-purpose cleaner is safe for use on all interior car surfaces. Its gentle formula makes it ideal for sensitive cleaning tasks, while still effectively addressing a range of tough stains, both organic and inorganic. Whether dealing with oil, grease, food, coffee, mildew, grass, mud, sun-tan lotion, or silicone-based dressings, Total makes removal easy.
Our interior cleaner, Total, is versatile enough to handle everything from plastics and fabrics to Alcantara. This pre-diluted, all-purpose cleaner is safe for use on all interior car surfaces. Its gentle formula makes it ideal for sensitive cleaning tasks, while still effectively addressing a range of tough stains, both organic and inorganic. Whether dealing with oil, grease, food, coffee, mildew, grass, mud, sun-tan lotion, or silicone-based dressings, Total makes removal easy. For light soiling, simply spray Total onto a general-purpose microfibre towel and wipe the surface. Follow up with a dry microfibre towel to buff away any residue. For more significant stains, spray Total directly onto the surface, let it sit for a moment, and then agitate with a soft, short-bristle brush. Use a microfibre towel to absorb the remaining product and grime, and remember to regularly re-fold towels during the cleaning process. When cleaning carpets, avoid over-soaking to prevent mould growth.
If you have leather seats, be sure to use our Hide Leather Conditioner. However, do not use Hide on Alcantara!
With the interior now clean, complete the process by applying our Spritz Interior Quick Detailer. This product not only cleans but also protects interior plastics and vinyl in a single step. Its water-based formula contains UV inhibitors to guard against fading and leaves a natural matte finish that feels dry to the touch.
Don’t forget to include one of our air fresheners! Visit our shop to explore our selection.
With your interior taken care of, it's time to focus on the exterior. The quality of the detailing products you use is crucial—they should make your job easier and be gentle on the paint. However, even the best products won't help if you're using a scouring pad that damages your car’s surface.
Start the washing process by rinsing off any loose particles. Using a pressure washer yields the best results. Spend at least five minutes on this step; it’s worth it and helps prevent swirl marks caused by washing. Don’t forget to rinse the wheels at the same time!
Next, attach a snow foam lance to your pressure washer and use it with Avalanche Snow Foam. This foam helps to loosen and remove road grime before you start contact washing, doing much of the work for you and preventing contaminants from being spread around with your wash mitt. Auto Finesse Avalanche Snow Foam is designed not to strip or degrade existing sealants or wax protections, unlike some other snow foam products. During the winter months, when coarser grit and road salt accumulate on your car's exterior, the risk of swirl marks and scratches increases, making this step even more crucial.
Allow the snow foam to sit for about five minutes so it can work on breaking down surface contaminants. Then, rinse it off thoroughly with a jet wash. Despite its powerful cleaning capabilities, our Avalanche Snow Foam is safe to use over any wax or sealants applied during your full winter detail.
Next, address any remaining bugs and stubborn grime after the foam rinse. Citrus Power Bug and Grime Remover offers a gentle yet effective solution for removing contaminants without the need for scrubbing or damaging your car's wax or sealant layers. Simply spray Citrus Power onto the affected areas and let it soak for a few minutes. Then, rinse away the bug splatter and grime with fresh water using a garden hose or pressure washer.
Now, for the wash, we recommend using a high-quality soft-pile wash mitt along with our Lather Car Shampoo and two buckets. Lather is a pH-neutral shampoo that is safe to use over wax or sealant. It comes concentrated but can be diluted according to your needs—the dirtier the car, the more shampoo you'll need. Warm water will produce thicker, more effective foam with enhanced cleaning power.
Wash the car panel by panel, starting with bucket one for soaping each panel, then rinse the wash mitt in bucket two to release any trapped dirt before re-dipping into bucket one for the next panel. Always work from the top (roof) downwards, cleaning all exterior surfaces except the wheels and inside the wheel arches.
Keep an eye on both buckets; if either becomes dirty, discard the water and replace it. When using the mitt, wash in the direction of the car's lines rather than in circular motions.
Now it’s time to rinse. Remove any attachments from the hose and thoroughly blast the car with water. This will help the water sheet off, making the drying process easier. Here’s a top tip: mist the entire car with our Glisten Spray Wax just before drying. This step not only adds a layer of protection but also makes the surfaces slicker, aiding in a smoother drying process with a microfibre towel. The spray wax provides lubrication, helping to prevent marring during drying. Whenever possible, pat the paint dry rather than wiping, as contaminants in the air may affect the paintwork. Use a large microfibre cloth to ensure thorough drying, as letting your car air-dry can lead to water marks and streaks.
Now that the paintwork is clean, it’s time to tackle the wheels. If you have the time, we recommend removing each wheel one by one for a thorough clean, including behind the wheel and in the arches with our Revolution Wheel Soap. After cleaning the wheel arch, spray it with our Verso All-Purpose Cleaner, agitate with our hog hair detailing brush, and let it sit for about 15 minutes before rinsing off the degreaser with water.
Here’s a top tip: place a piece of wood under the face of the alloy wheel to keep it off the ground while you clean the back. You should have already rinsed the wheels during the paintwork wash to remove loose grit and dirt. For deep cleaning, Iron Out Fallout Remover is effective, but it's not for regular use—try our dedicated Reactive Wheel Cleaner instead. Use Iron Out sparingly for heavy cleans, as it's important to gauge the level of soil on your wheels.
For typical soiling, our Imperial Acid-Free Wheel Cleaner is ideal. It features a powerful blend of cleaning agents and degreasers that effectively break down brake dust and road grime on contact. Its high-foaming formula makes the job easier and is safe for all coated wheel finishes.
Make sure to use two dedicated brushes: one for the barrels and one for the face of the wheels, along with a separate bucket to rinse out your brushes. After washing each wheel, use a microfibre towel to dry the wheel faces. Don’t forget to clean the insides of the wheel arches and rinse your wash mitt regularly. Finally, rinse everything with a hose. During winter, try to wash your wheels weekly if possible and always dry the wheel faces with a microfibre towel.
If you find that there are still significant surface contaminants stuck to the rim, you can use a clay bar and lubricant to help remove them.
Once each wheel is clean, the next step is to protect the rim with our Mint Rims Wheel Wax. This wax is specially formulated to handle the high temperatures wheels face and helps resist etching from hot brake dust. Be sure to cover every inch of the rim thoroughly, applying two or three coats of protection, one after the other. Allow each coat to dry to a haze before buffing it off with a clean microfibre towel, then proceed with the next coat.
Once the tyres are dry, apply our Satin Tyre Dressing. This versatile product lets you choose the level of shine you prefer. A single layer provides a clean, natural satin-matte finish. To apply, place a few drops on a tyre applicator and rub it onto the outer wall of the tyre. Adding more layers will increase the gloss. Satin's water-based formula is enriched with UV inhibitors, which help condition the tyre sidewalls and prevent cracking over time.
DO NOT attempt to wash your wheels while they are still hot from driving. Now that your maintenance cleaning is complete, it’s time to think about protection. While you likely applied protection during your winter detail, it's important to keep it refreshed. You shouldn’t need to use a clay bar or perform extensive contaminant removal until the end of winter.
After your winter detail, your car should be well protected, but maintaining that protection is crucial. We recommend using our Glisten Spray Wax. This advanced spray wax features an easy spray-and-wipe formula that works on all paint finishes, including matte and wraps. Simply mist a light spray over about half a panel at a time, then spread it evenly with a clean microfibre towel and buff to a high-gloss shine.
The final step in the maintenance detail process is to clean your glass and exterior plastics. Use our highly-concentrated Crystal Glass Cleaner for this task. Apply a fine mist to a small section of the glass—usually 3-4 sprays are enough for an average window or half a windscreen—and wipe it off immediately with a short-pile microfibre towel. Flip the towel to a clean side for a final buff. If any contamination remains, reapply the product, allowing it to dwell and penetrate for a moment before wiping. Crystal Glass Cleaner is a carefully balanced blend of mild solvents that effortlessly removes fingerprints and greasy films, leaving your glass streak- and smear-free.
Auto Finesse Crystal can be used with glass sealants and is safe for all glass surfaces, including mirrors and delicate window tints. It’s also effective on lightweight polycarbonate or acrylic windows found in high-performance or racing vehicles.
Finally, remember to wash all the tools and towels you've used so they’re ready for next time. Clean cloths at a low temperature using a non-biological liquid detergent—avoid soap powders, bleach, and fabric softeners. Allow them to air dry naturally; do not tumble dry. For cloths heavily caked in wax or sealant, pre-wash them with white vinegar to break down the oils before laundering.
