The general condition of the car body is a factor that significantly affects its sale value. Caring for the body is not difficult, but it should be regular. Neglect of care, especially after minor damage, can quickly lead to further deterioration of the bodywork and increase repair bills. It is also important to pay attention to the invisible elements of the car body, such as its bottom, the inner surfaces of the wheel arches and the lower elements of the engine compartment.
The main procedure for caring for a car body is washing it, preferably with plenty of water from a hose. A strong jet of water removes hardened lumps of dirt from the surface of the car body. Removing adhering solids and grains of sand in this way is an important requirement to avoid scratching the polish when wiping painted surfaces. Washing off accumulated dirt from the inner surface of the wheel arches and from the bottom of the car is necessary due to the fact that a thick layer of dirt has the ability to retain moisture, which leads to the formation and rapid development of corrosion. Paradoxically, the best time to clean the wheel arches and underbody is in wet weather, when the adhering dirt is well moistened and softened. In very wet weather, the bottom of the car is usually cleared of large accumulations of dirt automatically, and this is the best time to inspect it.
Periodically, it is recommended to perform a complete steam cleaning of the bottom of the car, including the engine compartment (except for vehicles with wax-based underbody protection), for the purpose of carrying out a thorough inspection and determining the extent of the necessary minor repairs and restoration procedures. Steam cleaning is available at most auto repair shops and is necessary to remove oil and grime, which can be quite thick in some places. If steam cleaning is not possible, excellent degreasing solvents are always available on the market, which are best applied with a brush; then the softened and dissolved dirt can be easily removed with a water jet from a hose. Please note that these methods cannot be used on vehicles that have a wax based underbody protection coating or that the coating must first be removed. Such vehicles should be inspected annually, preferably on the eve of the winter season. The bottom should be washed and any damage to the wax coating repaired. Ideally, the bottom should be freshly coated. It is also worth considering using a similar wax-based coating on the interior of door panels, body sections, etc. as additional protection against corrosion, if such protection is not provided by the vehicle manufacturer.
After washing off the dirt from the painted surfaces, carefully wipe them with a piece of suede, achieving an impeccable cleanliness and smoothness of the surface. Applying a layer of protective wax polish will provide additional protection to the paint from exposure to aggressive chemical ingredients contained in the atmosphere. If the finish is tarnished or oxidized, the original shine can be restored by using a combination of cleaner and polish. This will require some effort, but it should be remembered that this kind of tarnishing usually occurs as a result of neglecting the procedure for regular car washing. Metallized surfaces require precautions such as the use of special non-abrasive cleaners/polishes to avoid damaging the shiny surface. Keep drains, gutters and tubes in doorways and vents clean and free of water. Metal finishes should be treated in the same way as painted surfaces. Windshield and side window glass can be cleaned of the frequently occurring grease film on them using special glass cleaners. Never attempt to polish the glass with wax or any other polish intended for body parts or chrome parts.