Tackling Sahara Dust Storms
How to Remove Sand from your Car Safely
There is nothing better than a freshly washed and polished car glinting in the sun. The envy of the neighbourhood, you soon see everyone else come out to compete with your perfectly pampered lease vehicle.
Then a weather front comes in and ruins your hard work. Only this is no ordinary weather front. Contained within the wind and rain are tiny particles of sand that have travelled from sub-Saharan Africa.
The weather settles, leaving a fine layer of dust over your precious contract car. Your first instinct is to run out and wipe off the offending layer; however, you risk damaging your paintwork if you do.
Why take this precaution with contract cars?
The dust contains fine abrasive particles, and wiping them away could leave you with bodywork that looks like it has had a close encounter with an erratic sander. Putting your paintwork right after the damage can be expensive, especially if you have a satin or matt finish that cannot be polished.
So what do you do?
Here are five easy steps for tackling Sahara sand and any other abrasive materials that inflict themselves on your lease vehicle, including seagull poo.
- Avoid the temptation to write or draw in the dust. The sand and other particles will cause scratches if you move them across your paintwork, regardless of how care you think you are being. Resisting the urge to write your name can be tricky, but it will save your paintwork.
- Touch the paintwork as little as possible until you have removed the dust. Use a pressure washer if you have one to soak the bodywork. Leave it to sit for a couple of minutes before rinsing.
- Rinse with plenty of water, using a power washer again if you can. A Hose will do the trick, as will throwing buckets of water over it if that's your only choice. Once you have cleared most of the dust, you can move to the actual washing stage.
- Use a good quality shampoo, ideally one recommended by your manufacturer and a high-quality wash mitt. A large capacity bucket with a grit guard is also beneficial as it reduces the risk of you picking the dust particles back up as you rinse the mitt.
If in doubt, change the water in your bucket and ensure you rinse it out thoroughly to remove any stubborn particles that want to reattach themselves to your car. When you've finished shampooing, rinse and dry your paintwork. - Now it is inspection time. Check the paintwork for any damage or scratches and pay special attention to these areas while you polish or wax your car. Ensure you use a product that is suitable for your type of bodywork. If in doubt, check your owner's manual or contact your manufacturer. It is better to check than damage your car because you don't want to ask for assistance. You can apply scratch remover kits at this stage, but check that they are suitable for your paintwork.
Bonus tip: If you have the time add a layer of protection to your bodywork to make future washes easier. There are numerous different protective waxes and sprays out there. Ensure yo uuse one that is right for your vehicle and paintwork. It won't stop your car from getting dirty from either Sahara dust or any other kind, but it will help protect your paintwork. If in doubt, ask your manufacturer for advice.
Bonus, bonus tip: If you were unlucky enough to leave your windows or sunroof open, even just a crack, chances are your interior is now also covered in dust. Give everything a thorough vacuum, and don't forget things like your air vents. You don't want dust particles to blow back out when you put your heating or air conditioning on.
Accessing the best car leasing deals
Keeping your lease car in tip top condition reduces the panic cleaning many experience before they hand their vehicle back or part-exchange it for a newer model through better car leasing deals. Looking after your car helps increase its value when using it to secure a new lease.
Follow us for more tips on looking after your vehicle lease, and contact the team to see how asset finance and the best lease deals can help you get on the road for less.
