Keeping Your Car Clean in Hawaii, Part 2

This article is the second article of a series. The first article can be found below.

https://mtoguchibodyshop.com/keeping-your-car-clean-in-hawaii-part-1/

Prevention from Damage

Mats and Liners:

For the interior of your vehicle I recommend aftermarket mats and liners. As stated earlier, the interiors of most vehicles do not considers Hawaii’s unique conditions. A few hundred dollar can save you thousands on the appraisal of your vehicle later. Consider getting some seat covers as well.

High-Quality Auto Parts:

Using the appropriate parts when making a repair or modification to your vehicle will help to prevent damage. Tire rims for example, will keep a better look over long periods of time if you use a solid metal high-quality Rim. Cheap plastic rims will deteriorate quickly with consistent cleaning and driving conditions. Low-quality clearcoats and paintwork will deteriorate the look of your vehicle quickly.

Auto Detailing on Maui

Waxing in Hawaii:

Waxing causes water to bead which can lead to too long term water spots. Water spots are less likely with rainwater but accelerated if water comes from sprinklers or a hose, especially if the water sources from ‘reclaimed water.’ If you prefer to wax your car, it must be done consistently to avoid water spot damage. I recommend sealant rather than standard car wax in most situations. A sealant will allow you to undergo the waxing process less frequently. It’s generally accepted among professional detailers that a Carnauba based wax will make a car shinier than most sealants. However, sealants tend to last roughly ten times longer per application.

Tire dressings:

While tire dressing can really make those tires shine, make sure your wheels are clean before applying a tire dressing. For muddier areas of the islands, I don’t recommend using tire dressings, as they will likely make your tires look worse in the long term. Tire dressings are highly acidic and melt dirt, but also bond that same dirt with your tires. Tire dressings make dirt impossible to remove from your tires.

A middle of the road solution would be to use Armorall interior cleaner on your tires for a nice shine. Armorall will not last as long as a tire dressing, but there will never be a long term disadvantage. Armorall is great at removing dirt without bonding dirt to your tires.

Rims:

Clean rims are what really make a car appear clean. I use a degreaser called Purple Power to clean my rims. Any automotive degreaser will remove dirt from rims. However, be careful with this product is it may damage your rims. Degreaser overspray from a spray bottle can cause permanent damage to your paint. Always use a new product on a small and less visible part of the rim. After you are sure a new product doesn’t damage your rim, go ahead and use the product on the rest of the rim.

Windows:

Again because of minerals in our water (hard water), sometimes residue on windows will be difficult to remove. Just make sure to dry the windows quickly after washing your car. Dry the body second.

I usually start off with Windex or an equivalent product. Use an old shirt or softer towels. Conventional towels will create more difficulty when trying to remove streaks. Fold the shirt so it’s a small rectangle about 4″x5″. Spray the window and spread the product around with one side of the shirt, then use the other side to dry and wipe off the product.

If you are unable to remove water spots after cleaning the window with Windex, use steel wool. I always recommend starting with very fine steel wool and simply rubbing the windows with it. No water is required. If steel wool does not work, It may be time to consult a professional. Auto detailing methods vary. Perhaps glass will need to be replaced or treated with acid. You may prefer to learn to live with your water spots.

Mahalo for Reading

While it may seem that Hawaii is not a safe place for cars. Every place has it’s fair share of challenges to vehicles. Many would consider vehicle maintenance in Hawaii to be a breeze when compaired to other states. Let us know if you have any questions or comments below. Aloha and mahalo!