Exterior car care
A clean car exterior is important to many car owners, who often spend countless hours making their paintwork shine. Exterior car care is not only important from an aesthetic point of view, but also for protecting your car so you can drive it longer.
Why exterior car care is important
There are many reasons why exterior car care is important, and no matter how interested you are in cars, you still need to clean your car.
Protect your car from environmental factors
Your car is subjected to all weather conditions and daily to environmental factors such as UV rays, rain, snow, road salt and air pollution. By regularly washing and caring for the car exterior, you protect the paintwork, windows and rims against external stresses and environmental factors that may eventually result in paint bleaching, rust or other damage.
Preserve your car’s appearance
A car that is well cared for looks better and retains its value over time. By maintaining your car’s exterior, you reduce the risk of scratches, rust and stains that make it look worn and old.
Safe driving
For you to drive safely, it’s important that your car’s lights, windows and mirrors are intact and clean, so your view is never obscured.
Car exterior cleaners
A thorough car wash starts with degreasing and shampooing, and ends with polishing and drying. If you want to make it easy for yourself, you can also use our waterless car cleaner. You can also make a climate-smart choice and use the products in our Bio series.
For car exterior cleaning, you will need:
- Degreaser:
Degreasers are used to remove tar, grease, road salt, and other types of dirt, salt from the car. There are two main types of degreaser – cold degreaser (for tar, asphalt, grease, salt) and alkaline degreaser (for dirt, road dust). - Car shampoo
Car shampoo is a cleaning agent with or without wax that cleans most stains, road grime and grease, while at the same time leaving your car extra shiny. - Rim cleaner
Rim cleaner is designed to effectively clean the exposed rims from ingrained dirt and brake dust. - Glass cleaner
Having clean car windows significantly increases your safety on the road. Regularly cleaning and polishing the glass both internally and externally with glass cleaner is therefore extremely important. - Surface rust remover
Surface rust remover gets rid of hydrated iron oxide, which is formed by small iron particles embedded in the car paintwork. It’s a good idea to use surface rust remover a few times a year, preferably in spring and autumn.
Useful tools for cleaning the car
- Car wash bucket / bucket with dirt separator – a sturdy bucket with a practical dirt separator makes cleaning the car both straightforward and easy.
- Sponge – use a soft and gentle sponge for a scratch-free result.
- Clay bar kit – A clay bar removes the most stubborn particles and roughness that may remain after your car wash, such as asphalt stains, surface rust or resin.
- Rim brush – with the help of a soft and bendablerim brush you can easily access even the most hard-to-reach places.
- Chamois leather – highly absorbent drying cloth made of real or synthetic leather for effectively drying the bodywork and interior.
- Microfibre cloths – highly absorbent and dirt-dissolving microfibre cloths work wonders when wiping and polishing.
Exterior car care at Biltema
Exterior car care includes multiple steps, including car washing and paintwork protection, tyre and rim cleaning, and window and mirror cleaning.
Biltema’s range of exterior car care includes:
- Degreaser
- Car shampoo
- Car wax and paintwork protection
- Tyre and rim cleaner
- Glass cleaner and glass sealant
- Windscreen washer fluids
- Exterior car care accessories
- Waterless car cleaner
- Exterior car wipes
- Surface rust remover
Remember...
Before washing your car, we advise you to check which local rules and guidelines must be followed when washing your car at home.
The dirt washed off your car often contains oil and fuel residues, which, for the sake of the environment, should not end up in groundwater. Most car wash facilities are equipped with oil separators and water treatment systems, which prevent harm to the environment.
Frequently asked questions about exterior car care
What products can be used to clean the car exterior?
There are numerous products and accessories for exterior car care. You can use car shampoo, car wax, rim cleaner, glass cleaner, wipes, microfibre cloths and cleaning brushes for exterior car cleaning.
How often should the car exterior be cleaned?
It depends on the condition of your car, how often you drive it, and the surface on which it is driven. It also depends on the season and weather. On wet and dirty roads, or on snow and road salt, your car may need to be washed a little more frequently than during the summer months. But even during the summer months, it can be good to clean the car frequently because insects and bird droppings can be devastating to the paint when the sun arrives.