noodleman

iTrader: (13)

Hi guys,

I recently moved to a brand new house, so there's dust and soil/mud everywhere.

I also have no paved driveway.

Any tips on what I should do to minimize damage and keep my car clean in these poor conditions?

or am i stuck with a brown car for while?

also, so i be cleaning it more often to because of all the stuff the car picks up from the ground (dirt and dust)?

DavesZ#3

iTrader: (26)

There's not much you can do to keep it clean if you have to leave it outside.

You CAN minimize the damage to it by washing it properly. Make sure you rinse it good to get all the dust/dirt off of it before you start washing.

Use a real car wash/shampoo, don't use harsh kitchen detergents and don't use powered detergents.

Use a lambs-wool or cotton chenille mit / cloth. They will hold a lot of soapy water and are very gentle to the paint surface. You don't want something that is going to drag the dirt/dust across the surface - that's what causes swirls and fine scratches.

Finally, dry it with a waffle-weave microfiber towel. Don't rub the car to dry it, just lay the towel on the surface and let it absorb. Again, this will help avoid introducing swirls and scratches.

Check out Autopia at http://www.autopia.org
It has lots of info on auto detailing - both for the novice and the pro.