Published on: 28/11/2018 Updated on: 20/02/2025
As regular readers of MAFRA's blog, you know very well that every car gets dirty according to its use. Each side of our car collects a different kind of dirt, and of course, we cannot apply the same method (and the same products) for various types of dirt. In general, bugs all end up sticking to the front of the car. While the tires or side bodywork, are subject to other types of agents. Owning a car exterior cleaning kit has now become very important, for those who like to DIY, just as you point out in the many messages you send us. For this reason, we thought we would follow some product lines to suggest to you, without neglecting to highlight some best practices and other valuable tips. But let's look at them together.
Hand washing
First soften the dirt
A good car exterior cleaning kit cannot do without a good prewash. In fact, the first step is to make a thorough analysis of the dirt. After that, we can proceed with the first step: softening the dirt. Washing one's car by hand often, as they say, helps so much to preserve the bodywork better over time.
If you plan to use a brush, your ideal product is the new Condom Wash. A solution by MAFRA made for washing your car safely and under any conditions. A glove composed of an extremely soft ultra-fine microfiber for deep cleaning, which does not require pressure to be applied to the bodywork. This is precisely why it avoids scratching the car in self-service box car washes, during brush washing.
To wash the car it is appropriate, of course, to start with the rims and tires with Rim and Tire Cleaner: in fact, it will suffice to apply the product to all four wheels and then proceed to rinse, to degrease and deep clean all kinds of tires and rims. Once this step is finished, you can proceed with the body shampoo.
And what product do I choose for washing?
During thedirt analysis, you will certainly have realized the critical issues found in some specific areas of your car. Let's start with the windshield. A good car exterior cleaning kit cannot do without a special product for cleaning windows. We at MAFRA recommend Cristabel: an antifreeze cleaner for liquid windshield wiper trays designed for cleaning windshields and rear windows. A dirty or otherwise not perfectly degreased windshield can cause visibility problems. Cristabel cleanses and degreases ensuring an optimal result with the use of small amounts of liquid, because it is a real concentrate.
For the plastic exterior? Try Diamant Plast Four: this product creates a Silk effect on the plastic and leather of the interior and forms an effective and long-lasting protective dust barrier on the outerplastics, resistant even to repeated washing.
Then there is one essential product to choose, the one you may have already thought of when reading this article: shampoo. Cleaning the body and exterior of your car can become a quick and easy task only if done with the right product. MAFRA has created specifically with this in mind. Car Wash Shampoo & Wax.
PLEASE NOTE: At the end of each wash, it is always a good idea to rinse with plenty of water (preferably purified water) so that no resuids of shampoo or other chemicals are left behind.
Focus on polishing
Decontamination first 
Prewashing and washing are necessary operations to wash the car in the optimal way, but sometimes they are not enough to remove all impurities from the bodywork. For this reason, the decontamination step is necessary, which is divided, in turn, into chemical and physical. Chemical decontamination is necessary for impurities such as iron residues and tar stains, which need appropriate products. For tar stains MAFRA recommends using. Deca Flash, which will instantly dissolve the tar present, both on the bodywork and on the rims. In the case of the do-it-yourself that we are discussing in this article, physical decontamination will not be necessary: if you are intrigued , you can read about it here.
How to polish the car 
Of the many processes we have listed for you so far, polishing is our icing on the cake. It is not merely an aesthetic operation because it can protect the car while making it shinier. For this reason, MAFRA has created Last Touch! It is a liquid car wax, rich in carnauba, safe on paints and suitable for quick car polishing. Last Touch is a halo-free polishing product, a car wax that provides long-lasting protection, easy to use and super quick to apply.
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