The days are getting shorter, the air is getting colder and the weather is getting more unpredictable. So, as autumn rolls in, it's the perfect time to give your car some much-needed attention to protect it from the harsh weather. From sudden, heavy downpours, freezing rain and road salt to stubborn grime - autumn and winter can be tough on your vehicle's surfaces.
But before you apply any protective coatings, waxes or sealants, proper preparation is key. A deep clean and thorough decontamination will ensure that your protective products bond correctly and perform at their best.
Here’s your complete checklist for preparing every part of your car, inside and out.
Exterior Prep: Wheels, Tyres, Paintwork & Glass
Your car’s exterior takes the brunt of autumn and winter's assault, so it’s crucial to get it ready.
Wheels and Tyres
- Start by using a dedicated wheel cleaner to break down stubborn contaminants.
- For a deeper clean, consider an iron remover to dissolve embedded brake dust.
- A tyre cleaner and brush will remove old dressings and grime. You can tell it's working as your cleaner will turn brown! It'll leave a clean surface ready for a new dressing.
Paintwork
A simple wash isn't enough to prepare your paint for a protective coating. You’ll want to perform a two-stage decontamination process after a thorough wash:
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Pre-wash, snow foam and contact wash as usual. We'd recommend looking at an acid-based shampoo for your bucket. Any limescale or mineral-based contaminants will be safely dissolved and removed during this process.
- Chemical Decontamination: Use an iron fallout remover to tackle brake dust and industrial fallout that are invisible to the naked eye. Then, use a tar and glue remover to safely lift stubborn tar spots - most products can be sprayed on and wiped with a quality microfibre towel. Follow this with another snow foam and hand wash to neutralise the products you've used.
- Mechanical Decontamination: Follow up with a clay bar or clay mitt. This step physically pulls any remaining bonded contaminants from the paint, leaving a perfectly smooth surface for your wax or sealant to bond with. We recommend a bucket of your usual shampoo water to add lubrication, or pick a clay lube.
- Claying can leave marring on your clear coat, so the next stage would be paint correction. This can vary depending on how many scratches and swirl marks you can see - use an inspection light to get the best idea of the work that needs doing. We stock a range of machine polishers, pads and compounds/polishes. This is also an area many customers can be unsure of, so feel free to contact us for tips.
Glass
Winter driving means poor visibility. Having a glass coating will mean that water quickly flies off all glass at motorway speeds, letting you see better. Correct prep is crucial.
- Clean all windows inside and out with a quality glass cleaner.
- For the exterior glass, follow this with a glass polish to remove any water spots and residue. We tend to use our RUPES HLR75 3-inch machine polisher to deep-clean the pores of glass to help coatings bond.
- A clean, polished surface ensures your rain repellent or glass sealant will work effectively, dramatically improving visibility in rain, sleet and snow.
Exterior Trim
Plastic and rubber trim can fade when exposed to UV rays and the winter elements.
- Use an all-purpose cleaner to deep clean these surfaces, removing old dressings and grime.
- A clean surface is essential for any trim restorer or protectant to properly adhere and protect against future fading.
Interior Prep: A Fresh Start
Don't neglect the inside of your car as this is where a whole host of dirt, grime and bacteria can build up.
Plastics and Trim
- Wipe down all hard surfaces like the dashboard, door panels and centre console with an interior cleaner or correctly diluted all purpose cleaner (APC). We recommend Ultra Rip N Rag towels for this as you can tear a towel off as you're working.
- This process removes dust, fingerprints and grime, creating a clean canvas for an interior protectant. Pair this with an ultra-soft brush to prevent scratching on sensitive surfaces, such as piano black trim. Also consider a dedicated cleaner for media screens to care for the surface and prevent residue build-up.
Upholstery, Mats, and Carpets
- For a truly fresh interior, a thorough vacuum is the first step.
- For mats, we recommend spraying a dedicated vacuum aid or an all purpose cleaner (APC) diluted 1:10 to reduce surface static. This will help you hoover up dirt easier. Pet hair can also be removed easier using this method paired with a vacuum tool. You also have the option of using a drill brush for deep-cleaning. Steam cleaning with more APC will blitz bacteria, there are plenty of steam cleaners on the market.
- The same methods can be used for your carpets and any fabric in your boot.
- For fabric seats, use an upholstery cleaner or APC correctly diluted to spot-clean any spills and remove deep-set dirt. A drill brush can be used again to really help you with this task, especially if there is a serious build-up of dirt or liquid stains. Wipe clean with a quality microfibre towel or, if you've had to use plenty of cleaner/APC, you may need to use an extractor, such as the SpotClean Pro by Bissell.
- If you have leather seats and they look shiny, this is a clear indication that they need cleaning. Leather should have a matte finish. A dedicated leather cleaner and brush (or quality scrub pad) will safely remove the dirt and body oils. Wipe residue with a microfibre towel. This will prepare the surface for a leather conditioner and/or protectant. A dedicated dye and friction blocker, especially on white or light-coloured leather, will help to prevent jean/trouser scuffs.
By following these essential preparation steps, you'll ensure that every protective product you apply will perform at its peak, keeping your car looking its best all autumn and into winter, helping you to speed up maintenance washes and wipe-downs.
Exterior & Interior Protection Products
Now you've prepped your vehicle, lets lock in the fresh finish with one of our waxes, sealants, ceramic coatings or interior protection products.
These will help you the most throughout the colder, unsettled months, as road salt, dirt and grime can be removed faster and safer. Anything that's transferring to your interior can also be kept at bay.
In the long-term, this will also drastically reduce the chance of scratches and swirls on paintwork as well as weathering to interior surfaces.
Clean and Shiny Staff Picks:
Wheel Protection
Good: Carbon Collective Platinum Wheels
Better: Gtechniq C5 Wheel Armour (used-in house)
Best: Armour Detail Supply Wheel Coating (15k mile coating)
Tyre Dressings
Good: Gtechniq T1 V2
Better: Labocosmetica NERO
Best: Armour Detail Supply Tire+
Gloss Paintwork Protection
Good: Diamond Protech Diamond Body
Better: GYEON Q2 MOHS EVO
Best: Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light + EXO
ℹ️ Ceramic Coatings take time to apply and cure. If you'd prefer faster protection, here's our pick of Sealants:
Good: Labocosmetica REVITAX (apply in a snow foam lance)
Better: MANIAC LINE Wet Coat or GYEON Q2M WetCoat
Best: Labocosmetica Beneficia
Satin or Matte Paintwork, PPF & Wrap Protection
Good: Gtechniq HALO V2 (2 year PPF/Wrap coating)
Better: GYEON Q2 Matte EVO Light (12 months)
Best: Labocometica ARMORIUS Matte (24 months)
ℹ️ These Ceramic Coatings take time to apply and cure. If you'd prefer a faster product to use, here's our pick of detailing sprays:
Good: Chemical Guys Matte Detailer
Better: Stjärnagloss MORK
Best: GYEON Q2M Cure Matte (6 weeks of durability)
Fabric Convertible Roof Protection
Good: Angelwax Shield (6 months)
Better: GYEON Q2 FabricCoat (6 months)
Best: Gtechniq i1 V3 Smart Fabric (Up to 12 months)
Glass Protection:
Good: Diamond Protech Diamond Glass (up to 12 months)
Better: GYEON Q2 View (up to 24 months)
Best: Gtechniq G1 Clear Vision Smart Glass (up to 20,000 miles)
Trim Protection:
Good: Carbon Collective Platinum Trim (24 months)
Better: GYEON Q2 Trim (24 months)
Best: Gtechniq C4 Permanent Trim Restorer (24 months)
With your exterior surfaces protected, let's take a look at the interior!
Interior Plastics/Trim Protection:
Good: MANIAC LINE All Round Plastic Protectant
Better: 303 Aerospace Protectant
Best: Diamond Protech Diamond Interior
Interior Fabrics Protection:
Good: 303 High-Tech Fabric Guard Water Repellent
Better: GYEON Q2 FabricCoat
Best: Gtechniq i1 V3 Smart Fabric
Leather Protection:
Good: Gtechniq L1 Leather Guard Anti-Bac (minimum 3 months)
Better: Labocosmetica Derma Sealant (4 months)
Best: Diamond Protech Diamond Leather (12 months)
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Conclusion...
Preparing your car for the colder months isn't just about protecting it from the elements; it's about preserving its value and ensuring a safer, more enjoyable driving experience.
By taking the time to properly clean and prep every surface, from the alloys and paintwork to the carpets and leather, you’re setting your vehicle up for success.
Once your car is prepped, you’re ready for the final, crucial step: applying the right protective products.
We hope our autumn/winter checklist has everything you need to keep your car looking its best, no matter what the weather throws at it. It'll set you up for safe, fast and efficient maintenance washes and wipe-downs.
And, as usual, if you have any questions feel free to contact us.
The Clean + Shiny Team.