Keeping it clean

The downside of Winter driving is the state of the roads and how dirty a regularly-used car becomes. The Special doesn’t mind using its cars in any weather, but Winter dirt and especially ice-melting salt means car cleaning’s more regular than in the other seasons. Assuming, that is, that the tap’s not frozen.

The last week’s low temperatures have seen local roads being regularly gritted but with that comes dirt-encrusted lights, glass, door mirrors and underside. The Cuore had some welding at its last MoT and to reduce the chance of future gas-axe use it enjoys regular wheelarch and floorpan jet-washing.

That’s certainly been the case this week when the pint-sized hero was about the filthiest it has ever been in The Special’s tenure. While the bodywork was filthy it was clear the underside was equally bad so out came pressure washer, bucket, sponge and a plethora of potions to bring some glitz back.

We began with some Carplan Trade Valet Hi-Foam Wash in a pump-up bottle sprayed underneath, in the arches and around the door shuts, plus some CarPlan wheel cleaner on the hubcaps.

A decent use of the pressure washer (fortunately the tap wasn’t frozen) lifted most of the dirt away, as shown by the piles on the grit on the ground. On to the Carplan Trade Valet Hi-Foam Wash with hot water and the paint was back to its more familiar, shiny self. We rinsed the body and then doused it in CarPlan Trade Valet Hi-Wax Rinse and, because it was too damp to apply polish, finished off with CarPlan Demon Shine.

The result? The Cuore’s back to its usual shiny self. But judging by the roads, not for long…