So we moved recently to an apartment that is really close to shore and my car gets so damn dirty real quick. The worst part is the dirt is mostly sand . Im scared that if i wash the car and all the sand doesnt come off, once i start soaping the car, it will end up being heavily scratched.

 

A foam gun/foam cannon + power washer might do the trick! Worse comes to worse bring it to me =)

 

First off when you wash use a good stream of water to move most of it off then like posted above use a foam gun.

Do a search on my user name .. I came up with a good cheap one ..

when washing use a good sheepskin mitt and you shouldn't need to put any pressure on the surface if your washing weekly etc.

Rig up a grit guard in your bucket to collect the sand. I made one from a light fixture egg crate

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When you do the final rinse take the nozzle off the hose and let a full gentle stram of water flood over the car. This will rinse off any loose grit and also pull a lot of the water off. Using pressure to do the final rinse only increases the chances of blasting grit out on to the surface to marr when drying.

 

thnx for the info, and great idea on the home made foam gun.

 

Removing Sand (Interior)

Remove as soon as is feasible as sand (abrasive) and saltwater (alkaline) will damage carpet fibres. Use a stiff brush and / or beat carpet to dislodge any loose sand and then use a brush to gently dislodge any grains caught in the fibres and then vacuum carpets. Spray the area with a carpet cleaner and let it soak in, rinse with plenty of water. Finally clean carpets by spraying the area with a carpet shampoo rinse and then remove with a carpet extractor.

Exterior

Before you wash the paint, rinse using capacious amounts of low pressure water (to avoid ‘sand blasting) then wash (2-bucket method) and dry as usual

Suntan Oil

To clean leather that has oil / grease stains, there are a couple of different things to try. Use Leather Master’s (LM) Leather Cleaner as a spot Cleaner, which will break down the oils and should remove the stain.

If the stain is fresh it can be treated and successfully removed with cornstarch rubbed briskly into the stain with your fingers until the heat from the friction is felt. The heat loosens the oil and allows the cornstarch to absorb the oil before the leather can; if the stain has ‘set’ use baking soda and leave over-night.
Or try (LM) Leather Degreaser, an aerosol product for cleaning oily stains; it dissolves and removes oil and grease from leather surface. This cleaner can be applied for cleaning all types of leather.

Aniline leather - use Leather Master Leather Degreaser (A-Aniline / Non-Coated) (check for colour fastness) this aerosol product is ideal for cleaning oily stains; it dissolves and removes oil and grease from leather surface. This cleaner can be applied to all types of leather.

Covered leather - (P-Protected / Coated) Iz einszett 'Plastik-Reiniger' is an intensive, non-corrosive, non-acidic water-based detergent cleaner for polyurethane.

Prevention - since body dirt and oil are a big stain factor in leather, be cognizant of bare skin when you are in your vehicle. If you use suntan lotion a lot, be sure to use a towel when you get back in your vehicle so that the oil does not get onto your leather. You can also use a towel when leaving the gym as body oils/ perspiration contain organic acids that will stain.

Leather Master™ - Protection Cream will provide resistance against this type of stains, spills and provides the hydration necessary to keep the leather soft and supple

Enjoy the sea shore