The short answer: rinse the car and underbody with fresh water, wash it with a salt-removing detergent through a foam gun or bucket, rinse again, then dry it. Pay extra attention to the wheel arches, sills and underbody, where salt collects and stays damp.
Why salt matters even if you don't drive on the sand
Salt spray settles on cars parked near the coast, at boat ramps and on beach roads. Left on the paint it dulls the finish, and underneath it speeds up corrosion on brake lines, exhausts and fasteners.
What you'll need
- Salt Wash, a pH-neutral salt remover that helps dissolve salt and mineral deposits. Safe on paint, glass, plastics, rubber and chrome, and suitable for ceramic-coated surfaces
- The Captain's Musket foam gun or a foam cannon
- A Wooly Wash pillow and a Big Mike drying towel
Step by step
- Rinse the whole car, including under the arches and sills.
- Foam with Salt Wash and let it dwell for a couple of minutes in the shade.
- Contact wash top to bottom with the wash pillow.
- Rinse thoroughly, including the underbody.
- Dry with a microfibre towel to avoid water spots.
- Protect with a spray wax or ceramic detailer like Final Touch.
Driving a 4WD on the sand? See how to clean your 4WD after beach driving.
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