That disgusting look of the mold stuck in your car paint just got you curious about how to remove mold from car exterior. You should not delay the cleaning process as mold left untreated will surely bring permanent damage.
Before heading on to the actual cleaning process, it is essential to prepare the paint surface. You should not jump onto the spraying or scrubbing part because you will eventually damage the paint. Before beginning the agitation phase, remove any surface impurities.
You should also clad yourself in safety gear such as gloves, goggles, N-95 masks, and P-100 respirators especially if you have a compromised immune system. If you think the task is too dangerous for your health, then leave the task to mold remediation specialists.
If you are quite unsure of what kind of mold you are dealing with, check this guide on mold identification. Also, if you are scared of the possibility of toxic black molds, this article on how to identify black mold easily can help you.
The Actual Mold Removal Process
As part of the pre-cleaning phase, you should keep the car as clean as possible. Get rid of the leaves, sticks, and other forms of debris all over the car. You can go over these things with your trusted shop-vac to make your cleaning process a lot smoother.
Step #1. Get rid of surface mold
To remove any visible mold, it is highly recommended to use a power washer. The water pressure from a standard garden hose is simply insufficient.
You can always go to your local vehicle wash if you don’t have access to a power washer. A high-powered water hose like this is commonly found in self-service wash booths.
In using the power washer, you can begin at the roof of the vehicle. Through this, you can figure out how much pressure is necessary during the rest of the mold removal process. You can also start at the top as this will cause the mold to drop back down the bottom.
However, if using a high-powered pressure washer does not do its job, especially if mold has been sitting on your car paint and has been baked on it for too long, you can try other alternatives.
Try an all-purpose cleaner
This cleaning agent is effective on dashboards, upholstery, and many other types of surfaces. All-purpose cleaners are known to do the cleaning trick as they do not contain any harsh chemicals that might potentially damage your car paint.
Try a heavy-duty car wash soap
For bugs, tar, and other contaminants that are difficult to remove, you can opt to use a heavy-duty car wash soap. As such, you can use it in dealing with molds in your car’s exterior.
However, for this car wash soap to be effective, try doing a pre-wash. Through this, it will be easier to remove the mold.
Also, you can save your energy for something else instead of exerting all of it in additional scrubbing. This cleaning solution is recommended to be used with a foam cannon because you can coat the car with snow to loosen up the mold before scrubbing.
Try vinegar
Some mold may remain on the vehicle after it has been power washed. If this is the case, apply a solution of vinegar and water. 8 parts vinegar to 2 parts water is the dilution ratio.
This solution can be mixed in a bucket or sprayed using a spray bottle. Coating the car with the spray bottle will be considerably easier.
You have the option of spraying the entire car at once or concentrating on certain portions at a time. If the mold has been smudged on the car for a long time, wipe it with vinegar and let it sit for a while. After a few minutes, stir the mold with a clean microfiber cloth and wash it away.
Step #2. Apply a paint correction
Once you have chosen what cleaning agents fit best in your mold remediation process, you can now proceed into applying a paint correction. If the mold has been caked on the exterior for years, it is crucial to do the following procedures.
Clay bar
This is considered the first step in paint correction. Through this step, you will be able to get rid of the contaminants that have been embedded in the clear coat. It still stands important even though you do a regular car wash because it removes all the lingering impurities and nearly invisible dirt particles.
Polish
If you think you are new to this, you can opt to use the easiest method of polishing using a dual-action polisher. Although this is deemed as user-friendly, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Always make sure to polish a test panel before using the polisher on the rest of the car. This guide on how to properly use a dual-action car polisher may help you in using it.
Wax
The final step is the application of a fresh layer of wax to the paint. This is important in the sense that it secures the polishing. The wax will serve as a barrier between the car’s paint and any form of dirt that could possibly come in contact with your car when using it.
Conclusion
Car exteriors are also breeding grounds for mold so it pays to be familiar with how to remove mold from car exterior. However, you do not have to be worried as the task can be easily done with the right tools and a few sweaty steps.