After sitting under the porch for half a year, my Proton Satria badly needed attention. Although it wasn’t very dirty, a proper car wash and detailing session were long overdue.
Why This Car Wash Was Needed
I rarely drive my Satria these days. It has been parked at my hometown for nearly six months. As expected, some parts had developed issues. The sport rims and brake rotors had visible rust. While the paint looked okay overall, I noticed something odd—swirl marks only appeared on the roof.
The rest of the car, including the bonnet and doors, looked clean in comparison. I suspect it’s due to the black color on the roof, which may show swirls more easily. If anyone knows more, feel free to share in the comments.
Cleaning Up: A Focused Car Wash
Since the car wasn’t too dirty, I decided on a basic car wash. I skipped the heavy-duty cleaners and went with a simple rinse and shampoo. My main goal was to clean the rust off the rims and disc rotors, and then polish out the swirls.
First, I tackled the wheels. Although they looked bad, most of the dirt came off with a wet cloth. However, cleaning the rusty areas was time-consuming. Some corners were hard to reach, but persistence paid off. I used a small brush and wheel cleaner to restore their original shine.
Waxing the Paint for a Better Finish
Next, I moved on to the paint. The body had minimal swirl marks except for the roof. I skipped taking pictures of most areas since they looked good. I only documented the roof’s condition because that’s where the problem was most visible.
After applying a layer of wax and buffing it out, the difference was clear. The swirl marks vanished, and the black paint regained its gloss. The roof now matched the rest of the car in shine and smoothness.
Final Result: A Simple Yet Effective Detail
Though this was just a basic car wash, it made a huge difference. The rims, rotors, and paint all looked refreshed. It didn’t take long, but the results were rewarding.
Sometimes, even a quick wash and wax can breathe new life into a neglected car. I’ll try not to let my Satria sit so long again.
