Brushfires and wildfires cause smoke, soot and fallen ash to accumulate on automobiles. It’s important to remove the debris as soon as possible, as it can damage the paint finish on your car. If the debris is still coming down, you may have to wash your car several times to remove the ash and soot. The best thing you can do is keep your automobile in a garage as much as you can.
Wipe off the exterior of the vehicle with a long-handled duster to remove all excess soot and ash. Gently wipe all over the car including the roof, bumpers, headlights and taillights.
Take your car to a carwash or wash the car by hand at home. To wash it at home, first spray the car with water, then mix warm water with carwash soap.
Dip a large sponge in the solution and wash the car thoroughly. Begin washing on the roof, then move down and around the windows.
Rinse the car thoroughly to remove the soap. Dry the car with a soft towel.
Apply car wax inside a garage after the car is washed and dried and the air is clear of smoke and debris. Follow the directions on the wax label to apply it properly to the paint finish. Remove the wax with a clean cloth. The wax will protect the finish from more ash.
