How to Clean a Carbon Fiber Hood

Carbon fiber is known for it's lightweight but high-strength properties and is used in everything from exotic sports cars to high-end industrial design. Better yet, the look of the carbon weave is considered very attractive and is used on many custom cars, most commonly to replace the hood. Cleaning a carbon fiber hood isn't any more difficult than cleaning anything else on your car as it does have a clear coat finish. If you take your time and do it right, the results will be worth it.

Things You'll Need

  • Hose and water source
  • Bucket
  • Car wash soap
  • Microfiber wash mitt
  • Shammy
  • Auto detailing spray
  • Microfiber towels
  • Liquid automotive wax
  • Foam applicator pad

Weekly Cleaning

  • Park the vehicle in a shaded area so you don't get water spots.

  • Use the hose to rinse off any surface dirt from the vehicle.

  • Pour a capful of car wash soap into the bucket, and use the hose to fill the bucket with high-pressure water. This will create suds for rinsing off the hood.

  • Put on the microfiber wash mitt, and dip it in the bucket to get a handful of suds. Rub the glove over the surface of the hood, making sure to wipe off the entire hood.

  • Rinse off the hood using low-pressure water from the hose.

  • Dry the hood with the shammy, making sure to squeeze it out frequently and eliminate any water spots from the hood.

Annual Cleaning

  • Clean the vehicle as you would do every week, following the same steps in section 1.

  • Spray automotive detailing spray onto the surface of the hood.

  • Wipe it clean using the microfiber towel, turning it frequently to ensure you don't smear the finish. This is a good step to perform when you want to clean the hood in between washes as well, as long as there isn't any large amount of dirt on the hood.

  • Apply liquid car wax onto the foam applicator pad, and work it in a circular motion on the hood. This will provide a protective layer on top of the clear coat, giving the finish extra protection.

  • Once the wax has dried and the hood has a hazy appearance, buff off the wax using a microfiber towel in a circular motion on the hood. Once all the wax is cleared from the hood, your hood is protected for another 2 to 4 months before you'll need to reapply the wax.