Volcanic ash on vehicles

How do I know it’s volcanic ash?
If there is a covering of a fine greyish powder, similar to flour, on a vehicle then it’s probably volcanic ash.

General Tips
- Volcanic dust is acidic and can eat into paintwork if left on a vehicle. It therefore needs to be removed as quickly as possible.
- Wash affected vehicles more frequently, following the guidelines below, to prevent a build-up of ash.
- Don’t try and brush or wipe the dust away. Volcanic dust is highly abrasive and will can cause scratches if removed incorrectly.
- Pre rinse vehicle to remove excess ash.
- During washing pay attention to wiper blades and window seals. Residual ash can cause scratching to windows. - - Wipe over with Glass Clear.

Pressure Washing.
“Touch free” pressure washing is the best option for removing ash as it reduces the risk of scratching the vehicle.

- Rinse vehicle under low pressure to remove excess.
- Apply TFR and wash in the normal way. Note: TFRs are alkaline and will chemically neutralise the ash.
- If brushing use Vikan anti-scratch brushes.

Handwashing
- Pre rinse vehicle to remove excess ash.
- Apply shampoo solution. Keep vehicle and the sponge wet. Rinse the sponge frequently.
- Use a Grit Guard or empty the bucket frequently to avoid build up of grit in the bucket.
- The microfibre orange mitt significantly reduces the risk of scratching compared to a standard sponge.
- Do not blade the car unless you are 100% confident that all the ash has been removed. Using a waffle drying towel will minimise the risk of scratching.

Protection
- Paintwork, tyres and trim can be protected using Autosmart’s polishes and dressings.
- We recommend “Wax” for the ultimate protection.