To the layperson, it’s a common misconception that simply washing a car means that it is “clean”.
However, there is much more to detailing a vehicle than just soap and water.
Yes, washing a vehicle is a major component of detailing but there are many other steps during the wash process that will make your vehicle properly detailed.
A few things that soap alone will not remove from your paint are tree sap, tar, stubborn bugs, iron deposits, and embedded contamination.
Once your vehicle has been thoroughly washed and rinsed free of all the dirt and debris, the next step is to address any tar and tree sap on the paint with a dedicated tar remover, eg. CarPro Tar X. These tar removers also work very well to dissolve most tree sap. Allow these products to dwell on the affected areas for a few minutes but do not allow to dry. Be careful around plastic trim as these products can sometimes stain.
The next step is to tackle any stubborn stuck on bug guts. Most APC’s (all-purpose cleaners) will help dissolve and loosen bugs but there are also dedicated bug remover, like Gtechniq W8 Bug Remover, with stronger chemicals that will literally melt the bug guts away. As with most products, do not allow them to dry onto the paint and rinse well.
An often overlooked but very important step to truly deep-cleaning your vehicle’s paint is removing any embedded iron deposits. You may not notice if there are any on your vehicle if it is a dark color, but it easily seen as orange rust-looking spots on lighter colored vehicles. You can see these spots “bleed” purple on light colored vehicles when the chemical and iron come in contact. Spray an iron remover, like CarPro Iron X, all over the paint and allow it to dissolve the iron for a few minutes. Do not allow to dry and rinse very thoroughly.
Once these steps are finished it is time to finish decontaminating the vehicle with a clay bar, eg. Meguiar's Clay Bar. The friction of the clay bar very lightly abrades the paint to pick up and remove any leftover contamination that is embedded to the paint. If your paint still feels rough and bumpy after washing, then it likely needs to be clayed. Once the paint feels smooth and slick, you have removed the contamination.
Once everything is completed, you need to protect the detailed paintwork with a wax, sealant, or coating to help keep your paint clean & contamination free.
After being protected, your vehicle should only need these decontamination steps on an as-needed basis. That could be once every 6 months or once a year, depending on how your car is driven and parked/stored.
Washing your vehicle at least once a month is also a great way to keep your paint from needing any deep cleaning!