New Zealand’s pollen season lasts approximately 34 weeks and varies in timing each year. Traditionally it begins in July or August with the Pinus season and continues into August/September with deciduous trees like oaks, elm, and birches.
If you or anyone in your family suffers from pollen allergies, this is a season you could likely do without!
And what about that unsightly pollen layer on your car’s exterior?
Pollen On Cars – Why Is It A Problem?
Pollen can leave ugly marks on your car’s paint job, and dark-coloured or black vehicles seem particularly vulnerable. But what is it about pollen that causes this?
Despite what some sources claim, we’ve found that pollen is unlikely to scratch the paintwork. The grains are microscopic, so they are unlikely to leave visible scratches.
The problem is acidity. As a general rule, any acid is bad news for your paint! Unfortunately, that includes some types of pollen, particularly when combined with water. As a result, it can leave light but visible etchings and stains on your car.
How To Clean Pollen Off Your Car: A Basic Wash
If you’ve noticed some pollen build-up on your car’s exterior, give it a proper clean asap!
A simple two-bucket car wash will do the job here.
- Grab your choice of car shampoo, a quality wash mitt and microfibre cloth.
- Park your car in the shade to prevent the washing water from evaporating and leaving streaks.
- Fill one bucket with pure water and the other with shampoo and water.
- To loosen the pollen, rinse the whole car down first with clean water from a hose or bucket.
- Here’s the key to protecting your paintwork: don’t let the grains of dirt or debris scrape across your clear coat; this is where the second bucket of water comes in. After cleaning one section of the car with soap and water, use the bucket of pure water to rinse the mitt. Just dunk your car wash mitt in the bucket and rinse it until you’re sure the grit and dirt are gone.
- Starting from the roof and work your way down, gently running your mitt over each panel. Don’t apply too much force. If you use a quality car shampoo, the pollen should lift immediately. For stubborn patches, let it soak in the soap for a minute, then give it a gentle wash. It should have loosened and will come away without too much effort.
- Once every section is clean, give the entire car a final rinse with fresh water from a bucket or a hose.
- Finally, take your dry microfibre cloth and gently pat the bodywork dry. Do this immediately after rinsing to avoid letting the water dry and leaving dirty-looking water marks behind.
Preventative measures
Wax forms a transparent, high-gloss shield against pollen and other contaminants. There are two ways that it will protect your paintwork.
First, a quality wax will give the paint a super glossy, low-friction texture. Low-friction surfaces shed dirt more quickly, so most of that pollen will slip off before it can get a foothold.
Second, the acid in pollen will slowly eat into the first surface it touches. If the first surface is wax rather than paint, you’ve gained valuable time before any permanent stains or etchings occur.