[Bammerman]

I love my Volt but I find that the rear of the car gets filthy very quickly and easily, and is resistant to cleaning. Maybe it's worse with the car's "white diamond" paint, but I am having a hard time removing all the dirt and grime from the rear surfaces. Anyone else have this problem? How'd you solve it? I'd be interested in hearing what cleaning products (and/or tools) you use that work well for you on this part of the car. Thanks.

 

[llninja]

I use a power washer (Ryobi 2000 psi), maguires car cleaner (a liquid polish that allows me to gently rub out any sticky stuff with a small towel) then any good wax (I usually use nu-finish but years ago a guy moving to Cali gave me his menagerie of bottles in his garage, so I've spent a decade trying to use up his random stuff of turtle wax, liquid glass, armorall, etc.)

 

[kns]

This happens with most of the new cars designed to have a low drag coefficient. Air passing along the side and top of the car smoothly separates from the car rather than causing turbulence at the rear. Less air movement at the rear results in more dirt accumulation.

KNS

 

[Steverino]

Soapy water with a wash mitt has always worked for me.

 

[porbund]

What you're looking for is a clay bar. They come as a kit with some sort of lubricant. A clay bar will bring back that showroom smoothness.

 

[El Dobro]

It comes with the design.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kammback

 

[Dutch]

I love my Volt but I find that the rear of the car gets filthy very quickly and easily, and is resistant to cleaning. Maybe it's worse with the car's "white diamond" paint, but I am having a hard time removing all the dirt and grime from the rear surfaces. Anyone else have this problem? How'd you solve it? I'd be interested in hearing what cleaning products (and/or tools) you use that work well for you on this part of the car. Thanks.

You aren't alone. I've commented many times about "dirty butt" syndrome with the Gen 1 Volts and believe me it looks just as bad, if not worse, on a black car.

The really important thing to keep in mind is that because there is so much crap back there, you really need to be careful about grit and not scratching things up. That means water. Lots and lots of water, to rinse it all away.

The basic stages are...

1. A good washing with a wool mitt and lots of rinse water
2. Then I actually blow off that whole area using an electric leaf blower
3. Then a good going over with a clay-bar and some kind of detail spray (use lots of spray for lubrication)
4. Then I rinse again
5. Then I wax/polish. Personally I'm very fond of Meguiar's Ultimate Liquid Wax (be careful, there is an Ultimate POLISH that looks the same but it's not a wax).
6. Generally I follow that up by puting Rain-X on that lower window part.

Maintenance in between consists of blowing things off regularly with the electric leaf blower, or using a "California duster" (lightly swishing, no pressure) sometimes.

 

[Bammerman]

Thanks, very helpful, I will try these. I have only used a wool mitt and soapy water and rinse. That's fine for everywhere except the back of the car.

 

[Joe67]

I love my Volt but I find that the rear of the car gets filthy very quickly and easily, and is resistant to cleaning. Maybe it's worse with the car's "white diamond" paint, but I am having a hard time removing all the dirt and grime from the rear surfaces. Anyone else have this problem? How'd you solve it? I'd be interested in hearing what cleaning products (and/or tools) you use that work well for you on this part of the car. Thanks.

The vertical panel it what makes the rear get so dirty so quickly, not unlike SUVs and minivans, etc.

it should not be resistant at all to cleaning, not sure what you mean by this exactly. It cleans up just like any other body panel on any other vehicle.

 

[Steverino]

Thanks, very helpful, I will try these. I have only used a wool mitt and soapy water and rinse. That's fine for everywhere except the back of the car.

Then try a different soap. There is nothing magical about the rear of the car that prevents dirt from being washed away. The only other possibility is it's not road dirt on your car but is some sort of petroleum grease, oil, tar, etc. For that you may need mineral spirits.

 

[Fred_B]

First, get the area clean (use clay bar or whatever it takes) and apply a good wax. This will make it easier to clean next time.
Then, after every drive (this is what I do) raise the hatch and blow the dust out of the inside corners. Then with some glass cleaner and a soft rag clean the back window (the small one). If there is any dirt/dust on the painted areas on the back of the car, use some 'quick detailer' spray and microfiber cloth to remove that.

The whole process only takes a minute or two. It keeps the car looking like new as long as the rest of it doesn't get dirty. And if it rains postpone the trip or take your other car

 

[Dutch]

The vertical panel it what makes the rear get so dirty so quickly, not unlike SUVs and minivans, etc.

it should not be resistant at all to cleaning, not sure what you mean by this exactly. It cleans up just like any other body panel on any other vehicle.

Not on mine it doesn't. It sucks up road tar and other sticky stuff like mad and takes some extra effort to get looking ship-shape again. I suppose that would really be a function of where I live so by comparison I suspect city folk have it super easy.

 

[santafe2]

Then, after every drive (this is what I do) raise the hatch and blow the dust out of the inside corners.

This was a problem I had with my 2014. Santa Fe has lots of dirt streets so if the weather has been dry for a week or so, dust kicks up behind the car and lots of it would seep into both the lower and upper hatch interior seams. It was a constant and annoying cleaning job. The first time I washed my 2017 I was pleasantly surprised that they've worked to seal almost all of the dust from getting into this area.

As for managing the dirt, etc. that accumulates on the back end of the car, I start with my power washer and spray the back until there's no more dust / dirt coming out of the various crevasses created by a diabolical engineering / design team.

 

[Crimson Volt]

Guess I'm still in that Honeymoon state with my Volt but I enjoy keeping her clean every ride. I don't mind the dirt build-up as now that's it's Fall the leaves are beginning to get stuck in the front and back if I park outside the garage. I'll need to have an auto garage unit install as right now it manually.

 

[Bammerman]

What if I applied Rain-X to the entire rear of the car (not just the lower rear window) -- Any reason not to try that? Might that not help to repel some of the dirt?

 

[llninja]

What if I applied Rain-X to the entire rear of the car (not just the lower rear window) -- Any reason not to try that? Might that not help to repel some of the dirt?

I'm pretty sure the rainX bottle says to not put it on paint, only glass. But in the interest of science, you can try it out and report back if your rear end clearcost gets ruined as a result.

 

[Dutch]

What if I applied Rain-X to the entire rear of the car (not just the lower rear window) -- Any reason not to try that? Might that not help to repel some of the dirt?

Rain-X on paint... not a great idea. It's made to use on glass and doesn't "bond" the same way with things that aren't glass so it wouldn't work well, plus I think it will eventually eat plastic though I could be wrong on that.

 

[Fred_B]

What if I applied Rain-X to the entire rear of the car (not just the lower rear window) -- Any reason not to try that? Might that not help to repel some of the dirt?

Use a good wax on the painted areas. Rain-X is OK for the glass but not the paint. I recommend Turtle Wax ICE liquid wax. Easy to apply (use a SMALL amount, a little goes a long way), easy to remove. I would claybar the area first if it needs it for best results.

 

[lukestan]

I use RejeX (made by Corrosion Technologies) for an amazing polymer wax.

I originally used it for the inside rims of my other car (Mustang), it was amazing to simply rinse brake dust off. Then, I tried it as wax on the entire (black) car, it's easy-on and easy to buff, and lasts like a year. Most everything just rinses off with just a spray hose.

I'm going to try it on the back of my (black) Volt next.

 

[Steverino]

it was amazing to simply rinse brake dust off.

I have a Volt, so my question is, what's brake dust? hahaha

I use Turtle Wax ICE spritz and wipe wax after washing. It doesn't stop dirt collecting, nothing does. But its fast and easy to apply a shine to the car and I use it on my exterior windows like RainX but without the worry about paint and plastic damage.